Women's Health Among the Chumash

Plants were, and still are, widely used for a number of conditions affecting women in California. This article discusses traditional remedies of the Chumash for dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, feminine hygiene, heavy menstruation, urinary tract infections, parturition, lactation, infant care, menopause, sexually transmitted diseases, fertility, contraception and abortions. Many plants are presented includingArtemisia douglasiana,Paeonia californica,Trichostema lanatum,Salvia apiana,Ephedra viridis,Leymus condensatus,Vitis californica,Eschscholzia californica,Rosa californica,Scirpus acutus,Anemopsis californicaandPhoradendron macrophyllum. By providing the specific uses of plants for specific diseases and discussing chemistry, efficacy and safety concerns for each plant, we hope that this article gives direction to women seeking to use plants in their health care.

Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis, Nesting in the Yorkton Wetland Complex, Saskatchewan

Surveys for Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) were conducted near Yorkton, Saskatchewan during the summers of 1995, 1996 and 1997. Seven nesting territories were identified and habitat measurements were taken at six nests. All nests were located in the emergent deep marsh zone of open water marshes within residual stands of Hardstem Bulrush (Scirpus acutus). Seven eggs were measured in four nests. Estimated hatching dates ranged from 20 May to 9 June. Total productivity for the three years was 0.80 chick per breeding pair (12 offspring fledged by 15 pairs). Individual pair productivity was impacted by disturbance, mate change, adult mortality, and predation. Hunting mortality may also impact the population.

Wetland Treatment of Pulp Mill Wastewater

Ten wetland ponds, each 1430 m2 (1/3 acre) in area are being utilized to evaluate the treatment of wastewater from a pulp mill. The ponds are being operated at a depth of 46 cm (18″) and detention times are 2 and 10 days. Six of the ponds have been planted to cattails (Typha latifolia) and three to bulrush (Scirpus acutus). One of the ponds is filled with large (150 mm) stone to compare a subsurface non-plant system. In 24 stock tanks, 8 aquatic plant species (Cattail, Hardstem Bulrush, Bolander's Rush, Common Spike Rush, Water Mannagrass, Beaked Sedge, Water Parsley and Yellow Pond Lily) are being grown to evaluate the effect of plants in the wetland treatment of wastewater. These same species are being evaluated in a larger area for competitiveness and hardiness in the wastewater. The ponds were planted in the winter of 1990/91. Results of this work on treatment of biochemical oxygen demand, solids and colour removal will be reported. Removals are in the range of 55%, 70% and less than 5% for the three parameters, respectively.