Lomatium for Influenza

[Laura L. BergesonStudent]

This article is from Harmony Herbs. Have any of you seen this herb growing, and found a good location to harvest it? It sounds like a powerful, but rare, herb.

Dr. Krebs Uses Lomatium for Influenza Epidemic

The following is verbatim from: Bulletin of the Nevada State Board of Health , No. 1 , Carson City, Nevada , January, 1920

AN INDIAN REMEDY FOR INFLUENZA

In publishing this paper the State Board of Health does not give its endorsement to the remedy until it has had further trial. We merely present the facts as stated by Dr. Krebs, with the idea of giving the matter publicity and encouraging others to give it a trial.

During the fall of 1918 when the influenza epidemic visited this section of Nevada, the Washoe Indian used a root in the treatment of their sick which was gathered along the foot-hills of this slope of the Sierra. The plant proved to be a rare species of the parsley family (Leptotaemia dissecta*), according to a report from the University of California.

The Indians gather this root in the late fall, November being considered the proper month for gathering. The root is used in the fresh or dry state. It is cut up and a decoction is made by boiling the root in water, skimming off the top and giving large doses of the broth. A pound of root is considered about the proper dose to treat a case of fever for three days, which is the longest time needed to break up a fever due to influenza or a pulmonary disease, although the Washoes used it as a panacea. Whether a coincidence or not, there was not a single death in the Washoe tribe from influenza or its complications, although Indians living in other parts of the State where the root did not grow died in numbers. It was such a remarkable coincidence that the root was investigated by a practicing physician who saw apparently hopeless cases recover without any other medication or care of any kind. A preparation was prepared and employed in a great many cases among the whites, from the mildest to the most virulent types of influenza, and it proved, among other things, that it is the nearest approach we have today to a specific in epidemic influenza and the accompanying pneumonia. Where used early it proved itself to be a reliable agent in preventing pulmonary complications. Other physicians were induced to give it a trial, with the same results. It is beyond the experimental stage, as its therapeutic action in this direction is established and beyond any doubt. The cases in which it has been used run into the hundreds. There is probably no therapeutic agent so valuable in the treatment of influenzal pneumonia and, as far as being tried, in ordinary lobar pneumonia if started early. Its action on coughs is more certain than the opiate expectorants and its benefit is lasting. It acts as a powerful tonic to the respiratory mucous membranes. It is a bronchial, intestinal and urinary antiseptic and is excreted by these organs. It seems to stimulate the pneogastries (sic) and causes a slow pulse with increased volume and reduced tension. It is a pronounced diaphoretic and somewhat diuretic, and it is a stimulating and sedative expectorant. In large doses it is a laxative, and in extreme doses emetic.

To make a therapeutically active preparation, the proper variety of the root must be selected in the late fall and properly cured out of the sun. Its active principles must be extracted with as little as possible of the objectionable constituents. The active principles of the root are decidedly complex. It contains a glucoside (as its solutions precipitate copper from Fehling’s solution). It contains one or more alkaloids and an acid analogous to benzoic acid, one or more volatile and fixed oils, a resin and a gum. It can be seen from this that it resembles a balsam from the fact that it contains an oleogumresin and an acid besides alkaloids and glucosides. One can at once appreciate the fact that a reliable pharmaceutical preparation representing the action of the root is not readily made. The volatile oil, which is one of the principal therapeutic agents, is lost in making a decoction.

This particular variety of Leptotaemia* is not as common as believed as some, and it is this particular variety that has medicinal or therapeutic virtues. It grows in dry sandy soil, as a rule, under or between tall sagebrush or greasewood. The plant grows from two to four feet high and has a blossom similar to wild parsnip and leaves like a carrot. It is a perennial, and the older roots frequently weigh from two to six pounds. It sprouts early in April, blooms in May, seeds in June, and withers in July. A number of trials in transplanting the root have been made, but none were successful.

Leptotaemia dissecta * is destined to become one of the most useful if not the most important addition to our vegetable materia medica.

ERNST T. KREBS, M.D. Carson City, Nevada.

* The botanical name was changed in 1942 by Matthias and Constance, from Leptotaenia dissecta to Lomatium dissectum.

Big Medicine

Traditional Uses of Lomatium dissectum.

Across the Great Basin and through the Northwest, the perennial Lomatium species were referred to as ‘the big medicine’.

A recent publication, American Indian Healing Arts, by Kavasch and Baar (Bantam 1999), includes a discussion of Lomatium use in association with the importance of the breath. They note the traditional use of this herb to treat respiratory problems.

In the ‘40s and ‘50s when Edith Van Allen Murphey and Percy Train were asking the Native Americans of Nevada to report on their use of herbal medicines, Lomatium dissectum was known botanically as Leptotaenia multifida.

Edith Van Allen Murphey’s report entitled Indian Uses of Native Plants is printed by the Mendocino County Historical Society, Ukiah, CA, 1959. The common name for Lomatium dissectum was at that time “Indian Balsam”.

Murphey reports that at her writing, three Indian tribes occupied Nevada with an Indian population of about six thousand: Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone. She says, “Many of these Indians still depend largely upon their ancient sources of supply of native plants for medicinal, ceremonial and subsistence uses. In the course of their travels they draw upon several botanical zones,…which formerly were adequate for Indians who wrested from seemingly barren surroundings something for their every need.”

Murphey states that Indian Balsam was used by all these tribes for colds. Tea was made for coughs and flu from dried root chips. It is under her reference for colds that she tells us this herb is considered ‘Big Medicine’ by these tribes.

Murphey also described treatment for ‘heart and tonic’ conditions where Indian Balsam decoction of dried root is drunk as tea. The patient is instructed to drink only this tea for fluids, together with bed-rest for one week.

Three gentlemen, Percy Train, James R. Henrichs, and W. Andrew Archer compiled a publication in 1941 entitled Medicinal Uses of Plants by Indian Tribes of Nevada. My copy is a facsimile of the revised edition of 1957 from Quarterman Publications Inc., 5 South Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01843.

Train makes this significant statement in reference to Lomatium dissectum, then called Leptotaenia multifida: “Of all the ailments to which the Indian is heir, probably there is none which has not been treated in one way or another by remedies prepared from the root of this plant. Although considered universally as a panacea, the medicines most commonly used are for coughs and colds, and disorders such as hayfever, bronchitis, influenza, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.”

Train describes inhaling the fumes of the root which is burning in a bed of live coals, for asthma or congestion of the lungs. Also common was to chew a piece of raw root for sore throat. The root was also the basis for a number of antiseptics, the decoction as an external wash for smallpox, skin rashes, cuts and sores. The oily sap from sliced fresh roots, when available, was used on cuts and sores.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Sherry Walton Kingston

[IdahoHerbalist]

Found seeds at Strictly Medicinal Seeds (formerly Horizon Herbs). He says basically the same thing that your article does. Patrick and I have BOTH tried to get the seeds to germinate without success.

While reading the information on the site I came across this note:

Note: Actually, I’m pretty excited about Baical Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) for treatment of pandemic diseases such as avian flu. My experience is that the root of this plant, which has been used in Chinese medicine for a very long time as the herb Huang-qin, is extremely effective for treating contagious flu-like maladies. There is really no better anti-infection agent in herbalism, to my knowledge. The herb is more effective if grown in poor, sandy soil. Added advantages of Huang-qin are 1) lack of side-effects, 2) quick to germinate and easily grown throughout the temperate US 4) pretty 5) and can be harvested in the fall of first or (better) second year 6) no side effects.

He also indicates that the seed is quite easy to germinate! I think I am going to give this one a shot here.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

I”ve never used Lomatium but have heard good things about it. Some folks get a rash from it.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

There is a blurb about the rash in the plant description here:

[Laura L. BergesonStudentTopic Author]

Good information! Thanks for posting the links.

[Author]

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