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Traditional Medicines

Joywind and Robert have been on the ’trail’ in one form or other for about 30 years.  We cherish our traditional medicines.  We believe in gathering, harvesting, preserving and sharing.  We have chosen to eat almost 100% organic or wild foods.  We share these traditional medicines carefully.  Medicines are very important to the people and aren’t always accessible in the moments when we need them.

In fact ailments generally don’t happen when we are prepared to cure them….Also more of the Indigenous community live in urban environments and aren’t always able to gather all the medicines themselves.  But that doesn’t mean they are not allowed to have them….Harvested with respect and honour…the medicines belong to all the people and one of the things we do is share them.  Tribal Spirit carefully source or trade with people who have the heart and care to carry the medicines and we honour the effort and work it requires to maintain the traditional medicines.  We live in Canada and ship all over Turtle Island (except where noted: Bear products, Feathers and some wild furs) everything else is good to ship.

Showing all 29 results

  • Sweetgrass

    14$ US

    Tribal Spirit just received our last harvest of Sweetgrass for the year. It have been a very good growing season and we are well stocked.      Sweetgrass is one of the most important Traditional Medicines.  We are very picky about where we get our sweetgrass.  Some growths of sweetgrass are in crisis because of over picking or harvesting by pulling out the root.  We are working with a family who harvest sweetgrass, with ceremony and pluck the grass without pulling the root.

    (Price is per Braid) 

     

  • Tribal Bear Buzz: Bear Root Tincture

    25$ US
    A brand new adventure for Tribal Spirit!
    A friend has just made up a fresh batch of what we are calling Bear Buzz…
    Bear… Bear Root (Osha)
    Buzz… Artisanal Honey based alcohol distillation!
    Eagerly awaiting my first cold.. to give this remedy a spin! LOL
    Glass bottles are 50 ml with a dropper. 

  • Prairie Sage

    7$ US – 27$ US

    Grown wild in Saskatchewan and carefully harvested and dried.  Prairie Sage is a soft loose leaf sage which has been picked off the stem.  It lights and burns perfectly.  Available in 4 oz and 1 oz

  • Bear Root- Osha

    42$ US – 85$ US

    We are very excited to be able to offer Bear Root.  One of the most important Native traditional medicines.

    Bear Root or Osha Root is traditionally used in herbal medicine to treat symptoms of respiratory illnesses such as the common cold and bronchitis. Osha Root is also known to have antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Traditionally, Osha is taken as a tea, or eaten raw, or sometimes used as a smudge.  Osha is also VERY popular among Powwow singers cuz nothing soothes an over worked throat after a weekend singing better than Osha.  Singers will bite off a bit of root and stick it up under your lip and then just sucking/chewing on it will seriously ease a soar throat.  Our Osha is Native harvested in the Rocky Mountains.  In the picture with the pair of scissors the pile of root on left is 4 ounces and pile on right is 2 ounces.

  • Labrador Tea Leaves (Muskeg Tea)

    13$ US

    Labrador tea aka muskeg tea Harvested in Northern Saskatchewan.

    Labrador Leaf tea is often drunk for pleasure. Helps heal faster from sickness. Externally it can be mixed with bear grease to soothe burns. Don’t boil the leaves, simply pour boiling water over the leaves, steep for 10 minutes.  Leaves can be reused up to 4 times!

  • Leather Medicine Pouches

    34$ US – 63$ US
    Bear Leather Pouches:
    Our new Medicine Pouches are all one of a kind measuring 2” x 3” approx. Which we fill with the traditional medicines of the four directions.  They can be worn around the neck or tied to a belt loop.
    WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SHIP OUTSIDE OF CANADA!!  Please do not purchase if you live outside of Canada or we will have to refund.  Sorry…
    White Moose Leather Pouches:

    White Moose Leather Medicine Pouches with medicines of the four directions.  Wearing a medicine bag which contains symbols of who you are is a good way to keep the sacred with you all the time, as well as reminding yourself of who you are.

  • Seneca (Snake) Root

    15$ US – 61$ US
    Seneca (snake) root Harvested in Manitoba.
    Nicknamed the “Lung medicine”
    This root is carried on long journeys to ensure health and safety. In Canada the root is used in many pharmaceutical cough syrups. You can chew small pieces of the root to soothe toothaches as well as a sore throat. The roots can be chewed, tinctured or made into a tea.
    Not to be used by pregnant women.    

  • St John’s Wort

    13$ US

    St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a herb that has been used for centuries as a traditional remedy for various ailments. It contains several active compounds, including hypericin and hyperforin, which are believed to contribute to its medicinal properties.  It has been used to relieve depression and anxiety.  St. John’s Wort is also known for it’s analgesic (pain-relieving) properties and could potentially help alleviate neuropathic pain, such as that associated with nerve damage.

  • Devil’s Club Root Bark

    21$ US

    Devils Club Root Bark is considered one of the most powerful and important of all medicinal plants.  It is most effective in treating phlegm related to colds, bronchitis, pneumonia and the newest kid in town, covid.  It has also been used to treat diabetes as it help regulate blood sugar levels.  This bark was harvest in early spring when it is at it’s most potent stage, just before the plant shoots out the buds.  We are offering this by the ounce.

  • British Columbia Harvested Mullein

    8$ US

    Mullein Leaf is a plant we have always kept in our ‘medicine tool chest”.  Great for lungs and breathing ailments we have used it for year to relax the lungs during bouts of asthma.  Mullein was also our ‘go to’ during a recent bout with covid.  Mixed with a bit of lemon and honey we really really appreciated our mullein tea.  It is important to stain a mullein tea through a coffee filter or very fine tea strainer and the very fine hairs on a mullein leaf can irritate the throat when swallowed.

  • Sale!

    Western Red Cedar Loose Leaves

    10$ US – 42$ US

    Western Red Cedar Loose Leaves

    Cuz we gotcha covered….we have been reaching out for this connection for a long time.  We have started working with a young Indigenous woman who is harvesting and drying this Red Cedar leaves from the Great Bear Rain Forest in a good way and sacred way.  Cedar is generally used in smudging ceremonies for purification or cleansing.  It is one of the 4 primary medicines (Tobacco, Sweetgrass, Sage, Cedar).   Coming from very old growth trees cedar is understood to carry the teachings of the ancestors.  Packaged neatly in a linen bag with drawstrings as closure.

  • White (Buffalo) Sage

    8$ US – 51$ US

    White sage or Buffalo sage is used in ceremony to purify or clean.  Most gatherings, ceremonies or sweats will begin with a smudging and mostly involving sage.  There are many different kinds of sage used in the community and our favourite is this White sage.  A small leaf will light very easily, blow out the flame, and will continue to smoke until it burns out.  Check out our fans or smudge kits as people will often use a fan to waft the smoke.  Available in loose leaf or as a tied sage stick.

  • Rat Root

    Rat Root (Sweet Flag – Weegas)

    25$ US – 51$ US

    Rat Root (also called sweet flag, wikkaii or weegas).  This Manitoba-harvested species (Acorus americanus) is free of the carcinogenic that is found in the root imported from India and Asia.

    Within the Native American community Rat Root has a pain relieving effect and was effective in fighting off colds, coughs, upset stomachs and fevers.  It gets its name because muskrats like to chew on these roots.  Can be chewed on when you feel a cold coming on.   A poultice of the crushed root is used externally to help with muscle cramps.

    Not to be used by pregnant women.    

  • Echinacea (Black) Root

    34$ US – 68$ US

    We just received this Echinacea harvested in British Columbia . You can chew on a tiny piece and/or make it into a tea. It’s super potent: it will numb your tongue when you chew it. Folks also use it for bad toothaches. Because it is harvested from the wild it has all the medicinal properties compared to the cultivated roots which have little to no medicinal value. Generally, if people grow it, they harvest it after the first year, but the roots need to be at least 3 years old to have any power. First nations use the roots as a natural antibiotic and blood purifier.

    We only have a limited supply of this root as it is a rare to find in nature.

  • Sale!

    Medicine “Hat Trick” Stick Special

    10$ US – 63$ US

    Our brand new Medicine “Hat Trick” Stick (get the hockey and Joywind’s home town reference? lol) includes desert sage, sweetgrass and cedar.  This mixture was so popular last year that we worked hard to get in another supply.

    Available as a Single Stick or a 6 Pack.

  • Osha (Bear Root) Honey Chew

    34$ US

    NEW PRODUCT ALERT!! We are very excited to announce our Osha Root Honey Chew. (Osha is also called Bear Root). Amazing anti viral, great for sore throats…incredible for singers…this is an all around perfect winter virus buster. The chew is a paste and you put a raisin size bit in your mouth and suck or put up under your lip. Tastes like Bear root and honey… the texture is like an old fashion chew….but MUCH better for you!!

    Each tin is 60 g made up of 30g of Bear Root harvested in the Rockies and 30g organic honey. Y ou are going to love this and we will start making more!! lol…(tobacco free!!)

  • Large White Sage Sticks

    12$ US

    White Sage is all about cleansing and purifying.  Need a good mood tune up? or house cleansing? reach for the Sage.  Before all ceremonies sage is used to clean the spirit and energy.  These sticks are huge 9″ long, made with big full leaves.  The cool part with using a stick is that you can light it and then simply stamp it out on a shell or piece of wood for the next time.  Nice and efficient.

  • Massive Cedar Sticks

    13$ US

    Surprise!  These were included in the new delivery of Prairie Sage we just received from our harvester!!  Huge!!  12 Inches in length.  Cedar… gotta love it.

  • Deer Medicine Pouches

    21$ US

    Deer Leather Medicine Pouches with Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar and Tobacco.

    Wearing a medicine bag which contains symbols of who you are is a good way to keep the sacred with you all the time, as well as reminding yourself of who you are. Our little deer leather pouches like these can be worn around your neck or belt loop and can become quite important to you as symbols of your deeper self.  We have included medicines of the four directions and feel free to add items that speak to you.

  • Marjolaine

    8$ US

    This Plant was grown in our garden Last summer, Joywind harvested it and we dried it above our wood stove.  The flavour is similar to thyme. This plant is a nice addition to your night time wind down. It also has some digestive properties, for that reason, it is a nice ‘spice’ to add in meals. That’s how Joywind likes to incorporate it. You might already have it in your kitchen as part of your “herbes de Provence” spice mix

  • Yarrow

    13$ US

    Use in Teas.. As part of your Night time routine.

  • Red Osier Dogwood (Willow)

    13$ US

    The inner bark of the Red Osier Dogwood (sometimes called Red Willow but it is actually a Dogwood not a Willow) is used by many Nations as part of a smoking mixture.  It has a pain relieving effect and can be boiled for use as a pain relieving poultice to treat sores.  Red Osie has also been used as a tea to treat diarrhea, fevers and liver ailments.  This bark was harvest in late winter/early spring when it is at its most potent stage, just before the plant shoots out the buds.  We are offering this by the ounce.

  • Tribal Fire Cider

    30$ US
    Fire Cider is a tincture made with locally sourced organic mixture of garlic, ginger, onion, cayenne pepper, horseradish and thyme in an apple cider base.
    In our house Fire Cider is a mandatory part of our fall/winter cold/flu prevention treatment…..and at any sign of a sniffle or tickle in the throat the entire family goes straight to the Fire Cider several times a day for a system boost.
    Thinking ahead to the flu & cold season we asked our Herbalist if she would prepare a monster batch of Fire Cider for Tribal Spirit.  It takes an entire growing season to plant, grow and harvest the ingredients enough to make a big batch.  Our thought was that we wanted to be able to offer something so vital to our customers/friends.  Our Herbalist is extremely dedicated and diligent in her work.  Every ingredient is grown locally (not imported from somewhere….) and organic.
    Glass bottles are 50 ml with a dropper.  
  • Dried Rose Petals

    Organic Rose Petals

    8$ US

    From our teachings, Rose petals are of the direction of the north bringing wisdom into our lives.  A very cool part of a smudging ceremony, these rose petals are fragrant and inspiring.

    One ounce of dried rose petals packed in a 6″x6″ ziploc bag.

    Store in a cool, dark, dry place in an airtight container.

  • BlueSageSticks

    Blue Sage Sticks

    4$ US – 42$ US

    These Blue Sage sticks are harvested and wrapped in the USA.  Each are carefully wrapped, and are approximately 4.5″ long x 1″ wide.

    Available as a Single Stick, a pack of 6 or pack of 12.

  • Smudge Kit with Tribal Spirit Moose Leather Bag

    93$ US
    Absolutely perfect for travel, rugged, attractive and you will always be ready when a good smudge is needed.  The kit includes a farmed abalone shell (we have a beautiful selection of the nicest shells we have seen in years), a jute bag of Californian White Sage, a small feather fan that attaches to the outside of the bag and one of our hand made moose leather saddle bags.
    Available in fringed style or moose antler button.

  • Mayan Copal

    30$ US – 101$ US

    Copal Maya “Pom” 

    Copal is a tree resin from the Protium Copal Tree.  The word copal comes from the Nahuatl language (copalli = incense)  Our Mayan Pom Copal is Indigenous harvested in Yajalon, Chiapas Mexico.  It has a woody/evergreen odour that creates a distinctive holiday vibe.  You can burn our copal by putting a small piece of lit wood coal in a shell and place a pinch of copal on the red coal.  Or you can also just light a small piece of copal with a lighter.  The resin will catch fire….and you can blow it out…and a light smoke will share the blessing.  

    Copal is also used in ceremonies, it is burned as a medicine for cleansing energies, the home, crystals and oneself. The medicine of copal helps oneself to release/relax and open the mind and body.    This copal came to us in form of a trade.  

  • Abalone Shell

    17$ US

    Farmed Abalone Shell

    Approximately size – 6″ x 5″ x 2″ deep

  • Tribal Eye Pads

    27$ US

    For relaxation, twitching eyes and insomnia eye pads are a remarkably simple healing tool.

    When you wake up in the middle of the night and the brain just won’t shut down place your eye pad over your eyes, take a deep breath and relax.  Filled with lavender (natural soothing herb) and flaxseed the mild weight on the eyes brings a level of calm that is so simple and yet very effective.   We made two styles, Deer leather and a Tribal cotton print.