Incense root

Lomatium californicum (syn. Leptotaenia californica)

An umbellifer with large, blue-green, celery-like leaves and a strongly scented root. Related to oshá; little studied.

Safety notes

A wild umbellifer: never confuse it with the deadly water hemlock or poison hemlock. Do not take it in pregnancy. Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.

Cautions by tradition (1)

Hupa medicine: Do not take internally without certainty about the species; related to poisonous umbellifers.

Preparation

Lay dried root on the fire as incense, or hold it in the hand; sprinkle it powdered.

Use in traditions

The Hupa call it incense root. In many formulas the root is put in the fire or held in the hand. At the Brush Dance the healer burns the root while she prays, and the priest of the Jump Dance strews the powder over the dance ground and paints stripes on his body with the charred root. The Chumash call the plant chuchupaste; the Yurok, Yuki and Kawaiisu also use it as food and medicine.

Applications

Use by tradition

How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.

Hupa medicine

Attributed effects

Incense for the formulas, the Brush Dance and the Jump Dance.

Preparation and amount

Lay the dried root in the fire or hold it in the hand while the formula is recited; strew it powdered over the dance ground.

Caution: Do not take internally without certainty about the species; related to poisonous umbellifers.

Ways to prepare herbs: Powder and kitchen

Sources

All herbs from North America →