by Terra Rafael, Ayurvedic Practitioner, COLORAMA member Grindelia spp., Asteraceae/Compositeae family Common names: Gumweed, Tarweed, Rosinweed, Gumplant, Yerba del Buey Appearance: “Leaves are green to blue green, somewhat spade shaped, and clasp the stem without a leafstalk. They are slightly toothed. When it is in bloom the plant is about 3 feet high and the many sticky yellow flowers are surrounded by pincushion-like bracts. The young flowers and buds are covered in a thick, milky exudates that smells balsamic, a device that insures pollination if insects fail, and which gives rise to its name of Gumweed, for it can be chewed like chicle.” - Michael Moore (see drawing)
Karmas / Prabhav:
Organs:
Common uses:
Dosage:
Forms of medicine to use: Tea: (leaves &/or flowers) — bronchitis, expectorant, antispasmodic for dry hacking coughs, alone or with Yerba Santa, a tablespoon in tea as needed. (Michael Moore) 6-15 g per pint of water Tincture: (flowers preferable) — for bladder & urethra infections, one-fourth teaspoon in water every four hours. (Michael Moore) ½-3 mil, or 12-75 drops (Peter Holmes) Topical use of tincture or poultice of crushed flowers: poison oak inflammations (Michael Moore) Flower essence: Rocky Mountain Flower Essences (Grindelia sqauamasa), by Alakananda Ma — “[The] Gumweed pattern is illness as a turning away from life. The Gumweed person is weak, neurasthenic, frequently ill or suffering frequent relapses, may have chronic fatigue syndrome, [and] turns to invalidity as a refuge. Those Gumweed types who have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome characteristically drive themselves so hard that disabling illness is indeed their only refuge. The quality of Gumweed is the understanding of illness as a gift, the ability to learn the lesson & move on, whether to health & strength, or if the disease is a continuing karmic necessity, to transform through illness.” Cautions:
Contraindications:
References:
Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, p. 203. Mrs. M Grieve, A Modern Herbal, pp. 376 & 377. Peter Holmes, The Energetics of Western Herbs, pp. 202 & 203. Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, pp. 80-82. Alakananda, Earthkeeper Flower Essences, 1991 Handbook, p.14. Anne McIntyre , Michelle Boudin , Dispensing with Tradition p. 70
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
From the professional and student members of ColoramaCategories
All
Archives
June 2020
|