Yerba Santa
OTHER NAME(S): Bear's Weed, Consumptive's Weed, Eriodictyon, Gum Bush, Gum Plant, Herbe des Montagnes, Herbe à Ourse, Herbe Sacrée, Herbe Sainte, Hierba Santa, Holy Herb, Holy Weed, Mountain Balm, Sacred Herb, Santa Herba, Tarweed, Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon angustifolium, Eriodictyon glutinosum, Wigandia californicum, Yerba santa
Overview
Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) is a shrub native to North America. Its leaf is used in traditional Native American medicine.
Yerba santa contains chemicals that might loosen mucus in the chest. It also contains chemicals that might help with weight loss.
People use yerba santa for respiratory infections, fever, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Uses
We currently have no information for Yerba Santa overview.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Yerba santa is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information available to know if yerba santa is safe or what the side effects might be when used in larger amounts as medicine.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information available to know if yerba santa is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Yerba santa is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information available to know if yerba santa is safe or what the side effects might be when used in larger amounts as medicine.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information available to know if yerba santa is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if yerba santa is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Yerba Santa overview.
Dosing
There isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of yerba santa 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
- The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
- Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Liu YL, Ho DK, Cassady JM, et al. Isolation of potential cancer chemopreventive agents from Eriodictyon californicum. J Nat Prod 1992;55:357-63.
- Weiner MA, Weiner JA. Herbs that heal: prescription for herbal healing. Mill Valley, CA:Quantum Books, 1999.
- Westmoreland, J. Yerba santa in influenza. Lancet 1898;151(3895):1114-1115.
- Remington, JP, Wood, HC, and et al. The dispensatory of the United States of America, 20th ed.1918.
- Ritter, FW. Eriodictyon glutinosum. Am J Pharm 1895;67:1-7.
- The British Pharmaceutical Codex. Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 1911.
- 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. 2019:101089.
- 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):1235-42.
- Taguchi N, Hata T, Kamiya E, et al. Eriodictyon angustifolium extract, but not Eriodictyon californicum extract, reduces human hair greying. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2020 Aug;42(4):336-45.