So when we come down this way: Salt River, Paul Manski

So when we come down this way were always walking across the salt river.

This is our great river the salt river. One of the things that i do when i come to the salt river

is offer salt river yerba santa, fragrant plants,

the Gobernadora, Larrea tridentata.

       I offer it to the river for safe passage, salt river, take these fragrant leaves, this yerba santa, for my brothers and sisters who use this water and who used this water.

      Everything you see everything you hear doesn't belong to me. It's part of what i need to use to survive. It doesn't belong to me but i use it and the way that i use it, is the way i define myself...the way i define myself as a person. I define myself as a person in this salt river, salt river valley...

i see over here la Gobernadora, Larrea tridentata, this is the plant, this is the plant that we use when we come this way. 

      When we come down to the salt river we see our plants that grow here, and some of the plants that grow here they are what they are. Here we have jojoba, here we have Larrea tridentata. These are the plants that we use.

 these are the plants that are our medicine here. The salt River is a great river for us. And it's important, when ever you cross the river, whenever you come into this country, whenever you plant your feet in a different way on this earth to walk to a new place...

acknowledge the river, acknowledge the truth of this river, the truth of this water that flows, like blood, like mud from way up above, from way up above, yes that's right, the salt river. The white river, the black river they come together, they mix, they mix right here.

    This is Larrea tridentata, the Gobernadora,

this is the plant that we use when we come to this place. Some people will say, "well, what plants do you use?", I say, "i use the plants that are here." Ha ha Ha ha ha, i use the plants that are here in the way that i use them. So that's what i do. So that's who i am.

Red Root, Ocotillo and an approach towards the spiritual heart by PaulManski

     

Red Root: Ceanothus spp. Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family) Buckbrush, because deer may and do browse it. Growing in  a 6200ft low elevation coniferous forest. It grows in piñon juniper woodlands to open pine forests. Ceanothus fendleri Three parallel leaf veins, a central vein from the base to tip of leaf, a central longitudinal vein with two symmetric veins, together in a trio. In our southwest the leaf size varies greatly from species to species. fendleri presents as a small thorny shrub with narrowly oblong leaves about 3/4's of an inch in length. 

     Ceanothus greggii, or desert ceanothus is found at lower elevations. In flower it is fragrant and the plant is showy with white puffy flowers. It tends to not have the three parallel veins and the lacks the thorns of fendleri, in addition having  grey, more white tinged branches. It tends to grow at lower elevations inhabiting a zone called Arizona chaparral- which is not to be confused with the herb of commerce sometimes called chaparral, Larrea tridentata.

Associated with scrub oak Q. turbinella, manzanita, silk tassel, cliffrose and hollyleaf buckthorn.

      A third type of Ceanothus is C. integerrimus

which appears more montane, growing at higher elevations with higher precipitation, the leaves reflect this more abundant water supply and are larger, it has a mild 3 veined presentation, and it lacks the leathery waxy quality of our other Ceanothus. 

      Ceanothus has a history in western herbal medicine notably during the time of it's flowering from the 1830's to the early part of the 20th century. In the colonial period Red Root,  was called 'New Jersey tea' and was a substitute for the imported Chinese tea which was in short supply, as in the revolutionary act of dumping tea into the Boston harbor, the Boston Tea Party and was considered patriotic to part ways with the British, during the Revolutionary War time.

     "The Family Flora and Materia Medica", by Peter P. Good, A.M written in 1847 speaks of it being astringent and slightly bitter. Useful as an astringent in dysentery and as a febrifuge in Mexico. Good describes it as appropriate for sore throats, and the congested symptoms of impaired circulation in the throat area, here we are building a case for its use in the lymph transport of waste material from the throat into the surrounding tissue. In addition red root was described as an expectorant in relation to lung congestion. He also acknowledged its use in the portal system and uterine/menstrual pelvic stagnation.

     "Specific Symptomatology—It has a specific influence upon the portal circle, influencing the circulation. In lymphatic patients, with sluggish circulation and inactivity of the liver of a chronic nature, with doughy-sallow skin, puffy and expressionless face, pain in the liver or spleen with hypertrophy of either or both organs, and constipation, it has a direct and satisfactory influence, especially if the conditions are of malarial origin...or in general glandular disarrangements, the agent is indicated. Bronchitis, chronic pneumonitis and asthma are found present with the above general symptoms. Ovarian and uterine irregularities with such conditions will also be benefited by its use." -American Materia Medica:

Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy: Developing the ...
 By Finley Ellingwood, John Uri Lloyd 1915.

    While current south west herbalists, strongly influenced by Michael Moore, tend to view Red root as a lymphatic remedy, aiding the portal liver system, which was acknowledged by the eclectics of the time.

The herbalists of the period saw in red root a remedy for..." with my application of this shrub to diseases of the lungs. In 1833, while out botanizing one day, my attention was directed to this shrub, by its beauty while in full bloom, and the peculiar appearance of the root. I gave it the name of wild snowball, knowing no other name for it at that time. I tasted and chewed some of it, and I conceived the idea that it would be good for coughs. I gathered some of the shrub, dried it, and added some of it to my compound, used at that time for coughs. I was successful in treating coughs...In such cases I keep a syrup to suit. It is made as follows: Take ceanothus two parts, asclepias tuberosa one part, boil down till you have a very strong decoction; strain, and add refined sugar, and boil down to form a thick syrup; add the tincture of Tolu, to give a flavor, and bottle. Dose—one tablespoonful three times a day." -The New England Botanical and Surgical Journal, by Calvin Newton MD 1849.

     Besides the possibility of combining red root with pleurisy root for lung congestion, it is fascinating to see the renaissance scientist Dr Newton exploring the fields and forests, directly tasting the herbs and plants and developing an intuitive treatment from the forests of New England. 
     In my own studies of herbal medicine I was led both by intuition and direct suggestion from two teachers I had been studying with,

Michael Cottingham from Silver City and John Slattery

from Tucson, to combine two south west native plants. Specifically Red root, Ceanothus greggii and ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens. 
     First an attempt to grasp systems of the body in relation to the lymphatic system. John Slattery quote, "Putting ocotillo and red root putting them together, and I could give that happily to a vast portion of the population and in a subtle way enhance their immune response because of how it clears stagnation in the lymph, because how it mobilizes how waste products are removed and facilitates transport throughout the body." This is possibly what Dr Calvin Newton in 1849 had encountered and utilized in his formula to treat  tenacious coughs, and lung stagnation, expediting the transport of accumulated waste products in the lung. 
    Herbalist Paul Bergner writes, From The Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal (Prima 1997), "The Eclectics used red root for stagnancy of the portal venous system.

The is the series of veins that carries nutrients from the digestive tract to the liver for processing before it can enter the general circulation. Like other venous blood, portal blood has no pulse or pressure. It also has to move upwards, against gravity, to get to the liver. A sedentary lifestyle, a heavy diet, intestinal disorders, and liver stagnancy can all cause this network to become stagnant. This also effect immunity because blood from the spleen, a lymphatic organ that filters the blood, must also drain through the portal system. Key Eclectic indications for the use of red root were a swollen spleen and a stagnant liver. It was used by soldiers during the Civil War for spleen inflammations that accompany malaria."
     

Darcy Blue an herbalist currency living near Flagstaff AZ writes, describing the energetics of ocotillo, writes that ,"Ocotillo is a warming and mildly drying lymphatic and blood/fluid mover. It has an affinity for the tissues and region of the pelvis and liver/portal vein system, and the respiratory system." It feels natural to combine red root and ocotillo, they both have affinity for the liver and lymph, ethnographical literature describe both as treating coughs, and Charles Kane, writes,

"traditional use of ocotillo among hispanic New Mexicans has been for sore throats, tonsillitis and to stimulate menses." Almost exactly as the eclectics described red root. 
     The idea and real quality of an organ system being stuck, like congestion in the lung, bronchitis, pneumonia, inflammation heat, swelling  has a psychological component. It produces a mental effect. Pelvic congestion, pain, stuck menses, painful cramps- these bodily states impinge on our thought processes. There is a way of being well and a way of being sick. A disease state within the body calls forth a subtle mental attitude. Of course we have to distinguish between chronic and acute. The length of time the disease state has effected consciousness. So that the treatment of disease is also the adjustment of mental states. 

      Herbs and plants like red root and ocotillo are both 'heart' medicines, medicines of the emotional spiritual heart. These medicines while not 'psychological' deal with our healing journey. They address the soul and our way of becoming in the place. Plants can be a way back to a place of balance. Our bodies may be out of balance with disease yet our hearts and minds are also stuck in the paradigm of disease states. Part of the process of healing is acknowledging the psyche and mind states through plant medicines.

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Currently I went back and found a quart of Ceanothus integerrimus I had fresh tinctured earlier this year. I had forgotten how astringent and sweet it was, with the strong taste of wintergreen. I decided I need to go back to my herbal medicines. I also pulled out the red root i harvested and mixed up a batch of 50% ocotillo bark and 50% red root, and will begin using it again.

I realized my heart is in need of healing and I felt I need to return to this herbal work for obvious reasons. 

this is the deer house, this is the medicine road, by Paul Manski

this is the deer house

http://youtu.be/QYcnljTX5zw

"...water is moving along the blue river,

in the deer house,

in the sierra ancha,

in the sierra blanca up near paddy creek,

you can feel the water with the St. John's wort and the horse tail,

coming down the creek,

nourishing the sycamore and cottonwood,

you can smell the narrow leaf cottonwood blooming in the springtime,

up at the deer house, big deer house,

where deer make their strong medicine,

with pine, fir and the walnut trees,

this is our sky island home,

along the sierra ancha,

where the water is constantly flowing,

and the mountains are continuously walking,

this is the deer house,

this is the medicine road..."

So, what are the properties of this tea, now that I have had a cup.

D:So, what are the properties of this tea, now that I have had a cup.

what are the properties of this tea that I drink?

Paul Manski grin emoticon at the dosage that we talked about, ...dipping of the plant in hot boiling water and then removing it immediately....we would have a very light tea it would be useful for arthritic conditions because it deals with the inflammatory process in the sense of cooling it down. Another use would be topical, bath with the branches and water for arthritic conditions. At the same time due to its moderating the inflammatory process it also would be useful in asthmatic conditions. A poultice of the plant leaves would also be effective apply topically for anti-inflammatory arthritic conditions in the joints. Furthermore as far as topical I would describe it in stronger dosage is as we talked in a tincture applied as remedy for fungal infections as in nail fungus. In dilute infusion in water topically would be effective both as an aid in dealing with psoriasis and eczema as a wash and also in its role as an antioxidant in preventing skin damage for instance something for sunburn. 

       The way that I described D , is the way that my teacher often worked with a plant with us in order for us to hang out with the plant and understand the plant intuitively and experientially. The plant is a living being and often times when you approach the plant you want to speak with the plant in terms of describing your condition and your intentions for use. The idea is that we need to understand the plant. So in this sense in that very very light tea you were experiencing the plant and it would be worthwhile if you told me what you experienced with the plant. One of the things that you could answer is how did it taste?

Was it sweet?salty?bitter,? Was it hot or cold? Did you feel it anywhere in your body when you drink the tea? Was it moving from the inside of the body out towards the skin?did it produce sweat or heat? Also was there any place in the body where you felt the herb? This particular herb has affinity for the liver and although the dose you had would be very very light in the way that I described it you may have felt its present somewhere in the body. These are all very important and are part of the ways that we get to know plant. The idea is that the plant is somehow a medicine although true, is in someway beside the point. Yes the plant is medicine, yet the plant is also a life and the plant is also a being, as we talked that has lived in the desert and actually DEFINEs the desert. The plant is called the governess,

meaning the lady who rules like a queen. 

So D I encourage you to continue with this experiential learning about the plants and we can talk about it a little bit later thanks so much for sharing ,Paul

D just to show you the ethnobotanical usage of this plant being so broad, I'm going to focus on one of the desert peoples the Cahuilla who lived & encountered this plant in the desert and how they used it. Their usage pattern is very much descriptive and indicative of the Odom and Apache

and other native peoples of the Southwest with this plant: examples of ethnobotanical use of Larrea:

it would be useful for arthritic conditions because it deals with the inflammatory process in the sense of cooling it down. Another use would be topical, bath with the branches and water for arthritic conditions. At the same time due to its moderating the inflammatory process it also would be useful in asthmatic conditions.

"as a general health tonic before breakfast.
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel 1972 Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants. Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press (p. 83)

Larrea tridentata var. tridentata
Creosotebush; Zygophyllaceae
Cahuilla Drug (Pulmonary Aid)
Infusion of stems and leaves used as a decongestant for clearing lungs.
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel 1972 Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants. Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press (p. 83)

Larrea tridentata var. tridentata
Creosotebush; Zygophyllaceae
Cahuilla Drug (Pulmonary Aid)
Infusion of stems and leaves used as a decongestant 

Larrea tridentata var. tridentata
Creosotebush; Zygophyllaceae
Cahuilla Drug (Gynecological Aid)
Infusion of stems and leaves used for stomach cramps from delayed menstruation.
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel 1972 Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants. Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press (p. 83)

Larrea tridentata var. tridentata
Creosotebush; Zygophyllaceae
Cahuilla Drug (Pulmonary Aid)
Infusion of stems and leaves used for chest infections.
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel 1972 Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants. Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press (p. 83)

Larrea tridentata var. tridentata
Creosotebush; Zygophyllaceae
Cahuilla Drug (Pulmonary Aid)
Infusion of stems and leaves used as a decongestant for clearing lungs.
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel 1972 Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants. Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press (p. 83)

Larrea tridentata var. tridentata
Creosotebush; Zygophyllaceae
Cahuilla Drug (Respiratory Aid)
Leaves boiled or heated and the steam inhaled for congestion.
Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel 1972 Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants. Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press (p. 83)

Thanks Paul, I also like the slightly bitter taste of the tea!
How often can I have this tea?

D my teacher Michael, describes plants in this way.

There are 1)food plants, there are 2)food/medicine plants, and then there are 3)medicine plants. The food plants of course we need to take into our bodies every day, and we all know who they are they're food and plants: potato, broccoli Sweet potato, carrots. The food/medicine plants are plants we can take every day, although given our current American situation they're often underused not included in the diet. Some of these plants may be plants that are ancestors ate daily or seasonally but we eat rarely or never, some of these plants may be Tumerick, nettles ginger garlic, a lot of these plants have become what we call now "spices", if we encounter them at all will meet them as spices in our daily food/plant life.

They're really food/medicine plants, These types of plants we can have every day without any issues. Now the third type of plants that we have are medicine plants. These plants are inherently different in that they are used differently and used less frequently than the other two groups. The plant that we met last night is the medicine plant. And the way that we approached it is the way that you approach medicine plant.
Thank you Paul!

You you look at the plant, you you touch the plant, you smell it, you place it in your hands you look at it with your eyes, you may take a small piece of it and taste it and try it, or you may do what you did take a small twig place it in hot water drink it and look at the plant and feel it's effect on your body. There is also an element of reverence because when we need these plants we need them right now. So you get to know the medicine plants when you're healthy and strong but when you need them it may be very different, a very different condition or situation.

Also when you gather plants for medicine you gather them for other people and you also gather them in a different way because you're thinking of the other person who you might not know physically at this time who may need this plant. Because it is a medicine plant it's not a plant that we want to take every day,. Although native peoples especially the people who lived in the desert, living like we do right where the plant grows, wouldn't be hesitant to take a light tea every day or on most days. As an example with the Western medicine plant echinacea, with echinacea you don't want to take it every day you want to take it when you need it and then stop taking it. The plant that we talked about is like this if you had a cold or a flu coming on, or us a skin condition or an arthritic condition that warranted it then you may want to use the plant during that time.

But it's not an every day plant. I'd like to talk to more about this in person and the reasons that I have for explaining it in this way. But to answer your question it's not an every day plant it's the medicine plant. So what we were doing D is meeting the plant for the first time which is something unique and it's how we first meet the plants it's the first step.

D this plant I call a Doorway, entranceway plant something like an entrance way, and in our area you can go from Las Vegas to Las Cruces and you will see this plant everywhere, now when you travel you will see it.

Before maybe you didn't notice it but now you will see it everywhere and you will wonder how could I have not seen it before? And the way you met the plant by touching it, leaves and stems, smelling the leaves, tasting the leaves(in the mild light tea)seeing what it looks like, it's silhouette. Watching how it looks when it blows in the wind. So now when you go to work you'll think about work differently too, because it's growing right outside there in the parking lot on its own without any help from any one. And the people who lived nearby, the

Hohokam, Pima, Odum.. I'm sure they use the same plant just like you did, and I'm sure that they drunk the Tea just like you did. So from now on you I, and the silent ancient ones who are still with us, and all the people who acknowledge the bioregion the plants in the space that we live, we somehow now have something in common, we have this plant that we tasted and smelled and touched. And now when you drive from Las Vegas to Las Cruces you will see the governess along the highway and you will now know where you are in a different way.

This is how my teachers have taught me to know the plants. You begin this way by touching. It's like an introduction at a party and maybe you will make connections and have fun times or play the piano, or maybe you won't. That's how anintroduction is you make some contacts, you look the person over, you hear a few things that he or she has to say and then you pass on because that's all an introduction is. An introduction is the beginning of a relationship. And it's very important when you go to a party to meet the right people and by meeting this plant, you have met the owner of the house where the party is. In other words you've met the party giver, the host, that's the governess. In the Southwest this is one of the most important plants to meet and know and understand because it says who she is but it also tells us where we are.

We live in a bioregion those canals that flow those are canals of the Salt & Gila River, and these are the canals it a flowing for a thousand years. And the mountains where the water falls, with the clouds meet the mountains in the rain happens, the snow and rain falls and flows all the way to Mesa, Arizona. It's important to know those mountains, these sky islands.

So we begin where we are exactly right where we are. This is really the best way to meet herbs and medicine. Of course you could go to a herb shop or go to a medicine store, an herbstore, or go to Walmart and look at the bottles of herbs they have and maybe buy a bottle off the shelf and try it, that's OK. That's also one way to meet the plants. This is another way to meet the plants to meet them directly. That's the way that my teachers use to explain the plants and that's the way that I use too. So de meet the governess governess D

,