Hummingbird Sage
Posted by kristenjoy on:
Feels like a good time to write about another local plant.
This one is hummingbird sage...given its name because of its magical and effortless ability to attract hummingbirds to its beautiful flowers.
But that's not it's only magic trick!
Hummingbird sage makes a great tea. It is an expectorant and can help if you have a cough or cold, to alleviate the annoying effects of excess mucus. It is highly antimicrobial, and can also be used as a gargle.
The Chumash were known to use this plant in their doctorings, and the Spanish later co-opted it into their pseudo-Catholic medical traditions and exorcisms. They revered it so highly that they gave it the name "diosita." They used it to cure diseases believed to have been caused by sorcery by rubbing the leaves on the patient's body. (This I have NOT tried).
Hummingbird sage is easily found in our local hills and mountains. You can also grow it in your garden - I have some in a pot so it doesn't take over the other plants. They survive well in sun and partial shade.
* The amazing photo I have will not load for some reason. So here is another one, taken from here: http://www.satoridesigns.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/hummingbirdsage2.jpg
7 Comments
Comment by Ws1 on
Beautiful photo. It might have been a little too big to upload to City2.. maybe next time, if in doubt, snap a little screenshot (on a mac, command+option+4) of it and upload that. :)
Comment by JulieF on
how do you use it to cut back on excess mucous? or is it all about gargling?
Comment by Kristenjoy on
Hi Julie, If you are experiencing a common cold or lung congestion, you can make a tea using the fresh leaves. Always select the newer ones -in other words, this time of year there are plenty of old dry ones, which you don't want. Also, I usually make the tea only with the leaves, not the flowers. Make sure the leaves are nice and clean. Common ratio for an herbal infusion is about 1 tsp worth of plant material per cup of tea. If you make a larger brew, keep that ratio in mind, or maybe even start out a slightly weaker. I always encourage people to do an allergy test, too...take 1-2 sips and wait for 10-15 minutes to make sure you don't have any reactions. Bring the water to a boil and then turn it down to just below boiling. Add the leaves and turn the heat source off. Then steep for about 10-15 minutes and you'll have your tea. You can also make a great "sun tea" with hummingbird sage, by placing it in a clear glass jar, covered in cheesecloth, and leaving it out in the direct sunlight on a hot summer day. You can let it infuse for about an hour that way. I have also drank these tea iced with some other things like lemon. For a gargle, you can wait for the tea to cool and then use it that way. There are so many ways to use these plants. Good luck!
Comment by JulieF on
Thank you Kristen. I tried it cold with lemon during the heat wave and it cleared up my summer cold! Your instructions in the above comment were very helpful! Thank you!
Comment by Kristenjoy on
Awesome! I love hearing news like this. :-)
Comment by Ws1 on
We miss your posts kristenjoy!
Comment by Kristenjoy on
Thanks Ws1! I've been buried in science schoolwork (pre-med stuff) so haven't been able to write much lately. Hope to get back in the swing of things this summer. Until then!