Osha and Lomatium

[ComfreyStudent]

I’ve recently learned about a couple of amazing herbs, and wondered if you could comment on them.

First, Osha. Doesn’t it grow in your neck of the woods? I understand it has amazing antibiotic qualities. Do you ever use it?

Second is Lomatium or Biscuit Root. I knew the Indians ate it, but wasn’t aware it was a medicinal plant as well. My sister in law is taking some in tincture form and says it has been the best thing ever for clearing up her sinus infections. Doesn’t it grow around here as well? (Here meaning Idaho/Utah).

One concern I have is identifying these plants. It appears they both look similar to Hemlock, being in the wild carrot family. Have you ever seen them in the wild?

Anyway, any insights you could give on them would be lovely. Thanks.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Comfrey wrote: One concern I have is identifying these plants. It appears they both look similar to Hemlock, being in the wild carrot family.

I have never seen them in the wild, at least not that I could recognize on purpose. One thing I DO know is that Hemlock has PURPLE SPOTS on it stems ALWAYS and at ALL stages of growth.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

The poison hemlock also tends not to grow at the elevations where Osha lives being more common near humans…old homesteads and such.

I’ve not used either. Moore really likes Osha in combination with Echinacea but says Balsalmroot is the equivalent of the combination. I know it can’t be cultivated for some reason. I’ve also heard that bears dig it up for their girlfriends to woo them. I guess if mama bear is eating the Osha she’s less likely to eat the suitor. 😉

Patrick

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

[Fey]

Hey Doc Jones, can you clarify which herb can’t be cultivated? The Osha or the Balsamroot? Any known reason why it can’t be cultivated?

MODERATOR

I took the liberty to copy something else that FEY posted in another thread.

This alone would be a worthy project to tackle. Sometimes I think some herbs need the full dedication of a herbalist. If you could start a substantial colony in your area it would be a wonderful achievement.

Something I read;

During 1999, due to high demand and what was considered over collection in the southwestern United States, Regions 1 and 4 of the United States Forest Service issued a three-year moratorium on the personal and commercial use/collection of Ligusticum. Osha was listed as “rare” on the 1997 International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Plants (Walter & Gillett 1998) but has not been subsequently listed. The species is not formally protected under native plant or endangered species laws. United Plant Savers (UpS), a conservation organization thatfocuses its efforts on populations of medicinal plants collected from the wild, includes osha on a list of “at risk” species (UpS 2007).

. The best time to collect osha root is in the fall, after the seeds have had time to mature and fall to the soil. Education of collectors to harvest in a sustainable manner is always important in the case of wild-crafted herbs.

A syrup made from the stems has been used for many of the disorders that the root is used for (Curtin 1976) and this should be investigated as an alternative to destructive root harvesting. Other more common species in the Apiaceae, such as several Angelica spp. and others are used in virtually identical ways to Ligusticum (Yi et al. 2007) and their use as alternatives to wild-harvested osha should be considered.

[IdahoHerbalist]

I read it to mean Osha. Although Balsamroot is a dandy to grow as well, taking YEARS to reach a size big enough to harvest and then you have to kill the plant for that one too. 😥

[Fey]

Wow! Osha looks like a difficult herb to grow. The seeds have to be dry before they are picked, (not green) planted upside down for the oil duct to work its germination tricks, planted above 5,000 feet (1500 metres) and it needs mycorrhizal fungi. It would probably need stratifying if anyone tries it outside of its natural habitat. I’m surprised that the seeds can be bought! It seems criminal to take them away from the mountains.

[Fey]

Stratifying would probably have to be done in peat pellets, soaked in distilled or rain water with mycorrhizal mix added to the water before sitting the peat pellets in it. That way, the seeds can be placed upside down while stratifying, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they sprouted in the fridge. The area where they should be planted should have thin layers of branches covering the young plants.

Bears like them :blink: BEARS!!! EEEK!!! Never seen one….don’t want to.

(I have a resident koala in the gum trees that makes very scary sounds at night; that’s all the bear I need)

[Fey]

I’ve just read that Richo Cech from Horizon Herbs sells Osha seeds and has successfully cultivated them. I think they’re around California somewhere. He’s got a book called, “Growing at risk medicinal herbs”. Has anyone bought this book? I’m tempted to buy it.

[IdahoHerbalist]

I know about his book. Discussed it with him before it was completed. Was not impressed with his approach with me. That does not mean his information is not valid.

My take on richo is that it has gone to his head. He comes across as being very self oriented when I have dealt with him in the past. Too many have put him on a pedistal.

[Fey]

He probably knows a lot, and knows he knows a lot…..I can live with that. I don’t really care about someone’s attitude, as long as they can tell me something I don’t know, I’ll listen. If he can grow Osha in California, then he definitely has something to say and can teach me something I don’t know about. If I can grow Osha in Australia, well….that will be another thing you’ll have to put up with from me. :Laugh: chuckle chuckle snort snort :LOL:

Every time I’ve had a reply from him by email, he seemed approachable.

By the way, I just found Rehmannia glutinosa seeds on the Net. I’ve been trying to get them for years. There’s no plants available in Australia. I typed in “buy Rehmannia glutinosa seeds” and clicked on images. One of the pictures was an ad through Aliexpress.

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Linda68

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

As to the OP…

Lomatium is pretty common in Utah and Idaho. I haven’t tried it yet but several of the folks in the school swear by it….so many plants…so little time.

Maybe one of the folks that’s been using it will chime in.

One report I have heard is that it will cause an unpleasant rash in some of the folks that use 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]

Hmmmm, I have not seen lobatium that I am aware of. Need to get familiar with its appearance. I have some seed that I need to get germinated too.

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