Herbal remedies

Often what we need is at our fingertips, but we forget. We are blind to the resources that lay at our feet, feeling that our survival lies on external sources far away.

Our worries become more about who and what will provide for us next rather than how will I provide for myself. All too often this dependency creates deep ruts in our behavior, and we lose our flexibility of mind and body.

Recently on a backcountry trip I was astounded by the diversity of plant life around me, also a little saddened, as I knew each plant held a secret of healing, practical use or nutrition, but somehow the lore and knowledge had been lost to me.

Thankfully, though, the beauty and mystery of the plants wrapped me up, and a deep desire to use the knowledge I had accumulated stirred. Over the next six miles, I slowed down and let the plants do their work.

During that time, I came upon two friends I knew well and had served me practically and medicinally, yerba santa and mugwort.

Yerba santa, Eriodictylon crassifolium, is found in the Hydrophyllaceae family. Worldwide there are 270 species in this family, seven of which are found indigenously in our coastal ranges. Family characteristics are five sepals, five joined petals and five stamens which are attached to the petals.

Yerba santa is a shrub that grows 3 to 6 feet high with tubular flowers consisting of five lobed lavender petals. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate to oval, with a toothed margin. They are dark green, waxy and grow to be 2 to 6 inches long. This plant is found in chaparral habitats amongst dry rocky places.

Mostly this species is found at higher elevations on the north and western end of the mountain range.

Yerba santa is known to ease a diverse amount of medical ailments. The leaves can either be smoked or made into a tea to treat asthma, bronchitis, fevers, tuberculosis, rheumatism, sore throats or general colds. As a tea it can also become a blood purifier.

Pounded into a poultice and placed on sore muscles it is a relief from aching or fatigue. It is also used to reduce inflammation of sores. When applied to the skin as a wash it relieves itching. Often this plant is added to medicines to reduce the bitter flavor of other herbs.

During my backcountry trip I gratefully came upon this plant and used it as a thirst quencher.

Chewing and sucking on the fresh leaves creates a cool refreshing sensation in your mouth, remedying any immediate thirst you may have.

Another plant that serves me well is mugwort, Artemisia douglasiana. This plant grows prolifically along creek sides and in moist shaded areas.

It is a member of the Asteraceae family, of which there are 135 species in the Santa Monica Mountains. Mugwort is a perennial herb that is extremely aromatic, growing 2 to 5 feet tall. The flowers are small and woolly, with gray hairs underneath, lending to its other common name "silver tongue."

Medicinally, mugwort has many uses. After childbirth, the leaves, which have antimicrobial and antifungal properties, were warmed and placed on the child's umbilicus after the cord was cut.

As a tea it is used to stop excessive menstruation or to ease cramps. In addition it is used to treat chronic gastritis or gastric ulcers. It is very effective at breaking fevers or as an expectorant. When combined with other herbs, mugwort can ease sinus pain, reduce red eyes and treat frontal headaches. Being a mild topical anesthetic or antiinflammatory, as a liniment it is placed on sprains, hyperextensions and bruises. It has been recorded that the stalks of mugwort were used to make arrow shafts, although not of high quality.

During my hike I found myself walking through thickets of poison oak. Luckily at my fingertips were abundant stands of mugwort. Rubbing fresh leaves on the skin acts as a preventative to the poison oak rash, inertly changing the chemical irritant of poison oak upon contact.

Beyond a protective barrier for poison oak, mugwort also serves as great fire tinder, taking ember to flame.

Like flames blazing, I would like to see our culture's knowledge of plants grow into a warehouse of reliability. Seemingly contradictory, there is a freedom as well as a security in knowing the language and uses of the plants.

Rather than dependency on external resources and outside corporations, we as a culture can begin to care for ourselves and live more sustainably by just reaching out to what is already at our fingertips.