Larrea tridentata (Chaparral)

Larrea tridentata (Chaparral)

Aka. Creosote, Shegoi, Chapparo Gobernadora, the Governess (due to its ability to secure more water by inhibiting the growth of nearby plants), Greasewood, Hediondilla (Little Stinker)

Latin translation

Larrea is named after Juan Antonio Hernandez de Larrea, a Spanish clergyman. Tri- means “three,” -dentata means “tooth.” It does not have three teeth, so I am unsure where that stems from.

Family

Zygophyllaceae (Calthrop Family)-Species in this family live in tropical and warm climates, especially in arid (and sometimes saline) habitats. Most species are shrubby, but some grow as small trees and some are herbaceous. 

Botany

Leaf: Opposite, simple, evergreen, compound with 2 small (1/4 to 1/2 inch long) leaflets, generally elliptical but often curved, yellow-green to green, with a waxy leaf coating. Water loss is reduced by the resinous, waxy coating of the leaves, and by their small size which prevents them from heating up above air temperature.

Flower: Five bright yellow twisted sepals, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches across, occur at the ends of the twigs, appearing in spring and scattered throughout the year.

Fruit: Capsule (1/4 inch), covered in long, stiff white hairs.

Twig: Slender, light gray to reddish brown, each node is ringed in a darker color and is slightly swollen.

Bark: Initially smooth and gray, eventually becomes darker and splits into shallow fissures and flat plates.

Form: A multi-stemmed shrub commonly up to 4 feet tall but may reach 15 feet, generally a round shape. Spreads by cloning itself along the edges of the plant often resulting in a circular pattern of "cloned" plants. Though each stem lives only a few centuries, new ones are continually produced from the outer edge of the root crown. As the dead stems in the center decay, an open ring of stems forms. With passing centuries the ring very slowly expands and breaks into separate bushes, with outliers all of one clone, because they descended from a single original seed. In the Mojave Desert of California, there is a a Larrea stand called the “King Clone” that is 11,700 years old. It’s one of the oldest living organisms on Earth! All of the plants in its clonal ring are genetically identical, and it has continued to grow and expand since around 9700 BC.

Range: Chaparral is the most common and widespread shrub in 3 of the 4 North American deserts. It originally came from South American, where there are 5 species of Larrea. This is the most drought-tolerant perennial in North America.

Although Chaparral is allelopathic, it accumulates enriched soil beneath it, and creates a little shade for other plants to live under. Most of these are annual species that are only present during wet years, such as these cacti: Echinocereus, Mammillaria, and Peniocereus. Its roots secrete a germination inhibitor that affects its own seeds only. The average distance between Chaparral plants depends on the amount of rainfall and soil moisture-holding capacity of the area.

Germination: Has the ability to inhibit aerobic combustion of the mitochondria of the cells. In the desert, oils leeched out to the surrounding soils inhibit seeds from burning up their sugars; the seeds can’t sprout unless the oils are washed away by heavy rains (allelopathic). Young plants need three to five years of abnormally cool and moist weather during and after germination, to become established. Young Chaparral are more susceptible to drought stress than established plants. Germination is actually quite active during wet periods, but most of the young plants die very quickly unless there are optimal water conditions.

Mature plants can tolerate extreme drought stress. Chaparral can fully operate at -50 bars of water potential and have been found living down to -120 bars. The practical average floor is around -70 bars, where the plant's need for cellular respiration generally exceeds the level that the water-requiring process of photosynthesis can provide. Cellular division can occur during these times of water stress, and it is common for new cells to quickly absorb water after rainfall. This rapid uptake causes branches to grow several centimeters at the end of a dry season.

Vitalist Actions and Energetics

Energetics: cold, dry, bitter. Strong vital stimulant

Meridians/ organs affected: kidneys, lungs, liver

Tissues affected: skin, immune cells, mucous membranes

Clinical Actions

Anti-microbial, diuretic, anti-oxidant, internally used for inflammations of the upper respiratory tract, GI tract, and genitourinary tract. It’s externally used for minor skin inflammations and wounds, for rheumatic pains, etc. (Skenderi)

Disinfectant, immune-enhancing alterative, anti-inflammatory (Bergner)

Constituents

Resin (with lignans; mostly NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid), phenols, guaiacol derivatives, guaiacum), mucilaginous polysaccharides, flavanoids, triterpenes, phytoesterols, wax, etc.

Common Forms and Dosages

Tincture: fresh dried leaves 1:5 75%, 20-60 gtts up to TID (Moore)

Fresh leaves 1:2 95%, 30-60 gtts up to TID (7song)

Oil: fresh plan infused in extra virgin olive oil, folk method. For use as an external antiseptic, which can be applied directly to wounds. It’s a strong antioxidant, and can help slow down other oils’ rancidity, in combination oils. (7song) Used as sunscreen and post-sun restorative, due to antioxidant properties. Tans and conditions to protect the skin. (Simons)

Salve: similar as oil use

Infusion: standard infusion. Note that Chaparral is strong tasting though; use as needed. Taken internally as a vermifuge, antimicrobial infusion of the fresh or dried leaves.

Wash/ soak/ sitz/ bath: use infusion or tincture diluted in water, to soak infected body parts. 7song thinks this is the most effective way of using this plant.

Poultice: it can be used as a fresh spit poultice, but the sticky nature of the plant (and strong taste) makes for a difficult application; a wash is easier

Capsules: it’s a quick way to get the medicine in, without having to taste the not-that-great-tasting medicine

Essential oil:

Flower essence: It can assist life transitions. It can assist a dying person caught between life and death, leading them toward desiring to live or pass from the world,  harmonizing the energies in and around one’s being. This essence can help relieve addictions, by drawing out the traumas that led to the imprisoning feelings that dependence brings. Chaparral transmutes sun rays into the life force of our chosen directions and releases us from the impacts of past traumas, such as war trauma. (Bresselsmith)

Cleansing. Clearing physical, emotional, and mental toxins. Opening and energizing a receptive space for new experience. Transformation. Inviting guidance or spiritual assistance. (Mimi Kamp)

Honey: 7song wants to experiment with this as a burn medicine

Primary Uses

Tierra:

Used to treat cancer, skin diseases, arthritis, and rheumatic complaints. Daily mouthwash will prevent dental caries.

Moore:

Useful for...

Arthritis, allergies and hypersensitive, auto-immune type conditions, where stress, diet aggravate notably

Chronic biliousness with symptoms of autointoxication, sluggish liver catabolism.
Dyspepsia, aggravated by fats and proteins.
Nausea in morning, after fatty breakfast.
Steatorrhea with ileocecal irritability.
Vomiting, from fats, pastry abuse.
Eczema, with chronic poor fat digestion, dry skin.
As a bath in arthritis.
Leukorrhea, supportive to local itching and pain (with Anemopsis (Yerba Mansa) as a sitz bath).
Blood serum levels: SGOT, SGPT elevations with elevated bilirubin, no active hepatitis.
Nutritional malabsorption in conjunction with lipotropic therapies.
Cancer, supportive in skin cancers (externally).
Hangover, liverish, dark circles under eyes.

Kiva Rose:

Great for scorpion stings, caterpillar hairs, and other venomous insects. Helpful for all manner of cuts, scratches, burns, wounds, fungal infections, rashes, etc. It’s very effective at preventing or treating infection, reducing inflammation and promoting rapid healing of almost any injury, from serious wounds to contusions to large scale bruising and abrasions. Beyond its’ basic wound care capabilities, it can also lessen pain and dramatically reduce bleeding. A diluted tincture of Larrea or softened animal product based salve is great for burns. Also used externally on sore or arthritic joints. Can be used as a rub in a hot bath. This is especially effective with hot, inflamed, and swollen arthritis. Larrea steams are commonly used for asthma, lung congestion, headaches, and sinus troubles. Larrea poultices were used to help relieve pain. Infusions were use locally, and held in the mouth for tooth pain. Traditional cure-all in Native culture.

Foster and Hobbs:

Long used by Mormons as a folk cancer remedy. Popular alternative cancer remedy in the 1970s and 1980s. Native American groups used leaf, flower, and twig tea for respiratory, digestive, skin, rheumatic, and gynecological disorders. Leaf tea used for coughs, colds, tuberculosis, asthma, diarrhea, dysentary, cramps, upset stomach, delayed menstruation, menstrual cramps, and as a general tonic. Externally, a wash or poultice was used on wounds to prevent inections, relieve swollen limbs due to poor circulation, as a hair wash for dandruff, and as a disinfectant and deodorant for sores, wounds, insect bites, and snakebite, sore and aching joints and muscles, and umbilical stump inflammation.

Cautions and Contraindications

Its anti-oxidant effects (from NDGA) can cause short-term hemolysis-like symptoms from its effects on the liver and spleen. (Moore) Not for internal use for those with severe liver and kidney disorders. Applied externally, it may cause skin irritation to hypersensitive individuals. (Skenderi)

It has a long history of multicultural herb usage, among which is cancer. It seems to help simple skin cancer and some forms of pre-cancerous oral leucoplakia, but it has also been shown to aggravate some other neoplasias. Better not to use for cancer therapy. It is a physiologically active anti-oxidant, and may inhibit a few types of neoplasias, but it will also, in larger and extensive doses, inhibit the rate of combustion of the hot-burning granulocytes of innate immunity, thereby acting as an immunosuppressant and derailing, at least in early conditions, the wholistic approach of trying to jump-start resistance to rogue cells that seem to have bypassed a compromised immune system. (Moore)

Limit to 2 weeks usage either internally or externally. If Chaparral doesn’t work by then, then one should consider another treatment (7song).

Lisa Ganora said that she’s seen two cases of contact dermatitis with Chaparral. She researched it, and has only found 9 reported cases of this, and all from males. So, it is rare, but some people have reactions to the topical usage of Chaparral. (One person that she saw had uprooted a lot of Chaparral for gardening work. During a fieldtrip, after applying Chaparral salve, broke out in hives all over his face and neck. The second person was being treated for warts on his penis. After using a Chaparral wash/ soak, he got hives on his penis, and up towards his belly. I have never seen or heard of this before.

Personal Experience

Bath- Bath with standard decoction of Chaparral leaves and stems. (1 oz herb: 1 L water, added to warm bath). Slightly astringing to the tissues, skin a little dried and tighter after arising from the bath, a few scabs fell off. Very warming and relaxing. The scent is stimulating relaxing for me. I want to compare the effects of this bath with other baths, to evaluate its effectiveness for arthritis. I can feel how this topical wash is 7song’ favorite wound cleaning wash; it is highly astringent, brings heat to the area, and disinfecting.

Inspired from: “The brew for the treatment was made by boiling large amounts of the leaves and parts of the upper stalks, then poured into the largest washtub, the patient put in to soak and be sponged over all the ailing parts for about one-half hour. The brew was as hot as he could stand and a treatment was repeated for three days. From reliable reports it was a good cure for what is known as arthritis. The roots of this plant were boiled in small amounts of water to make a brown-colored dye which was used to color parts of the wool used in weaving blankets. For this same rheumatic ailment they also used a different plant, made into a brew and used about the same as the creosote, but most preferred the creosote... Steam baths from a weak solution of gobernadora tea produce much sweating and are taken as a treatment for flu, arthritic and rheumatic conditions, and as a general aid to personal cleanliness and good health. Gobernadora steam baths redden the skin and cause it to tingle vigorously. If continued they become increasingly painful, and discretion must be used in the number of baths given an ailing person. Native people of the Southwest recommend that the average individual should not have more than two gobernadora steam baths each year.” (Hicks)

Smudge- I smudged myself and my space with smoke from the dried leaves and stems before going to sleep. The smoke is pungent, aromatic, and feels cleansing on various levels.

Michael Cottingham suggests asking specific things of Chaparral, if using it as a smudge, since it was spiritually used as an Apache warrior medicine. He once called upon the plant spirit of Chaparral during an emergency situation, when he was held at knife-point in another country. The situation resolved itself without anyone getting hurt. I want to learn more about how to call upon plant spirits.

I smudged with Chaparral for three nights. The first night, I did not ask for anything specific, and received nightmares. I asked for some things prior to sleep or smudging for the next two nights, and received slightly more vivid dreams than usual.

The smell of the smoke is at once grounded yet uplifting to me. The plant is high is essential oils, and burns quickly, releasing a lot of smoke. It is helpful as a fire-starter, similar to pine resin, in that the resinous leaves catch fire quickly. I like to place some chaparral in the middle of a tinder bundle, if all is wet, and I am in the desert in need of some fire-starting support. But, they don’t burn for long. Birch bark is still my favorite fire-starter.

Flower essence- I am taking the standard dosage of 4 drops of flower essence 4 times a day. I will continue to do so, for a month. I have been experiencing greater concentration in my work, and more forthrightedness in my speech. However, my speech is sometimes too direct, and I have hurt the feelings of two people, after I started taking the flower essence. It is rare for me to engage in conflict with others, so I wonder if it is from the flower essence, or is it just spring? Chaparral is certainly a warrior medicine, a powerful plant. I am using the flower essence with gratitude and care, as it is a very special plant for me. I feel like it is helping me to establish solid boundaries and sense of self. I am more organized and direct, though it is sometimes abrasive to others. I feel like a strong, leathery leaved, indestructible and drought tolerant ancient desert plant... is it making me become allelopathic?! I am enjoying this experiment. Every time I take the flower essence, I think of Chaparral Thoughts of this plant elicit smell sensations, which promote a heart-opening feeling, and associations of home. It also elicits sight sensations, which brings up visions of endless expanses of desert, covered in chaparral: an expansive limitless landscape that touches the horizon, then keeps going, where I can walk and explore forever, under a sky that is always blue, a sun that always warms me to the core, to my heart. I love this plant!

A 2 minute flower essence meditation/ attunement: I felt a heady sensation, that moved down into my chest. Felt great agitation/ anger in my chest, then it burst open, and the energy flowed outward into my extremities, leaving my extremities tingling, like energy is pouring out of me, my chest suddenly feeling a lot more open and receptive. I feel like a sunburst, like a ray of shadow that has exploded into light, lying here on the ground, smiling in the aftermath of such a small yet profound flower essence meditation with Chaparral.

Facial steam- The overpowering smell of Chaparral! I imagine this treatment would be helpful for someone with oily skin and/ or horrible acne, to help dry out and cleanse the acne from the skin. I had one pimple on my face prior to the facial steam. I sweated a lot during the steam. Afterwards, my face is very dry, and I need to rehydrate with creamer. My face tends toward dry already, so this kind of treatment was too much for me, but a great experience!

Soak for aching joint- Made a strong overnight infusion and morning decoction of the dried leaves and stems that I’d used for my bath, and soaked my chronically achy right wrist in it. The infusion left a sticky green residue all over the soaked parts. Joint areas feel more relaxed. Skin feels dried. I can think of more effective achy joint soaks, which would be less messy to clean up. Generally effective, though.

Tincture- 1:2 95% fresh leaves. Internally: bitter! Tightened face, dried inside of mouth, strong taste. Feel my intestines cringing, even with just one drop of tincture and a full breakfast. Inside of mouth coated with resin. Warming sensation, straight to my belly. Dull aching sensation at the bottom of my belly, and tightening of my belly.

1:4 95% fresh leaves. More alcoholic, less strong than the first one. Actually, a little more tasty: it’s not as strong, so it’s not overwhelming. Bitter initial taste, then slightly sweet after taste. Mucous membranes not as dried out, but still tightening, drying. Medicine still rushes down to my lower GI. Feeling hunger, a minute after taking this tincture.

Liniment- Applied 1:4 liniment of fresh leaves in isopropyl to my chronically dull achey right wrist. The liniment leaves a sticky residue on the skin, and a slightly darkened coloration. Initial cooling sensation, then warming sensation. Feels like liniment is penetrating through skin into my flesh. Skin feels tightened across flesh; increased sensation of blood pulsing through veins in that area. Successful temporary allevement of pain, local anesthetic, for topical use only. The sticky sensation on the surface of the skin is not pleasant, but the deeply penetrating and warming/ relaxing effect of the Chaparral liniment feels soothing. I will try it with my menstrual cramps, in a few weeks (if they arise.) I would consider giving this to clients as a topical painkiller: anti-inflammatory. The liniment is more fast acting than the oil. I don’t feel anti-inflammatory effects from the oil.

Oil- fresh leaves covered (folk method) in extra virgin organic olive oil. Internally warming to the applied parts, and slightly drying. Circulatory stimulant. Effective as a sunscreen on a bike trip that I went on, but the oil tends to stick to the surface of the skin, and not penetrate deeply enough. Unsure if I should try infusing it in a different base oil, or it is sticky and doesn’t get absorbed easily, because of the sticky resins. Perhaps the sticky resins are what provides protection from the sun: they reflect the sun. The antioxidant effects of the plant help with after-sun care. Doug Simons noted that the Chaparral oil is helpful as a sunscreen and after-sun care, because it also darkens the skin. Does it affect melatonin, or is it just the darkness of the plant itself that colors the skin? After straining the tincture yesterday, I noticed that my hands are still dark brown/ green, in the places where I had physical contact with the plant. Where the tincture dripped down the bottle and onto the table, I noticed dark sticky green/ brown spots. I think that the plant material itself is darkly colored, and thus colors the skin, which also protects it, somewhat.

Infusion- Strong taste, dries mucous membranes, but causes my mouth to salivate, from the bitter acridity of the taste. Can feel my organs shrinking initially, then churning into motion. Only took one sip. The taste is too strong to take more. I wouldn’t consider giving a client a Chaparral infusion, unless they absolutely had to, or I had no tincture available with me.

Dried plant- Sucked on a piece of dried plant for a few minutes. Although dry, it is still sticky and resinous, with a strong flavor, similar to the infusion, but not as intense. Experience heightened sensation: the movement of my heartbeat, the computer’s humming nature below my fingers, the sound of the silence around me, the clacking of the keys as I type. Starting to feel a slight aching sensation in the left side of my belly. I’ve been having diarrhea this morning. I wonder if the Chaparral will aggravate or improve that. It feels like it will cause increased defecation, and I will thusly lose my breakfast. Doug Simons taught me to suck on fresh Chaparral leaves if I got thirsty while walking through the desert. He would suck on a little everyday, tucking it into his cheek pocket, like gum. He was taught by the native peoples of that land to use Chaparral for everything; it is their miracle plant, yet also everyday plant. I went for over a month of intaking some Chaparral daily. I was traveling intensively at that time, and did not get sick. But, I was also young, healthy, and active, with a kicking immune system. Ah, the usual question of... what works? How does it work? When does it work? Is it actually working, or is it something else that is working? The more questions, the better. Never take anything at face value. Go find your own chaparral bush and suck on its leaves, dear reader. Southern Arizona, southeastern California, or southern New Mexico... go!

Medicine making notes-Note that an infusion of Chaparral in any menstruum will leave a strong residue, that is difficult to clean, sticky to the touch, and dark green in color. Many years ago, when I was first getting to know this plant, I tried putting Chaparral in my Vitamix, to turn it into powder. Not only did it not powderize, but it also stuck up the blender, which caused the engine to automatically turn off, and I thought I broke my parents’ expensive machine. Furthermore, it left a resinous residue all over the inside of the blender, which, 7 years later, still remains stuck to the machine, even after years and years of blenderizing different things and washing with different strong soaps and scrubbing techniques... it still remains there, to this day! After trying to powderize with the blender, I went on to try to powderize it with my metate, which caused a green stickey residue to accumulate on both my mortar and pestle. The plant powderized somewhat better this way, but still mostly just stuck onto everything, including clumping onto itself in a not-very-powder-like fashion. I still haven’t found the best way to powderize Chaparral... unless you were using it in a tooth powder (which I was), I can’t imagine any other reason to powderize Chaparral. The dried leaf is easy enough to carry around on its own, as is.

When harvesting the plant, pick the brighter green leaves. These are younger. An oil infusion of the flowers with the leaves seems like a nice energetic balance, adding another element of the plant to the infusion. I have not compared this though. I hope to catch Chaparral in flower soon, and try. I imagine that the tincture is more powerful with just the leaves, as most of the medicinal constituents are in the leaves.

Overall Experience

Chaparral, Chaparral, Chaparral

I love the way the name rolls off my tongue. It was thrown around in the morning, a lively conversation around Chaparral at my first primitive skills gathering, Wintercount, near Maricopa, AZ. I had landed late in the desert the previous night with an old friend, driving all night through the Rockies to get there. I was new to the landscape, unfamiliar with all the mysterious majestic Arizona desert plants, not to mention this alluring Chaparral everyone kept talking about.

My new friend Porangui handed me a sprig of the plant. I inhaled its perfume, breathing deeply and smiling with surprise at the musty incense of this beautiful new friend. I stroked the leaves, marveling at their oiliness and rough texture, delighted as I chewed on the leaf and my mouth stuck together, from its bitter, sticky, and astringent nature.

Then I went on a plant walk with Doug Simons, who waxed at length on its uses and virtues; I learned to identify and use it. I gathered enough to make tooth powder (astringent antiseptic), oil (antioxidant sunscreen), and smudge (I love the smell). I learned that I had intuitively planted myself under a Chaparral bush when we landed in AZ so late in the night. I woke up pre-sunrise, with the confusion of one who has just landed in a new place from a completely different place, peering through the spiraling Chaparral branches to watch the full moon in the sky, simultaneously wondering where I was, while feeling completely at home. At night, I dreamed Chaparral dreams. In the day, in between workshops, I would crouch in the shade of Chaparral bushes, observing the rhythms of the dry desert magic around me. I noted the little tracks of small animals scurrying under and also taking cover under the Chaparral I noticed the small animal holes, bug tracks, and lack of other plant life under the Chaparral I admired how the Chaparral patch stretched far into the distance of the flat endless landscape. When I climbed onto a hill and looked down, I could see all of the Chaparral down below me, marching towards the horizon.

I later went on a plant walk with Dave Holladay, who suggested that we walk through the landscape slowly, greeting every being that we came in contact with, en route to a designated meeting spot. I slowly meandered through the landscape with relish and appreciation. The first being that I came across was Chaparral, who extended her reddish white spindly spiraling graceful arms towards me. I extended my arm towards her, in return. We engaged in a graceful dance. I could imagine myself gazing into the eyes of an ancient dance partner that smells like desert rainfall: sweet, sexy, musty, and magical; a similar kind of magical feeling that I feel in an old temple, or an old apothecary with dusty jars full of ancient medicines. As I ran my fingers across the arms, leaves, and buds of that first Chaparral that I really “touched,” I married my Heart to this plant.

Since that first meeting, I’ve carried Chaparral with me all over the world. I carry her in my stories and words, and also the dried plant itself: in my medicine pouch that I wear on special occasions and in transit, in my sacred smoke mix, and in big bags of “in case” medicine. I’ve been blessed to share this plant with several others for the first time, including my own Mama, who patiently listened to my stories about this plant and how to identify and collect it, then went walking silently out into the desert with my collection bags hanging on her shoulders, her hat low over her head, and her wide-angle owl-eyes widely scanning the desert for the brightest young green leaves to harvest, while ready to duck into the bushes, in case of officials noticing us illegally wildcrafting.

I understand that Chaparral is a powerful medicine. I use it often as an infused oil, for sunscreen. I biked across California using it as a daily topical skin protectant, and continued using it even as I moved into the Northeast, until I started using St. Johnswort instead, for the less potent Northeastern sunshine. I gained a fresh appreciation of Chaparral after spending a week at the Rainbow Gathering with 7song, last year. He uses Chaparral often: for cleaning out infectious wounds, both internally and externally with Staph infections, and for GI bugs.

I consider it a plant ally of mine: the smell and feel of the plant help me feel grounded and solid within myself, reminding me of where I originate from (the desert), while establishing strong and healthy boundaries where needed, on both physical and spiritual planes.

Chaparral This is the smell of the Arizona, southern California, and southern New Mexico deserts after a rainfall. It is the smell of the desert in the early morning, when the dew still sits lightly upon the hardy plants. It is one of the oldest plants in the whole world. She is ancient medicine, powerful medicine, a friend that accompanies me on journeys profound, profane, and potent. A protector, aid, ally, and gorgeous friend, I am grateful for this plant on Earth, and in my life.

Looking at the map of where Chaparral grows, it suddenly occurred to me (felt like the plant reminding me of the obvious) that I want to live in the USA desert southwest, in an area where Chaparral grows. I want to be at a higher elevation than Chaparral, because I love mountains. But, I want to LIVE with this plant within my wildcrafting range. The feeling came to me suddenly, with much sweetness and solidity tonight; a pleasant surprise. So mote it be!

Pairs and Triplets

Combination possibilities to use with Chaparral (from 7song):

- Antibacterials- Echinacea, Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Osha (Ligusticum porteri), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Oregon graperoot (Berberis spp.), Barberry (Berberis thundbergii), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

- Anti-inflammatories- Arnica (Arnica spp.), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Willow (Salix spp.), Tumeric (Curcuma longa), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.)

- Astringents- Yerba manza (Anemopsis californica), Oak (Quercus spp.), Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Geranium root (Geranium maculatum)

- Vulneraries- Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)

Formulas

I’ve never used Chaparral in a formula before. It’s usually an herb that I use as a simple, or as part of a treatment protocol. Thus, I will draw on others’ experiences for this portion of my Chaparral monograph.

Formula 1- All Purpose Salve

(Kiva Rose- equal parts)

Larrea tridentata (Chaparral leaves/ flowers)

Plantago major (Plantain leaves)

Populus spp. (Poplar buds)

Salvia spp. (Sage leaves)

Artemisia spp. (Mugwort leaves)

Achillea millefolium (Yarrow leaves/ flowers)

This formula is similar to the formula below:

Muscle Rub Salve

Larrea tridentata (Chaparral leaves/ flowers)

Populus spp. (Poplar buds)

Artemisia spp. (Mugwort leaves)

Solidago spp. (Goldenrod leaves/ flowers)

Zingiber officinale (Ginger rhizome)

Dosage

Use as needed. For topical use, only.

The all-purpose salve formula contains disinfecting and antioxidant Chaparral, vulnerary and mild disinfectant Plantain, anti-inflammatory and soothing Poplar, cooling/ drying/ disinfectant Sage, Mugwort, and Yarrow. It is helpful for small cuts and bruises, helping to reduce inflammation, calm the wound, and heal from damage quickly and cleanly.

The muscle rub salve formula contains disinfecting and antioxidant Chaparral, anti-inflammatory Poplar, antiseptic mugwort, circulatory stimulant and mild rubefacient ginger, and astringing goldenrod. It is slightly warming in energetics, yet basically neutral.

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Formula 2- “Staph dismissed tincture”

(From 7song- equal parts)

Larrea tridentata (Chaparral)

Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)

Berberis spp. (Barberry or Oregon Grape)

Hamamelis virgiana (Witch Hazel)

Dosage

Apply topically, as needed for treating Staph infections. Alternate with activated charcoal. Do not use for over 2 weeks. Clean and treat the infected Staph wounds twice a day. Do not bandage on or around the wound. Use vet wrap, or other non-binding bandage material, to prevent further infection (from accidentally removing hairs and exposing more infectable surfaces, while removing bandages).

Client Description 2

This is for anyone who has a Staph infection. It can also be taken internally. The Chaparral, Goldenseal, and Berberis are all antibacterial/ antiseptic in different ways. The witch hazel is very astringent, and all of the other herbs are somewhat astringent, cooling, and drying as well. This helps to close the wound back up, dry up the pus, and reduce inflammation. It is very important to keep Staph wounds clean and dry; this tincture aids both actions. This tincture can also be taken internally, though I prefer to just alternate between Chaparral and Goldenseal tinctures, with Echinacea, at 60 gtts every 4 hours, and a loading dose of 90 gtts.

If taken internally, I might add some demulcents to help balance out the strong drying quality of this tincture. But, it depends on the person. I might also add some flower essences and/or nervines to help with the stress/ trauma/ fear/ confusion associated with having infections.

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Formula 3- “Chronic degenerative diseases, tumors, cancers and cysts”

(From Tierra, p. 127)

Leading herbs:

Tabebuia spp. (Pau d’arco)

Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea)

Larrea tridentata (Chaparral)

Trifolium pratens (Red clover blossoms)

Assisting herbs:

Poria cocus (Fu ling/ Angelica)

Grifola frondosa (Hen of the woods mushroom)

Laminariales spp. (Kelp)

Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)

Dosage

Take 2-4 tablets 3 times daily with warm water or red clover tea. Take for up to 2 weeks.

This formula clears heat, removes dampness, and softens and eliminates tumors. “Cool natured and dispersing, this formula is a mild diuretic, helping to resolve tumors, cysts, and lymphatic congestion. It is specifically useful for chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, but good also for other chronic conditions. Used with an immune system formula, it helps offset some of the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It may be combined with a heat-clearing formula, too.”

Most of the plants in this formula are cooling and drying. Many of the supporting herbs are nutritive, and warming. They help balance out the strongly antibacterial and drying formula. I would also use this formula for digestive upset caused by a GI infection or bug.

For a person of colder constitution, I may add ginger to potentiate the formula. For a person of warmer constitution, I may add a demulcent herb, to help bulk it up and increase nutrition.

---

Formula 4- Tooth Powder

Anemopsis californica (Yerba manza root) (1) (2.7 mg)

Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh resin) (0.5) (1.3 mg)

Larrea tridentata (Chaparral leaves) (0.25) (0.7 mg)

Equisetum arvens (Horsetail stems) (0.25) (0.7 mg)

Salvia spp. (Sage leaves)(0.25) (0.7 mg)

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice root) (0.25) (0.7 mg)

Clay (green or red clay, fine) (0.5) (1.3 mg) (0.7 mg)

Solid numbers are listed as parts. Secondary quotation in mg are amounts of each herb, for an 8 oz jar of tooth powder.

Dosage

Put tooth powder onto wettened toothpaste. Brush morning and night.

Most of the herbs in this tooth powder are dry, thus the addition of demulcent Licorice. The dryness and coolness of much of the formula tonifies the gums and cleanses the teeth. Yerba manza, myrrh, Chaparral, and sage are disinfectant. Horsetail cleanses by abrading the teeth, and helps to remineralize the teeth if swallowed or drunk as an infusion, according to Doug Simons. If you wanted to make a swallowable tooth powder, I would take out the clay, and possibly add salt, if I wanted to make the tooth powder more abrasive and cleaning. Only swallow for a maximum of two weeks, if you choose to do so. The myrrh resin can be replace with a less potent but just as lovely local analogue, pine resin (Pinus spp.)

---

Action Formula

Formula 1- All Purpose Salve

(Formula from Kiva Rose- for topical use only)

Actions	Chaparral	Plantain	Poplar	Sage	Mugwort	Yarrow
Topical Energetics	Warm/ dry	Cool/ dry	Warm/neutral	Warm/ dry	Warm/ dry	Warm/ dry
Antiseptic	x	x	x	x	x	x
Anti-inflammatory	x	x	x	x	x	x
Vulnerary		x	x
Astringent	x	x		x	x	x
Analgesic	x		x	x	x	x

Resources Cited

Herbal Vade Mecum, Skenderi, pg. 93

Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, Chevallier, pg. 225

Planetary Herbology, Tierra, pg. 193, 124-128, 95

Herbal Tinctures in Clinical Practice, Michael Moore

Actions Database (http://naimh.com/Actions/naimh-actions-database.htm)

Encycopedia of Life (http://eol.org/pages/4418/overview)

7song’s Plant Medicine Notes (2013)

Wintercount plant walk with Doug Simons (2007)

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_zygophyllaceae.php)

Henriette’s Herbals forum post by Michael Moore (1994) (http://www.henriettes-herb.com/archives/best/1994/larrea.html)

Kiva Rose articles: Choice Injury Herbs (http://bearmedicineherbals.com/choice-injury-herbs.html)

The Practice of Larrea I- external (http://bearmedicineherbals.com/the-practica-of-larrea-1-external.html)

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrea_tridentata)

Eric and Lisa Bresselsmith (http://houseofaromatics.com/chapparal-a-flower-essence-story/)

Desert Plants and People, Sam Hicks (http://www.swsbm.com/Ethnobotany/Desert_Plants_and_People.pdf)

Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs (Foster and Hobbs, Peterson Field Guides)

Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West (Michael Moore)

NOTE: This was originally written for homework. Sorry that it is very wordy. If you don't understand or have any questions, then please ask. 

 DISCLAIMER: none of this information is intended to treat or diagnose symptoms or conditions. I am making no claims about this plant's ability to do anything. Take responsibility for your own experiments. Do more research before trying anything at home. Consult your healthcare provider if you must. And ask me more questions, if you wish. Thanks for reading! 

Fruit Enzymes: a recipe

Fruit enzymes: a healthy fermented drink

(Recipe from my dad) 

(Ingredients listed in parts- adapt accordingly) 

Brown sugar 1 (or evaporated cane sugar) 

Fruit 3 (cut into small pieces- inc skin and etc. Can let soak in kombucha or other fermented liquids for half an hour first ) 

Water 10

Directions: 

- Blenderize water and sugar for 2-3 minutes, then add fruit. Seal it. It will bubble. Shake it and open the container daily, to release gas. The fruits will start off floating, then sink to the bottom after some time. 

- After the fruits fall to the bottom, blenderize the entire thing with more sugar (1/2 part). Seal up the batch again. Let sit in sun, and shake daily. Let sit for about 1/2 month. 

- After 1/2 month, blenderize again. Seal again. (This process can be repeated as often as wished) 

- Can drink after at least 3 months, but best at 6 months. (After 3 months, you can add more fruit if you wish). 

- Sip as desired daily, (suggested 1 tablespoon three times a day, but depends on the person) to aid digestion, immune response, circulation, and more. Nothing proved or supported by the FDA, but if you want stories or more suggestions on how to use it, ask me--- and I'll direct you towards my dad. Enjoy! It's a long process to make it, but it tastes and feels delicious. 

Vitalism

VITALISM

questions, interpretations, and practices

What does it mean to be VITAL? What does perfect HEALTH mean to you? What does it mean to LIVE fully?

“VITALITY” means to experience vibrant ALIVENESS in body, mind, heart, and spirit, a feeling of deep internal and external connection and interconnection.

Vitalism focuses on a balanced lifestyle for optimum health and life enjoyment. “Health” includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

- BODY -

How does your body feel? What type of body were you born into? What kind of body do you have now? What is your innate constitution? What do you like and dislike about how you look and feel? What tends to unbalance you? How would you like to change?

A vibrant, vital, wholly healthy person complements their constitution with supportive foods and lifestyle practices. There is an abundance of energy in the body, a feeling of deep connection with nature, and a solid commitment to the wellness of all beings, including oneself.

How do your eyes and skin look? What is the quality of your voice? How is your posture? What are your daily routines? Which routines nourish you, which are rote, and which negatively affect you? Do you like yourself? How do you take care of your Being?

Here’s some physical exercise ideas:

- Practice 5 minutes of aerobic exercise first thing in the morning, or right after getting home from work.

- Practice a full set of stretches first thing upon waking, or after work.

How is your appetite and digestion? What foods and activities are you drawn to? How often do you exercise? How much water do you drink each day? Where does your water come from? How is the air that you breathe? What is the quality of your breath?

Some food/ water practices you can try:

- Drink 1 qt of warm water first thing in the morning. (You can add 1 T of lemon juice, if desired.)

- Say a brief gratitude prayer before eating.

- Eat in silence for at least one meal each day.

How much do you sleep each night? Are you connected with your dreams? Where do you live? Do you know the names and habits of your plant, stone, and creature neighbors? Do you notice seasonal changes? Do you feel connected with your environment?

A few nature connection practices you can try:

- Take a silent walk for 30 minutes each day, maintaining internal awareness on your breath, body, and mind. Simultaneously cultivate external awareness with wide peripheral vision and deep listening.

- Find a natural place outdoors within 3 minutes walking distance of your home that resonates with you. Come here daily to just sit in silence and observe internally and externally for 5-10 minutes each day.

- MIND/ HEART -

How do you feel right now? How do you generally feel? What are your emotional and mental tendencies? Do you allow yourself to cry? Do you belly laugh often? Do you feel a full spectrum of emotions? How do you react or respond to adversity?

A fully vital person is aware of, expressive of, and responsible for their mental and emotional states.

What makes you come alive? What are the supporting pillars of your life? Which pillars sustainably support you? How can you further cultivate these? Which pillars are unstable? How can you transform these? What is your role in your community? Who is your community?

Here’s some centering exercises:

- Meditate for 5 minutes each day.

- Integrate ritual into your life. Set intentions with each new moon, create community celebrations with each full moon.

- Go on a retreat once in a while (for at least a week each year) to retreat, rejuvenate, and revitalize.

- Journal a page of stream-of-consciousness thoughts and/ or feelings each night before sleeping.

What challenges you? What are you grateful for? What excites you? What frightens you? What delights you? What do you live for? What are you passionate about?

More life-affirming exercises:

- Do a gratitude prayer first thing in the morning, listing all the things you are thankful for.

- Say a prayer before going to sleep.

- Repeat a positive mental affirmation first thing in the morning, and right before sleeping.

- SPIRIT -

What is your connection with Spirit? Why are you here? What gives you purpose in life? What is your life philosophy, in one sentence?

All of the above practices support connection with Spirit. Vitalism tends to the roots of each person’s tree of life by nourishing, supporting, and care-taking the foundations of life itself, through lifestyle practices and supportive treatments as needed. Instead of treating the fruits (the surface manifestation of sickness), we treat the roots (the underlying origins of health and dis-ease). Sometimes, things must get worse to get better. In adversity, medicines/ actions are taken as needed to restore the body to balance, through resting, and supporting the body through its natural responses.

May your Life Journey be filled with vital health.

May you THRIVE.

2013

In 2013, I committed to one thing: the study of botanical medicine. Do one thing, and do it well. Dig a hole deep, not wide. Allow that hole to be your portal to the Universe. Through one thing, connect with all things. This has been my journey of 2013, and now continuing into 2014, and the rest of my life: 

creation

commitment 

clarity 

with Plants, with Earth

with Self, Community, and Spirit. 

May you enjoy this photo-diary, a daily ritual of photographing/ observing myself, assembled into contact sheets, and a video here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PUbMLqQIhk&feature=youtu.be

I started this project in December 2005. Thank you to all the people who have touched, and continue to touch, my life! Blessings on all your intentions and projects for 2014, this brand new year of the horse! Gallop away, with steady reins, bright laughter, and a gentle yet powerful wind to guide you! 

Namaste,

Jiling 

我二零零六年十二月開始天天給自己拍照一張大頭照。 以下是2013年天天拍的自拍。 我今年專心的在森林裡創自己的世界，陪老師學藥草療愈，和深入的去了解人體，自然世界，和靈體的關係和技巧。 感恩我生活中所有的老師，朋友，和學生們。祝福大家馬年快樂， 事事如意！

敬， 基玲

Vitalist reflections

(This was our first homework assignment for the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. I enjoyed writing this paper, though I labored over the creation of it for many days. I am sharing it, in the hopes that it is useful to some of you! Green blessings, from herb school. Let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, reflections, etc. Thanks for reading!) 

~

I practiced chi-gong for five hours a day in Taiwan at this time, last year. I spent three years around Asia, primarily in Taiwan, immersing myself in my ancestors’ culture, studying Chinese Medicine and other ancient Asian healing modalities. Those experiences are still at the forefront of my consciousness, so reading these Vitalist texts made me think of a lot of those years of experiential education. Below, I will make some comparisons.

Describing Vital Power feels like describing Tao: one can use all the words in the world, and never be able to fully describe it. For, it is everything and nothing, it is seen and unseen, it is beyond words. Even just to say, “It just is,” is too much.

In Chinese, we call Vital Power “chi.” In yoga, we call it “prana.” Chi and prana are both the primary motivating force behind the body-mind-emotions-spirit self in Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Diseases are manifestations of obstructions to the natural energy flow of the body.

Each person is born with a certain constitution, certain tendencies. The natural state of the world is entropy, so we tend towards imbalance with our innate constitutions. Balance is health: a balance between the different elements that compose our body-mind-emotional-spiritual- Self, a balance between our inner and outer worlds. Through balanced diet, exercise, rest, community/ personal time, and work/ play, one builds ones’ health.

Vitalism focuses on a balanced lifestyle for optimum health and life enjoyment. It is preventative medicine, rather than treatment oriented. When needed, medicines/ actions are taken to restore the body to balance, by targeting the source of the issue at hand, instead of just symptomatic relief. Cook defines disease as a gradual destabilization, where one unbalanced point slowly teeters the delicate symmetry of the entire system. With the interrelation of the tissue systems, if one tissue system is off balance, then it may lead to related issues in related tissues.

Food is emphasized as medicine. We are what we eat. How and what one eats is the foundation of ones’ health. In Chinese culture, food energetics are part of the diet. “Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pot if you can heal the patient with food,” said Hippocrates. Alva Curtis notes that “real medicine, whether in the form of an herb or a food, will increase the energy in the vital centers without working any injury.” It’s better to nourish/ tonify, than to stimulate/ sedate. Use moderation, and treat as necessary, per the individual’s needs, on a case-by-case basis.

My body is material, immaterial, and energetic. It takes a grand choreography of various actions and effects to coordinate this seemingly simple process of typing this paper. Likewise, the breakfast I am currently eating has its own set of molecular and energetic symphonics, which dances with the harmony/ discordance of my bodily-mental-emotional-spirit interplaying being, and affects me. I am affecting, I am affected. I am creating, I am created. I am dying, I am birthed. Moment by moment, all this is happening. To say it is just visible material would be a grand generalization, a blind overlooking of the magic and wonder of being alive. There is a light that shines behind each person’s eyes. When I treat clients, I am treating that light, not just the physical substance of their bodies.

I like what Cook said: Man can never be viewed correctly in his wide relationships, unless his material and immaterial components are considered together. To take cognizance only of his material portion, would be to deal with him as if he were a mere dead animal. To be concerned only with his Vital Force, would be to study him as if he were a spirit.

External agents influence the body, while the Vital Power also acts upon the agents. T. J. Lyle notes that it is important to “differentiate between a normal vital effort, a vital effort resisting disease, and a vital effort under the influence of remedial measures,” and to “carefully differentiate between the disease and the efforts of the vital force in resisting disease.” Differing effects of medicines with differing constitutions must also be noted. “Always let the remedy correspond to the just proportion of the affliction,” said Culpeper. Galen and Culpeper notes herbal energetics by observing medicines’ properties of heat, coldness, dryness, or moisture.

Hippocrates said that, “Whoever is to acquire a competent knowledge of medicine, ought to be possessed of a natural disposition; instruction; a favorable position for the study; early tuition; love of labor; leisure.” In traditional Chinese culture, the doctors usually came from wealthy families. Medicine was passed down like other professions, as a lineage from father to son. Doctors were not just skilled in the healing arts, but they were also well rounded in other ways: as highly aware martial arts practitioners, familiar with feeling chi coursing through their own bodies; artists who write/ draw excellent calligraphy; and home-owners with attention to the beauty, feng shui, and composition of their homes and gardens. Europeans would call them “Renaissance men.” I aspire to be such a well-rounded healer, too. It was said that you can tell the skill of the doctor by the quality of his handwriting and painting. Chinese doctors practiced a variety of skills, including acupuncture, tui na, chi-gong (energy work), bone-setting, cupping, moxibustion, and more. It’s said that the meridians were originally “discovered” by martial artists practicing chi-gong, who felt the energy coursing through their bodies, and decided to map it!

Hippocrates further notes that “instruction in medicine is like the culture of the productions of the earth.” Chinese medicine and Ayurveda also draw correlations between the natural world and our bodies and health. Taoist practices draw energy from the Earth through the bottom of the feet. Practicing outside is encouraged, as thousands still practice today in parks across Taiwan and China. “Chi” (氣) doesn’t just mean the Vital Force. The word literally translates to “breath.” It is part of and ties us together with all of existence. Breathing the natural air outdoors is said to enliven chi, similar to the Vitalist practices we do that engage with nature. According to Aristotle, “From the moment the breath receives its first beginning, all the other drives flow out from it.”