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Indian physic noun Bowman’s root (Gillenia trifoliata), the root of which has medicinal uses.

1824 (in 1912 Doddridge Notes on Settlement 116) Indian physic, or bowman root, a species of epicacuanha, was frequently used for a vomit, and sometimes the pocoon or blood root. 1937 Hall Coll (Big Creek NC) Indian Physic Tea—Good to clean your stomach off. Good blood medicine. Lord, I’ve drunk a sight of it. 1982 Stupka Wildflowers 49 [Bowman’s root] is also called “Indian-physic” and “false ipecac,” as the bark of the root was once used medicinally.