Scientific Name: Eriodictyon californicum
Common Name: Yerba Santa
Family (Plant): Boraginaceae
USDA Hardiness: 7-10
Known Hazards: *Not recommended during pregnancy. Iron and other mineral absorption can be affected by Yerba Santa.
How to Identify / Physical Characteristics
How to identify Yerba Santa? What are the physical characteristics of Yerba Santa?
Yerba Santa is an evergreen shrub that grows between 2 to 8 feet tall with woody lower branches. It has a sticky yellow-green stem producing lance-shaped, 2 to 6 inch long leaves. The leaves are generally toothed and are dark green, sticky, and glossy from above; the hairs form below between the veins in a net like patterns on the light colored undersides. Flowering stalks, lined with ⅓ to ⅔ inch long tubular flowers that may vary in color from white, pink, and purple through late spring and early summer. The seeds are small and can lay dormant for decades before a fire or mechanical disturbance to stimulate their germination and begin to grow into small shrubs by late summer.
Where, When, and How to Wildcraft
Where do I find Yerba Santa? When to harvest yerba santa? How to wildcraft yerba santa?
Yerba Santa is a shallowly rooted evergreen shrub standing between 2 and 8 feet tall depending on age. It is usually found in dry, sunny fields, and open woodland on southern facing rocky slopes, and along roadsides at low and middle elevation. It has wide spreading roots that help to stabilize the soil on burn sites and other distrubed areas. Generally found from the northern limits of Oregon extending down into the southern regions of California.
Harvest of the new-growth leaves takes place from early to late summer. In order to encourage bushier and healthier growth it is recommended to cut the twig ends just above an outward facing bud. Lay the stems with the leaves flat to make sure the drying process takes place evenly; ensure that you rotate them regularly so the leaves do not stick together or turn brown. You can leave the leaves on the stem to create smudge stick and herbal smoke cleansing tools or remove the leaves to create herbal tinctures, teas, or for herbal smoking blends.
Edible Uses:
What are the edible uses of Yerba Santa? How to consume Yerba Santa?
The fresh leaves are often chewed like gum due to their refreshing taste and ability to aid in the cleaning of your teeth and as a breath freshener. You can make a nice sweet tea from either fresh or dried leaves or use it to create and extract and use it as a flavoring for baked goods, sweets, ice cream, and soft drinks.
Medicinal Uses:
What are the medicinal uses of Yerba Santa? How to use Yerba Santa?
(Greyes Herbal Apothecary/Adventure can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.)
Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon Californicum) translates to the ‘Holy Herb’ or ‘Sacred Herb’ and was first used by Native American healers and later by Spanish settlers; it has long been used as a valuable herbal remedy for centuries. Historically it is known for being one of the best decongestant herbs, it helps to warm and stimulate the respiratory system; reducing inflammation in the sinuses, throat, and lungs; drying “moist” or “juicy” areas within the lungs and upper respiratory system.
Tinctures are used to relieve chronic asthma, bronchitis, season allergies, and to reduce respiratory inflammation caused by smoking. Keep in mind that yerba santa leaves can be very astringent if taken in high doses, more than 45 drops, the drying effect may leave you with a dry mouth; when taken in smaller doses it will first gently dry and then remoisten and refresh the mucous membranes.
Consuming a cooled tea or the tincture in cool water can speed the healing of UTIs characterized by discharge of mucus. When consumed as a hot tea or by putting the tincture in warmed water it speeds up the detoxifying process by promoting sweating and increased circulation through the extremities. It can also be smoked as a remedy and treatment for asthma or used in a decoction to wash sore and fatigued limbs.
Magickal Uses:
What are the magickal properties of yerba santa? How to use yerba santa in witchcraft?
Yerba Santa is known for bringing spiritual blessings to a home when placed upon an altar especially if combined with other ‘sacred herbs’ such as’ Holy Basil, Angelica, Sacred Bark, or Blessed Thistle. As it correlates to the element of water it is a great herb for clearing emotional and spiritual blockages and aids in the release of heavy emotions and past traumas by opening and cleansing the heart and lungs. When burned in ceremony or ritual it helps to nourish and protect your wild instincts and can be burned for encouragement and courage whenever needed.
Yerba Santa is a powerful way to smoke cleanse (smudge) a space. It can be used for a plethora of things due to its amazing healing and purifying energies. It is a wonderful tool for calling in healing, love, protection, and purification. As it is associated with the heart chakra it is also a very powerful tool to release emotional pains and traumas.
Herbal Preparations:
How to prepare a yerba santa tincture? How to prepare yerba santa in a tea?
Yerba Santa Tea Recipe: (standard infusion)
8oz Boiling Water
1 tsp Yerba Santa leaves (fresh or dried)
Honey to taste (optional)
-add yerba santa leaves to a cup of boiling water and allow to steep for 20-30 minutes then sip with the intention of clearing and opening the respiratory system and releasing negative energy.
-you may consumer 8 fluid ounces up to 2 times daily (please do not exceed more than a total of 2 tsp of yerba santa in a 24 hour period)
(As yerba santa’s resins are not water soluble it is best prepared as a tincture for mucus-clearing and respiratory stimulation effects.)
Yerba Santa Tincture / Extract Recipe: (take 1-2 dropperfuls daily as needed)
1 Part Dried Yerba Santa Leaves
5 Parts Menstruum (65% alcohol / 35% distilled water)
-leave to steep in a glass jar for 1 to 3 months (the longer it sits the more potent it will be).
-when you feel that your tincture is potent enough to your liking, line a mesh strainer with a cheesecloth and strain the plant matter out of your tincture base (alcohol/water mixture).
-note the most potent part of the tincture will still be attached to the plant material so take a spoon or spatula and press all the excess moisture out of the plant matter before discarding it.
-store in a dry cool area, it is recommended to discard unused tincture after 2 years from the date it was brewed.
Not into DIY or just want a pre-made product?
Check out our natural Yerba Santa tincture!
The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.