Yerba Santa
Parts Usually Used
Leaves
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Yerba santa is an evergreen shrub; it is somewhat branching and grows to 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 substance appears as if the woolly fibers have been varnished; upper surface is smooth with depressed veins. The flowers are terminal, appearing in shades of dark lavender to pale shades of lavender to white; forming funnel-shaped clusters at the top of the plant.
The honey is amber, with a slightly spicy flavor. Bees love this plant. The capsule fruit is oval, grayish-brown and contains small brown shriveled seeds.
Where Found
Follow the bees and find santa yerba on dry mountain slopes and ridges in the coastal ranges and up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada from Monterey to Tulare northward.
Medicinal Properties
Aromatic, tonic, stimulant, expectorant
Biochemical Information
Eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, chrysocriol, zanthoeridol and eridonel. Also free formic and other acids, glycerides of fatty acids, a yellow volatile oil, a phytosterol, resin and glucose.
Legends, Myths and Stories
The name yerba santa (means “Holy weed”) was given by the Spanish fathers who became aware of it through Native Americans. The Native Americans smoked or chewed the leaves for asthma. The taste is peculiar, at first, when chewed, seems rather disagreeable, resinous, and bitter. This taste soon disappears and then tastes sweet and cooling, which is especially noticed when chewing stops a minute, or by drinking a glass of water.
”
Uses
Native Americans boiled the fresh or dried leaves to prepare remedies for colds, coughs, sore throats, catarrh, asthma, bronchitis, hay fever, allergy-related congestion, laryngitis, fevers, stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, kidney complaints, and rheumatism. Externally, traditional practitioners applied poultices made from the fresh or dried leaves to broken or unbroken skin, tired limbs, insect bites, sprains, bruises, swellings, sores, and rashes attributed to poison ivy or poison oak.
Warning
Yerba santa should be used in small amounts as too large doses will irritate the kidneys.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. , Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , Copyright 1988, published 1992 Indian Herbalogy of North America , by Alma R. , Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973 An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants , by Pamela Forey and Ruth Lindsay, Crescent Books (January 27, 1992).
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine , by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988. The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. , 1974