Note the dissected, Artemisia-like leaves and interrupted racemes of tiny nodding green flower heads carrying the yellow pollen that causes hay fever. Commonly grows from one to five feet tall. Common ragweed is in season from August to October.
Various Native tribes used this plant medicinally:
- The Lakotas applied a tea made from he leaves of the common ragweed to swellings.
- The Dakotas made a tea from the leaves and small tops of the plant to cure bloody flux and stop vomiting.
- The Omaha used ragweed as a remedy for nausea -- for this treatment; the surface of the patient's abdomen was scarified and a dressing of the bruised leaves was placed on it.
- The Cheyennes drank a tea made from pinch of finely ground leaves and stems of a western variety, A. psilostachya, to treat bowel cramps, bloody stools, constipation and colds.
This plant also produces large quantities of allergy causing pollen.
