Indian Roots & Herbs (c. 1915–1930) – Original Herbal Medicine Booklet

A Genuine Artifact from America’s Lost Herbal Age.

This is an original early-20th-century herbal medicine booklet titled:

“Indian Roots & Herbs — Nature’s Own Remedy”

Printed and distributed between 1915 and 1930, this booklet comes from the forgotten era when Americans treated illness with roots, bark, leaves, and forest medicine, long before pharmaceutical drugs became dominant. It was part of a mail-order herbal cure system that operated roughly 1905–1935, before strict federal regulation ended most of this industry

It was issued by: Mrs. Harry Joles of Boyceville, Wisconsin

This is a museum-grade survivor from America’s herbal underground.

What Makes This Copy Extraordinary:

A handwritten preparation note by Mrs. Joles herself

The handwritten details give directions on boiling, straining, and dosing the herbs — a direct voice from a working herbalist over a century ago. Very few examples of these booklets survive with handwritten correspondence still intact

What they were actually selling

This was not a pill. They sold dried roots, barks, and herbs that you boiled into tea or syrup. As stated in the text: “Indian Herb Tonic is not a tablet, pill, or capsule… but consists of dry medical roots and herbs… from which you prepare the tonic…”

This was the last generation of medicine that came from forests instead of factories.

Why it says "Indian"

In this era, “Indian” was a marketing term, not proof of native authorship. Companies used terms like tribal, red man, forest, and ancient to imply herbal wisdom, purity, and closeness to nature. It sold extremely well to urban Americans afraid of chemical drugs. 

It belongs to the same historical lineage as:

• Swamp Root
• Lydia Pinkham
• Kickapoo Indian Sagwa
• Eclectic herbalism
• Native-inspired American plant medicine

Condition

This original paper booklet shows:

• Natural age toning
• Light creasing and foxing
• Stable binding
• No missing pages

The condition is consistent with a 100-year-old working document and has not been altered, cleaned, or restored.

The Wild Island Herbal Heritage Collection

The Herbal Heritage Collection preserves:

• Antique herbal texts
• Folk medicine documents
• Apothecary artifacts
• Lost plant traditions

Each piece is chosen for historical and botanical importance.

This booklet is a cornerstone example of:

• Early 20th-century herbal commerce
• Mail-order folk medicine
• America’s transition from roots to pharmaceuticals