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November 1, 2024 • 19 mins
First Feast Forensics - Episode 3: Healing from the Storehouse: Medicinal Properties of Preserved Foods Welcome back to First Feast Forensics. In our previous episodes, we explored the foods of the first Thanksgiving and the crucial preservation techniques that helped early colonists survive. Today, we're delving into a fascinating aspect of food preservation that's often overlooked: how preserved foods and medicines intersected in both Native American and colonial traditions. The line between food and medicine was far less distinct in the 17th century than it is today. For both the Wampanoag and the English colonists, many preserved foods served dual purposes as both sustenance and healing agents. The process of preservation itself was often believed to enhance certain medicinal properties, a belief that modern science has sometimes validated. Let's begin with the crucial role of dried herbs. The Wampanoag had developed sophisticated techniques for drying medicinal plants that went far beyond simple dehydration. Different plants required different drying methods to maintain their medicinal properties. Some herbs were dried in darkness to preserve volatile compounds, while others needed specific amounts of sunlight to enhance their potency. Archaeological evidence from colonial sites shows dedicated drying spaces that would have been used for both culinary and medicinal herbs. The colonists brought their own herbal traditions from England, documented in books like Gerard's Herball, but they quickly discovered that many familiar European plants didn't grow well in New England. This forced them to learn about local medicinal plants from the Wampanoag. The preservation of these unfamiliar herbs required new techniques, leading to a fascinating fusion of European and Native American methods.
The timing of plant collection for medicinal use was crucial for both cultures. The Wampanoag had detailed knowledge of exactly when each plant should be harvested for maximum potency. Certain plants needed to be gathered before dawn, others at specific phases of the moon. The colonists initially dismissed some of these practices as superstition, but experience taught them the wisdom of this traditional timing. Take, for instance, the preservation of echinacea, a plant both cultures used for immune support. The Wampanoag knew that roots harvested in late fall contained the highest levels of medicinal compounds. Modern science has confirmed this, showing that the plant concentrates certain compounds in its roots before winter dormancy. The preservation method was equally specific - the roots needed to be dried quickly but not in direct sunlight, which could degrade their medicinal properties. Birch bark, rich in natural aspirin-like compounds, required different handling entirely. The Wampanoag taught the colonists that bark collected in spring had the strongest medicinal properties. It needed to be dried in a way that prevented the loss of volatile compounds while avoiding mold growth. They developed a method of rolling the bark into tight cylinders that could be stored for months while maintaining its pain-relieving properties. One of the most sophisticated preservation techniques involved the making of medicinal wines and tinctures. The colonists brought a strong tradition of herbal wines from England, but they had to adapt these recipes to New World plants. The Wampanoag, meanwhile, had their own methods of extracting and preserving medicinal compounds using various natural solvents. The combination of these traditions created new and effective medicines that would influence American pharmacology for generations. Winter health strategies relied heavily on properly preserved foods and medicines. Both cultures understood that certain preserved foods could help prevent winter ailments. The high vitamin C content in preserved rose hips and pine needles, for instance, helped prevent scurvy - though neither culture understood the specific nutrient involved. The Wampanoag taught the colonists how to preserve these vital plants in ways that maintained their effectiveness throughout the winter months. Fermented foods played a crucial role in winter health maintenance. While the colonists were familiar with fermentation through beer-making and pickling, the Wampanoag introduced them to different fermentation techniques that created highly nutritious preserved foods. What we now know as probiotics were created through the controlled fermentation of various plants and berries. Archaeological evidence shows specialized vessels used for these fermentation processes, with designs that maintained ideal conditions for beneficial bacterial growth. The preservation of mushrooms for medicinal use required particular expertise. The Wampanoag had extensive knowledge of both edible and medicinal mushrooms, and their preservation techniques were carefully designed to maintain specific properties. Some mushrooms were dried in strings, othe
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
First Feast Forensics, Episode three, Healing from the Storehouse Medicinal
Properties of preserved Foods. Welcome back to First Feast Forensics.
In our previous episodes, we explored the foods of the
First Thanksgiving and the crucial preservation techniques that helped early
colonists survive. Today, we're delving into a fascinating aspect of
food preservation that's often overlooked. How preserved foods and medicines

(00:22):
intersected in both Native American and colonial traditions. The line
between food and medicine was far less distinct in the
seventeenth century than it is today. For both the Wampanoagu
and the English colonists, many preserved foods serve dual purposes,
as both sustenance and healing agents. The process of preservation
itself was often believed to enhance certain medicinal properties, a

(00:43):
belief that modern science has sometimes validated. Let's begin with
the crucial role of dried herbs. The Wampanoague had developed
sophisticated techniques for drying medicinal plants that went far beyond
simple dehydration. Different plants required different drying methods to maintain
their medicinal properties. Some herbs were dried in darkness to
preserve volatile compounds, while others needed specific amounts of sunlight

(01:08):
to enhance their potency. Archaeological evidence from colonial sites shows
dedicated drying spaces that would have been used for both
culinary and medicinal herbs. The colonists brought their own herbal
traditions from England, documented in books like Gerard's Herbal, but
they quickly discovered that many familiar European plants didn't grow
well in New England. This forced them to learn about

(01:30):
local medicinal plants from the Wampanoag. The preservation of these
unfamiliar herbs required new techniques, leading to a fascinating fusion
of European and Native American methods. The timing of plant
collection for medicinal use was crucial for both cultures. The
Wampanoag had detailed knowledge of exactly when each plant should
be harvested for maximum potency, Certain plants needed to be

(01:52):
gathered before dawn, others at specific phases of the moon.
The colonists initially dismissed some of these practices as superstition,
but experience taught them the wisdom of this traditional timing take,
for instance, the preservation of Echinasia, a plant both cultures
used for immune support. The Wampanoagg knew that roots harvested
in late fall contained the highest levels of medicinal compounds.

(02:15):
Modern science has confirmed this, showing that the plant concentrates
certain compounds in its roots before winter dormancy. The preservation
method was equally specific. The roots needed to be dried quickly,
but not in direct sunlight, which could degrade their medicinal properties.
Birch bark rich in natural aspirin like compounds, required different
handling entirely. The Wampanoagg taught the colonists that bark collected

(02:39):
in spring had the strongest medicinal properties. It needed to
be dried in a way that prevented the loss of
volatile compounds while avoiding mole growth. They developed a method
of rolling the bark into tight cylinders that could be
stored for months while maintaining its pain relieving properties. One
of the most sophisticated preservation techniques involved the making of
medicinal wines and tinctures. The colonists brought a strong tradition

(03:02):
of herbal wines from England, but they had to adapt
these recipes to New World plants. The Wampanoagg meanwhile, had
their own methods of extracting and preserving medicinal compounds using
various natural solvents. The combination of these traditions created new
and effective medicines that would influence American pharmacology for generations.
Winter health strategies relied heavily on properly preserved foods and medicines.

(03:26):
Both cultures understood that certain preserved foods could help prevent
winter ailments. The high vitamin sea content and preserved rose
hips and pine needles, for instance, helped prevent scurvy, though
neither culture understood the specific nutrient involved. The Wampanoag taught
the colonists how to preserve these vital plants in ways
that maintained their effectiveness throughout the winter months. Fermented foods

(03:48):
played a crucial role in winter health maintenance. While the
colonists were familiar with fermentation through beer making and pickling,
the Wampanoagg introduced them to different fermentation techniques that created
highly new, utritious preserved foods. What we now know as
probiotics were created through the controlled fermentation of various plants
and berries. Archaeological evidence shows specialized vessels used for these

(04:11):
fermentation processes, with designs that maintained ideal conditions for beneficial
bacterial growth. The preservation of mushrooms for medicinal use required
particular expertise. The Wampanoag had extensive knowledge of both edible
and medicinal mushrooms, and their preservation techniques were carefully designed
to maintain specific properties. Some mushrooms were dried in strings,

(04:35):
others preserved in ash or smoke. Each method was matched
to the particular properties of the mushroom and its intended
medicinal use. Colonial records show initial hesitation about these unfamiliar fungi,
but gradually increasing acceptance of their medicinal value. Complex preparations
often combined multiple preserved ingredients. One common winter medicine combined

(04:57):
dried elderberries, preserved be bomb, and specific tree barks. Each
ingredient required different preservation techniques, and the final mixture needed
to be stored in particular ways to maintain its effectiveness.
These combinations weren't random, they represented sophisticated understanding of how
different medicines worked together. Common ailments each had their own

(05:18):
arsenal of preserved remedies for respiratory infections. Both cultures relied
heavily on preserved plants with antimicrobial properties. The Wampanoagu taught
the colonists about the preservation of wild cherry bark, which
needed to be dried in a specific way to maintain
its effectiveness as a cough remedy. They also shared knowledge
about preserving moulin, a plant whose dried leaves could be

(05:41):
burned or made into tea. For breathing difficulties. Digestive issues
were treated with an array of preserved medicines. Dried peppermint
and other mints were crucial, but the preservation method mattered enormously.
The leaves had to be dried quickly to prevent fermentation
while retaining their volatile oils. The Wampanoag method of dry
ying these plants in small tide bundles allowed air circulation

(06:03):
while preventing the loss of essential oils. Colonial records show
they quickly adopted this technique, finding it superior to European
methods for wound care. Both cultures maintained stores of preserved medicines.
The Wampanoag had sophisticated methods for preserving yarrow, a plant
with powerful antimicrobial properties. The entire plant, flowers, leaves, and stems,

(06:25):
was dried and stored in tight bundles. They understood that
exposure to light could degrade its medicinal properties, so these
bundles were kept in specially designed dark storage containers, evidence
of which has been found in archaeological sites. The treatment
of pain often relied on preserved willow bark, nature's aspirin.
The Wampanoag had discovered that willow bark collected in spring

(06:47):
and preserved properly would maintain its pain relieving properties for months.
They developed a method of scraping the bark into thin
strips that would dry quickly while retaining maximum potency. The
colonists combined this knowledge with their their own traditions of
bark tinctures, creating new and effective pain remedies. Seasonal medicines
required careful timing and preservation to be available year round.

(07:09):
Spring plants like dandelion and chickweed needed to be gathered
and preserved at their peak potency. The Wampanoague had developed
a complex understanding of how these plants medicinal properties changed
through their growth cycle. They taught the colonists that dandelion
roots harvested and dried in early spring had different properties
than those preserved in fall, and each had specific medicinal uses.

(07:31):
Summer brought its own challenges for medicine preservation. Many flowering
plants used medicinally needed to be dried quickly to prevent
mold while retaining their color and potency. Both cultures developed
sophisticated drying structures that protected plants from direct sunlight while
allowing proper air circulation. Archaeological evidence shows specialized drying racks

(07:52):
with adjustable coverings allowing precise control of the drying environment.
The preservation of berries for medicinal use was particularly complex.
Different berries required different treatment. Elder berries were often dried whole,
while others were crushed and formed into cakes that could
be reconstituted later. The wampanoagu knew that some berries became

(08:12):
more potent as medicines when dried, while others needed to
be used fresh or preserved through other methods. They developed
specific tests to determine if preserved berries had maintained their
medicinal properties. Fall brought crucial medicine gathering activities. Both cultures
understood that many plants concentrated their medicinal compounds in their
roots before winter. This led to carefully timed harvesting expeditions,

(08:36):
followed by specialized preservation techniques for different root types. Some
roots were dried whole, others sliced thin or ground into powder.
Each preparation method was matched to the specific properties of
the plant and its intended medicinal use. The storage of
medicinal preparations was as crucial as their initial preservation. Both
cultures developed sophisticated containment systems that protected medicines from light, moisture,

(08:59):
and pests. The Wampanoag created specialized containers from birch bark,
which naturally contains compounds that prevent mold growth. They taught
the colonists how different storage materials could affect the potency
of medicines, knowledge that would later influence early American pharmaceutical practices.
Storage locations were carefully chosen based on the specific requirements

(09:20):
of different medicines. Some required cool, dark spaces, while others
needed to be kept dry and warm. The colonists combined
their tradition of still rooms specialized spaces for storing medicines,
with Wampanoag storage techniques. Archaeological evidence shows These storage areas
were often built into the coolest part of colonial homes
with specialized shelving and storage containers. The organization of stored

(09:43):
medicines reflected deep understanding of their uses. Both cultures grouped
medicines by their purposes rather than their ingredients. Winter remedies
were stored together, as were women's medicines and treatments for children.
This organizational system made it easier to access needed treatments
quickly and ensured that related medicines were stored in appropriate conditions.

(10:04):
Temperature control was crucial for maintaining medicinal potency. Underground storage chambers,
similar to those used for food, were adapted specifically for
medicine storage. The Wampanoague taught the colonists how to create
specialized storage niches within these chambers, each maintaining slightly different
temperature and humidity levels. Modern analysis of similar structures shows

(10:26):
they maintained remarkably stable conditions year round. Container technology was
surprisingly sophisticated. Both cultures used different materials for different medicines.
Wooden containers were preferred for some preparations, while others required
pottery or bark containers. The Wampanoague had developed containers with
antimicrobial properties, using materials like white pine and cedar. Colonial

(10:47):
records show they quickly adopted these specialized storage containers, recognizing
their superiority for maintaining medicinal potency. The preservation of medicines
was deeply embedded in the social fabric of both cultures.
Knowledge of preservation techniques was carefully passed down through generations,
often through specific family lines or designated healers. The Wampanoag

(11:10):
had a complex system of apprenticeship for medicine preservers, with
knowledge shared through practical demonstration and oral tradition. Colonial women,
who were typically responsible for household medicine, developed similar networks
for sharing preservation expertise. Community medicine gathering expeditions were important
social events. Groups would work together to harvest and preserve

(11:32):
medicinal plants, with more experienced members teaching others about proper
timing and techniques. These events served multiple purposes, ensuring adequate
medicine supplies for the community, passing on knowledge, and strengthening
social bonds. Colonial records described growing participation in these Native
lead gathering expeditions as they recognized the value of this

(11:53):
communal approach. The exchange of medicinal preservation. Knowledge between cultures
was not simply one sided. While the colonists learned many
new techniques from the Wampanoague, they also contributed their own
knowledge of European preservation methods. This created a fascinating hybrid
system of medical preservation that combined the best elements of
both traditions. Some of these combined techniques proved so effective

(12:16):
they were adopted by other Native American groups and colonial settlements.
Gender played a significant role in medicinal preservation practices. In
both cultures. Women were often the primary keepers of this knowledge.
Wampanoag women held specific responsibilities for certain types of medicines,
particularly those related to childbirth and children's ailments. Colonial women,

(12:37):
drawing on European traditions of the wise woman and the
housewife's still room, maintained similar specializations. This gendered knowledge sharing
created strong networks between women of both cultures. The spiritual
aspects of medicine preservation couldn't be separated from the practical techniques.
The Wampanoague included specific prayers and ceremonies in their preservation processes,

(12:59):
believing the use spiritual practices were as important as the
physical methods. While the colonists approached medicine from a more
secular perspective, they often incorporated Christian prayers and observances into
their preservation work. Modern scientific analysis has validated many of
these historical preservation practices. Studies of preserved plant samples found

(13:21):
in archaeological sites have revealed sophisticated understanding of chemical stability.
For instance, the Wampanoagu practice of drying certain plants in
darkness has been shown to preserve light sensitive compounds that
would otherwise break down. Their Careful timing of harvest and
preservation often coincided perfectly with peak levels of medicinal compounds

(13:41):
and plants. Laboratory analysis of traditional drying techniques has revealed
unexpected benefits. The practice of drying some plants quickly and
others slowly turns out to affect the concentration and availability
of different medicinal compounds. Research has shown that some plants,
when dried according to traditional methods, actually become more potent

(14:02):
as certain compounds become more concentrated or chemically altered in
beneficial ways. The antimicrobial properties of storage containers have proven
particularly interesting to modern researchers. The cedar and birch bark
containers favored by the Wampanoague have been shown to contain
natural compounds that inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. These containers

(14:22):
didn't just store medicines, they help preserve them through chemical
interactions that were only now beginning to understand. Temperature stability
and traditional storage structures has impressed modern researchers. Studies of
reconstructed storage chambers show they maintain temperatures within a two
degree range, crucial for preserving volatile medicinal compounds. The placement

(14:42):
of different medicines at different heights within these chambers created
microclimates that perfectly suited different types of preparations. Perhaps most
intriguing has been the validation of combined preservation techniques. When
certain plants are preserved using multiple methods, such as initial
drying followed by small oak exposure, they developed compound profiles

(15:02):
different from those preserved by a single method. These combinations
often made medicines more effective or more stable, showing a
sophisticated understanding of preservation chemistry. The legacy of these early
medicinal preservation techniques continues to influence modern pharmaceutical practices. Several
contemporary drugs trace their development to observations of preserved medicines

(15:24):
from this period. For example, the Wampanoag method of preserving
willow bark led directly to better understanding of how to
stabilize and store salicylic acid compounds, crucial in the development
of aspirin. Many modern pharmaceutical companies are now researching traditional
preservation methods for natural medicines. The growing interest in plant
based pharmaceuticals has led to renewed study of how these

(15:45):
historical techniques maintained medicinal potency. Some companies have even patented
preservation methods that are essentially refined versions of techniques used
by Native Americans and colonists. The concept of bioavailability how
effectively the body can use a medicine, was inherently understood
by both cultures through their preservation practices. Modern research has

(16:08):
shown that certain traditional preservation methods actually increase the bioavailability
of medicinal compounds. For instance, the practice of combining certain
herbs with specific types of tree bark during preservation has
been shown to enhance the absorption of active compounds. Contemporary
herbalists and naturopathic practitioners often draw directly from these historical

(16:29):
preservation techniques. The revival of interest in natural medicine has
led to careful study of colonial and Native American records,
seeking to understand how they maintained medicinal potency through long
term storage. This has resulted in a renaissance of traditional
preservation methods, now validated by modern scientific testing, and environmental

(16:49):
scientists have become particularly interested in the sustainability aspects of
these historical practices. The methods used required no artificial preservatives
or energy intensive story, yet successfully maintained medicinal potency for
long periods. In an era of increasing concern about sustainable
health care, these low impact preservation techniques offer valuable insights.

(17:12):
The study of historical medicinal preservation techniques offers us more
than just interesting historical insights. It provides valuable lessons for
modern medicine and sustainability. These early practitioners understood, through careful
observation and generational knowledge, principles of biochemistry that were only
now confirming with modern technology. Their sophisticated approach to maintaining

(17:34):
medicinal potency through natural preservation methods challenges our assumptions about
historical medical knowledge. The success of these preservation techniques reminds
us that effective medicine doesn't always require modern technology. Both
the Womponoague and colonial preservers maintained complex pharmacologies using only
natural materials and careful observation. Their methods were sustainable, effective,

(17:57):
and often more sophisticated than we previously understood. Perhaps the
most valuable lesson from studying these historical practices is the
importance of cultural exchange in medical knowledge. The fusion of
Wampanoague and colonial preservation techniques created a more effective system
than either culture had alone. This early example of medical
knowledge sharing helped establish a tradition of incorporating diverse healing

(18:20):
practices that continues in modern medicine. As we face contemporary
challenges in pharmaceutical storage and sustainability, these historical methods offer
surprising relevance. The ability to maintain medicinal potency without artificial
preservatives or cold storage could prove increasingly valuable in an
energy conscious world. The natural antimicrobial properties of traditional storage

(18:43):
materials might help address modern concerns about synthetic preservatives. Looking
ahead to our next episode, we'll explore the seasonal cycle
of medicine gathering and preservation examining how these communities planned
their yearly cycle of medical preparation. Will look at specific
timing for different and plants preservation schedules, and how communities

(19:03):
organize these crucial activities. Thank you for joining me today
on First Feast Forensics. Until next time, keep exploring the
true stories behind our traditional medicines and their preservation. This
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