Yerba Santa
- Eriodictyon californicum L.
- Eriodictyon glutinosum
- Hydrophyllaceae
- Water leaf family
Common Names
 Bear's
weed
Consumptive's
weed
Gum
bush
Gum
plant (Grindelia robusta L.)
Mountain
balm
Tarweed
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. One Native American expressed it,
"It makes one taste kind of sweety inside."
Uses
Native Americans boiled the fresh or dried leaves for colds,
coughs, sore throat, catarrh,
asthma, bronchitis,
hayfever, congestion due to
allergies, laryngitis, fever,
stomach aches, vomiting,
diarrhea, hemorrhoids,
kidney conditions, and
rheumatism. Externally,
Native Americans used the fresh or dried leaves as a poultice for
broken or unbroken skin, fatigued limbs, insect
bites, sprains, bruises, swellings, sores,
poison ivy or poison oak rashes.
Formulas or Dosages
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.
Warning
Yerba santa should be used in small amounts as too large doses will
irritate the kidneys.
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