YERBA SANTA
Eriodictyon californicum (H. and A.) Greene. Pharmacopoeial name.-Eriodictyon. Synonym.-Eriodictyon glutinosum Benth. Other common names.-Mountain balm, consumptive's weed, bear'sweed, gum plant, tarweed.
Description.-This evergreen shrub, a member of the waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae), reaches a height of from 3 to 4 feet, bearing glutinous leaves. The stem is smooth, but exudes a gummy substance.
The dark-green leaves are from 3 to 4 inches in length, placed alternately on the stem, oblong or oval lance shaped, leathery, narrowing gradually into a short stalk, and with margins generally toothed, except perhaps at the base: the upper surface is smooth, with depressed veins, the prominent veins on the under surface forming a strong network and the spaces between the veins covered with short felty hairs, giving it a white appearance.
The leaves are coated with a resinous substance, making them appear as if varnished. The rather showy whitish or pale-blue flowers are borne in clusters at the top of the plant, the tubular, funnel-shaped corolla measuring about half an inch in length and having five spreading lobes. The seed capsule is oval, grayish brown, and contains small, reddish-brown, shriveled seeds.
The leaves are the parts collected for medicinal use. Yerba santa has expectorant properties and is employed for throat and bronchial affections. It is also used as a bitter tonic. The odor is aromatic and the taste balsamic and sweetish.
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