Hi everyone. Last week I got a little sick. Something respiratory system related. It felt a bit like the sinus infections I used to get all the time when I was younger. At its worst it involved being very congested with a deep cough and a feverish sick feeling. I couldn’t afford to be out of work for long so I wanted to make sure I got well as soon as possible. Luckily my local trail here in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California has a wonderful large patch of Yerba Santa. After a short trip through Sumac, Willows, Live Oaks, Mallow, and more, I came up to the thirty foot wide patch of Yerba Santa.
It was a great time to pick. Baby plants were sprouting up with their radiant green color
And the older plants had fresh green growth.
I went ahead and picked some of the older leaves that looked like they were due to fall off in a month or so. I could smell the sweet fragrance of the plants as I picked the leaves. The leaves were a bit sticky to the touch. I took just one or two leaves from each plant, being sure to remove them gently. Hopefully this will help preserve the health of the patch so that it will stay healthy and can help people for years to come. It is also best to pick leaves before the plants show their beautiful deep purple flowers later in the year. The leaves can be dried and saved for later or used fresh.
Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon crassifolium), is known to the Chumash as Wishap (pronounced Weeshap), and is prized for it’s ability to relieve lung problems including Asthma, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Luckily I wasn’t severely sick. I put a couple of the leaves I had picked in a tea cup with one White Sage leaf from my garden. I poured boiling water over it and covered the cup, leaving it to steep until it had cooled down enough to drink. The tea was delicious with a sweet fruity sage taste. About twenty minutes after drinking the first cup, my airways opened up and my cough subsided. I continued with this tea once a day for three days, and by the end of the third day I was feeling fully recovered. Of course it didn’t hurt that I got a healthy dose of sleep as well, but I was amazed at how immediate and strong the effects of the tea were. It allowed me to sleep through the night comfortably without being woken up by congestion or coughing.
I highly recommend this wonderful medicine for anyone who feels a respiratory related illness start to show itself. If you take it early enough you might even feel better before you start really feeling sick. Enjoy your tea, and stay well. If you need help identifying or finding some Yerba Santa, feel free to give me a call, message, or e-mail.
All photos were shot by Kellee Matsushita.
Disclaimer: This post was not meant to diagnose or prescribe. If you may have a serious illness, contact a doctor. Use medicinal plants at your own risk.
The Medicine Tree 