Common Medicinal Plants

Common Medicinal
Plants
Thank you! Artwork may be used for educational purposes as
long as the artist is credited in your publication.
Beth Sabo
Education Coordinator
beth@landpaths.org
of Northern California
Drawings and text by Beth Sabo
44
1
YERBA SANTA
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Eriodictyon californicum
Habitat
Serpentine slopes; rocky, dry exposed
areas
This sticky evergreen shrub grows
abundantly throughout CA’s Serpentine slopes. It’s dark, resinous leaves
are used by Native Americans and
Western herbalists to cure coughs and
other ailments of the respiratory system.
Herbal Uses
2
CA Native
43
Table of Contents
42
Acorns
4
Bay Laurel
6
Black Walnut
8
Buckeye
10
California Poppy
12
Elderberry
14
Fennel
16
Gumplant
18
Horsetail
20
Milk Thistle
22
Mugwort
24
Oak Gall
26
Pearly Everlasting
28
Pennyroyal
30
Plantain
32
Rosehips
34
Usnea
36
Willow
38
Yarrow
40
Yerba Santa
42
3
YARROW
Scientific Name
Achillea millefolium
Nativity
CA Native
Habitat
Grasslands, woodlands, coastal
bluffs
Yarrow’s scientific name tells it all,
“Achilles’ plant with a million
leaves,” referring to its healing
properties when injured even the
strongest of warriors in the field.
The fresh plant can be poulticed
on or packed into an open wound
to stop bleeding, and disinfect the
abrasion. Alternatively, the plant
can be taken internally as a tea,
tincture, or capsule to increase
blood flow and heart rate in cases
of slow circulation, heart problems, or numbness. As it increases
blood flow, the plant can be used
to aid headaches and reduce fevers.
Herbal Uses
4
41
ACORNS
40
Scientific
Name
Nativity
From many species of Oak and Tanoak
trees
CA Native
Habitat
Oak woodlands, redwoods
Herbal Uses
Acorns were an important food source
for Native Americans, who would leach
out the tannins in creeks and prepare as
acorn mash. Acorns were also an important part of the process of tanning
leather. The tannins from acorns would
help to make leather and fur pliable, easy
to work with, long- lasting, and comfortable to wear.
5
WILLOW
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
6
Salix species
Many species are CA Natives
Riparian zones
The willow was an important tree to
Native Americans, who cultivated
specific trees as sources for arrow
wood. Willow is the source of salicilin
- the biological inspiration for aspirin,
and was used by ancient and modern
civilizations to relieve headaches,
reduce fevers, increase blood flow,
and soothe aches and pains.
39
BAY LAUREL
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
38
Umbelularia californica
CA Native
Riparian zones, woodlands, oak
savannahs
The bay tree’s large amount of secondary compounds create a heavily
scented leaf, full of astringent qualities. This makes the bay a “go to”
for scented oils and inhalation- relaxing muscles and relieving tension
associated with headaches, high
blood pressure and nervous energy.
Native Americans also enjoyed the
seed of the tree as a roasted nut.
Soups, stews and sauces can also
be seasoned with the leaf.
7
USNEA
8
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Usnea species
Habitat
Found in trees- woodlands, redwoods
Herbal Uses
Usnea is not a plant at all, but a lichen
- a symbiotic partnership between
algae and fungi. Usnea is one of the
strongest antifungals in the herbal
world. Tinctures and teas can be made
to take internally to reduce issues
with yeast and fungi, teas can be applied externally on fungal infections as
cold compresses and poultices. The
whole plant can be used as a bandage,
and was often used by Native Americans as an absorptive material for
shoe soles, padding, and diapers.
CA Native
37
BLACK WALNUT
Scientific Name
Juglans nigra.
Nativity
CA Native
Habitat
Oak savannahs, riparian zones,
woodlands
Black walnuts are an important
food sources for Native and modern Americans. The nut of this
tree is delicious- even more flavorful than the cultivated English
walnut, but smaller and much
more difficult to access. The walnuts are protected by a fleshy
fruit covering that is full of tannic
acids, juglone, and natural iodine.
When dried, these hulls turn black
and are collected and ground into
a powerful antibacterial, antiviral,
and antifungal, and antiparasitic
powder. It can be used to treat
intestinal worms and fungal afflictions of the skin.
Herbal Uses
36
9
ROSEHIPS
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
10
Rosa gymnocarpa
CA Native
Woodlands, redwoods
Our native rose may appear diminutive when compared to the showy
roses of classic English gardens. But
its delicate flowers produce a fruit
that is an important herb. The rose
hip holds the seeds of the rose and
can be eaten fresh (seeds removed)
or dried for further preparation as a
tea, jelly, or component in syrups.
Rosehips are delicious, sweet, and
full of vitamin C, thus strengthening
the immune system and relieving
headaches, bladder infections, and
dizziness.
35
BUCKEYE
Scientific Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
34
Aesculus californica
CA Native
Riparian zones, springs
This tree has a graceful structure
with smooth bark, showy flowers,
and palm- shaped (palmate)
leaves. The seed of this tree is the
most useful part. High in tannic
acids, the Native Americans
would leach the tannins out in
creeks- damming the creek first
to create a temporary pond. The
toxins would enter to water and
act as a poison for fish, temporarily slowing their swim and making
them easy to catch. Seeds would
be removed from the creek and
prepared for food.
11
PLANTAIN
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Plantago lanceolata
Habitat
Disturbed areas, cultivated lands,
grasslands
Western Herbalists harvest the
leaves and roots of this plant for 2
main purposes: 1) as a poultice or
cold compress to clean and pack
wounds, and 2) to tincture and use as
lymph system cleanser.
Herbal Uses
12
Non- Native, Invasive
33
CALIFORNIA POPPY
32
Scientific
Name
Eschscholzia californica
Nativity
CA Native
Habitat
Grasslands, woodlands, coastal
scrub
Herbal Uses
A relative to the opium poppy, Native Americans and Western Herbalists harvest the entire plant while in
bloom, using roots, stems, leaves,
and flowers to ease nervous energy
and encourage sleep.
13
PENNYROYAL
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Mentha pulegium
Habitat
Riparian zones, usually by still water
created by ponds, seeps, and springs
If you have ever walked around a
pond in summer, you have surely
smelled the strong, minty aroma of
Pennyroyal. Its bushy inflorescences
attract a multitude of bees! The leaves
of this plant can be used fresh or dried
in teas and tinctures to strengthen the
urinary tract and encourage menstrual
bleeding, as well as reduce fevers, and
aid in illness related to the digestive
tract.
Herbal Uses
14
Non- native
31
ELDERBERRY
30
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Sambucus neo- mexicana
Habitat
Riparian zones
Herbal Uses
The elderberry has many uses to Native and Western herbalist. The hollow
stems of this shrub can be made into
vessels for medicines, seeds, or secret
messages. The beautiful, white inflorescence is an important component
in teas to break fevers during sickness.
After being pollinated, the flowers
become abundant bundles of small,
purple fruit, often covered in a white
blush. High in antioxidants, these
tangy berries can be used in syrups to
strengthen the immune system.
CA Native
15
PEARLY EVERLASTING
Scientific
Name
Anaphalis margaritacea
Nativity
CA Native
Habitat
Grasslands- particularly disturbed
areas near springs and sources of
water
This plant, aptly named for its everlasting “flowers,” (phyllaries) that
resemble little pearls, is used in teas
to soothe sickness and discomfort in
the throat and respiratory system.
This is a plant that you smell before
you see– a strong maple syrup aroma
fills your nose while you begin your
search for this tasty tea plant.
Herbal Uses
16
29
FENNEL
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
28
Foeniculum vulgare
Non- Native, Invasive
Disturbed areas, cultivated areas,
roadsides
Well known as a culinary herb, fennel is also used in the herbal world
to cure digestive ailments. The
seeds can be chewed, tinctures
taken, or tea consumed to help one
digest a large meal or settle upset
stomachs.
17
OAK GALL
Scientific Phenomena
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
18
An allergic reaction by the oak
tree when eggs are implanted
into the bark by a cynipid wasp,
Andricus quercuscalifornicus.
There are many types of galls,
each form specific to a particular
species of gall wasp.
CA Native
Oak trees, oak woodlands
The oak gall is one of the most
astringent herbal remedies. It can
be used to tighten, tone, and
strengthen the walls of the digestive tract and is used as a tincture
in cases of diarrhea, dysentery,
and other extreme digestive upsets.
27
GUMPLANT
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
26
Grindelia species
About 8 species (and many subspecies) exist in CA.
6/8 are CA Natives
Coastal bluffs, rocky exposed grasslands
This charming plant is laden with
cheerful yellow flowers that appear to
be overflowing cups of cream. The
“cream” is actually latex exuded by
the plant, full of important resins for
herbal remedies. Flower heads are
collected during full bloom. Teas can
be used to clear congestions in the
throat, as well as asthma. Balms may
also be prepared to heal rashes of the
skin, especially those caused by poison
oak.
19
MUGWORT
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Habitat
Herbal Uses
20
Artemesia douglasiana
CA Native
Riparian zones, shaded woodlands
Best known for it’s ability to induce
vivid dreams, mugwort has many
other medicinal uses. In Traditional
Chinese Medicine, the plant is compressed into tablets, dried, and
burned to release energy and encourage physical stamina. The plant
has also been used to season
meats, substitute hops in beer making, and assist in the delivery of
babies.
25
HORSETAIL
24
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Equisetum species
Habitat
Riparian zones, springs
Herbal Uses
Horsetail is thought to be the first
plant to colonize land. It is rich in Silica
and the raw plant can be used as a file
when rubbed crosswise against nails
or skin. Because of its rich silica content, teas and tinctures are made from
this herb to strengthen hair and nails,
tonify the blood vessels, and improve
incontinence.
CA Native
21
MILK THISTLE
22
Scientific
Name
Nativity
Silybum marianum
Habitat
Grasslands, oak savannahs, woodlands
Herbal Uses
The leaf of this plant is huge, succulent, and armored with large pikes
around its margins. While it does not
look like an edible plant, the leaves
are commonly harvested spikes removed, and cooked to provide a supper green similar to kale or spinach.
The seed of this plant is a sought- after
herbal remedy for liver ailments. The
seeds can be ground and taken as a
powder, tincture, or capsule to encourage liver cleansing.
Non- native, Invasive
23