Osha 4533035 203088944 2008-04-03T17:49:07Z 166.70.238.44 /* Uses and toxicity */ :''For the European Agency, see [[European Agency for Safety and Health at Work]], (OSHA).'' :''For the U.S. government agency, see [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]].'' {{Taxobox | name = Osha | image = | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Apiales]] | familia = [[Apiaceae]] | genus = ''[[Ligusticum]]'' | species = '''''L. porteri''''' | binomial = ''Ligusticum porteri'' | binomial_authority = Coult. & Rose }} '''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. ==Distribution== 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 and is most common in the upper limits of the subalpine zone, from 7,000 feet to 10,000 feet. Osha is widely distributed from British Columbia south into Oregon and Washington State, and throughout the Rocky Mountains and the high mountains of New Mexico. From Utah, Wyoming, and Montana northwards, Osha can be found growing at elevations as low as 5,000 feet. Osha is dependent on mychorhizzal fungi, and attempts to artificially cultivate the plant outside of its habitat have not been successful. Cultivation of Osha in areas where it naturally grows have been more successful.<ref>Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1</ref> ==Identification== Osha has the typical appearance of members of the [[parsley]] family, with parsely-like leaves and umbels of white flowers. The base of the leaves of Osha 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, and fragrant odor. Osha roots have a collar of dead leaf material surrounding the root crows which is hairlike in appearance. The roots have an overpowering "spicy celery" odor that resembles [[lovage]] ''([[Levisticum officinale]])''. The roots dry very quickly and are very astringent when fresh, and can cause blistering of the mouth and mucous membrames in humans if ingested fresh. The dried roots do not have this astringent affect. Roots of older plants are far stronger and very bitter in comparison to younger plants. Native Americans typically harvested the younger plants for medicinal use.<ref>Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1</ref> Osha resembles [[poison hemlock]] but is easily distringuished from it by its "spicy celery" odor, hair-like material on Osha root crowns, and dark chocolate brown, wrinkled outer root skin. Hemlock roots are white and fleshy and thin skinned, and have little or no odor, and smell "musty" or "mousy" or rank. Osha foilage has an intense and fragrant odor when bruised, and is typically larger leafed than Hemlock. Osha does grow in the same habitat in areas of the Mountain West of North America with [[poison hemlock]] and [[water hemlock]], highly poisonous members of the [[parsley]] family which are distantly related to Osha. Unlike its poisonous cousins, Osha does not tolerate overly moist or wet soils and is ''' ''never found growing in standing water'' '''. Due to the high toxicity of [[poison hemlock]], if the plant cannot be positively identified as Osha, it must be discarded. Osha plants form large clumps over time, and can grow to be very large. In areas of New Mexico, Colorada, and Utah, Osha can reach heights of 6-7 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 who are known to visit the plants during the morning hours. 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. In a similar manner, Native Americans learned of [[Echinacea angustifolia]] by observing [[Elk]] seek out the plants and consume them when sick or wounded, and identified the plants as [[Elk root]].<ref>Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1</ref> ==Uses and toxicity== ''L. porteri (Osha)'' root or ''[[Ligusticum|L. wallichii]] (Ligusticum)'' root can be [[wikt:steep#Verb|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 [[Apache]]s 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. <ref>Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1</ref> ==Synonymy== Osha is also known by the following names: * Osha root, Porter's Lovage, Porter's Licorice-root, Lovage, Wild Lovage, Porter's Wild Lovage, Loveroot, Porter's Ligusticum, Bear Medicine, Bear Root, Colorado Cough Root, Indian Root, Indian Parsley, Wild Parsley, Mountain Ginseng, Mountain Carrot, Nipo, Empress Of The Dark Forest, Chuchupate, Chuchupati, Chuchupaste, Chuchupatle, Guariaca, Hierba del cochino, Raíz del cochino, Washía (tarahumara), Yerba de cochino In the [[Jicarilla language]], osha is called ''ha’ich’idéé''. The White Mountain Apache (WMA)call it '"Ha 'il chii' gah". ==External links== <references/> *[http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=LIPO USDA page] * [http://www.herbalgram.org/youngliving/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2669 Research to Determine Osha’s Economic Potential as a Sustainable Agricultural Crop] * [http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/pfnm/LigusticumPorteri.html ''Ligusticum porteri'' Cult et Rose] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[Category:Apiaceae]]