Osha Root

Western Bulk Herbs – Osha Root

Ancient Chinese physicians used a plant that is similar to Osha called ligusticum, which opened the interstices or rather sweated out the infection in the respiratory system. It induces sweating to prevent colds and flu. It also may help with coughs and the Native Americans smoked it to soothe sore throats. It stimulates the appetite and has been used for stomach pain and cramping.

Latin Name:
Ligusticum porteri

Common Names:
Bear Medicine, Colorado Cough Root, Chuchupaste, Porter’s Wild Lovage, Indian Root, and Mountain Ginseng

Parts Used:
Dried root

Chemical Properties:
Furanocoumarins, mucilage

Traditional Uses:
Teas, tinctures, encapsulations. Tinctures and extracts vary widely in concentration; be sure to follow instructions on the label. Also used in steams and saunas.

Properties:
Antiviral, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, and Immune stimulating properties.

Folk Lore:
Osha can’t be domesticated and is all but impossible to grow under cultivation. Virtually all commercial osha is wild harvested. Osha got its name as “bear medicine” because early settlers noticed bears would seek it out when they came out of hibernations. It stimulates their appetite, so they chewed it into a “cud” and let it drop down on their fur where they rubbed it in. Fresh or dried root brings a tingling sensation to tongue and gums.

Cautions:
Not tested for safety for pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children under the age of 6.

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Resources:
PDR for Herbal Medicines, 2000. Medical Economics Company, Montvale, New Jersey.

The New Holistic Herbal. David Hoffmann, 1990. Barnes and Noble Books, New York.

A Modern Herbal, Mrs. M. Grieve, (Dover Publications, New York, 1971)

Major Herbs of Ayurvedic.Compiled by Dahur Research Foundation and Dahur Ayurvet Limited, Ghaziabad, India., 2002. Churchill Livingstone, London, England.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition, Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, 1986. Eastland Press, Seattle, WA.