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. 2022 Mar-Apr;26(2):198-200.
doi: 10.1177/12034754211058403. Epub 2021 Nov 11.

Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis, Dermatophytes, and Syphilis by Indigenous Peoples Prior to 1850

Jonah Perlmutter  1 , Rachel Cogan  1 , Marni C Wiseman  1
Affiliations

Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis, Dermatophytes, and Syphilis by Indigenous Peoples Prior to 1850

Jonah Perlmutter et al. J Cutan Med Surg. 2022 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

The Iroquoian and Algonquian-speaking Peoples of North America discovered numerous natural treatments to dermatological conditions long prior to European settlement. Anthropological evidence suggests that treatments for atopic dermatitis, dermatophyte infections, and syphilitic lesions were derived from Sassafras albidum, genus Salix trees, and Sassafras officinale. Literature suggests these medicinal properties are attributed to the naturally abundant safrole, salicylic acid, and ascorbic acid in these flora. Numerous instances of these natural medicinal discoveries later being implemented into European literature reaffirms the impact of Indigenous medicine on contemporary dermatology.

Keywords: Algonquin; Iroquoian; atopic dermatitis; dermatophytes; syphilis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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