Sierra Plants for Medicine

Make tea by steeping seeds in hot water for at least 20 minutes and drink as needed, according to the tradition of several American Indian groups [3].

Burns

Alder

Apply powder of charred fruit from Alnus rhombifolia to wounds [2, 36].

Madrone, Pacific

Rub crushed, fresh leaves on skin [2, 15]. Cowichan Indian drug.

Colds, Coughs and Sore Throats

Alder

Boil the bark of Alnus rhombifolia for 15 minutes and use for colds [14].

Bitter Cherry

(Prunus emarginata)

Boil bitter cherry bark for 20 minutes and use for colds and respiratory problems [2].

Cedar, Incense

(Chamaebatia foliolosa)

Cover leaves in a boil with boiling water and let steep for five minutes. Cover head with a towel and inhale steam for colds, as done by the Pauite Indians of Oregon [15].

Cottonwood

(Populus spp.)

Make a tea by steeping buds or inner bark for 15 minutes. Used for colds and coughs [2]. All Populus species have similar active compounds and can be used for similar indications. Scientific studies have shown anti-inflammatory and expectorant activity Gargling with preparations of poplar may relieve laryngitis [17].

Kit Kit Dizzy

Boil approximately 10 leaves for 10 minutes and drink for coughs and colds, according to the tradition of the Miwok Indians [2, 14, 15].

Madrone, Pacific

5 leaves for tea; drink twice daily for colds; gargle as needed for sore throats.

Oregon Grape

Colds: 1 dropperful of root exract, 3 times per day (sustainable substitute for goldenseal, sold within the commercial herbal products industry).

Sore Throats: Make a tea by pouring hot water over the roots and let sit for 20 minutes. Used by the Squaxin Indians as a gargle for sore throats [15].

Berberine, the primary active compound in Oregon Grape, is found in plants used in the Ayurvedic and Chinese systems of medicine for at least 3,000 years. In scientific studies, berberine has shown significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and viruses [14].

Yerba Santa

Tea: Tear three leaves (fresh or dry) and place into a cup with boiling water for colds or sore throat. Let steep for 15 minutes [6] Used by Miwoks, Pomos, Yuki, Yurok, Mahuna, Kawaiisu, Karok, Atsupewi tribes, most commonly as a tea, but the fresh leaves were also chewed [15]. Western physicians listed it as an official remedy for coughs, pneumonia, and bronchitis in the US Pharmacopoeia in 1894 [2, 4,5].

Extract: Grind 10 leaves per cup of alcohol and add to a mason jar. Shake twice daily and let steep for at least one month. Strain into dropper bottles, and take one dropperful three times daily as needed.

Syrup: Boil leaves for 5 minutes, let steep for 15 minutes, strain, and add sugar as desired [2].

Douglas Fir

Tea: Add 3 fresh leaf tips, high in Vitamin C, to hot or cold water and steep for at least 15 minutes, according to the traditions of the Karok, Yurok, and Thompson Indians [4, 5,15]. The Coast Salish people of British Columbia drank a tea from ground bark for colds and respiratory problems. Boil three teaspoons of ground bark per cup of water for 15 minutes and drink three times daily [2].

Constipation

Ash, Oregon

(Fraxinus latifolia)

Leaf tea as laxative [2]. *IE

Decongestant

Yerba Santa

Tear three leaves (fresh or dry) and place into a cup with boiling water to reduce mucous. Let steep for 15 minutes [6] Used by Miwoks, Pomos, and Yuki tribes and by doctors who listed it as an official remedy in the US Pharmacopoeia in 1894 [5,10].

Eye Infections

Oregon Grape

Make tea (for external use) using 2 teaspoons herb per cup of water and rinse eyes daily as needed [2].

Fever

Ash, Oregon

(Fraxinus latifolia)

Soak twigs in cold water and drink to reduce fever [2]. *IE

Hair Growth

Alumroot

(Heuchera micrantha)

Mix powdered leaves and water into a paste and rub into scalp, based on the tradition of the Skagit tribe [2].

Bleeding Heart

(Dicentra formosa)

Prepare a leaf tea and use as a rinse after washing hair to stimulate hair growth [2].

NOTE: Despite a history of internal use for various conditions, use externally only, due to potentially poisonous compounds in the plant.

Blue Flax, Western

(Linum lewisii)

Make a tea by steeping flowers, leaves, and stem for 15 minutes. Rinse face and hair to enhance beauty and increase hair growth. Used by young female Okanagon Indians [2, 15]

Headaches

Alder

Make tea by boiling the bark and stems of Alnus rhombifolia for 20 minutes [2].

California Bay Laurel

Inhale crushed leaf, fresh or dried [5, 2].

California Nutmeg

(Torreya californica)

Mash the nuts with oil and massage onto temples for headaches [2].

Household Cleaner and Disinfectant

California Bay Laurel

For a disinfectant and surface cleaning spray, pour 2 cups hot water over approximately 10 leaves and let steep for 2 hours. Strain and transfer liquid to a spray bottle when cool and use for up to 3 months.

Kidney Support

Douglas Fir

Add 6 fresh leaf tips or twigs to boiling water and boil for 15 minutes. Used by the Okanagon Indians for the kidneys [2, 4, 15].

Poison Oak

Alder

Make a tea of Alnus rhombifolia for external use, with approximately 5 leaves per cup of water. Rinse infected areas immediately and at least three times per day as needed [14, 36].

California Bay Laurel

Make a tea for external use, with 5 leaves per cup of water. Rinse infected areas immediately and at least three times per day as needed.

Manzanita

(Arctostaphylos spp.)

Boil leaves approx. 10 leaves per cup of water, and let steep for at least 15 minutes. Apply to infected areas immediatey [14].

Yerba Santa

Make a tea for external use, with 5 leaves per cup of water. Rinse infected areas immediately and at least three times per day as needed.

Purification and Ceremony

Cedar, Incense

Boil leaves and add the tea to the bath. The Klamath Indians of Oregon used the branches in sweatbaths [15].

Douglas Fir

Use branches for good luck and for cleansing prior to ceremony. Make tips into a tea and use externally as a purifying wash [2, 15].

Madrone, Pacific

Leaves were used in puberty ceremonies by the Karok Indians.

Psoriasis

Oregon Grape

According to a double-blind, placebo-controlled human study of 82 patients as well as traditional use [9,10]. Make extract of the root by grinding the root to obtain at least 4 tablespoons per cup of alcohol. Soak in alcohol of 70 proof or higher (shaking twice daily) and then strain liquid into jar after 4 weeks. To make an ointment, melt 1 stick (how many oz?) beeswax and then add 1 cup extract. Apply daily as needed.

Rheumatism, Sore Muscles and Joint Inflammation

Arnica

(Arnica spp.)

Pick flowers only and chop into small pieces. Soak in rubbing alcohol for a week. Squeeze plant material through cheesecloth and use externally for injuries, sore muscles and joint inflammations [2, 14].

Cottonwood

(Populus spp.)

Crush fresh or dried plant (resinous buds, leaves, and inner bark) and boil for 15 minutes to make a tea to add to the bath or wash injuries. Some tribes made a salve or poultice by crushing and moistening the leaves. Use externally for muscle or joint pain according to the knowledge of the Cahuilla, Kawaiisu, and Dieguenos Indians as well as modern laboratory tests [2, 16]. Cottonwood contains compounds related to aspirin, populin and salicin, and works as a pain-reliever. The German government has officially recognized the external use of poplar for skin injuries such as sores, bruises, and cuts and for sunburn [17].

Douglas Fir

Tie small pieces of bark together, light, and direct smoke over area of pain [2, 5, 15]. Another method, used by the Pomo Indians, is to make tea from the leaves and add to a hot bath.

Madrone, Pacific

Rub crushed leaves on skin [2].

California Bay Laurel

Make a tea for external use, with 5 leaves per cup of water. Add to bath.

Yerba Santa

Steep five young leaves in hot water, soak a washcloth as a compress and apply to area of pain [4,5]. *IE

Smoking

Yerba Santa

Dry, grind, and smoke instead of tobacco for colds ad asthma [2, 5].

Stomach Disorders

Alder

Boil 5 small pieces of Alnus rhombifolia bark for 15 minutes and drink three times per day [14, 36].

Blue Flax, Western

(Linum lewisii)

Steep the stems for 15 minutes and drink tea for stomach disorders [14, 15].

California Nutmeg

(Torreya californica)

Chew nuts for indigestion, according to the use of several American Indian tribes [2].

Cedar, Incense

Boil leaves for 20 minutes and drink for stomach disorders, according to the Indians of Mendocino County [15].

Madrone, Pacific

Chew one to two leaves for stomachache or cramps, according the Miwok and Cahuilla Indians. They also drank the cider [15]. *IE

Oregon Grape

Boil the root for 20 minutes and drink tea as needed. Used by the Blackfoot and Sanpoil Indians for gastrointestinal disorders [15]. *IE

Strength

Alder

The sap of Alnus rhombifolia has been used as a blood purifier and strengthening tonic and more information is needed to determine best preparation methods [2, 36].

Madrone, Pacific

Chew leaves (if you can handle the taste, you are strong!) [2]. *IE

Oregon Grape

Use extract or tea as a general tonic and blood purifier [2].

Extract: Make extract of the root by grinding the root to obtain at least 4 tablespoons per cup of alcohol. Soak in alcohol of 70 proof or higher (shaking twice daily) and then strain liquid into dropper bottle after 4 weeks. Take one dropperful, twice daily as needed.

Tea: Pour hot water over branches and roots and drink tea as needed. Okanagan-Colville, Squaxin, Swinomish, Thompson, and Samish Indians used as a blood tonic and for overall energy enhancement [15]. *IE

Yerba Santa

(Eschscholzia californica)

Chew leaves to moisten mouth and drink tea to purify blood [4].

Stress and Anxiety

California Poppy

Make an extract of the upper part of the plant (Pick 5-6 plants, leaving the root, and soak in 70 proof alcohol for two weeks. Shake daily and then strain.) Herbalists recommend the extract for anxiety, sleep disorders, and hyperactivity in children. The Pomo Indians and the Cahuilla Indians used the (sap from the fresh root-confirm[14]) as a sedative for babies and scientific studies have found sedative compounds in the plant and the highest amount in the root. [2, 10, 14]. NOTE: It is illegal to pick wild California Poppy.

Urinary Tract Infections

Manzanita

(Arctostaphylos spp.)

Use 5 leaves to make one cup of tea. Steep for 15 minutes and then drink 3 times per day [6]. The compound arbutin, found in all species of manzanita, breaks down into hydroquinone and provides the disinfectant properties.

Douglas Fir

Add 6 fresh leaf tips or twigs to boiling water and boil for 15 minutes. Used for a urinary remedy by the Okanagon Indians [2, 4, 15].

Wounds

Alum Root

(Heuchera micrantha)

Apply powdered root as needed to injury [13, 14].

Cottonwood

(Populus spp.)

Make a salve, poultice, or tea out of buds of both Populus balsamifera and Populus fremontii and combine with inner bark and leaves if available. Apply to wounds, stings, and external infections [2].

Yerba Santa