Curly Gum Weed - Grindelia squarrosa
- coherbalist
- Jan 1, 2016
- 1 min read
Grindelia squarrosa (Curly Gumweed) Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
Curly gumweed is called so because of its arching ("recurved") phyllaries, which set it apart from other gumweed species. Most gumweed species are medicinal and largely interchangeable, with small varriations in energetics.
Gumweed is found in open areas with disturbed soil, along roadsides, and elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. It is found throughout the west, from California, over the Rocky Mountains, and into the great planes.
The budding flowers with milky white sap are the most medicinally beneficial, but the leaves can also be useful before the plant begins to flower. Flowering occurs mid summer through fall.
It is abundant and a fantastic medicinal to have on hand for congested coughs with excess mucous that isn't easily moved. Grendelia is a fantastic expectorant and antispasmodic for dry hacking coughs and stuck mucous that doesn't easily remove its self from the lungs. It can be used topically as a replacement or adjunct for calendula for its vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial qualities.
Tincture the gummy buds in a high proof alcohol (70-85%) to extract and hold the resin and volitile oils.
Contraindications:
According to Michael Moore in his book Medicinal Plants of the Mountain west:
"Although large amounts of the tincture can cause mild symptoms of exhaustion, Grindelia is harmless in sensible ammounts, so harmless that it is perfectly safe and useful for children."
There is no study on safety for pregnancy or breastfeeding so discuss its use with a botanically knowledgeable practitioner if you are either.
Comments