Yerba Santa
Scientific Name(s): Eriodictyon californicum (Hook. and Arn.) Torrey.
Common Name(s): Bear's weed, Consumptive's weed, Eriodictyon, Gum plant, Mountain balm, Tarweed, Yerba santa
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 17, 2022.
Clinical Overview
Use
Historical evidence documents that yerba santa has been used in tea and medicinally for the management of bruises and rheumatic pain. The plant also has been used as an expectorant and in the treatment of respiratory diseases. There are no clinical studies to evaluate these effects.
Dosing
There is no recent clinical evidence to support dose recommendations for yerba santa. Classical use of the leaf as an expectorant was at 1 g doses.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not yet been determined.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use during pregnancy and lactation because of the lack of clinical studies.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Review of the scientific literature reveals little to no evidence evaluating the toxicity of yerba santa in humans or animals.
Toxicology
Review of the scientific literature reveals no evidence evaluating the toxicity of yerba santa in humans or animals.
Scientific Family
- Hydrophyllaceae
Botany
The yerba santa plant is an evergreen aromatic shrub with woody rhizomes. It is indigenous to the hills and mountains of California, Oregon, and northern Mexico and is often cultivated as an ornamental shrub. The plant grows to 2.5 m in height at elevations exceeding 1,219 m. The hairy, lance-shaped leaves are glutinous, and its flowers are white to lavender in color. Also known as Eriodictyon glutinosum Benth. and Wigandia californicum Hook. & Arn.Chevalier 2001, Khan 2009, USDA 2016
History
The name yerba santa ("holy weed") was given by the Spanish priests who learned of the medicinal value of the shrub from the American Indians.Chevalier 2001 The plant has a long tradition of use in the United States. The thick sticky leaves, used either fresh or dried, were boiled to make a tea or taken as treatment for coughs, colds, asthma, and tuberculosis. The leaves have been powdered and used as a stimulating expectorant.Lewis 1977 A liniment was applied topically to reduce fever. A poultice of fresh leaves was used to treat bruises, and young leaves were applied to relieve rheumatism.Balls 1962, Sweet 1976 The plant is contained in a number of herbal preparations. Yerba santa has been used as a pharmaceutical flavoring, particularly to mask the flavor of bitter drugs.Khan 2009 The fluid extract is used in foods and beverages.Duke 2003
Chemistry
Yerba santa contains a volatile oil, up to 6% eriodictyonine, about 0.5% eriodictyol (the aglycone of eriodictin), and several related alcoholic compounds, ericolin, and a resin.Duke 1992, Khan 2009
Spectroscopic analysis and alkaline hydrolysis resulted in the isolation of 12 flavonoids. Eight active flavanones were identified as 3′-methyl-4′-isobutyryleriodictoyol, eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, 5,4′-dihydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavanone, pinocembrin, sakuranetin, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,3′-dimethoxyflavanone, and naringenin 4′-methyl ether.Liu 1992
Four active flavones were also isolated: cirsimaritin, chrysoeriol, hispidulin, and chrysin.Liu 1992
Uses and Pharmacology
Review of the scientific literatu...