The Hours Toiled Away With Books..

I've spent the majority of the day doing research for my NPS article..the subject being the ethnobotanic aspects of the Hohokam and Tohono O'oadham peoples. And so far, so good! My biggest concern is in regards to how much that I have to talk about..and having to confine it into five hundred words or less.
A lot of what I've read about so far has either been stuff I already knew from having worked with the Park for so long, or surprisingly interesting facts.

A little idea of what I'm working with....

1.) The Jojoba- The Tohono O'adham use a past of the nut as an antioxidant salve on burns. It was also taken back to Spain and the Vatican as a cure for baldness (although the success of this venture is unknown). It's also known as the "Save the Whale" plant because the Jojoba "beans" contain more than 40% oil (a liquid wax), which serves as a high quality lubricant equivalent sperm whale oil. The Seri tribe of Sonora Mexico, on the other hand, did not regard it as an essential food option, and solely ate it during emergencies.

2.) The Prickly Pear- the buds of this plant were also regarded by the Tohono O'oadham as a source of nutrition. After rolling hte buds on the ground/ hard surface to remove any spines and glochids, they would pitroast them for a day and then either eat them immediately or dry/pickle them for later consumption. These buds are a significant source for protein, calcium, and fiber. These were primarily eaten after dry season before the Saguaro fruits ripen. The pads of the Prickly Pear, Nopales were also eaten (the younger ones have less oxalic acid and are more tender). The smaller pads, Nopalitos, are cut into small bites and are similar to okra; they are also good for thickening broths. Prickly pear pads have been proven to help control blood-sugar levels and to reduce blood cholesterol. The juice of prickly pears was also used by the natives to strengthen adobe mortar.
The Cochineal, a scale insect that feeds on prickly pears, was also ground up to form a crimson dye. When imported back to Europe, it was so expensive that only loyalty could afford it. The Cochineal industry thrived until the late 1800s when cheaper aniline dyes became more available. This dye is still used in red candies, beverages, and lipstick; it is one of the only red dyes approved by the FDA.

3.) The Saguaro- saguaro fruit is an extremely significant fruit to the Tohono O'oadham. Women would use poles made from Saguaro ribs to knock off Saguaro fruit- the pulp would then be boiled down into syrup. Some of the syrup could then be used to make wine for the rain-making ceremony. The seeds of the fruit were dried and can then be eaten or ground into flour to make gruel. Saguaro fruits were an essential aspect of Tohono O'oadham nutrition, as they were composed of 10% protein, 70% carbohydrate, and the seeds were 30% fat. The Tohono O'oadham still participate in an annual Saguaro Harvesting ceremony.

4.) The Mesquite Tree- Tohono O'adham and Hohokam peoples ate te seeds, but also ground them up into flour to use in broths, stews, and breads. The inner bark was used as material for basketry, coarse fabrics, and medicine. Gum from the stem is still used to manufacture candies, as mucilage for mending pottery, and as black dye.

5.) The Ocotillo- used for fencing, house walls, and ramada roofs. The flowers were soaked in cold water to make tea.

6.) The Creosote Bush- this is not only the most drought-tolerant perrenial plant in North America, but it is also one of the most amazingly useful plants, commonly known as the "drugstore of the desert.Not only did the Tohono O'oadham and Hohokam use the lac produced by the Tachardiella larrae (a small scale insect that lives in the bush) as a multipurpose glue/sealant, but the Creosote had a plethora of medicinal applications as well. Thus, it became the single most widely used medicinal herb of the Sonoran Desert. It could be used as an anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, or as a topical rub for rheumatism and arthritis. The Indians would heat leaf-bearing branches and tye them sore body parts in order to ease discomfort. Crushed leaves and lac were used to treat respiratory colds, sore throats and even tuberculosis. When steamed, it was used as a decongestant. The "Chaparral Tea" made from the leaves treated a variety of ailments due to its antioxidant properties. Creosote was also consumed orally to ease gastrointentinal upsets, and was applied to cuts, abrasions and skin disorders; it was often used as an antiseptic and astringent. Creosote was also used for oral health as well, commonly being applied to ease toothaches. Among many other uses, creosote could even treat fevers and dandruff, and was often utilized as a deoderant.