The Omaha name for this plant is Makah-ninida which means medicine lying in water. Keren, Pawnee is Kantshaitu, Dakota is Sinkpe-ta-wote, the Lakotas is sun kace. and the Osage is Pexe boao ka. The Pawnee, Dakota, Lakota, and the Osage Indians have no meanings.

   Calamus is an aromatic grass like plant. Its very tall and can grow up to 4-10cm wide and 9-15dm. They grow tiny flowers on them with sword shaped leaves.

   Calamus grows in marshes, seepy areas and wet ditches. Its is also found thoughout much of the world especially in northern continents. It also can be found in shallow water an swamps and onthe margins of streams and rivers. Where in rhizomes grow in mud, found across southern Canada, south of Florida and Calorado. On the Omaha reservation we found calamus in some field that we sampled and some of the ditches where we collected plants.

   Its used for stomach gases, colds, worms, headaches, sore chest and sore throats. The juices are squeezed out of the root and taken for diarrhea, sometimes calamus maybe smoked to help headaches.Calamus can also be used the rootstock for facial paralysis. The infusion of the root can be taken for diabetes and for high blood pressure. The Omaha people used this plant as a carminative and decoction taken for fevers. Lots of the tribes used the calamus for ceremonial medicine where the blades of the grass were used as garlands in mystery ceremonies. Some tribes would take and tie a piece onto their children for sacred reasons and keep spirits away, others would use it in a sweat lodge for praying.

This Page was last update: Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 10:57:38 AM
This page was originally posted: 11/20/07; 10:41:56 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

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