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, 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 dried elderberries, preserved bee balm, 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 arsenal of preserved remedies. For respiratory infections, both cultures relied heavily on preserved plants with antimicrobial properties. The Wampanoag 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 mullein, a plant whose dried leaves could be 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 drying these plants in small, tied bundles allowed air circulation 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 - 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 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 own traditions of bark tinctures, creating new and effective pain remedies. Seasonal medicines required careful timing and preservation to be available year-round. Spring plants like dandelion and chickweed needed to be gathered and preserved at their peak potency. The Wampanoag 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. 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 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 - elderberries were often dried whole, while others were crushed and formed into cakes that could be reconstituted later. The Wampanoag knew that some berries became 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, 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, 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