Brown-eyed Susans

I've always loved these cheerful flowers, waving to ya as you go past them on dusty gravel roads....
http://partner.galileo.org/kainaidata/realplant-a.asp?PlantID=47

Common Gaillardia is a tall plant with hairy, greyish green leaves that are longer at the bottom, then get smaller as they get closer to the flower. This plant with its large (10 cm) yellow flowers is also called the Brown-eyed Susan because of its brown center. It blooms in the late summer months of July and August, growing along the roads and railway tracks and in dry, upland areas.

There are uses for almost every part of the Common Gaillardia. A dressing made of mashed, powdered roots can be smeared on skin conditions, while a tea made of the plant can be used as an eyewash, as nosedrops or rubbed on a nursing mother's sore nipples. Tea made of the root works for curing stomach troubles. A tea made of heads of the flowers can be used as a footwash.

The elders used the large flower heads of the Brown-eyed Susan in creative ways. They were used to absorb the grease off soups and broth, and as spoons for serving food to sick people. The heads of the flowers were rubbed on rawhide bags for waterproofing from the rain and snow and to keep things dry inside. (I may have to try this!) The elders would rub strong medicine teas made from the roots on their horses' saddle sores and places where the hair was falling out. It was also used in their horses' eyes as an eyewash.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But I'm not done yet!!!!

From Terry Willard's, Cl.H.,Ph.D. website. I've met this man once years ago. He is AMAZING!! He sooooooo knows his plants and the uses for them.

http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/about_drwillard.htm
http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/herbalresources/herbwalk/herbwalk.aspx?hwid=24

Preparation & Uses: The Blackfoot Indians found many uses for this plant. An infusion of the root was taken for gastroenteritis. Saddle sores and falling hair were treated with Gaillardia. The infusion of the root was used as eyedrops, administered in drops. Some Indians would chew the root and apply this to skin disorders. An infusion of the herb parts of this plant was also used as an eyewash and for nosedrops. The flower head was also infused to make a footbath.

To our ancestors, this plant represented the health, earthiness and wholesomeness of the common people. It also represented a gift of liveliness and sunshine from our Mother the Earth.

Until later.....