Property Herbal – Sagebrush

This is the kickoff for a series regarding the many (or few?) plants that are growing on our property.

A herbal is … a book containing the names and descriptions of plants, usually with information on their virtues (properties) – and in particular their medicinal, tonic, culinary, toxic, hallucinatory, aromatic, or magical powers, and the legends associated with them. – wikipedia

Of all the many plants that grow on our property the one that is the most prevalent is Sage Brush. Michael and I talk alot about having to clear cut the sagebrush to place our road and our house.

Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), which is an aster,  is not to be confused with culinary sage (Salvia officinalis), which is of the mint family.

We are looking forward to have lots of browse for our goats when we get some.

Aside from using it as food, I was reminded of all the medicinal uses of sagebrush apart from being used as smudge sticks.

The main constituents in sagebrush are camphor, terpenoids, and tannins.

Tea, ingested (tastes bad, add other herbs, sweetener)

• Digestive aid
• Stimulates sweating (fever aid)
• Removing intestinal parasites (worms)
• As a emmenagogue – suppress cramping, regulate the menstrual cycle
• Settle nerves/anxiousness

Topical

• Muscle aches (infused oil)
• Chest congestion
• Flushing wounds (as a tea)
• Mouthrinse for sores
• Mouthwash for dental
• Anti-fungal (in oil, as powder, or as a tea wash)

Inhalation

• Headache (inhale steam from boiled sagebrush)
• Chest Congestion (inhale steam from boiled sagebrush)

Resources and further info:

• https://extension.usu.edu/behave/htm/past-projects/eating-sagebrush
• http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eoarc/sites/default/files/publication/400.pdf
• https://capcas.com/goat-management/grazing-goats/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_tridentata
• http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/artemisia_tridentata.shtml
• http://www.herbalpedia.com/SAGEBRUSH,%20COMMON.pdf
• http://www.herballegacy.com/Bergeson_Chemical.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_tridentata

If you have any other info on Sagebrush or other possible uses, please let me know in the comments below! 🙂

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