Native Americans Knew of the Benefits of Blueberries

Native Americans used the berries, roots, and leaves of blueberry plants for nutrition and medicinal purposes.

If you look closely at a blueberry, you will see that it has a 5-point shape on the end. American Indians believed this to be a 5-point star. They believed that this was a sign sent to them by the "Great Spirit."

They believed that this spirit sent the blueberries to them to save their children in times of famine.

Sautauthig was made from blueberries that were dried and then crushed into a powder. Water, cornmeal, and honey were then added to make a pudding.

Historians report that this was one part of the meal eaten at the first Thanksgiving feast.


These early Americans were also very good at preserving blueberries so that they could use them year round. They of course did not have frozen berries, so they dried them for many uses.

One use of the dried berries was crushed into powder as a seasoning for meat. Whole berries were also used in stews and soups. Many historians believe that it was blueberries given to settlers by natives that helped them survive the first winter.

Blueberries were also used for medicine. They used the whole plant for medicine. Blueberry plants were used as a relaxant during childbirth, to suppress coughs, and as a blood purifier.

These earliest of Americans knew back then what modern science is proving today...Wild Blueberries are amazing!

A great site with lots of information about these great people is www.nativeamericans.com (this link will open in a new window).

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