Sunflower of the Desert

Arrow Leaf Balsam Root

Scientific Name: Balsamorhiza sagittata

Family: Asteraceae

Parts Used: Root, Leaf

Taste: Pungent

Energetics: Warm, Dry

Actions: Stimulant, Expectorant, Diaphoretic, Antimicrobial, Antifungal

Identification: I commonly find Balsam Root on the eastern side of the Cascades. It grows in forested mountains and the sage brush steppe.  During Spring, Arrowleaf Balsam Root begins to put on a show with its bright yellow, sunflower-like ray flowers. The flower head can grow to be about 3-4 inches in diameter.  The leaves are long and large and are generally arrow-shaped or triangular. They can average 20 inches in length.

Collection:  Come April-June in Washington, I am making my “East Side” trip. Eastern Washington, that is. On the hillsides of the Cascade rain shadow you will find slopes of sagebrush steppes or open areas of conifer woodlands covered with the brilliant yellow sunflower-like flower of Arrowleaf Balsamoot. Some joke, that tourists are dumbfounded to find such a unique sunflower in the high desert! While others know, this is the time for collection. Find a digging stick and start removing the stones and earthy material that Balsam Root maneuvers around. You may be following the root for a couple of feet into the earth (for this plant helps prevent erosion). If the resin is running from places of puncture in the root, then you know that there is good medicine ready for you. I like to follow Michael Moore’s directions on making Balsam Root Honey… Oh, and make sure you fill the hole and make your area of collection unnoticeable :)

**Yes, there is an abundance of this herb (or so it appears) yet Arrowleaf Balsamroot takes many years to mature. Harvest with respect and understand how much you are taking and how long it will be until the next plant grows in its place. Also, only take what you need or the plant allows.

Balsam Root Medicine

Cold & Flu

The root is known as an immunomodulator. It is a stimulant to many defense responses. Meaning at the onset of a cold or flu, Balsamroot can help fight off any symptoms before they truly set in.  Michael Moore claims that Balsamroot is superior to an Echinacea/Osha combination. It can help coughs both chronic and acute as well as heavy colds. Balsamroot is even kid friendly :)

Respiratory Issues

If you get a chance, suck on a freshly dug root and observe what happens in your mouth. Arrow Leaf Balsam Root tends to be warming and drying. If there happens to be a lot of mucus in your body, the root will help break up and expel the mucus, helping release the sinuses. It also helps soothe a sore throat (you’ll feel, smell and see this when harvesting the root, a lubricating sap will flow from broken sections). It makes a wonderful throat lozenge when you’re out walking about on the sage steppe.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot serves as an expectorant. It loosens mucus and helps both the lungs and sinus release any build-up congestion. This is a great herbal ally for those with re-occurring bronchitis or pneumonia.

 

Infections

I have personally used Balsamroot for a lung infection, bronchitis. Yet, Michael Moore states that though it is not as specific as other herbs, the disinfectant diuretic qualities of Balsamroot are effective in treating UTIs (especially combined with Yerba Santa and Grindelia).

Burns

Ethnobotanically speaking, the leaves were used as a poultice on burns and wounds. I have personally used the leaves as a spit poultice on a sunburn and it was both cooling and relieving, helping my skin heal.

Preparations: tincture, decoction, oil extract, hydrosol, hone

Plant Poultices

What in the world is a poultice?!

According to James Green a poultice is “a soft, mushy preparation composed usually of some pulpy or mealy substance which is capable of absorbing a large amount of liquid and of such consistency that it can be applied to any flat or irregular surface.” Wait what? It’s almost like an herbal “paste” made of macerated herb and water. Poultices are applied to the outer skin either directly or with some cloth in between. Ideally, a poultice is warm or hot, to help release the medicinal constituents of the macerated plant. Yet, in a survival situation, any water temperature will have to do (saliva being the warmest at times…).

A poultice is moist and helps relax tissue and relieve pain OR lubricates the skin and draws infections or toxins out. A lot of poultices can help reduce inflammation as well as external irritations.

What’s the point of making a poultice?

Poultices can be used for:

-Sprains, Broken Bones and Bruising **Reducing muscle & joint inflammation

-Reducing Inflammation

-Cleansing or Healing Eye irritations

-Burns

-Insect bites & Bee Stings

-Drawing out Staph Infections, Splinters, Etc.

- To Stop Bleeding

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Here’s a list of plants that you can find commonly in the states and, more specifically in the PNW, that you can make poultices with:

Plantain (LEAVES & SEEDS)

Anti-inflammatory, bug-bites & bee stings, stinging nettle stings, astringent, splinters, minor wounds and infections

Usnea (WHOLE LICHEN)

Stops bleeding and fights infections

Bleeding Heart (ROOTS & LEAVES)

**This has a huge effect on some people (even by touching the plant, be cautious) and can cause cardiac arrest if ingested too much. Do not use if Pregnant. **

Helps reduce pain. Use for bad breaks, sprains and bruises.

Oregon Grape (LEAVES & ROOTS)

Staph infections

Yarrow (LEAVES & FLOWERS)

Hemostatic, helps stop bleeding, Reduces muscle and joint inflammation

Comfrey (STEMS, LEAVES & ROOTS)

Pain relief, Anti-inflammatory, Reduces swelling and bruising, Mends Tissues (A.K.A. Knit-Bone)

Chickweed (WHOLE PLANT)

Itching relief, Draws out infections and also stings and bug bites

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How to make a poultice?

Spit Poultices:

The REALLY simple method

I recommend a spit poultice if you are on a hike, or need something in a hurry. The best example is when you or someone around you gets stung by a bee. If there just so happens to be plantain at your feet, follow these steps:

-pick it

-chew it up (until a lot of saliva is produced)

-make that mushy, moist poultice in your mouth

-spit it out onto the stung area or onto your hands to apply to the area with the bee sting

**I do recommend using your own saliva for your own sting, cut, sprain, etc.

For Open Wound Poultices:

-Use a clean bandana or gauze

-Put plant material in sterile bandana or gauze

-Crush plant material on clean surface (if you are doing this in the wild, river rocks or rocks in general might be your cleanest option)

-Soak macerated plant material and bandana in warm/hot water (or whatever temperature water you have based on your situation)

-Apply for 5-20 minutes on wound

**This is a good method if you are camping or backpacking or just playing in the woods…

Closed Wound (Sprain, Bruise, etc.) Poultice:

The Simple Method

1.     Put freshly chopped herbal material into a clean white sock or bandana or gauze

2.     Tie cloth at the top

3.     Place cloth and crushed herbal material into a shallow bowel

4.     Pour hot water over the cloth/plant material

5.     Knead in water (once its cool enough for your hands to touch)

6.     Apply to affected area until the poultice is cool

7.     Repeat steps 3 to 6 to reheat and reapply the poultice

The Kitchen Complex Method

1.     Harvest fresh plant material and put it in your blender or Cuisinart

2.     Pour warm water (or ice and ice water if you want a cold poultice) over herbal material, covering the plant

3.     “garble” or macerate or blend

4.     Add flax seed or oil or tincture to make it gel and increase the medicinal strength of your poultice, blend

5.     Apply directly on skin or place in center of bandana or clean cloth, fold, and apply on wound

**I love this method for comfrey & calendula flowers…

Oxymels and Elixirs

 

What is an OXYMEL?!

If you ask me, an oxymels is the best of both worlds: Sweet and Sour. An oxymel is a honey-vinegar. This combination makes an outrageous morning tonic or afternoon mixed drink (oxymels and carbonated water that is…).

Oxymels are nutritious and preserve the bioflavonoids of the herbs you choose to infuse. It’s a way of waking up your digestive enzymes and boosting both your energy and immunity.

 

What’s the difference between a SHRUB and an OXYMEL?

Shrubs and oxymels are both infused honey vinegars. However, a shrub traditionally consists of berry infusions. It’s what peasants would use as an electrolyte while working with the land and it’s how sailors preserved their fruits while being out on the sea (ultimately helping reduce the risks of scurvy). So oxymels are herbal infused honey-vinegars and shrubs are fruit (&) herbal infused honey-vinegars.

How to make an oxymel?

Oxymel according to James Green:

Step 1: Prepare the base

-Mix 1 lb. honey with ½ pint vinegar (you can adjust the ratios to a smaller amount if needed).

-Place the mixture in a pot and simmer to a syrup consistency.

Step 2: Add the Herbs

-While the honey-vinegar is still in the pot, add freshly chopped herb, let infuse for 3 weeks in a non-metal lidded jar

OR

-Pour in a prepared decoction, infusion or tincture to base and use as a gargle or expectorant medicine.

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What is an Elixir?

Some may say it’s a “MagicalPotion” or a “Love Spell”. Yet if you ask an herbalist, it’s a combination of brandy and honey. It makes a great base for a Throat Spray and it also goes well in a Hot Toddy. With that said, I like to make Elixir mainly for viruses such as the cold and flu. Yet some people would prefer their tinctures to have some honey, because I believe Mary Poppin’s said “A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Oxymel OR Elixir Preparation:

-Chop fresh herb to fill about ½ jar

-Fill ½ jar with Vinegar (preferably Apple Cider Vinegar with mother) OR Brandy OR Vodka (alcohol states you are making an “Elixr”)

-Cover jar with non-erosive lid (especially I you are using vinegar)

-Let infuse for 3-4 weeks.

-Pour through strainer.

**1 TBSP./Day of Oxymel to keep the digestive system happy and 1 Tsp. 3-5 times/day of Elixr to fight symptoms

Resources:

The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook; A Home Manual, James Green

Cedar Mountain Herb School, Suzanne Jordan

Healing From The Ground Up Apprenticeship, EagleSong E. Gardener