.: Oshá Root :.
Species: Ligusticum porteri "Osha Root" "Bear Root" "Bear Medicine" "Loveroot"
Secured: August 2021 Taos, New Mexico
Parts Used: Aged Roots. Harvested Responsibly
Chemical Profile: Largest Percentage of Bioactive Components - Its Volatile Essential Oils are Phthalides @ 44.6% and Sesquiterpenes @ 10.9% with the Major Light Volatile Components being Monoterpenes. Medicinally Active Compounds Include Coumarins, Flavonoids, Acetylenic Compounds, Terpenoids, and Camphor. It Contains the Neuropeptide Hormone - Oxytocin - and Alkaloids such as Perlolyrine and Tetramethylpyrazine.
Medicinal Highlights: Main Actions are within the Pulmonary/Respiratory System Where it Behaves Similarly to an Antihistamine and is Very Oriented Around the Lungs Assisting with Asthma, Bronchitis, and Emphysema. Antiparasitic Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Antivirals, Anticonvulsant, Antiemetic, and Diaphoretic. Treats Fevers, Sore Throat, and is a Skin/Ear Infection Remedy, Decongestant, Vasodilator/Helps Headaches, Digestive/Gastrointestinal Disorders, Sedative Qualities, Antispasmodic Effects. Vascular Health/Aids with Circulation Issues.
Although known by a many names, Osha is tethered to Bear and Bear Medicine. It's been used as a medicine and in local cuisine by the Native and Hispanic cultures from the Rockies, Northern New Mexico, and through the Southwest. It's said that "Oshá" means bear in a now unknown Native language and bear in Spanish is Oso.
Native American folks share reoccurring stories of how it was bear that made them aware of this sacred root and taught them how to utilize it... Osha was a gift to them from the great bear creator so that we may find remedy.
It's Spring, food is scarce, bears are waking up cranky and they're not social creatures with their own kind. A female bear sniffs around and digs up some Osha, begins to chew it up, spits some out onto her paws and rubs the ground up Osha on her face, arms, and body. A male bear, sniffing around, gets close, she growls and has a fit, he backs off, finds his own Osha, does the same actions as the female did but after he's done he brings his piece of root to her, She accepts it, they both find more Osha, sharing it with the occasional lick of the other's nose. The love root. Older bears can suffer from arthritis and having just gotten out of a den for an entire winter and being hungry is bad news bear. One reason they rub the chewed up root is to alleviate their pain and the compounds within the Osha are affecting their moods. Osha contains Oxytocin or - the Love hormone and is why bears have been seen actually sharing the Osha root with other bears and it would make sense that Bear spirit shared this with Native peoples and should be in your medicine cabinet.
There's something very soothing, relaxing, opening, and cleansing when Osha is ingested which is why I personally work with it from time to time because of it's effects on my mind and I find this very important to be aware of when it comes to disease, illness, and any negative physiological or psycho-spiritual event. If the mind isn't calm, aware, open, trusting, and knowing it can negate medicines, therapies, and interrupt you own body's healing abilities. This may be easier said than done because our mind and bodies may be creating a mental and chemical response that's more than necessary and we get caught up. Your body needs your attention and participation when things go south but when our own hormones under or overreact, this can be problematic.
A little bit on this: Almost every part of your body has glucocorticoid receptors and cortisol affects almost every system; respiratory, immune, cardiovascular, reproductive, nervous, musculoskeletal, and integumentary (hair, skin, nails, nerves, glands).
Cortisol regulates your metabolism; how your body uses fats, carbs, and proteins for energy. It plays a role in regulation of blood pressure, sugar levels, and helps control sleep-wake cycles, and it suppresses inflammation which can boost the immune system. A constant production of cortisol will cause the body to get used to it which leads to inflammation and a weakened immune system, and loss of sleep/sleeping more than needed. If this occurs, it's easy for the mind and emotions to gets wrapped up and add to the issue.
Our brains are rich in glucocorticoid receptors - oxytocin release, receptor expression and binding exist alongside many regions of the brain where these glucocorticoid receptors are located. Allowing brain oxytocin to inhibit stress-induced hormonal activity and promote normal levels of cortisol after stress is experienced here. Cortisol and oxytocin work together to regulate each other while simultaneously having an affect on the other if one or both are 'off'.
The levels of oxytocin found in Osha root bring a balance to the body and mind allowing one to open up, allow, relax, and breathe - even massive and heavy bears that aren't social are positively affected by Osha. Cortisol triggers the "fight or flight" response while oxytocin triggers a sort of tend and befriend response. Having some Osha when sick, injured, stressed, etc... may bring a much more useful response like presence, a calmer mind, the ability to be patient while you heal, and breathe.
Osha's bronchodilator ability allow one to breathe easier and feel stress being alleviated as it helps the lungs by increasing oxygen utilization and an increase of blood circulation that reinforces dilation during lung constriction. This makes Osha great as a support for asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and allergies including its numbing affects that soothes irritating tissues.
This is an amazing root and although powerful, I use it from time to time and not because sickness. I find that the qualities in Osha are a great way to keep my respiratory system and sinuses clean and clear along with the delightfully balancing effects that it has on my hormones and stress levels - a great ally for me in this high-desert, hot, dry, dusty environment... Ozone and fires we have out here affect the respiratory system and I do a lung/sinus detox twice a year.
Mature Osha is chock full of its medicinal compounds than younger the younger plants have and unless you do it yourself or know that someone who does, it isn't that common to find because of its habitat and some people who have it either don't know about it, if the harvesting is mindful, if it's actually Osha or a relative species. Because of it's scarcity, especially in certain places, it's not as common to come across like many other herbs and since it hasn't been possible to cultivate Osha outside of it's mountain environment there's usually a practice of over harvesting the plant and some have kept their locations guarded to protect them. Because of this I don't offer much of this sacred plant and when I do, it's in small batches - enough for me to keep at home for a long time because it preserves so well, and some to share with the public as well.
It is an honor to work with this amazing plant, if and when it's the time. The alchemically derived form I offer here is one of a kind and the experience is divine whether for illness or to bring balance to the mind and body.