Tag: Traditional knowledge

Contrary to the widespread belief that a diet without fresh fruits and vegetables must lead to scurvy, the Inuit of the Arctic traditionally maintained excellent health. A primary question has long been, "How did the Inuit get vitamin C?", given their predominantly animal-based diet in an environment where plants are scarce. The answer lies in their deep knowledge of their food sources and preparation methods.

While European explorers succumbed to scurvy on long voyages, indigenous populations thrived for centuries, baffling onlookers with their robust health. The answer lies in how did natives get vitamin C, which was through a profound understanding of their local environment and food sources, far beyond what any citrus-loving sailor could imagine.

In 1535, French explorer Jacques Cartier's crew was saved from scurvy by a Native American remedy: pine needle tea. This incident highlights the sophisticated traditional ecological knowledge indigenous peoples used to get their vitamin C from diverse sources long before the common use of citrus fruits.

In 1536, suffering from a deadly outbreak of scurvy, French explorer Jacques Cartier's crew was saved by a remedy shared by the local St. Lawrence Iroquoians, providing a powerful example of what was the indigenous cure for scurvy.