Habitat and Range
Yerba Santa frequently inhabits roadsides and other dry, gravely soils. It can be found on slopes and ridges below 5500 ft in all parts of the Sierra. It blooms from May to July.
Physical Description
Eriodictyon spp are evergreen shrubs that commonly grow 3 ft tall with erect stems that shed their bark. The many leaves on each stem are simple and alternate. They are generally lanceolate, 2-5 inches long and have short petioles. The top of the leaf is shiny and leathery and the bottom is tomentose, making it look almost whitish. The veins on the underside of each leaf form a pronounced net-like pattern. The terminal inflorescence is a loose cyme with small pink, bell-shaped flowers.
Food Uses
Yerba Santa has little use as a food. However, the leaves can be steeped in to a tea. The fresh leaves are sometimes chewed as a refreshing and thirst-quenching trail snack. The bitter taste disappears quickly. Historically, this herb has also been used for chewing and smoking like tobacco.
Medicinal Uses
Eriodictyon has many stong medicinal uses. The leaf tea is a great expectorant and a remedy for sore-throat. It is also reportedly beneficial in the treatment of asthma, catarrh, rheumatism and tuberculosis. Rheumatism is best treated with this herb by a hot leaf-compress or very strong tea. A poultice made from the fresh leaves quickly and effectively treats skin sores and Poison-Oak rashes.
NOTE: Yerba Santa means "Holy Weed" in Spanish. The name was given to this herb by the Spanish fathers who learned of its divine medicinal qualities from California natives.
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