Much of the land of the native Houma people is now underwater, and after the oil spill, one healer's great-grandson fears that the traditional plants once used to save the ill will soon be lost too. Jason Pitre grew up hearing stories of how his great-grandfather healed babies on the cusp of death using herbs and plants found along Louisiana's bayous. The tribal healer, or traiteur , was known ...

or traiteur , was known by the native Houma people for his potions and salves that seemed to treat ... an herb with clusters of small white flowers used as a tea to cleanse the body, is nowhere to be found,