Cenizo

Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens), also known as purple sage (even though it is not related to true sage (the Salvia genus) or sagebrush (members of the Artemisia genus), is a shrub with ash green leaves, and flowers in different shades of purple. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and grows wild in the southwestern U.S. (Especially Texas) and northern Mexico. Because it is believed to flower before a rainstorm, it is also called the barometer bush. This ability to predict rain may have to do with its ability to perceive changes in humidity. It is very drought-hardy and can tolerate poor and alkaline soils.  Although it is ubiquitous in gardens of the Southwest, it is less known as an herbal medicine, even though its widespread use as a cold remedy and mild sedative goes back centuries. The small, silvery-blue-green leaves can be used as a tea, which is said to help with congestion, cough, fever, and chills of the common cold. I can say from experience that it has very little taste, and for colds, it is usually sweetened with honey. There have been a few studies that suggest cenizo may be hepatoprotective, but this has not been verified in humans and continues to be studied. I have also not heard of any side effects when it is consumed as a tea in reasonable quantities, but as always, people in special risk groups should consult a medical professional with any questions or concerns before consuming it.

The Sweet Potato

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a member of the bindweed or morning glory family, the Convolvulaceae, and only distantly related to the white potato.  It has long been revered for its medicinal properties, both in the ancient Americas where it was first domesticated and now worldwide.  It is rich in vitamins and minerals as as well as antioxidants called carotenoids.  As part of a healthy diet, it may reduce the risk of some cancers and help regulate blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.  Its high beta carotene content (which the body converts to vitamin A) may help to prevent ulcers and even aid in healing them, though overconsumption can cause mild digestive problems in some people because it contains the polyol mannitol.  Cooked or raw sweet potatoes can also be used externally as a poultice to reduce inflammation related to small wounds or insect stings.

     If you’ve only eaten canned sweet potatoes, you’ll find that dishes made from fresh sweet potatoes are a thousand times better!

Tulsi

Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), also known as holy basil, is an herb used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine.  It is related to common basil used in cooking, and its medicinal properties have been studied extensively throughout the world.  It has many specific uses in Ayurveda, but is also known to promote overall wellness, especially in a body under physical or mental stress.  It has been shown to be effective in maintaining a healthy metabolism by improving blood glucose, lipid balance, and blood pressure.  Additionally, it has mild antibiotic properties.  Tulsi tea is good for washing wounds and can be used to make a refreshing mouthwash.  There are other benefits attributed to it, though not all of them have been scientifically verified.  It contains vitamin A and C, as well as a number of essential minerals.  It does occasionally have side effects, including low blood sugar, bleeding, and decreased fertility--at extremely high levels.  And it can also interact with a few medicines or other herbs as well, but again, usually only with very high consumption.  Tulsi can be grown outdoors and indoors.  Since it is a tropical plant, it does best where temperatures are high, but can tolerate milder temperatures as an annual.  It likes rich, well-drained soil and plenty of water.  Ayurvedic practitioners sometimes call tulsi “the queen of herbs.”

(Thanks to Peter W. for sending us tulsi seeds last Christmas.)

Rosemary

Rosemary is a common, rather austere-looking herb, but it has many uses.  As a culinary herb, it adds a distinctive, fragrant, bitter-sweet flavor to food, and a little goes a long way.  Its oil is used in both hair and skin care, although some people show a marked sensitivity to it (it’s always good to test a small area of skin before using it or products that contain it).  As a medicinal herb, rosemary is useful for its antibacterial and antiviral properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, antispasmolytic effects on the gallbladder and upper intestine, its ability to stimulate circulation when applied to the skin, and its ability improve rheumatic conditions when used in the same way.  The oil should only be used externally, (and then as a mixture of 10% essential rosemary oil to 90% olive oil or some other lipophilic oil), and when taking an extract of the leaves in the form of teas or tinctures, a little is usually better than a lot.  Like any medicine, overdose is possible.  Rosemary should never be taken during pregnancy.  Rosemary has been approved by Commission E for blood pressure problems (external application), dyspeptic complaints (internal consumption), loss of appetite (internal consumption), and rheumatism (external application).  The possible anti-mutagenic and tumor-inhibiting qualities of some of its chemical components are currently being studied.  Rosemary oil has mild insect repellent properties.  Some people claim that rosemary also improves memory, helps with headaches, and makes wounds heal faster when applied to them as a poultice.

The Monsoon Rains

In the late summer the monsoons arrive, bringing heavy, though spotty, rain showers.

The desert greens up and wildflowers bloom, like the spreading fleabane (Erigeron divergens), a medicinal herb with many uses.

Gardens and fields also welcome the nutrient-rich rains.

Depending on the amount of rainfall, one species might be abundant one year, and another, the next--like these Blackfoot daisies.

Cacti store water and ocotillos make leaves.  These Texas rainbow cacti, prickly pear, and ocotillos live in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains, on a slope that carries heavy runoff during the monsoon rains.

Colorful mesquite pods.  Edible honey mesquite pods should be harvested before the monsoons.  They can contain high amounts of toxic aflatoxin B1 produced by a common fungus (Aspergillus flavus) if left wet on the ground for too long.

Cardamom

It may seem strange, in the middle of winter, to be writing about an herb, especially a tropical one.  But this is the time of year when I always enjoy a cup of cardamom tea, and cardamom is also appropriate for the season of cold and ’flu.  Elettaria cardamomum, also known as green or white cardamom, is one of the two types of “cardamom” used as a spice in Indian and other South Asian cooking (the other is black cardamom, Amomum subulatum).  Both are members of the ginger family, but green cardamom is the herb I am discussing here.  Its seeds are used as a medicine as well as a flavoring spice. 

     Cardamom tastes cool, fresh, slightly sweet and peppery, and makes a wonderful flavoring ingredient for everything from curries, chutneys, pulses and rice to kulfi (a kind of ice cream).  (Cardamom kulfi is a great party treat and simple recipes for it can be found on the internet.  Even though I usually don’t do dairy these days, I love it!)  It also makes a great tea.  Because cardamom can be quite expensive, it is commonly used as a flavoring in black tea, or mixed with other spices and black tea in chai, but I like it alone as well.  It is important to buy cardamom seeds still in their papery pods, and only take them out when you are planning to use them (you can even leave them in the pods when you cook with them).  They should be stored in an airtight jar, otherwise they will lose their flavor after a while, even if they are still in their pods.  A couple of fingers-full of seeds crumbled to powder can make a good tea, and you will definitely get your money’s worth in taste if you keep them fresh.

     Medicinally, cardamom is approved by Commission E for treating colds, bronchitis, sore throat, coughs, and fevers.  Cardamom has virustatic properties, and the monoterpene essential oils found in it are antibacterial and antimycotic.  Cardamom is also used for gallbladder and liver complaints because of its cholagogic properties, but it can actually aggravate certain gallbladder and liver problems as well.  I would only recommend it be used by someone with liver or gallbladder problems under the supervision of a trained herbalist or other medical specialist familiar with its use in inducing bile flow.  It is also used traditionally for digestive problems.

     So if you’re feeling a cold coming on, or you just want a tasty hot beverage, make yourself a fragrant cup of cardamom tea on a frosty winter night.

Osha Root

I remember back when I worked in a fair trade store and we sold osha root from a Native American producer group.  The fragrance of osha root, perfumy, earthy, slightly sweet and pungent as a rare incense, would overpower me whenever I opened one of the mason jars where it was stored.  In the midst of so many other wonderful scents: smudge sticks, incense, sheshem wood, palm leaf and kaisa grass baskets, oils, resins, pine needle and beargrass Tarahumara baskets, dream pillows and handmade paper, the pungent aroma of osha root would seduce me like a rare flower.  Osha, truly a queen among herbs!  As a tea or infusion or tincture, osha root is comfort for the sick.  One of the names given to it is bear root, because Native peoples observed that bears would seek it out when they were ill.  Osha root is used to treat colds, ’flu, and other respiratory infections, as well as gastrointestinal disturbances and sore throat.  Though it tastes a little strong (a bit like fresh parsnips to me), it is also somehow wonderfully soothing.  It is not safe for use during pregnancy.  The root is used both fresh and dry.

     Osha (Ligusticum porteri) is found in the mountain areas of the American Southwest, as well as the mountains of northern Mexico.  It is generally found in rich, partially-shaded soils.  It has been very seriously overharvested in the wild, as it is difficult (some would say nearly impossible) to artificially cultivate.  Though not considered endangered, it is definitely threatened in many areas.  Some commercial interests have cleaned out whole ranges.  It is important to obtain osha root from small, environmentally-conscious sources; or if harvesting in the wild, care must be used to leave plenty behind.  It is against the law to harvest osha on some public or tribal lands, so know what the law is before you harvest.  Actually, osha foraging is a matter best left to those who are experienced at it, as it is very easy to mistake poisonous water hemlock for osha (a mistake that you’ll make, as they say, only once).  There are some good books and sites on the internet that explain how to tell these two plants apart, but a knowledgeable herbalist is your best bet if you have any doubts.  And remember, always ask about the harvesting methods that suppliers use, and if you have any doubt about whether their emphasis is on sustainability when they harvest this sacred plant, just say no.  

Catnip

Charming catnip (Nepeta cataria), which brightens the garden with its delicate purple flowers that butterflies love, and with its bright, wrinkled, triangular leaves, yes, the catnip that cats go crazy for, is also a wonderful medicinal herb for us humans as well.   Catnip has soothing and anxiety-relieving properties and is also a mild sleep aid.  It makes a wonderful tea, although not everybody likes its somewhat minty, slightly oily taste.  Its leaves can be mixed with mint, chamomile, or lemon balm to make a very pleasant calming and relaxing tea.  I sometimes like it all by itself and enjoy the taste with or without a sweetener.  But that’s just me.  I don’t care to drink it every day, although I did for a while last summer, when it looked so fresh and pleasing in the garden.  Usually by the end of the summer it looks a little trampled, after the neighborhood cats have been rolling around it to get “high.”  It dies back to the roots each winter, but always returns with a flourish in the earliest days of spring.

     Like all herbs, it is important to get to know catnip in a careful and respectful way.  A very few people might have a mild allergy to it, and it should be avoided by anyone who is pregnant.  It’s also a good example of "too much is not always a good thing."  A cup or two are fine, but too much can cause stomach upset, which is really strange because in reasonable amounts it actually helps with stomach cramps!

Mullein

When I was a kid, my friends and I would occasionally find huge stands of common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) out in the sandy desert near our house.  The plants were so tall and full (for an herbaceous desert plant) and grew so fast, and their flowering stocks sometimes developed in such strange, gravity-defying shapes and sizes, that they seemed almost like an extraterrestrial life form.  We were fascinated by their shabby, furry leaves, and the sheer size they reached in the dry basins where they would thrive.  It wasn’t until later that I learned about the medicinal usefulness of those fuzzy, pale green plants.

     Mullein leaves and flowers can be used to make a tea that is good for colds, sore throats, and other respiratory infections.  It has been approved by Commission E for the relief of cough and bronchitis, and I find that even the steam from Mullein tea is soothing.  A tea made from leaves alone is rather tasteless, but the flowers taste slightly sweet and have a mild almond flavor. Historically, the stalks were sometimes dipped in wax or oil and used as torches!

Globe Mallow

The humble, ubiquitous globe mallow (Sphaeralcea sp.) is a favorite of mine when it comes to urban wildcrafting in El Paso.  It grows literally everywhere and can be used like marshmallow or other mallows.  Be careful when harvesting it as the leaves are covered with tiny hairs that can detach and irritate the eyes.  I use only the root medicinally, which when crushed produces a thick mucilaginous poultice that can be applied to wounds, sprains, and even fractures to reduce inflammation, or made into a tea or cold infusion that soothes sore throats, skin burns, and ulcers of the mucus membranes, makes coughs more productive, treats indigestion and urinary tract pain, and acts as a mild laxative.  I've only used the fresh root, but I’m told that it is still useful even after it has been dried.  The beautiful orange-red flowers, incidentally, make a wonderful addition to any herbal tea blend.

Lechuguillas

I was thinking about the agave lechuguilla, ubiquitous in our Chihuahuan Desert.  It grows humbly on the rockiest slopes, between limestone lenses and amid the rubble of ancient weathering on talus slopes.  The agave lechuguilla was used by the ancient peoples of this region for food, fiber, tools, and medicine, and is still used to obtain ixtle fibers, soap, and for medical purposes.  A poultice of the cooked leaves with the fibers removed is a good external treatment for blisters and muscle sprains, and the soap obtained from the sap is useful for washing clothes.  Ixtle, the stringy fiber, can be used to make twine, rope, cloth, and as a scrubber for cleaning pots (by far its most common use on both sides of our border). 

Lechuguillas in the desert

Agave lechuguilla hearts can be eaten, but must be roasted well to break down toxins and convert sugars to starch. We have used the dried seed stalks to decorate with.   

Lechuguilla stalks in our living room

Alfalfa

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is widely grown as a livestock feed and ground cover.  But it has also been used for centuries as an herbal medicine on nearly every continent.  Traditionally, it was used as an aid to digestion, for its calming properties, to treat arthritis, and to promote kidney health.  More recently, studies have shown that alfalfa may lower cholesterol, balance the body’s hormones, and promote lactation in breastfeeding women.  It is also rich in vitamins, minerals, and bioflavonoids.  The best parts of the plant to use medicinally are the leaves, but alfalfa sprouts are a nutritious salad ingredient as well.  As with all herbs, consumption should be moderate, and pre-packaged “supplement” forms of alfalfa may contain parts of the plant that are less effective, or even impurities.  Alfalfa used fresh or dried makes a tasty tea, and it mixes well with many other herbs.  I recommend growing your own!  It is easy to cultivate, and the bacteria that live in its root nodules add nutrients to the soil.  It is important to only use organic seed, and always avoid GMO varieties. 

Labrador Tea

I first encountered Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) when a friend shared leaves with me that she had picked while living in the Yukon.  I fell in love with the shiny green leaves and their fuzzy reddish-orange undersides.  This herb makes a very fine tea with a taste somewhat like bergamot.  It is said to be rich in Vitamin C.  I have since heard that it can be toxic in large quantities, but I have never encountered any problems after drinking a cup or two.  In the Fair Trade store where I used to volunteer we sold a tea that was made up of a number of herbs, including this one, from an Indigenous producer group.  I don’t believe that that particular tea is available anymore, but you can buy Labrador Tea from other sources if you don’t happen to live in a region where it grows.  Labrador tea has been over-harvested in the wild in some places, so it is important to only obtain it from suppliers who practice sustainable cultivation and harvesting.  (Ledum latifolium is an earlier botanical name for Labrador Tea.)

In Praise of Herbs 2

You herbs, born at the birth of time
more ancient than the gods themselves.
O plants, with this hymn I sing to you
our mothers and our gods.

       --Rig Veda 10.97 (anonymous translation)

La Hierberia, Part 5

And so we conclude, with shrubs and trees…

Cipres (cypress): A tree with firm, opposed leaves; the male cones in terminal recemes, while the female part develops into to a fruit (cone) in the form of a nut--grey, woody, and with scales.  There are twenty species, found in the temperate and cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere.  The majority of the species are found in the Americas.  Remedies: As an astringent, deodorant, and diuretic, prepare a decoction with 10 grams of pieces of cypres wood in 1 liter of water.  This may be used hot or cold as a tea or external wash.

Acacia: The name given to several trees of the genus Acacia, Caragana, Mimosa, and Robina.  The rosewood stands of the Indies, Brazil, or Honduras are the original source of the diverse mimosa/acacia trees of Mexico and Aztlán.  The wood, in colors that range from reddish-brown to rose-purple, has grain of various tones and is used in cabinetmaking.  Remedies: For cough, bronchitis, and sore throats suck on bits of the resinous sap, and if only powdered sap is available mix a teaspoon full in a cup of any herbal tea.

Añil (Mexican indigo): A perennial shrub of the family of legumes, with a straight stalk, compound leaves, reddish flowers in spikes or clusters, and fruit in bow-shaped pods, with hard lustrous seeds, brownish, green or sometimes grey.  The Mexican variety of añil has been used as a dye since before the conquest of Mexico.  The Mexica and the Mayans called it by various names: haceoitli, huiquilitl, xiuquilitl, and palceoitli.  Remedies: For dandruff and illnesses of the hair, after having bathed the affected area and scrubbed the sick part with “black soap,” rub with a mixture of fresh mashed indigo leaves and salt.  For wounds and external ulcers, apply the same mixture on the affected part, in the form of plasters.

Franchipán (frangipani, jasmín de las Antillas): The plant is a bush or small tree of the family Apocinacias, with fragrant pink, white, and purple flowers and an orange-yellow center.  It grows all the way from Mexico to Columbia and is found in parks and gardens as an ornamental plant.  It prefers warm climates.  Remedies: As a laxative, drink any herbal tea combined with a teaspoon of gum or resin extracted from the wood of the bush; do not sweeten the beverage, and drink it lukewarm.  For chest infections, mildly heat and apply the white milky substance that is produced by breaking off the leaves to the chest, and go to bed.  (Make sure to do an allergy test first on a small patch of skin.)  Cover up well, to induce a little sweating.

Cabeza de Angel: A Mexican bush 1 to 5 meters long, with oblong, foliated leaves 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, and showy purple/red flowers with a “hairy” appearance.  This plant--above all the root--is the source of the glycoside calliandreine which the Indians of Mexico use to impede the fermentation of pulque when it is used to make the drink tepache.  Remedies: For bronchial infections and fever, drink an infusion of three grams of the root in half a liter of boiling water with a teaspoon of honey added as it cools.

Vamos a la milpa

You can actually grow a large amount of corn (maiz) in a very small space.  Many native (heirloom) varieties will grow with little water, especially if you plant the seeds pretty deep.  This will also keep birds from eating them. The key to a successful patch of maiz is to plant the seeds closely together and in bunches rather than rows.  Corn produces lots of pollen, which is carried to the pistils by the wind, not by insects.  In order for the pollen to get to where it needs to go before it or the pistils dry out, plants need to be in close proximity.  Ideally, the pollen should produce a “cloud” over your patch.  You will need at least a dozen plants to reach the “critical mass” where the plants pollinate each other well; more is better.  I will sometimes shake the plants to disperse the pollen if there is little wind.  Once the ears begin to form, you will have to water more frequently.  I’ve never grown squash or melons under the corn plants, but a friend of mine who runs a community garden tells me that squash or pumpkin vines help to “mulch” the stalks.  This is an ancient practice.

La Hierberia, Part 4: Herbs of the Mexicas

More herbs and theirs uses, from the pages of Perspectiva Popular—

Cempasuchil (marigold): A Mexican plant (Tagetes erecta) known to the ancient Indians as cempoalxóchitl.  It is an orange or yellow flower abundant in the months of October and November, as people are accustomed to use it for “ofrendas” for the dead in cemeteries and home altars on November 2, the Day of the Dead.  The juice of the plant was used by the ancient Mexicans as an anesthetic.  Remedy: For stomach ailments and biliary colic drink an infusion of 10 grams of flowers in one-half liter of boiling water as a tea.

Camote (sweet potato): From a Nahua word camotli.  It was the ancient Mexicans who also gave the bulb or rhizome, the “potato,” a name which is now used as the scientific name for the whole plant, batata.  The Ipomea batatas is a plant with creeping, branched shoots, alternating heart-shaped and lobular leaves; large bell-shaped flowers, red on the inside and white on the outside, and tubular roots like a potato.  From this root, starch, sugar, organics, and mineral salts of potassium and magnesium are derived.  Remedies: For burns, inflammations, and erisipela, put a plaster on the affected part made by boiling the camote and mixing it with olive oil.  For internal ulcers, drink cups of an infusion of tuber or cooked camote in half a liter of white wine, with a few drops of corn oil.

Epazote (wormseed):  O’pazotili in Náhuatl, it is a Mexican plant, an herbaceous annual, (Chenopodium abrosioides), whose stem, rich in sugars and branched, grows to a height of one meter; with long, lance-shaped, alternating leaves that are toothed and irregular at the edges, dark green and with a very unusual odor.  The flowers are axillary, formed into spikes, conglomerated into limp, slender clusters, small and white; the seeds are shiny with dull edges.  Common in Texas, California, Chihuahua, and other parts of Mexico and Aztlán.  There is a fetid-smelling species called “hierba de zorillo.”  All species contain salts, vegetable fiber, gluten, gum, chlorophyll, starch, soft resin, albumin, and essential oils.  Remedies: For asthma and bad digestion, drink the leaves as a tea boiled in one-half liter of water.  For stomach and side aches, drink a tea made from 10 grams of the grated root boiled in half a liter of water, let sit for a while, strain and drink.

Colorín (naked coral tree, coral bean): Leguminous Mexican Erythina coralloides, whose indigenous name is zompantle.  The Indigenous peoples used its seeds to induce hallucinations, even though the practice created a grave danger of poisoning.  The tree can reach heights of 12 or 15 meters; its branches are spiny, and its leaves are made up of three broad, rounded leaflets; the flowers appear before the leaves, and their fleshy petals resemble sharply-pointed fingers, with a flower at the end of each branch.  They are a bright red color.  The seeds are very poisonous.  (I have personally heard of a child becoming ill from sucking on a necklace made from the seeds—necklaces are made from them wherever the plant grows.)  The fruit is a dark pod, 10 to 12 centimeters long, with polished, scarlet-colored seeds.  The ancient Mexicans used the seeds as markers in the game called patoli.  The seeds and bark contain several alkaloids, including Erythroidine, a strong central nervous system depressant.  Remedies: For chest infections, drink 10 grams of colorín flowers boiled in a liter of water as tea.  For snake bites and scorpion stings, apply the juice of a branch to the affected area and give the patient a few drops of that juice to drink in a glass of water. 

La Hierberia, Part 3

Gobernadora (creosote bush, chaparral): The leaves of this common desert plant are used as a hair wash to relieve itchy scalp and dandruff.  This plant should not be taken internally.

Ephedra (joint fir): This is another common desert plant found in our area.  It looks like a bush made up of giant jointed pine needles.  A tea made from the “needles” is used to treat hay fever, asthma, and nasal congestion.  This plant contains large quantities of ephedrine, a potent drug whose analogues are found in many commercial asthma and congestion remedies.

Yerba Santa: this herb grows wild in California and is used to treat colds, asthma, and hay fever.  It was (and still is) dried and smoked by the Indians of the West Coast to treat lung problems and can also be made into a tea which is soothing to the throat.

Granado (pomegranate): The fruit of this tree is eaten for its sweet-sour taste, but its juice also has medicinal properties.  It is useful in cleansing the bladder and kidneys, and relieves constipation.  The bark of the tree can be boiled to make a tea that relieves diarrhea and kills tapeworms.  This tea is strong and should be drunk sparingly.

Aloe Vera: This plant has thick, juicy green leaves, and is often cultivated as an indoor plant.  The sticky juice of its leaves is used to relieve the pain of burns, including sunburns.  The leaf is broken open and the juice applied directly to the burn.      

La Hierberia, Part 2

Ajo (garlic): Considered a “wonder food,” ajo is believed to lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and act as a natural antibiotic.  Ajo has been scientifically demonstrated to lower cholesterol (The Lancet, Dec. 29, 1973, May 31, 1975.)  Ajo has long been known as one of the best natural worm remedies.  It has been used with success on both humans and animals.

Manzanilla (chamomile): A plant with yellow/white flowers and a sweet, fruity smell, it is used in many ways.  The fresh root is used to relieve toothaches.  The stems and flowers can be used to make a tea that reduces swelling of the eyes or bruised areas.  Taken internally, the tea acts as a mild sedative.

Romero (rosemary): This herb and the oil derived from it are used as a skin conditioner.  Always try the oil or any product made from it on a tiny bit of skin first to make sure that you are not allergic to it.  Taken internally (as a tea or tincture--the oil is not for internal use), it is said to lower blood pressure and help rheumatism.  Romero is also used for flavoring in cooking.

Yerbabuena (mint): The tea made from yerbabuena, in addition to having an enjoyable taste, is good for both head and stomach aches.  It can help to relieve nausea and is said to be good for the digestion.

Chile (red pepper): Most people don’t think of chile as an herbal medicine.  In fact, across the Americas it is used in traditional medicine very successfully.  To relieve minor fevers due to colds, soak a few dried red chile pods in orange juice and drink.  This beverage is also said to be good for sore throats and hangovers.

La Hierberia, Part 1

Some time ago, I did a column for Perspectiva Popular on herbs.  I have decided to publish it here in serial form as it originally appeared.  A Spanish version was rendered by Antonio Marin in the original Perspectiva version.  The first column dealt with wild herbs of our region, and subsequent ones had themes like garden herbs, shrubs, herbs of the Mexica, and trees.

Maguey (agave): The dried leaves and root can be used to make a tea that helps relieve indigestion, as well as colic in babies.  Constant use may interfere with intestinal absorption, so it should not be used for more than a week at a time.

Cenizo (purple sage): This shrub with gray leaves and purple flowers is found in West Texas, where it has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries.  It is used to treat colds and ’flu.  Prepared as a tea, it induces mild sweating, helps break a fever, and produces relaxing sleep.

Mesquite (tornillo): The leaves, bark, and green pods of the mesquite contain a strong disinfectant, and if they are boiled to make a strong tea, this disinfectant is concentrated.  It can be drunk (in moderation) to cure dysentery, and applied to cuts and other wounds to prevent infection.

Chamiso (sagebrush): Sagebrush is not native to our area but grows wild in the high deserts of Northern Nuevo Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.  It is also found in California and Baja California.  It is often the object of trade or gifts to people in our area.  Chamiso is also antimicrobial, and the powdered leaves are used to treat infected rashes.  This plant is often burned or steamed in the temascal for its physical and spiritual purifying and disinfecting powers.

Tronadora (esperanza): Tronadora bushes are found in abundance in the North Franklin Mountains, and are easily recognized by their yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers.  This plant is used to treat diabetes throughout Mexico and Central America, often by doctors.  The usual dosage is 5-7 grams of dried and powdered leaves and flowers each per day.  A tea prepared from the leaves is also useful in relieving stomach upset caused by heavy drinking.