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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

1

Common Medicinal

Plants

Drawings and text by Beth Sabo

of Northern California

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YERBA SANTA

Scientific Name

Eriodictyon californicum

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Serpentine slopes; rocky, dry exposed areas

Herbal Uses This sticky evergreen shrub grows abundantly throughout CA’s Serpen-tine slopes. It’s dark, resinous leaves are used by Native Americans and Western herbalists to cure coughs and other ailments of the respiratory sys-tem.

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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

Table of Contents

4 41

YARROW

Scientific Name Achillea millefolium

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Grasslands, woodlands, coastal bluffs

Herbal Uses 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 prob-lems, or numbness. As it increases blood flow, the plant can be used to aid headaches and reduce fe-vers.

40 5

ACORNS

Scientific Name

From many species of Oak and Tanoak trees

Nativity 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 im-portant 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 comforta-ble to wear.

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WILLOW

Scientific Name

Salix species

Nativity Many species are CA Natives

Habitat Riparian zones

Herbal Uses 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.

38 7

BAY LAUREL

Scientific Name

Umbelularia californica

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Riparian zones, woodlands, oak savannahs

Herbal Uses The bay tree’s large amount of sec-ondary compounds create a heavily scented leaf, full of astringent qual-ities. This makes the bay a “go to” for scented oils and inhalation- re-laxing 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.

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USNEA

Scientific Name

Usnea species

Nativity CA Native

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 ap-plied externally on fungal infections as cold compresses and poultices. The whole plant can be used as a bandage, and was often used by Native Ameri-cans as an absorptive material for shoe soles, padding, and diapers.

36 9

BLACK WALNUT

Scientific Name Juglans nigra.

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Oak savannahs, riparian zones, woodlands

Herbal Uses Black walnuts are an important food sources for Native and mod-ern Americans. The nut of this tree is delicious- even more fla-vorful than the cultivated English walnut, but smaller and much more difficult to access. The wal-nuts 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 afflic-tions of the skin.

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ROSEHIPS

Scientific Name

Rosa gymnocarpa

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Woodlands, redwoods

Herbal Uses Our native rose may appear diminu-tive 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.

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BUCKEYE

Scientific Name Aesculus californica

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Riparian zones, springs

Herbal Uses 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, temporar-ily slowing their swim and making them easy to catch. Seeds would be removed from the creek and prepared for food.

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PLANTAIN

Scientific Name

Plantago lanceolata

Nativity Non- Native, Invasive

Habitat Disturbed areas, cultivated lands, grasslands

Herbal Uses 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.

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CALIFORNIA POPPY

Scientific Name

Eschscholzia californica

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Grasslands, woodlands, coastal scrub

Herbal Uses A relative to the opium poppy, Na-tive Americans and Western Herbal-ists harvest the entire plant while in bloom, using roots, stems, leaves, and flowers to ease nervous energy and encourage sleep.

14 31

PENNYROYAL

Scientific Name

Mentha pulegium

Nativity Non- native

Habitat Riparian zones, usually by still water created by ponds, seeps, and springs

Herbal Uses 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.

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ELDERBERRY

Scientific Name

Sambucus neo- mexicana

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Riparian zones

Herbal Us-es

The elderberry has many uses to Na-tive and Western herbalist. The hollow stems of this shrub can be made into vessels for medicines, seeds, or secret messages. The beautiful, white inflo-rescence 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.

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PEARLY EVERLASTING

Scientific Name

Anaphalis margaritacea

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Grasslands- particularly disturbed areas near springs and sources of water

Herbal Uses This plant, aptly named for its ever-lasting “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.

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FENNEL

Scientific Name

Foeniculum vulgare

Nativity Non- Native, Invasive

Habitat Disturbed areas, cultivated areas, roadsides

Herbal Uses Well known as a culinary herb, fen-nel 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.

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OAK GALL

Scientific Phe-nomena

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.

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Oak trees, oak woodlands

Herbal Uses The oak gall is one of the most astringent herbal remedies. It can be used to tighten, tone, and strengthen the walls of the diges-tive tract and is used as a tincture in cases of diarrhea, dysentery, and other extreme digestive up-sets.

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GUMPLANT

Scientific Name

Grindelia species

Nativity About 8 species (and many subspe-cies) exist in CA.

6/8 are CA Natives

Habitat Coastal bluffs, rocky exposed grass-lands

Herbal Us-es

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.

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MUGWORT

Scientific Name

Artemesia douglasiana

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Riparian zones, shaded woodlands

Herbal Uses Best known for it’s ability to induce vivid dreams, mugwort has many other medicinal uses. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the plant is com-pressed into tablets, dried, and burned to release energy and en-courage physical stamina. The plant has also been used to season meats, substitute hops in beer mak-ing, and assist in the delivery of babies.

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HORSETAIL

Scientific Name

Equisetum species

Nativity CA Native

Habitat Riparian zones, springs

Herbal Us-es

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 con-tent, teas and tinctures are made from this herb to strengthen hair and nails, tonify the blood vessels, and improve incontinence.

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MILK THISTLE

Scientific Name

Silybum marianum

Nativity Non- native, Invasive

Habitat Grasslands, oak savannahs, woodlands

Herbal Us-es

The leaf of this plant is huge, succu-lent, and armored with large pikes around its margins. While it does not look like an edible plant, the leaves are commonly harvested spikes re-moved, and cooked to provide a sup-per 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 en-courage liver cleansing.