Osha
OTHER NAME(S): Bear Root, Chuchupate, Colorado Cough Root, Indian Parsley, Mountain Lovage, Perejil de Campo, Persil Indien, Porter's Licorice Root, Racine d'Ours, Wild Celery Root, Ligusticum porteri
Overview
Osha (Ligusticum porteri) is a plant that grows in Northern America. It has been traditionally used as medicine in Native American and Hispanic cultures.
Osha contains chemicals that might help fight bacterial and viral infections, and it has traditionally been used for these purposes. Be careful not to confuse osha with poisonous hemlock. The leaves of the two plants are very similar. Be sure to buy osha from a reputable source.
Some people use osha for respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and viral infections such as herpes and HIV/AIDS. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Uses
We currently have no information for Osha overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if osha is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if osha is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if osha is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if osha is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy: It's unsafe to take osha when pregnant. It might start menstruation, and this might cause a miscarriage. Avoid use.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if osha is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Osha overview.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of osha might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
References
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
- Herb.com. Herbal Materia Medica 4.0 website. Available at: https://herb.com/materia.htm (Accessed 22 August 2000).
- Colorado State Univ. Colorado AES project COL00271. 1999-2000 website. http://www.colostate.edu/depts/aes/projs/271.htm (Accessed 22 August 2000).
- Coulombe RA. Improve food safety through discovery and control of natural and induced toxicants and antitoxicants. Fedrip database, Natl Technical Info Svc (Ntis). Fedrip/1999/07801368.
- United Plant Savers. United Plant Savers at risk forum website. http://www.plantsavers.org/endanger2.html (Accessed 5 August 2000).
- Beck JJ, Stermitz FR. Addition of methyl thioglycolate and benzylamine to (Z)-ligustilide, a bioactive unsaturated lactone constituent of several herbal medicines. An improved synthesis of (Z)-ligustilide. J Nat Prod 1995;58:1047-55.