The research and traditional use of the Yerba Santa herb finds it has a number of medicinal benefits. This native to the American western region has been used for thousands of years.
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| Yerba Santa* |
What is Yerba Santa?
Yerba Santa is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Here's an overview of its characteristics, traditional uses, potential health benefits, and relevant scientific research.
The herb makes a nice tea, often called Paraguay tea. The tea is produced from the dried leaves and stems.
Plant Description and Habitat
The Latin name is Eriodictyon californicum.
Appearance
Yerba Santa is a woody shrub with lance-shaped leaves that
are dark green and slightly sticky to the touch. It produces clusters of small
white or lavender flowers.
Habitat
Yerba Santa is native to coastal and mountainous regions. Yerba Santa is native to dry, rocky slopes and canyons in the coastal regions of California, as well as parts of Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, and northern Mexico. It thrives in dry, rocky slopes and chaparral habitats.
Health Benefits of Yerba Santa
Respiratory Health
Yerba Santa has long been used in traditional medicine as an expectorant and bronchial dilator. It is believed to help alleviate symptoms of respiratory conditions such as coughs, colds, asthma, and bronchitis by promoting the clearance of mucus from the lungs and airways.
Yerba Santa also contains compounds that help thin and expel mucus from the respiratory tract, making it easier to clear congestion and promote easier breathing.
For these reasons the herb is considered an expectorant, a mucolytic and a bronchodilator.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Yerba Santa has been found to significantly help protect the cardiovascular system. It has also been found to help glucose control as well.
Neuroprotective
Studies have found that the herb can help sustain positive moods and help boost memory. Some research has found it may benefit dementia patients.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Yerba Santa contains flavonoids and other compounds with
anti-inflammatory effects. It may help reduce inflammation in the respiratory
tract, the liver and other parts of the body, potentially providing relief from
conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Antioxidant
Yerba Santa is rich in antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These help protect cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants may play a role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting overall health. The herb has also been shown to inhibit tumor development in colon cancer and breast cancer.
Wound Healing
Yerba Santa has been traditionally used topically to promote
wound healing and relieve skin irritation. It may have antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory properties that contribute to its wound-healing effects.
Primary Compounds
Flavonoids: Yerba Santa contains flavonoids such as
quercetin and kaempferol, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties.
Triterpenoids: These compounds contribute to the bitter
taste of yerba santa and may have medicinal properties.
Essential Oils: Yerba Santa contains aromatic essential oils that may contribute to its therapeutic effects.
Tannins: Yerba Santa contains tannins, which have astringent properties and may contribute to its traditional uses.
Traditional Uses
Native American tribes, particularly those indigenous to California, have used yerba santa for centuries for various medicinal purposes. It has been used as a respiratory remedy, wound healer, and general tonic herb.
Scientific References
Gerber T, Nunes A, Moreira BR, Maraschin M. Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) for new therapeutic and nutraceutical interventions: A review of patents issued in the last 20 years (2000-2020). Phytother Res. 2023 Feb;37(2):527-548. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7632.
Fischer W, Currais A, Liang Z, Pinto A, Maher P. Old age-associated phenotypic screening for Alzheimer's disease drug candidates identifies sterubin as a potent neuroprotective compound from Yerba santa. Redox Biol. 2019 Feb;21:101089. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.101089.
Mödinger Y, Schön C, Wilhelm M, Pickel C, Grothe T. A Food Supplement with Antioxidative Santa Herba Extract Modulates Energy Metabolism and Contributes to Weight Management. J Med Food. 2021 Nov;24(11):1235-1242. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2021.0016.
Liang Z, Maher P. Structural Requirements for the Neuroprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Flavanone Sterubin. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Nov 7;11(11):2197. doi: 10.3390/antiox11112197.
Taguchi N, Hata T, Kamiya E, Homma T, Kobayashi A, Aoki H, Kunisada T. Eriodictyon angustifolium extract, but not Eriodictyon californicum extract, reduces human hair greying. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Aug;42(4):336-345. doi: 10.1111/ics.12620.
Liu YL, Ho DK, Cassady JM, Cook VM, Baird WM. Isolation of potential cancer chemopreventive agents from Eriodictyon californicum. J Nat Prod. 1992 Mar;55(3):357-63. doi: 10.1021/np50081a012.
Ley JP, Krammer G, Reinders G, Gatfield IL, Bertram HJ. Evaluation of bitter masking flavanones from Herba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum (H. and A.) Torr., Hydrophyllaceae). J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Jul 27;53(15):6061-6. doi: 10.1021/jf0505170.
Wang M, Zhao J, Avula B, Lee J, Upton R, Khan IA. Chemical characterization and quantitative determination of flavonoids and phenolic acids in yerba santa (Eriodictyon spp.) using UHPLC/DAD/Q-ToF. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2023 Sep 20;234:115570. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115570.
He J, Fu H, Li C, Deng Z, Chang H. Eriodictyol inhibits breast carcinogenesis by targeting circ_0007503 and repressing PI3K/Akt pathway. Phytomedicine. 2022 Jul 20;102:154159. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154159.
Maher PA. Using Plants as a Source of Potential Therapeutics for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Yale J Biol Med. 2020 Jun 29;93(2):365-373.
He J, Fu H, Li C, Deng Z, Chang H. Eriodictyol inhibits breast carcinogenesis by targeting circ_0007503 and repressing PI3K/Akt pathway. Phytomedicine. 2022 Jul 20;102:154159. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154159.
Mariyappan P, Kalaiyarasu T, Manju V. Effect of eriodictyol on preneoplastic lesions, oxidative stress and bacterial enzymes in 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis. Toxicol Res (Camb). 2017 Jun 19;6(5):678-692. doi: 10.1039/c7tx00074j.
*Photo by Breck Breckenridge