|
The Yerba Santa herb may not be well known, but in fact it has been used for centuries to relieve such tough conditions as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, sinusitis, dry cough, chest colds, allergies, hay fever, asthma, flu, chronic laryngitis, runny nose and many other conditions where there is excessive mucus to be expelled from the body.
The plant actually has a rich past in California, where it was called the Holy Herb by the Spanish missionaries, who learned of its medicinal qualities from the Native Americans.
The missionaries, in turn, introduced it to the early settlers, and the herb was said to be found in every home medicine chest.
The Yerba Santa plant is a very aromatic evergreen shrub that is native to the mountains and hillsides of Oregon, California as well as in the northern parts of Mexico.
This plant usually grows up to about eight feet in height .
The Yerba Santa plant has flowers that look like miniature trumpets and are either white or lavender/blue in color and bloom in July and August every year.
Native Americans used it for asthma and chewed it for oral hygiene. They also employed it to treat coughs, colds, sore throats, excess mucus, stomachaches, vomiting and diarrhea, and many of these applications are repeated in modern herbal medicine.
It has a strong stimulating action that is most pronounced on the lungs, topens up respiratory passages and is and is a great expectorant that loosens and expels mucus and phlegm from the respiratory system.
It has been used to purify the system and cleanse the blood, providing an overall invigorated feeling that is even thought to slow aging, reduce fatigue, stimulate the mind and energize tired limbs.
Some of the consitituents in Yerba Santa include a rich source of flavonoids, glycerides of fatty acids, volatile oil, phytosterol, glucose, pentatriacontane, cerotonic, formic and other acids and resin.
Uses:
As an "alterative," Yerba Santa acts to cleanse and stimulate the efficient removal of waste products from the body, and as such, it is believed to purify the system and cleanse the blood, providing an overall invigorated feeling.
The herb is said to promote healing.
Yerba Santa is believed to reduce spasms, improve digestion, pep up and stimulate the appetite and ease stomachaches, flatulence and vomiting. In addition, this herb has also been used to relieve diarrhea and dysentery.
Yerba Santa leaf can be used to treat the following ailments:
• Allergies
• Hay Fever
• Asthma
• Colds
• Bronchitis
• Laryngitis
• Respiratory ailments
• As a stimulating expectorant
• Reduces fever when used as a liniment
• When used as a poultice, fresh Yerba Santa leaves can treat bruises and rheumatism
Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women should not use Yerba Santa.
Botanical Name : Eriodictyon glutinosum (also known as Eriodictyon californicum)
Family Name: Hydrophyllaceae (perennial woodland herbs)
Back to homepage
|
