Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum)

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Other names for yerba santa

Yerba Santa Leaf
Mountain Balm
Holy Herb

Synopsis of yerba santa

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum) is an aromatic evergreen shrub native to the western United States, particularly California and the Sierra Nevada foothills. The name “yerba santa,” meaning “holy herb” in Spanish, was given by early Spanish missionaries who observed Native Americans using the plant for a variety of respiratory and inflammatory ailments. The leaves are the primary medicinal part and are rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and essential oils, which contribute to its expectorant, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory effects.

In modern herbal practice, yerba santa is best known as a respiratory remedy. It is used to loosen and expel mucus in cases of chronic bronchitis, sinus congestion, asthma, and wet or lingering coughs. The herb stimulates the flow of thinner mucus, helping to clear phlegm from the lungs and sinuses. It also has a mild bronchodilating effect and is soothing to inflamed mucous membranes.

Yerba santa may be taken as a tea, tincture, or syrup and is often combined with other expectorants such as mullein, licorice, or elecampane. In addition to its respiratory applications, yerba santa has astringent and antimicrobial properties and has been used in topical preparations for wounds, muscle pain, and rheumatic complaints.

Historical Use:
Yerba santa has a rich tradition of use among Indigenous peoples of California, including the Chumash, Pomo, and Ohlone tribes. They used the fresh or dried leaves in teas, poultices, and smokes to treat respiratory illness, headaches, fevers, wounds, and even tuberculosis. The herb was especially valued for “clearing the chest” and was given to those suffering from wet, heavy coughs and lung weakness.

Spanish settlers and missionaries adopted yerba santa into their materia medica in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was brought into Western herbalism and later into the Eclectic and American botanical traditions. Physicians of the 19th century prescribed yerba santa for bronchial congestion, tuberculosis, catarrh, and chronic asthma, sometimes as a tincture or in compounded syrups.

Beyond its respiratory use, yerba santa was chewed as a remedy for thirst and fatigue, especially among desert travelers and miners. Its sweet-tasting glycosides, particularly eriodictyol, were also explored for masking bitter flavors—leading to limited experimental use in masking the taste of certain pharmaceuticals in the mid-20th century.

Yerba santa is used for these health conditions

Asthma (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Colds (decongestant) (Traditional)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Colds (prevention) (Traditional)
Colds (with fever) (Traditional)
Congestion (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Congestion (sinus) (Traditional)
Cough (dry) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cough (spastic) (Traditional)
Infection (Traditional)
Infection (viral) (Traditional)
Influenza (Traditional)
Sore Throat (Traditional)
Wheezing (Traditional)

yerba santa is used to support these body systems

Bronchials (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Mucus Membranes (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)
Urinary System (Traditional)