Spotlight on Local Medicinal Herbs—Grindelia
Gumweed
As summer winds down, it’s a good time to begin thinking about medicine-making for the cold months here in the Pacific Northwest. Respiratory illnesses tend to hit their peak in the winter months, so ensuring that we stock our medicine cabinet with remedies now can save us a lot of trouble when we find ourselves under the weather later on. Our focus will be on a beautiful and abundant local plant known to many as Gumweed (Grindelia spp).
The common name of this herb is a great descriptor for its physical characteristics. It contains a whitish and very sticky substance that looks and feels a lot like chewed gum. It’s a member of the Asteraceae family of plants, which contains the greatest number of species of all plant families, including daisies and sunflowers. Gumweed is native to this continent, and the specific species (Grindelia integrifolia) that grows here in the Puget Sound region is a coastal shrub that loves full sun and sandy soil. It’s a perennial with bright yellow flowers in a sunburst shape.
The budding tops of this plant are used medicinally, and have long been used by First Nations people to address bronchial illness as well as skin rash from poison oak exposure. Its medicine is most potent in fresh form, but can be dried for later use.
As mentioned in my previous post on St. John’s Wort, we can employ the Doctrine of Signatures to help us determine the plant’s medicinal action. It exudes a gummy resin that looks very much like the sticky mucus we associate with a respiratory infection. Folks who need this remedy often have a very wet and deep cough, that may or may not be productive. Gumweed acts as a powerful expectorant and mucolytic, helping to loosen and bring phlegm up and out of the bronchial passages. All plants that contain sticky resins also act as inflammation modulators, meaning they either increase or decrease inflammation, depending on the body’s need at the time. It should be noted that Gumweed is to be avoided in people who have a dry and irritating cough; though it is a very safe herb, it can further irritate dry and sensitive membranes. Always consult with your physician before initiating this plant medicine, to help you determine if it is the best option.
Gumweed has been used traditionally for infectious respiratory conditions as well as asthma with copious sticky mucus. It can be especially indicated for folks who cannot breathe while lying down at night due to the abundance of congestion. It is also used topically for the rash of poison oak.
Much like St. John’s Wort, Gumweed is best taken internally in tincture form. The process is largely the same for harvesting and tincturing, so please refer back to those instructions if you need assistance. Remember to harvest the buds of Gumweed, as this is where the potent medicine lies. Squeeze a bud in between your fingers, and ensure that it is nice and sticky, with a pleasant aroma.
Once your tincturing process is complete, store your medicine in a cool, dark place. When needed, you can dose it as follows: 10-40 drops, 1-4 times per day until symptoms begin to clear. Since the plant is so resinous, it will be normal to see some sticky matter on the sides of your tincture bottle. This is normal, and can typically be remedied by shaking it well before use. Note that large doses of this herb can cause stomach irritation, so begin on the low end of dosing, and scale up slowly as needed. Gumweed should also be avoided in the case of allergies to other plants in the Asteraceae family, as there can be cross-reactivity. Again, check with your doctor to make sure this is an appropriate choice of medicine for you. Cheers!
Citation:
Tilgner, S. (2009). Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth (2nd ed.). Wise Acres.
