Bridging traditional and contemporary healthcare: A scoping review of indigenous plant and food remedies in Canada

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Background: Indigenous communities in Canada hold invaluable traditional knowledge of plant and food remedies for common ailments. While integral to maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, these practices are underutilized within Canada’s healthcare system. This scoping review explores Indigenous peoples' use of plant and food remedies. Hypothesis: This objective of this review is to examine the types of plants used, preparation methods, cultural and ecological similarities and differences in plant and food-based remedies for ailments in Indigenous groups. Methods: This review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines with a comprehensive search of the MEDLINE database. Studies were included if they focused on traditional knowledge and plant-based remedies used by Indigenous communities in Canada, including preparation methods. Studies on bioassays or non-Indigenous populations were excluded. A descriptive synthesis was conducted and findings were organized based on ailment categories (respiratory, internal, etc.). Results: The search yielded 470 non-duplicated records supplemented by 7 grey literature sources, which were scoped to 43 studies. The majority of literature focused on First Nations groups, such as the Cree, Innu, and Algonquin. Métis traditional knowledge was primarily sourced from grey literature. We identified 14 ailment categories treated with traditional remedies. More plant-based remedies were identified than food-based, with plants prepared as teas, tonics, and other ingestible forms. Many plant species treated multiple ailments, highlighting shared practices yet variations still existed in preparation and use among Indigenous groups. Conclusions: This review finds ecological specificity in traditional plant use among Indigenous groups depending on the region, and cultural variations in plant use for specific ailments, collection, and preparation methods. We emphasize the need for culturally specific and sensitive approaches that integrate Indigenous practices into mainstream healthcare, fostering reconciliation and collaboration. Future research should use community-led participatory approaches, address knowledge gaps in Métis practices, and explore the therapeutic efficacy of remedies.