Osha (Ligusticum spp.) - The School of Evolutionary Herbalism...Osha (Ligusticum spp.)•Common...

Materia Medica Monthly Issue #9- Osha Page � of �1 20Osha (Ligusticum spp.)

Volume Nine:

Osha (Ligusticum spp.)

•Common Name: Osha, Bear root, Kishwoof, Porter’s Lovage•Latin Name: The primary species in herbal commerce is Ligusticum porteri, which is the Rocky Mountain Osha. This species in unfortunately at risk ecologically so I really try to avoid using it. Most people don’t know there are other, more abundant species of Osha growing through the Cascade Mountains through B.C., Washington, and Oregon. These species are Ligusticum grayii, & Ligusticum canbyi•Family: Apiaceae (the carrot family)•Parts Used: The root is primary part used as a medicine, though some sources mention using the aromatic seeds as well. •Geographical Distribution: As mentioned above, Ligusticum porteri grows throughout the Rocky Mountains in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, as well as reaching into parts of Wyoming. Along the coastal mountains, Ligusticum grayii and L. canbyi, grow in the Cascade Mountain range through Oregon, Washington and into British Columbia. The key with all Osha’s is that they will only be found at high elevations in alpine meadows, typically 5000-6000 feet and above sea level.

Materia Medica Monthly Issue #9- Osha Page � of �2 20

The 5 Keys of Osha

TastesOsha has a quite strong and complex flavor profile, lending us a hint to the powerful properties it contains. First and foremost, it is pungent and aromatic due to the high amount of resins and volatile oils contained in the roots, which are responsible for a wide variety of its medicinal virtues. It also has a slight acridity to it- a sort of mixture between sour and bitter- which indicates an anti-spasmodic/relaxant property. There is also a slight bitterness to the roots, indicating an affinity for the mucous membranes.

Primary Actions• Stimulant Expectorant: This is the main action associated with Osha. The pungent volatile

oils and resins penetrate the mucosal membranes lining the respiratory system, helping to break up stagnant, thick, & congealed mucous so it can be lifted away from the bronchial lining and be coughed up. In this way it facilitates the cough reflect, making it more productive. We will explore the energetics in more detail below, but remember that stimulant expectorants in general tend to have a warming and drying property to them and Osha definitely fits in this category. In this way, Osha is best used when there is coldness and damp accumulation in the lungs and bronchial tract.

• Antispasmodic: Osha is also a highly acclaimed antispasmodic herbal remedy, helping to relax tension throughout the muscular system. In this regard it has been used to ease constriction of smooth and skeletal muscles, lending it benefit for a variety of muscular spasms throughout the system. That being said, it does have a strong affinity for the respiratory tract, which is where I personally have used its antispasmodic property the most. From the Chinese perspective though it is said to be wonderful for dispelling wind, especially when combined with dampness, which can manifest as musculoskeletal tension as headaches, backaches, or joint pain.

• Antiviral/Antibacterial: While I’m not the biggest fan of these terms, it is useful to know when an herb may have a direct antiseptic action and help to cleanse the body of pathogenic agents. The resinous volatile oils in Osha root are considered to be a broad spectrum acting antiviral and antibacterial, making it helpful for a wide variety of infections- particularly those that have invaded, once again, the respiratory system. This shows one of the primary ways folks use this plant for coughs, colds, sore throats and flus.

• Circulatory Stimulant: This is not a commonly known property of Osha, but is actually one of the primary ways the Chinese species is used. I remember a story Paul Bergner told where he gave an old Chinese herbalist a nice Osha root (Ligusticum porteri). He looked over the root, smelled it, and turned around and found his jar of Chinese Osha and dropped it in there- showing that they are essentially the same! In this regard, Osha can be used to increase circulation of the blood, especially to the lungs as well as to the surface of the skin (see next action).


• Diaphoretic: Osha is unique in its diaphoretic properties, as it is both a stimulant and a relaxant diaphoretic. It’s pungent, warming, circulatory stimulant property shows that it will effectively increase blood flow to the surface of the skin and help to resolve cold throughout the system. But it’s antispasmodic property shows that it can help to dispel wind and tension, which can manifest in the capillary beds under the surface of the skin, preventing blood from reaching the surface and thus trapping heat in the interior. Thus Osha will drive the blood to the surface and relax peripheral tension to help that blood to effectively circulate up to the skin.

• Anodyne: I mention this action with a little bit of reluctance, because Osha is unlike most other remedies that would be placed under the anodyne category. This means “pain relieving” and most herbs in this category are strong hypnotic nervines, antispasmodics, and narcotics that are used for severe pain from injury and the like. I would not say that Osha is like these types of anodynes. Rather, it is a specific pain relieving agent for the throat. This might not sound like much, but anyone who has experienced a severe case of strep throat or tonsillitis knows how excruciatingly painful it can be- especially when every time you swallow it feels like razor blades in the back of the throat! I find this property of Osha comes through best from chewing the dried or fresh root, allowing the juice to be swallowed and run down the back of the throat, which it coats and numbs.

Affinities•Physical Organs, Systems and Tissues: These are the primary organs, systems and tissues Osha has an affinity for. I will briefly mention these affinities as they relate to the actions listed above. More detail will be gone into the specific effects this remedy has on these organs systems and tissues later on when we explore clinical patterns and uses.

•Respiratory System: As mentioned above, the lungs, bronchial tree, and throat are likely the most primary affinity for Osha, lending its influence as a primary treatment for respiratory route infections.

•Circulatory System: Through it’s antispasmodic and pungent properties Osha lends a good influence on the distribution of the blood throughout the system.

•Muscular System: The antispasmodic action gives it an affinity for the smooth and skeletal muscles of the body.

•Digestive System: The volatile oils and bitterness lend Osha a slight bitter tonic and carminative action for the GI. I don’t consider it a primary part of my GI materia medica, but it certainly does have an influence there.

•Urinary Tract: The antiseptic properties of Osha are excreted through the urinary tract as well as the respiratory system, again this is generally considered a less strong affinity but it is present.


•Female Reproductive: Osha has been used for menstrual difficulties, though this affinity is due to the larger influence it has upon the muscular and circulatory systems.

Energetics•Temperature, Moisture and Tone: As mentioned under the taste section, Osha has a predominance of the pungent flavor, which lends it a distinctly heating property throughout the system. Anyone that has ever used Osha incorrectly during a hot and dry respiratory infection knows how irritating it can be to mucosal membranes already too hot. It can make the cough more irritable and sensitive- in short, not ideal. So always remember this pungent property of Osha! It is critical for its effective use.

That being said, there is also the bitterness in the plant which can effectively drain excess heat from the tissues. In Thomas Garran's book “Western Herbs According to Traditional Chinese Medicine” he states, “[Osha] Clears heat and drains fire, especially from the upper burner. Sore throat caused by heat damages the blood and channels, thus causing stasis and stagnation. Osha’s acrid and aromatic nature quickens the blood, outthrust pathogenic heat, and assists in the circulation of qi to relieve pain. When combined with its bitter nature, its acrid and aromatic nature clears heat and brains the burning fire.” As if that doesn’t make it totally confusing! How is it that a pungent warming plant can clear heat!?

To clarify this, we have to think about where the heat is coming from that is being cleared out. We are essentially talking about the heat of infection and the associated fever. Osha, with its pungent expectorant and circulatory stimulant/diaphoretic property is helping to move that heat from the interior to the exterior, pushing it out from its stuck position. As he said “sore throat caused by heat damages the blood and channels, thus causing stasis and stagnation.” So there is stagnation that is trapping the heat in place.

Thus Osha is driving away that stagnation so that the heat can be moved out of place. It’s kind of a fighting fire with fire kind of approach I suppose. In essence the pungent warming property of Osha is helping to kill the pathogens and relieve the stagnations that they produce so that everything can start moving again. Garrett believes Osha to have mixed warming and cooling properties depending on how it is prepared or whether it is used raw (IE chewed).

Because of it’s warming properties it is also predominantly drying in nature. I can remember having some debates while studying at Bastyr about this dynamic in Osha. Some sources just say it’s good for a cough (any old cough I would presume is what they meant), others say it’s great for a dry cough, and still others say to strictly avoid it in a dry cough. So what’s one to make of that?!

The argument was that the resinous property of Osha can go into a dried out mucosal membrane and help to coat its surface and sooth it. While this sounds (somewhat) rational from a theoretical perspective, in my clinical experience with this herb this theory just doesn’t hold water, as I have seen it aggravate dry lung conditions time and time again. The bitterness in Osha also contributes to the drying property, as it facilitates in the draining of damp accumulation.


It’s influence upon the tone is relaxant, which is in accordance with its antispasmodic actions.

•Effects upon Doshas: Taking this energetic constellation into consideration, we can now see how Osha will interact with the 3 Doshas. The most straightforward of these is its influence upon Kapha, which it will warm up and dry out. Thus Osha reduces excess Kapha.

Due to its antispasmodic effects, Osha will also effectively decrease an excess of Vata or tension within the system. It will also reduce Vata through its warming quality. There is a potential risk for aggravation in terms of its drying property, but this is something we always need to be aware of in treating Vata because most herbs are drying.

As mentioned above under the temperature portion of energetics, it is the effects on Pitta which can seem a little confusing. I would argue that Osha is likely to aggravate Pitta due to its very pungent, stimulant, warming properties. Though as mentioned it does have the ability to treat heat patterns because of its bitterness and ability to relieve the underlying stagnations that are the root cause of the heat. But to keep it simple, I would say that Osha increases Pitta for the most part and that’s the safest and best way to think about it.

•Effects upon Tissue States: We can take our Doshas and break them down into the slightly more specific tissue states for a more precise understanding of the energetic patterns you want to look for in a client that would indicate the appropriate use of Osha.

First and foremost, I consider it a primary remedy for the cold/depression and damp/stagnation tissue states, particularly when they have invaded the lungs and respiratory system. This will be noticeable by paleness to the skin, cold skin, aversion to cold, a white coating on the tongue, and thick white expectoration from the lungs. The cough will also sound noticeably damp in there as well. Obviously.

As mentioned above, Osha can be beneficial also for certain types of heat conditions as well. Here we want to primarily look for the pattern of damp/heat, where there is an excess accumulation of moisture in the respiratory system accompanied by heat and inflammation. This typically shows itself by a wet cough, but with the expectorated material having a yellowish to green color to it. This indicates heat. There may be a yellowish coating on the tongue as well which would indicate heat also. It does have anti-inflammatory actions in the respiratory system so this is another indication for its influence on the heat/excitation tissue state. I’m SO hesitant to mention this hear though because it’s a very particular kind of heat that it can benefit. I would say it should always be heat with damp accumulation as well- if it is hot and dry it is a no go!!

Lastly Osha can benefit the wind/tension tissue state because of its antispasmodic actions and ability to expel wind from the tissues. The bitterness and acridity help to disperse wind and relax the tension that it tends to create within the system.

I will also mention that in Matthew Wood’s EarthWise Herbal, he places Osha under the atrophy tissue state, also known as dry/atrophy. This could potentially be confusing, especially since I mentioned above about how irritating Osha can be to dried respiratory membranes.


According to Matthew’s work, he states that Osha, like other Bear Medicines (Angelica, Burdock, Spikenard, Licorice), can be of benefit to the glucocorticoid side of the adrenal cortex. The cortex of the adrenal glands is comprised primarily of fats, and the associated hormones are all oil soluble. Based on sympathy, very oily plants like Osha are said to have an affinity for the adrenal cortex and can help to rebuild it when it becomes weakened or atrophied.

It is likely that Matthew’s assigning of Osha to the dry/atrophy tissue state is based on this somewhat fringy and not often discussed property of the plant. This is not a property I have personally used it for clinically so I have no experience in using it this way. So I just wanted to explain the likely rationale behind that tissue state correlation to this remedy if you were to look it up in his book.

(Me digging Osha & Angelica in high alpine meadows in the east Cascades of Washington)


Prabhava/Specific Indications•Pulse and Tongue Indications: Some of the indications on the tongue were mentioned above. What you want to look for primarily are signs of dampness- which would be a wet tongue and a thicker coating. If the coating on the tongue is white then there is damp/cold, if it is yellowish in color then there is damp/heat. I prefer to use Osha when there is a white coating on the tongue, but it can be used as mentioned previously for damp/heat conditions as well. The expectorated sputum can be thick, white and congealed, or yellowish to green in color- the latter indicating heat, the prior indicating cold. A tight pulse would indicate the benefit of its antispasmodic nature, and a floating pulse (near the surface) would indicate the benefit of the diaphoretic property (surface relieving, or resolving the exterior). A rapid superficial pulse would indicate heat, and a slow low pulse would indicate cold.

•Psychological Picture: During an acute illness, I’ve found Osha to be of great benefit when there is so much mucous congestion in the head and lungs that there is a certain dulling of the senses and mind. There is a difficulty with concentration, focus, a lack of mental clarity, and an overall dull, under-stimulated sensation. Everything is moving down and in. With Osha’s aromatic properties it helps to life the energy up, stimulate circulation to the upper portion of the body (lungs, heart, brain), stimulate expectoration and the upward movement of the vital force. By clearing out the mucous, draining fluids, and relaxing tension, it allows the blood to flow and the mind and senses to be cleared.

On a deeper, perhaps more spiritual level, there are some dynamics present in Osha that I would like to share from my own personal experience in working with the plant, as well as observing some of the signatures it presents.

Osha has been called Bear Medicine by many herbalists and traditional healers. It’s name comes from the Spanish word for bear, “oso.” This is probably because it was observed that when bears are coming out of hibernation, one of the first things they do is go dig up some Osha (if it’s around that is) and eat some of the roots. This helps to wake up their body through stimulating circulation, the lungs and respiration, digestion, and helping to eliminate any metabolic wastes accumulated throughout the hibernation period.

In my own experience with Osha, this presents a potent signature and reflects some of the more spiritual properties of the plant. We all go through periods of isolation in our lives, of pulling back from the outside world and retreating within ourselves to engage in periods of reflection and contemplation. During these times we look into our own hearts and minds to find what is true to our essential nature which ultimately necessitates we let go of those things which are not in accordance with who we truly are. We look within to find out truth, to let go of our pain, to heal our past and traumas.

But everything that goes up must come down, and everything that goes within must journey back out into the world. It can be difficult to carry our hard won truth into the world, and it is here that I have Osha to be a wonderful botanical ally. Osha helps us to come to a deeper sense of connection to our essential nature by engaging in these periods of self-reflection but also helps us to integrate what we learn within ourselves out into the world in a healthier way.


It is a sort of integration medicine, helping us to not loose ourselves as we face our families, friends and communities with our new hard won truth.

I think this is why it has those inflorescences that radiate up and out like a firework explosion- a sort of expansion up and out, which is connected to a hollow stem moving into a powerfully medicinal root. It’s as if the Earth and Sky are bridged with a hollow stem, which is a signature for the sushumna or the spiritual spine- the hollow channel that connects the top of our head to the root of the sacrum. I also think this is why Osha only likes to grow at very high elevations in the mountains- away from the cities and suburbs. You will only find Osha in the wildness of the Earth. And as I always like to say, as human beings we will only find ourselves in the wildness of the Earth as well as within the depths of our own self. We have to pull away from the distractions of the outer world- the city- in order to find our essential nature.

I believe Osha is a critical remedy to help people to have the strength and courage to look within themselves, to face their fears and find their root… and cut it. To not let the unconscious reactions of our mind to govern our lives, to not submit to fear, but to consciously direct our minds again so that they can be free from our inner demons, our shame, guilt, and anger.

Clinical Patterns and Uses 1. Respiratory Tract Infections: From my perspective, this is really where Osha is most

commonly used… because it works so well! Here we are applying its stimulant expectorant, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Osha is really great for those colds that start in the sinuses, then move down into the sore throat and gradually progress further down the respiratory system. A critical pattern in the respiratory system is understanding that the lower down in the tract the more serious the condition. In general we want our therapeutics to have an up and out energetic movement of the vital force.

Luckily, Osha does just that. The stimulant expectorant property helps to agitate the respiratory lining into a greater level of activity so it can effectively eliminate the accumulated phlegm and mucous stuck to the membrane. The critical element of using Osha for the respiratory tract is that it is best used for cold and damp conditions in the lungs. In these types of situations, the cough reflex is weak and unproductive- meaning there isn’t enough force behind the cough to effectively bring up the mucous it’s trying to remove from the membrane.

Osha comes in and actually slightly agitates that mucous membrane with its warming and pungent resins and oils, which go in an help to break up, disperse, and lift up the heavy cold stagnant mucous from the membrane so it can be coughed up. This is the general action of many stimulant expectorants, but Osha is (in my opinion) an excellent example of how this works.

That all being said, Osha does have anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for heat type conditions where there is a lot of inflammation, and especially pain from the inflammation. As mentioned under the herbal actions section, it does have a sort of


anodyne property specific for the respiratory tract. So if there is ever pain in the throat, chest, lungs, or respiratory tract as a whole Osha is a truly wonderful remedy to consider. Just be aware of its strong humoral effects and combine it with other herbs to balance out its energetics if needed- Licorice is a very common remedy to pair with Osha as it tends to sooth out its irritating properties and help to moisten up its drying properties.

Osha is also super helpful for respiratory conditions where there is a lot of tension, wind, and cramping in the bronchial tree. This tends to manifest as a feeling of tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing or taking deeper breaths without coughing, and coughing fits. This can especially be bad in the night when a cough can keep you up all night and prevent your immunity from restoring itself as it does during sleep.

2. Sore Throat: This obviously goes along with respiratory tract infections, but I thought I would put it in its own category to remind you to always, always think of this remedy for when someone has a sore throat. There is something in the biochemistry of this plant that is directly numbing to the membranes when it comes into contact with it. This is noticeable when you simply chew a small piece of the root and suck on the juice- your mouth will quickly go numb as will your throat. This is why so many singers have used Osha to help to restore their voice.

For sore throats its good to know that gargles actually don't really work. When you tip your head back with a fluid in your mouth to gargle it, you directly closes off the back of your throat so the fluid doesn’t come into direct contact with the tissues you are trying to sooth! The best way to get direct contact with the throat is to either directly spray something back there, or to swallow something thick that goes down slow and has some time to have contact with the tissues. An example of this would be something like a Slippery Elm slurry.

People can have sore throats for a variety of reasons, from simple overuse or dryness, to what can be very serious viral or bacterial infections. Do not ever overlook the potential seriousness not only of these infections but also the incredible pain one can experience from them.

I used to get chronic bouts of strep throat as a kid- usually at least 1-2 times per year, a few of which lead to trips to the hospital. I can’t tell you how much pain I was in- it seemed like my mouth started hyper-salivating and I kept needing to swallow, yet every time I swallowed it felt like razor blades cutting the back of my throat. So I wouldn’t sleep for days, come down with fever, cough, have super swollen lymph nodes, and end up with abscesses in the back of my throat that had to be surgically lanced. One time I had abscesses swell so large that it started to restrict my airway and I woke up barely able to breathe!!

So my point here is to share that a sore throat isn’t just a little scratchy or dry sensation in the back of the throat but can literally be a #10 severity kind of pain situation, so knowing your sore throat remedies can be super helpful. I really like to combine Osha with something like Calamus and Licorice for a sore throat. It also works well by itself chewed,


but if there is too much dryness it is really best combined with a demulcent of some sort. The constituents in Osha are best extracted in alcohol, so tinctures used as a spray work best here.

3. Fever: Next, Osha can be a great remedy to consider for fever, as it has both stimulant and relaxant diaphoretic properties. Because of this unique mixture of relaxant (antispasmodic) and stimulant (warming to circulation) properties, it can technically be used at any stage of a fever. In the earlier stages of a fever someone tends to feel cold, lethargic, and look pale- they need stimulant diaphoretics to warm up their system, and stimulate circulation.

Later stages of a fever oftentimes look opposite to the first stage- they tend to have dry red skin and be tense psychologically and physically (muscle tension). This is where you use a relaxant diaphoretic to relax the tension in the peripheral circulation, muscular system, and often in the nervous system as well. There aren’t a ton of herbs that I can think of that have a mixture of stimulant and relaxant diaphoretic… the only one that comes to mind would be Yarrow which has mixed stimulant and relaxant properties.

Naturally, Osha will be best used when there is fever with an accompanying respiratory symptom of some kind as well.

4. Viral Infections: Many herbalists that have focused on the anti-viral actions of Osha have started to consider using it in a wide variety of different types of viral infections, including HIV, HPV, various types of herpes, and of course influenza type viruses. It’s pretty uncommon for an herbalist to get lab tests done to see whether someone has an acute viral infection of some sort- unless they are an ND or more scientifically oriented- so this may not be the best category. BUT, if someone were to come to you having gotten tests done elsewhere and knows for sure that they have some type of viral infection (either acute or chronic) then Osha may be a good option to consider.

5. Other Miscellaneous Uses: Here are some other ways that Osha has been used traditionally and may be beneficial for, though in general I would think to use a different plant for these types of issues as there are plants that would likely work a bit better.

• Gastrointestinal cramping: the volatile oils in Osha will have a warming carminative effect in the GI and help to dispel gas, wind and tension.

• Menstrual cramping/stagnation: the circulatory stimulant and antispasmodic effects have shown to help stimulate menses for amenorrhea cases and relax uterine tension.

• Topical Applications: Many sources claim Osha to be quite beneficial for scorpion stings and poisonous spider bites such as brown recluse. The powder is often applied directly to the sting. It also is said to have styptic properties for bleeding wounds and is definitely highly antiseptic for any manner of infections on the skin. This is likely one of our primary remedies to consider as a topical wash for hard to treat staph infections.


• Rheumatic Pain: This is likely again due to the circulatory stimulant and antispasmodic actions of the remedy. This would again be best for cold, damp and tense type joint pain where there is muscular spasm, accumulation of fluids, swelling, lack of circulation and stimulation to the joints. The bitterness will help to drain the fluids, the pungent property will help to stimulate circulation of the blood, and the acridity will help to relax muscle spasm.

That’s about it as for Clinical Patterns for Osha, it’s a pretty straightforward remedy and direct in how it is specifically used.

Pharmacological Data •Primary Constituents: Resins and volatile oils: alkylphthalides (limonene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, diligustilide, riligustilide), coumarins, furanocoumarins, polyacetylenes, and phenolic acids. One study done on Ligusticum canbyi showed it having 34,000 compounds in an extract

•Mechanisms of Action: While there hasn’t been a ton of research done on the chemicals found in Osha, what has been discovered is that many of the phthalides have been shown to have sedative and anti-spasmodic properties, which definitely correlates with much of its use in the respiratory system. In general, the volatile oils and resins found in the roots will have the overall warming and stimulant effect upon the respiratory tissues and thus the expectorant action. Many of the constituents in the oil are also directly anti-viral and anti-septic.


Contraindications and Safety•Contraindications: Osha is a pretty strong medicine and is generally not recommended for usage during pregnancy. There is some controversy amongst herbalists on this one, but I prefer to stay on the safe side of that one. It is postulated that some Osha might contain constituents that enhance photosensitivity.

•Energetic/constitutional side effects: As mentioned above, Osha does have a primarily heating and drying property energetically and can thus be aggravating to hot/dry conditions, constitutions, and tissue states. Because of its strong stimulant expectorant property, it can be a little too intense for sensitive lungs or an irritable cough.

•Herb-Drug Interactions: There are no known drug interactions with Osha at this time.

Preparations and Dosage• Tincture: I really love working with Osha in tincture form. I find that it really brings out

the aromatic property of the herb quite nicely and has a very potent, direct, and fast acting effect on the respiratory system. I always make my Osha tincture fresh. It just can’t be beat. Once the roots are dried you loose a portion of the volatile oils and thus some of your potency in the medicine. Because most of the pharmacologically active constituents are resins and volatile oils, a higher percentage alcohol is preferable. I usually do my Osha between 80-90% alcohol, at roughly a 1:3 ratio, which is best achieved by grinding up the roots in a vita-mix or Chinese herb grinder. The tend to use Osha is moderate to larger doses, especially if I’m going for the stronger stimulant expectorant properties. This usually starts at 1 dropperful and can get up to 4-5 dropperfuls. Really just increasing the dosage until the person can feel the effect in their lungs.

• Infusion: Even though people typically recommend decocting roots for longer periods of time, because Osha has so many volatile compounds it does not submit too well to decoctions. Because of this, I will typically prepare Osha as a simple infusion, pouring 8 oz of boiling water over around 2-3 tsp of the dried and chopped root. This is steeped with a lid on for about 20 minutes or so and drank hot. I often like to put a little bit of Licorice in there as well to mellow out the Osha a little bit. I like to drink about 12-16 oz of the tea, 3x a day or so.

• Spagyric: I will mention that Osha does yield pretty well to the full spagyric process as it has a good amount of essential oils and resins and it does have a good yield of volatile mercury from fermentation. That being said, it does take a decent amount of plant material to prepare a spagyric essence properly and because of its partially threatened status ecologically I have decided to no longer prepare Osha as a spagyric. I did it once, and it was indeed incredible, but my conscience got to me afterwards and I decided to not do that anymore. The dosage for a spagyric essence is typically always 1-3 drops.

• Powder: The powder of Osha is a super valuable medicine to have on hand, especially in a first aid kit. This is ideal for many topical applications, such as a medicated wash for infected wounds, as a styptic powder for bleeding, and as a poultice for various venomous stings or bites. Of course this powder can be mixed with a small amount of water and


taken internally as well, though know that many of the aromatic properties will degrade over time as the volatile components evaporate and degrade. Dosage is use as needed.

• Honey: This is probably one of my most favorite herbal preparations ever! It’s super simple to prepare, yet profound in its medicinal properties. Basically, I take fresh Osha roots chopped up as fine as possible and cover it with honey in a double boiler and let it cook for about a week on low heat. It is truly best done in the double boiler and not put onto direct heat as that can burn your honey and make it unsafe to consume- I always do mine in a double boiler which works great.

What so awesome about an Osha honey cough syrup is that it is a perfectly balanced formula energetically. The Osha tends to be pretty warming and drying, as well as stimulating- it can actually be a little bit irritating to some respiratory conditions. The honey comes to the rescue and helps to sooth and smooth the irritating property of the Osha, as well as balance any of the potentially drying effects. Dosage is typically 1 tbsp or so every few hours.

Formulation StrategiesStimulant Expectorant TripletOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 33%Elecampane (Inula helenium) 33%California Spikenard (Aralia californica) 33%

This formula is comprised of 3 spicy, hot, pungent, aromatic stimulating expectorants. This would be best for very cold and damp type respiratory infections. Note this formula could contain a wide variety of other stimulant expectorants, such as Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum), Angelica (Angelica spp.), Balsam root (Balsamorrhiza sagitatta), or Horehound (Marrubium vulgare).

Balanced Expectorant Triplet


Osha (Ligusticum spp.) 40%Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 40%Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) 20%

This is a great triplet of a stimulant expectorant (Osha), a demulcent expectorant (Licorice), and a relaxant expectorant (Lobelia). This is a wonderful balance of warming and cooling, moistening and drying, as well as relaxant. This is a great base for any type of expectorant formula and can be quite versatile, taken in different directions to bring out any one specific property you are going for. If there isn’t a lot of spasm, the Osha and Licorice can be used as a simple 50/50 pair as a base for a respiratory formula as well.

Respiratory FormulaOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 20%Elecampane (Inula helenium) 20%Pleurisy root (Asclepias tuberosa) 15%Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina) 15%Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) 15%Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 10%Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) 5%

This formula contains a mixture of various types of expectorants: Osha and Elecampane are pretty reliable stimulant expectorants, Pleurisy, Wild Cherry and Lobelia are nice relaxant expectorants, and Mullein and Licorice are nice demulcent expectorants. The parts of this formula could be rearranged in a wide variety of ways in order to suit the specific picture at hand. For example, if there was a lot of moisture, perhaps the Osha and Lomatium could be increased, with the demulcents decreased. If there’s a lot of tension, the Pleurisy and Wild Cherry could be moved to the top, with less Osha and Elecampane. In this way you have a nice modular flexible formula that can be adjusted as needed to match the pattern in the client. It’s important to know that respiratory energetics can change very quickly so it’s good to have a little of each kind of expectorant in there, even in small amounts, so as not to overly shift the condition in any one direction too far.

Respiratory Virus FormulaOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 25%Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum) 25%Old Man’s Beard (Usnea spp.) 25%Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 15%Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 10%

This formula is a nice expectorant formula specific for viral infections in the lungs, throat, or bronchial tree. Echinacea will help to stimulate local and systemic immunity as well as cleansing the lymphatic system. Osha and Lomatium are strong stimulant expectorants, with the Usnea providing a nice broad spectrum antiseptic action. The Licorice is also antiviral, but also provides a soothing demulcent action to balance the stimulating effect of the other herbs.


Sore Throat Triplet*Osha (Ligusticum spp.) 33%Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) 33%Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) 33%

This formula comes from Thomas Garran. He states “for external attack of wind-heat causing sore, painful throat that is worse wth swallowing or talking.” I would say that most Sages of the Salvia genus could be used here quite successfully as they are quite specific for sore throats. This is a nice broad spectrum antiseptic formula as well and is primarily warming in nature.

Sore Throat SprayOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 30%Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 30%Calamus (Acorus calamus) 15%Bee Propolis 15%Sage (Salvia officinalis) 10%

This formula should be put together as tinctures with a spray bottle top on it so it can be sprayed directly to the back of the throat. You could also add some honey to it to increase its soothing property as well. A little bit of Echinacea could be added to it as well if desired.

Respiratory Based Diaphoretic TripletOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 33%Pleurisy (Asclepias tuberosa) 33%Elderflower (Sambucus spp.) 33%

This simple triplet has 3 primarily relaxant diaphoretics that also have an influence upon the respiratory system. Pleurisy works quite deep in the lungs- on the pleural membrane actually (hence the name), whereas Osha works more in the bronchi and throat, and Elderflower works quite nicely up in the sinuses. In this way you get a nice broad spectrum respiratory action as well as the diaphoretic properties for a fever.

Simple Cough and Cold TeaElderberry (Sambucus spp.) 2 partsOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 1 partGinger (Zingiber officinale) 1/2 partLicorice (Glycyrhiza glabra) 1/2 part

Decoct this formula for 30 minutes and then infuse:Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) 1 partLemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) 1 part


Infuse the above remedies for 15-30 minutes. This formula is a nice broad spectrum antiseptic, antiviral formula that is immunostimulant, circulatory stimulant, demulcent and stimulant expectorant, as well as slightly nervine (Lemon Balm and Holy Basil). The latter action is nice because, well being sick is kind of stressful and sucks, so it’s nice to get something to mellow out and settle nerves as well. As I’m writing this monograph I’ve had a little cold (which never happens!) and this is the tea I’ve been drinking consistently. It tastes really nice too!!

This formula can also be made into a syrup if you add equal parts honey to the final tea to preserve it. A little brandy in there is nice too for additional preservation as well as lending its own slight expectorant property.

Topical Sting PowderOsha (Ligusticum spp.) 25%Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) 25%Plantain (Plantago major) 25%Tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) 25%

This is a great formula to have on hand in case someone gets a nasty sting, spider, or scorpion bite. Mix the powder with a little bit of water to make a paste and apply directly to the bite. I would suggest changing it every 30 minutes or so while you are on your way to the hospital- depending on what kind of bite/sting it is. It helps to draw out the poison, stimulate local immunity and circulation of blood and cleanse the local lymphatics. You can also mix some bentonite clay with this formula as well if desired.

Energetic Architecture

• Ruling Planet: Mars. We can see the martian qualities in Osha in that its medicinal essence is stimulant- it stimulates circulation of the blood, stimulants expectoration in the lungs, and also stimulates the senses into a greater level of awareness. The roots are pungent, warming and resinous in nature. The medicine itself is called Bear Medicine, and the Bear is classically ruled by the red planet Mars. Its affinity for the blood and circulation also lend it a relationship to Mars. Also as Matthew notes, the oiliness of Osha lends it an affinity for the adrenal cortex and can be used to rebuild it when atrophied- the adrenals are also ruled by Mars.

I would also add that the planet Mercury could also be said to be associated with Osha, as it has its primary affinity for the lungs and respiratory tract, as well as its antispasmodic properties. It’s morphological characteristics are also rather Mercurial- with its balanced inflorescence and big roots, connected by the hollow stem, which is a signature for mediation between the worlds. Mercury is the classic messenger of the Gods and mediator of the Above and Below.

But when we look at the essential nature of Osha, it is a stimulant across the board and thus I see the Martian qualities the strongest. All of the correspondences to Mercury will be taken up by the Element and Principle.


• Ruling Element: Air. Osha likes to grow waaaaaay up in the high mountains, above the cloud line- it dwells in the Air Element. Obviously, it has its strongest affinity for the respiratory system, which is the primary dwelling place of the Air Element in the physical body. The aromatic properties and expectorant action is also distinctly airy, as are the fern-like leaves of the plant.

• Ruling Principle: Mercury/Mutable. This further supports the Air Element properties, it’s respiratory affinity, expectorant action, as well as the balanced nature of its morphology- with the radiating inflorescence up and out into the sky, the deep roots in the Earth, both connected by the hollow stem (IE the channel). Mercury represents this balance between the Above and Below (both as the Planet as well as the Alchemical Principle).

Esoteric SignificanceWhen we consider the underlying Energetic Architecture of Osha, we see that the combination of the Air Element and the Mutable Mode (Mercury Principle) gives us the sign of Gemini- the Twins. The 3rd sign of the zodiac represents polarity and the dualistic nature of life- everything has its opposite. This shows itself in the pairs of the body- primarily the arms, hands and yes, the lungs and respiratory system, which is the main organs and parts of the body that Gemini governs.

When we combine Mars in Gemini, we basically get a stimulant (Mars) expectorant (Gemini)!! We see that Osha will warm, stimulate, disperse, and release stagnation from the lungs and bronchial tree. This is a very fitting Energetic Architecture for Osha as it directly explains its primary medicinal virtue.

When we take that and translate it over to the Tarot, we see that this correlates to a particular card in the deck: the 9 of Swords, Cruelty. This card represents the mind turned against itself, of a harsh inner critic that berates and beats one down. This can manifest as guilt, shame, anger, aggression, and a growing sense of powerlessness. Ultimately if this time of mental patterning plays out over the long term, it leads to the next card in the deck, which is titled Ruin- the sword of the mind piercing the heart. Cruelty represents our own minds ability to bring about our own downfall through putting ourselves down and basically having really bad self-talk.

If you are to remember what was discussed under the spiritual/psychological dynamics around Osha, you will note that it is a plant that can work on 2 ends of a spectrum of transformation. The first is retreating within, getting time and space away from the world to get perspective on our lives. The second is the reintegration, of going back into the world and being strong in our hard won truth and new found clarity and insight.

The Cruelty card represents what can occur in our minds if we do not take the time to step away from our lives and look inside ourselves with honesty and clarity. This card is very internal- for it represents our self talk- but Osha represents a healthy going within, not looking at ourselves from the perspective of our past, our abuses, or our traumas, but rather looking at our lives from the distant perspective of our higher self, or the perspective of God. It is only when we do this that we can shed light upon our wounds, our past, our traumas and


allow them to be transformed into something good and true. It is ultimately about facing our fears.

To quote Akron Hajo Banzhaf from his book The Crowley Tarot, “Inwardly we are tormented by demons that are the personification of threatening ruin. However, this must not necessarily occur as a concrete event. It can be expressed also in fear, guilt feelings, and experiences of powerlessness. Only perception and understanding can break through the vicious circle of experiences of failure, existential dread, and inner aggressions. The path that goes there leads through pain directly into the center of every fear. Every avoidance just makes the condition much worse.”

So it is of course not to say that Osha will instill Cruelty, rather I believe it helps one to follow that path through the pain and to face our fears and to stop trying to avoid the patterns and traumas at the root of our psychological torments. Osha teaches us to look within.


A nice closeup of the hairs on the root crowns of some fresh Osha (Ligusticum grayii)


Date post:	07-Feb-2020
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