La Primera Dieta de Mama Dieta: Bienvenido OSHA!

rough draft

Osha has been said to mean "bear" in a Native American language.

In the Native American Ute tribal language Osha is known as Kwiyag'atu tupkapi, nipo, chuchupate, chuchupati, chuchupaste, chuchupatle, guariaca, hierba del cochino or yerba de cochino, raíz del cochino, and washí (tarahumara). In the Jicarilla language, Osha is called ha’ich’idéé. The White Mountain Apache call it ha 'il chii' gah. 

Osha, Porter's lovage, Porter's licorice-root, Porter's wild lovage, loveroot, bear medicine, bear root, mountain lovage, Indian parsley, mountain ginseng. The original language is unknown. Its common names include osha root, Colorado cough root, Indian root, Indian parsley, wild parsley, mountain ginseng, mountain carrot, nipo, empress of the dark forest.

Scientific Name 

Ligusticum porteri Coulter & Rose (Apiaceae or Carrot Family) 

Below are my findings and experiences of this plant, gathered through study and taking it medicinally.  Please bear in mind, this is a training dieta, to teach and infuse us with the wisdom of this plant as a teacher. It is intended not only to protect and heal physically but to teach the nature of the plant and the wisdom of it for use in our daily lives, being medicine in this world.  This dieta may be used to promote health and well being in the cold winter months but it is intentionally designed for those looking to explore their connection to the nature of this plant's natural geographic location which is some of the western United States.  Please email yogagroove@gmail.com for more information if you are unfamiliar with the shamanic dieta principles.

 Uses 

Osha has been used medicinally by indigenous people for centuries and subsequently absorbed into the pharmacopeias of other peoples.

This is one of  the most important herbs of  the Rocky Mountains, considered sacred by the Native Americans and widely esteemed by them for its broad and effective warm healing power. Many tribes burned it as incense for purification to ward off  airborne illness in their homes and also subtle negative influences and thoughts. Osha Root is arguably the best American herb for lung and throat infections. It stimulates the macrophages or resident white blood cells of the lungs, numbs sore throats, bronchio-dilates the lungs to assist in expectoration, warms the lungs and helps one to breathe more deeply. Osha can be used as a preventative for those prone to sore throats and lung congestion or who get secondary infections from allergies. As Osha Root brings more blood into the lungs, it assists in dilation of the lungs when constricted. Therefore, it is helpful for emphysema, pneumonia, allergies, smokers cough, and athletically induced asthma. Osha Root is also antirheumatic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, digestive, febrifuge, and stomachic. It is used internally in the treatment of fevers, digestive complaints, toothache, painful menstruation and retained placenta. It has also been used to treat tuberculosis and headaches. An infusion of the roots is used externally to treat body aches. Powdered osha root can be used to make a soothing cough syrup. It is more effective than Echinacea and Goldenseal when one is already acute and congested. It increases oxygen utilization and uptake into the body, which aids in motion and air sickness. 

Osha is experienced with mystical dreaming, increase in confidence and sense of self.

The strength of this herb is immediately apparent by its strong odor and illustrates superiority over the Chinese (ligusticum wallichii) variety, which has very different healing properties.

The root of  Osha is the part used medicinally. Energetically it is spicy, bitter and warm. The healing components in this powerful herb include volatile oils, essential oils, terpenes, lactone glycoside, saponins, ferulic acid, and phytosterols.

Its healing properties are antiviral (a substance that destroys or weakens a virus), diaphoretic (producing perspiration), diuretic (increases the flow of  urine), decongestant (breaks up congestion), expectorant (helps bring up mucus), stimulant (increasing activity), carminative (inducing expulsion of  gas from stomach or intestines), and emmenagogue (provokes menstruation).

Osha root is a powerful antiviral and antibacterial herb strongly used for the respiratory system especially for catarrh/phlegm, colds, coughs, bronchial pneumonia, flu and other respiratory infections.

Because of  its strong antiviral properties, it should be taken at the first minimal signs of  a cold or flu, fevers, pharyngitis, early stages of tonsillitis (sore throat), pneumatic lung/respiratory complaints, indigestion and delayed menses.

 It can even increase the appetite after the stomach is settled.

 It is extremely beneficial and effective combined with Echinacea against leukocytosis (increase of  white blood cells), which is usually indicative of an impending infection.  It can also be used externally on skin wounds for prevention of  infection.

Other known uses: hangover,  and rheumatism, The hollow stems have been smoked to break the nicotine habit 

Externally, root preparations were used to treat aches and pains, digestive problems, scorpion sting, wounds and skin infections.  

(All information contained herein is gathered from various sources and is not in any way intended nor shoul be used as authorized medical advice.  Claims regarding the uses of these plants and the research from which they were obtained has not all been verified by any m.d. or n.d. and thus should be fully researched by exacting individuals.  Bibliographies were left out as this dieta is, for most of us based on trusting the spirits.  Scientific information is a wonderful thing but  not our primary focus in embarking on this journey with the Osha Plant.  Thank you, Kellee, The Dieta Mama)

Identification and Growth Location of the Plant

Osha is strictly a mountain plant, and it is most commonly found in deep, moist soils rich in organic material. The plant requires partial shade. Osha is widely distributed from British Columbia south into Oregon and Washington, and throughout the Rocky Mountains and the high mountains of New Mexico. It is most common in the upper limits of the subalpine zone, so in the southern part of its range, it grows at elevations from 7,000 feet to 10,000 feet (2100 m to 3000 m), while from Utah, Wyoming, and Montana northwards, it grows as low as 5,000 feet (1500 m).

Osha is dependent on mycorrhizal fungi, and attempts to artificially cultivate the plant outside of its habitat have not been successful. Cultivation in areas where osha naturally grows have been more successful.

Osha roots have a collar of dead leaf material surrounding the root crowns which is hairlike in appearance. The roots dry very quickly and are very astringent when fresh, and can cause blistering of the mouth and mucous membranes in humans if ingested fresh. The dried roots do not have this astringent effect. Roots of older plants are far stronger and bitter than those of younger plants.Osha has the typical appearance of members of the parsley family, with parsley-like leaves and umbels of white flowers. The bases of the leaves where they attach to the root crowns have a reddish tint which is unique, and the roots are fibrous, with a dark, chocolate-brown, wrinkled outer skin. When this skin is removed, the inner root tissue is fibrous and yellowish-white with an overpowering, pleasant "spicy celery" fragrance that resembles lovage(Levisticum officinale).

Osha plants form large clumps over time, and can grow to be very large. In areas of New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, osha can reach heights of 6 to 7 feet and produce circular colonies with dozens of root crowns growing from a central root mass. Osha is best harvested in the afternoon as the plants are relished by bears, which are known to visit the plants during the morning.

Description 

Osha is an herbaceous perennial growing from 50 to 100 cm tall or more. In winter, the 

above-ground parts die back to a thick, woody and very aromatic rootstock. The plant has 

deeply incised, elliptic or lance-shaped leaf segments that are 5 to 40 mm in width with 

larger basal leaves. The white flowers appear during late summer, and are approximately 

2 to 5 mm in diameter with five petals. They are grouped in flat-topped, compound 

umbels and are followed by reddish, oblong, ribbed fruits 5 to 8 mm in length. 

Distribution 

Osha is native to mountains of western North America from Wyoming (Arizona, 

Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah) to the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, 

Mexico. Osha often grows in rich, moist soils in wooded habitats—from pine-oak 

woodland to spruce-fir forest—but it is also found on slopes and in meadows with drier, 

rocky soils from1,500 to 3,505 meters ( 4,900-11,500 feet;  Cronquist et al. 1997, Welsh 

1993, Martin et al. 1998) 

Reproduction 

Like many plants in the Apiaceae, the flowers are attractive to a variety of insects such as 

flies, beetles, bees and wasps. However, studies of pollination biology among plants in 

the carrot family find that there is a distinction between mere visitors and effective 

pollinators, with the latter being andrenid, colletid and halictid bees (Lindsey 1984) in 

some cases. Halictid bees have been seen visiting flowers of osha in the Chiricahua 

Mountains of Arizona (M. F. Wilson, observation Sep. 2, 2003). Seeds of osha are not 

dispersed by animals or wind and most likely remain close to the parent plant when they 

drop (David Inouye, pers. comm. 2007).

The genus Ligusticum consists of 40-50 species of circumboreal plants (Mabberley 

1997). Many are used medicinally. American Ligusticum species have been used as 

anticonvulsants, to stimulate appetite, and to treat anemia, hemorrhage, tuberculosis, 

stomach disorders, heart troubles, respiratory infections, earaches, sinus infection and 

congestion, and other ailments (Moerman 1998). Some Asian members of this genus are 

important in Chinese, Japanese and Korean herbal formularies. Ligusticum chuanxiong

Hort. (L. wallichii Franch.), Szechuan lovage root, is used to treat amenorrhea, 

dysmenorrhea, headaches, ischemia and thrombosis (Bensky & Gamble 1993). Many 

peoples of north temperate regions eat portions of a number of species of Ligusticum raw, 

cooked as potherbs, or as condiments or spice (Tanaka 1976). 

Chemistry 

Chemical analysis conducted on L. porteri has identified pthalides and monoterpenes 

(Beck 1996, Delgado et al. 1992, Gillespie & Duszynski 1998)   

More chemical work has been conducted on the Asian members of the genus than 

American species. Several different classes of compounds have been isolated from 

Ligusticum: alkaloids (such as perlolyrine, tetramethylpyrazine, and others); an 

anthraquinone (chrysophanol); phenolic compounds (such as ferulic acid and caffeic 

acid); phenylpropanoids; phthalides (such as butylidenephthalide, ligustilide, 4-hydroxy-

3-butylphthalide, senkyunolide and others);  coumarins and furanocoumarins; and 

terpenoids (such as α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene) (Huang & Pu  1990, Shibano et al. 

2005, Sinclair 1998, van Wyk & Wink 2004, Yan et al. 2005)

Trade 

L. porteri is sold in the form of ground roots, whole roots, tinctures, and seeds. Osha 

harvest appears to be declining. Figures for the trade of dried osha root demonstrate a 

precipitous drop after the 3-year United States Forest Service moratorium was enacted in 

1999. Annual domestic trade in dried wild roots had not reached even 10% of former 

high figures after the year 2000 (AHPA 2007). Because of the decline in trade of wild 

roots, cultivated material became more important in commerce after 2002.  

Legal Protection and Conservation Status 

During 1999, due to high demand and what was considered over collection in the 

southwestern United States, Regions 1 and 4 of the United States Forest Service issued a 

three-year moratorium on the personal and commercial use/collection of Ligusticum. 

Osha was listed as “rare” on the 1997 International Union for the Conservation of 

Nature’s Red List of Threatened Plants (Walter & Gillett 1998) but has not been 

subsequently listed. The species is not formally protected under native plant or 

endangered species laws. United Plant Savers (UpS), a conservation organization that focuses its efforts on populations of medicinal plants collected from the wild, includes 

osha on a list of "at risk" species (UpS 2007). Osha was proposed for consideration of the 

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 

(CITES) during 2000 (Anonymous 2000) based largely on a report produced by the 

University of Maryland Program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology 

(1999). However, L. porteri is not currently listed on CITES Appendices I, II, or III.  

Although some populations of osha are considered large and secure there is little 

information available for other populations. Conservation action, if necessary, is 

hampered by the lack of data. There are no comprehensive management programs in 

place to manage populations of L. porteri. None of the western states with L. porteri

populations prohibit collection of the plants on state lands. Grazing, commercial and 

residential development, recreational activities, off-road vehicles, logging and collection 

for medicinal use have all been cited as factors in the decline of L. porteri populations 

(University of Maryland Program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology 

1999). 

Sustainable Use and Conservation 

There has been concern on the part of some experts that L. porteri is being overharvested 

(Robbins 1999). This is also true for Mexico because of this country’s important and 

unregulated medicinal plant market (Felger et al. 1999, Felger & Wilson 1995, Martin et 

al. 1998, Stoleson et al. 2005). The entire plant is removed when the roots are harvested. 

Osha is considered to be slow-growing and some estimates consider the plants to be over 

ten years old when harvested. The destructive collection of osha from slow-growing 

populations could lead to unsustainable harvesting.  

Cultivation of osha has proved to be challenging and not cost efficient (Cech 2002, David 

Inouye pers. comm.. 2007). Research into germination and in vitro propagation would be 

important to aid cultivation. David Inouye, Director of the Conservation Biology 

Program at the University of Maryland, asserts that osha is best cultivated by assisting 

propagation in wild stands. The best time to collect osha root is in the fall, after the seeds 

have had time to mature and fall to the soil. Education of collectors to harvest in a 

sustainable manner is always important in the case of wild-crafted herbs. 

A syrup made from the stems has been used for many of the disorders that the root is 

used for (Curtin 1976) and this should be investigated as an alternative to destructive root 

harvesting. Other more common species in the Apiaceae, such as several Angelica spp.

and others are used in virtually identical ways to Ligusticum (Yi et al. 2007) and their use 

as alternatives to wild-harvested osha should be considered.

 [BOX]Sustainable Actions  

• Wild-harvesters: Find out the legal requirements for wild-harvesting osha in your 

state; rotate harvest areas; thin patches rather than collecting all available plants; 

leave a portion of mature and juvenile individuals untouched. Collect plants after mature seeds have fallen. Non-destructive harvest may be possible by taking only 

a portion of the roots (Cech 2002). Harvest should follow standards of the 

International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic 

Plants (Medicinal Plant Specialist Group 2007). 

• Growers: Research legal requirements for cultivating osha in your state; ensure 

seed is obtained in a way that does not threaten wild populations; consult local 

experts and resources for cultivation requirements in your area (McKeon 1999). 

• Practitioners and Consumers: Choose ethically-wildcrafted or verifiably 

cultivated sources of osha roots or supplements; use osha only when it is best 

indicated; when choosing substitutes, exercise caution not to choose a species that 

is equally as vulnerable to overharvest (Cech 2002). 

• Suppliers and manufacturers: consider promoting other herbs that have similar 

indications; the use of the herbaceous portions of osha should be investigated as 

an alternative to destructive root harvest (Curtin 1976, Pennington 1963, Yi et al 

2007).

Disclaimer 

The information contained in this article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for 

professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. All 

medical and other healthcare information that is given here should be carefully reviewed 

by the individual reader and their qualified healthcare professional.  

Citation 

Michael Wilson, Drylands Institute (www.drylandsinstitute.org). 

Wilson, M. F.  May 2007. Medicinal Plant Fact Sheet: Ligusticum porteri / Osha. A 

collaboration of the IUCN Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, PCA-Medicinal Plant 

Working Group, and North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. Arlington, 

Virginia.  

This information was taken from the research of Michael Wilson in an entomologist and botanist who is Research Director of Drylands 

Institute in Tucson, Arizona. With Richard Felger, he is working on A Desert 

Pharmacopeia: The Medicinal Plants of Southwestern North America. He is a contributor 

to articles that can be found in Dry Borders: Great Natural Reserves of the Sonoran 

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Northern Mexico (Oxford University Press 2005), and is a co-author of Trees of Sonora, 

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