Yerba Santa Interactions Overview

Check For Interactions With Yerba Santa

Yerba Santa

Also known as
  • Eriodictyon californicum
  • Bear's Weed
  • Consumptive's Weed
  • Eriodictyon
  • Gum Bush
  • Gum Plant
  • Holy Herb
  • Holy Weed
  • Mountain Balm
  • Sacred Herb
  • Santa Herba
  • Tarweed
Yerba Santa Yerba Santa, also known as "Eriodictyon californicum," is a perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It belongs to the borage family and is known for its aromatic, resinous leaves. Yerba Santa has a long history of traditional use by indigenous peoples for its medicinal properties. It is often used to make herbal remedies for respiratory conditions, such as coughs, colds, and asthma, due to its expectorant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Additionally, Yerba Santa has been employed in traditional Native American rituals for its purported spiritual and purifying properties.
There are 1 drugs known to interact with Yerba Santa

Additional Details

Is Yerba Santa Safe? Are There Any Warnings?

Yerba santa, also known as Bear's Weed or Holy Herb, is generally considered safe when used in food amounts. However, there is limited information available about its safety when used for medicinal purposes. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it's best to avoid its use due to insufficient data.

How Is Yerba Santa Thought To Work? What is the Mechanism of Action?

Yerba santa, a native North American shrub, is traditionally used in Native American medicine for various purposes. The active components in yerba santa are found in its leaves, which contain flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins. Notable compounds include sterubin, eriodictyonine, eriodictyol, hesperidine, chrysoeriol, and cirsimaritin. Additionally, it contains a trace amount of volatile oil.

Yerba santa's potential mechanisms of action include:

  • Expectorant Effects: Eriodictyol in yerba santa may act as an expectorant, aiding respiratory conditions.
  • Hair Aging Effects: Yerba santa extracts have shown differing effects on aging hair. One species reduces graying beard and head hair, while it increases melanin synthesis and reduces DNA damage and oxidative stress in skin cells.
  • Weight Loss Effects: Yerba santa contains a component that blocks the adenosine A2A receptor, potentially boosting metabolism and reducing inflammation, which could relate to weight loss.

Common Side Effects To Watch For

Yerba santa is generally well-tolerated when used in food. No adverse effects have been reported when used medicinally, but it's worth noting that a comprehensive safety evaluation has not been conducted.

What Is Yerba Santa Typically Used For?

Yerba santa has a history of traditional use in Native American medicine for various purposes, including respiratory conditions, fever, bruises, infections, insect bites, and headaches. However, there's insufficient reliable evidence to determine its effectiveness for these uses. It's also unclear if yerba santa is beneficial for weight loss.

It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional before using yerba santa for any specific health concerns, especially if you're pregnant or nursing.

Drugs that interact with Yerba Santa

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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

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