Early chemical studies of the remedies used by Carrier doctor Sophie Thomas showed that they were effective in ways that were discernible in chemical assays.

   For instance,

• the spruce pitch ointment used on wounds was shown to contain antimicrobial agents and showed activity against five common human pathogens: E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, A. fumigatus.
  
  
• Similarly, a juniper mixture used to treat kidney ailments was effective in prohibiting the growth of E. coli bacteria.
  
  
• Finally, medicines based on alder and soopolallie, which Sophie Thomas uses to treat leukemia and other internal cancers, were found to be active in fighting cancers when tested on mouse mastocytoma cells.

Taken from "Aboriginal Conceptions of the Body, Disease, and Medicine" published from studies researched at the
University of British Columbia.