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Bear's Weed | | Name : | Bear's Weed | | Synonyms : | Bear'sweed
Consumptive'sweed
Gumbush
Gumplant (Grindelia robusta L.)
Mountainbalm
Tarweed
| | Parts Used : | Leaves | | Habitat : | Follow the bees and find santa yerba on dry mountain slopes and ridgesin the coastal ranges and up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevadafrom Monterey to Tulare northward. | | Description : | Yerba santa is an evergreen shrub; it is somewhat branching and growsto a height of 2-4 feet. The stems are smooth and exude a gummy substance.Leaves are 3-4 inches long, distinctively woolly on the undersides,containing a network of prominent veins, and the resinous substanceappears as if the woolly fibers have been varnished; upper surfaceis smooth with depressed veins. The flowers are terminal, appearingin shades of dark lavender to pale shades of lavender to white; formingfunnel-shaped clusters at the top of the plant. The honey is amber,with a slightly spicy flavor. Bees love this plant. The capsule fruitis oval, grayish-brown and contains small brown shriveled seeds. | | Constituents : | Eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, chrysocriol, zanthoeridol and eridonel.Also free formic and other acids, glycerides of fatty acids, a yellowvolatile oil, a phytosterol, resin and glucose.
Aromatic, tonic, stimulant, expectorant | | Uses : | Native Americans boiled the fresh or dried leaves for colds,coughs, sore throat, catarrh,asthma, bronchitis,hayfever, congestion due toallergies, laryngitis, fever,stomach aches, vomiting,diarrhea, hemorrhoids,kidney conditions, andrheumatism. Externally,Native Americans used the fresh or dried leaves as a poultice forbroken or unbroken skin, fatigued limbs, insectbites, sprains, bruises, swellings, sores,poison ivy or poison oak rashes. | | Dosage : | Infusion: 1 tsp. of crushed leaves to 1 cup of boiling water,steep 30 minutes. Take 1 cup per day.
Fluid extract: mix 10 to 20 drops in liquid daily. | | Safety : | Yerba santa should be used in small amounts as too large doses willirritate the kidneys. | | Myths : | The name yerba santa (means 'Holy weed') was given by the Spanishfathers who became aware of it through Native Americans.
The Native Americans smoked or chewed the leaves for asthma. Thetaste is peculiar, at first, when chewed, seems rather disagreeable,resinous, and bitter. This taste soon disappears and then tastes sweetand cooling, which is especially noticed when chewing stops a minute,or by drinking a glass of water. One Native American expressed it,'It makes one taste kind of sweety inside.' |
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