Yerba Mansa monograph

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Yerba Mansa

 

Anemopsis californica

Saururaceae

Radix et Rhizoma Anemopsi Californicae

Other Names: Yerba del Manso, Manso, Lizard Tail

Botanical description and harvesting: The only plant in the genus and

belonging to a relatively small family (lizard tail family) this plant is

quite unique in its appearance. The genus name, anemopsis is of Greek origin

and means anemone-like, owing to its anemone looking inflorescence. Yerba

Mansa grows from a rhizome that is thick (1-5cm) and somewhat woody, which

sends out small creeping runners to colonize the area. The plant has a ring

of elliptic to oblong petioled leaves from 5-15cm long. The stem on which

the inflorescence is born is 15-50cm long and hollow. It can be either naked

or will sometimes have a couple of leaves holding on about halfway to

two-thirds the way up. The inflorescence is conical shape (1.5-4cm) with 5-8

white involucre bracts (1-3cm) appearing as petals.

The root and rhizome is harvested in the spring or fall and sliced for

drying. Because this plant generally grows in desert areas, spring may be

quite early, February or March, and fall could be late summer as long as the

plant has produced its seeds and has died back. The leaves can be gathered

in the spring before the flower emerges and used in the same manner as the

root and rhizome with an increase of the dosage. The leaves also make an

excellent bath for rheumatic complaints.

Qi and Flavor: acrid, bitter, warm

Channels entered: lung, urinary bladder, spleen

Actions: antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, astringent,

antirheumatic

Medicinal Uses: Dispels wind and dampness for wind-damp impediment

especially when associated with cold with symptoms of joint pain, swelling

of the joints and joint pain made worse by cold damp weather.

Dispels wind and scatters cold of invasion of wind-cold evil with symptoms

of heat effusion, aversion to cold, cough, headache, generalized aches and

pains, absence of sweating, nasal congestion and runny nose with clear thin

phlegm. Also can be used to treat phlegm lodged in the channels.

Dries damp, scatters cold and assists slow healing sores, for slow healing

sores and toxic swellings such as innominate toxin swelling where the

etiology is a damp and cold origin. Because this herb very strongly dries

damp it can be combined with the appropriate herbs to be used for toxic

swellings that are of a damp-heat nature.

Cautions: Yerba Mansa is relatively safe but because of it's dispelling and

drying qualities it is probably best avoided during pregnancy. Caution

should be used for those with qi or yin vacuity due to its strong moving and

drying properties.

Dosage and Preparation: 3-9g in decoction, 2-4ml in tincture. The fresh

plant tincture is the best preparation although the dry plant will suffice.

The decoction works very well but let it be known, the flavor can be quite

challenging. It can be prepared as a wash or made into an ointment for

external application. The leaves also make an excellent bath.

Major Combinations: Combine with Black Cohosh, California Figwort and Willow

bark for stiff, hot, painful joints. In severe acute conditions add small

doses of Yucca root.

Combine with Ambrosiae Dumsosae, Magnolia buds, and Yerba Santa for sinus

congestion with clear or white phlegm. This can be used with either

difficult to expectorate (blow out) or copious runny phlegm. For yellow or

green phlegm add Goldenseal and Chinese Skullcap.

Commentary: Yerba Mansa challenges Golden Seal as a strong antibacterial

though it is not a substitute for Golden Seal. Golden Seal is cold in nature

and Yerba Mansa is warm. This is an important distinction and should not be

overlooked. As an antibacterial Yerba Mansa works best when the origin of

the infection and inflammation is from a cold induced disorder, meaning that

although there may be inflammation and infection present the origin of the

disorder is cold. Disorders such as influenza and pneumonia, which began as

Tai Yang or Greater Yang Disease pattern are those indicated. When the

disorder is heat induced, symptoms such as sore throat, fever, thirst,

cough, red tipped tongue and a floating and rapid pulse this herb is not so

effective as a simple, although will be helpful.

When used with the appropriate herbs Yerba Mansa can be put into a formula

and used for its antibacterial properties but we should keep in mind its

warming energy.

It is very useful for wind conditions. It effects the upper part of the body

most profoundly and thus is used for rhinitis and sinusitis. It scatters

wind and transforms dampness. It can be used in both chronic and acute

stages and is particularly helpful when there is headache associated with

the condition.

For millennia the Native Americans have treated rheumatism and arthritis

with Yerba Mansa. It is most useful when the condition is made worse by damp

and cold conditions. The plant is an antiinflammatory but remember that it

is warm in nature and so it's action as an antiinflammatory is via moving

(and to a certain extent astringing) not cooling. This means that the

inflammation is caused by stagnation resulting from a cold and damp

condition. When the stagnation is broken and the qi and blood are allowed to

move through the area, the inflammation will subside. It combines well with

California Figwort, California Peony, Sierra Angelica and Asarum for such

conditions. If the condition is caused by heat the Sierra Angelica and

Asarum can be reduced and Explorer's Gentian can be added. It can also be

made into an external preparation as an antiinflammatory to be applied to

the affected area.

Yerba Mansa's antibacterial and antifungal properties are very strong and

this herb is indispensable in the pharmacy. Used as an external preparation

this plant shows significant potential in the treatment of various

conditions including fungal infections of the foot, vaginal infections, and

nail fungus.

 

 

 

 

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