Osha Root
Trying to figure out what I was ingesting at the Sweatlodge:
Osha Root:
“Osha (Ligusticum porteri) is a perennial herb used for its medicinal properties. Osha grows in parts of the Rocky Mountains especially in the North American Southwest. Uses include chewing to relieve sore throat.”
“Osha root - Luck, purification
The root of Osha (Ligusticum poteri) distinctively lies above the ground and is normally quite large, hairy and dark brown in colour. It’s found growing in areas above 10,000 feet in altitude, often in rugged alpine clearings. It has acquired different names over the years, such as Porter’s Lovage, Indian Parsley and Bear Medicine.North Americans view the herb as having great power and luck, and as such it’s often carried as a lucky talisman. When burnt, it produces a warm and slightly spicy aroma, which is believed to purify the air. Some Native American peoples carry the root of the osha plant (ligusticum poteri) because it is thought to protect against negative influences and negative thoughts. Osha is associated with dreaming and helps you to realize that there is magic in everything, including you. It helps to lift a veil between the conscious and unconscious worlds. Osha is a powerful, spicy-smelling root that may be sprinkled onto the rocks in a sweat lodge, or burnt directly. Traditionally, osha root was sometimes ingested to cause a sweat or fever that could release toxins from the body.”
“L. porteri (Osha) root or L. wallichii (Ligusticum) root can be steeped in ethanol (whisky, vodka, etc.) for at least a month. The resulting tincture is an effective, albeit pungent, liniment for sore muscles that can be stored (in a cool place) indefinitely.
Osha has been clinicaly verifed to possess anti-viral properties and is very effective for treating cold and flu systems of the upper respiratory tract, and other viral infections of the respiratory system. The plant is also a powerful stimulant if consumed to excess. Osha root is typically chewed, then spit out after the medicinal components have been extracted by the chewing action. Osha root is also used internally in small amounts to treat fever, stomach ache, and heartburn.
Osha has been sensationalized as a herbal remedy to the extent that the plants are seriously threatened in many areas due to overharvesting. Since Osha defies cultivation outside of its habitat, commercially available Osha root is almost entirely harvested from wild stands of the plant.
Osha is still commonly used widely by the Apaches and other native tribes. According to WMA Elders, they would use it as a snake and insect repellant:It has a strong smell. Apaches use this herb to aid in the curing of common colds, sore throats, cough, sinusitis, and other side effects of the winter season.
Osha contains oxytoxin and should not be ingested or used by women who are nursing or pregnant.”
“Osha is a Native American word for “bear” and Osha is referred to as “Bear Medicine” since the plants are eaten by bears for what appear to be medicinal purposes. Native Americans often observed that bears would seek out stands of Osha and consume the plants roots directly after emerging from winter hibernation or when wounded or sick.”
I’m slightly amused because when I heard the word, due to all of my years at Terminix, I first thought of OSHA the acronym. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
I’m even more amused that it mentions it as a snake repellent, since during Sweatlodge a 6 foot black snake came out of the wood pile and was heading towards the lodge right where I was sitting. One of the fire tenders caught it though (and got bit in the process) before it got far enough. That would have been an interesting scene. Course this happened before the Osha was passed around.
Entry viewed times. Posted in Religion and Spirituality
