A Medicinal Marvel

The Benefits of Creosote Bush Text by Jim Shephard Photo and Watercolor by Nathalie Aall Scientific Illustrator and Biologist, Nathalie Aall, mixes biology and art to communicate the importance and beauty of the natural world. She water colored this beautiful botanical illustration of a Creosote Bush. Visit her website to view other breathtaking examples of other beautiful specimens at www.aallformsoflife.com and follow her on Instagram @aallformsoflife. Jim Shepherd, a Certified Interpretive Guide, has been leading Arboretum tours for the past 4 ½ years specializing in medicinal/edible plants during this time. As a “medicinal plant specialist” conducting walks on the park’s Curandera trail, he details native community uses, plant characteristics, harvesting times and methods, collection techniques, and uses in teas, tinctures, or salves. Additionally, Jim invites park guests to discover these plants with sample tastes of prickly pear, agave, and mesquite. F or a visitor from an area of tall oaks, maples, and elms, coming to the Sonoran Desert for the first time can be a real shock. The parched l a n d s c a p e appears to be a vast, expansive wasteland. For those of us who different picture. The desert contains an infinite diversity of species of plants, many of which are medicinal. One such plant that provides a multitude of curative benefits is the creosote bush, also known as chaparral or greasewood. This scraggy, hardy bush grows on desert floors up to an estimated 4000-foot elevation across portions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It can also be found here at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It is one of the best antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant medicinal botanicals to be found under the earth's skies. Native American desert call our arid lands communities have used it for thousands of home, we see a years. In his book "Free Food and Medicine," 10 | Boyce Thompson Arboretum | Fall 2019

Markus Rothkranz reports the creosote's healing properties are significant enough to affect the cellular level. It is known to be effective against some forms of cancer.

Creosote bush, if used as a salve on cuts and bruises, inhibits bacterial development according to Michael Moore's book "Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West." The plant in a tincture (a combination of glycerin, alcohol, and water in an adequate number In his book "Gathering the Desert," author Gary Nabhan writes about the Cahuilla Indians of far southern California. They used this medicinal plant for colds, chest congestion and infections, stomach cramps with delayed menstruation, nausea, and constipation, including diabetes. Creosote bush is also essential to the Pima and Tohono O'odham tribes. Applied as an oil, it can heal cracked skin, cracked finger and toenails, and scalp problems. The Cahuillas place branches over a fire in a smokehouse and steam it for its benefits. Creosote bush is the oldest plant in the desert, surpassing the saguaro and even competing with bristlecone and the sequoia for top rank in age. One bush can easily be hundreds of years old. The parent plant sends out a root causing a genetic clone of itself to grow and eventually form a ring of plants in a circle the diameter of which can be up to 45 feet. One plant known as "King Clone" near Old Woman Springs in California has been carbon-dated to be 10,000 to 13,000 years old. of drops from an eyedropper into water) can provide benefits to ailing liver function. While this botanical can be made into a tea, its taste is so terrible it is impossible to get it past your gullet. You will rarely see desert animals grazing on its leaves and stems. Taken orally it is best to use in powder form in gel caps and down the hatch. Creosote bush combines well with certain other botanicals increasing its effectiveness against joint pain, allergies, and autoimmune

" Creosote bush combines well with certain other botanicals increasing its effectiveness against joint pain, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. ”

diseases. The plant can be harvested year-round, but it is best selected for its highest potency in springtime. If many of the small bright, yellow flower petals have turned backward, it means the bush has been pollinated. Select another bush. Clip the end of the branch stems, including the leaves and flowers. Dry the collection in a brown paper bag and place in a cool, dry place (not your refrigerator). Process the plant using a Mason jar or another similar container, placing the dried clippings in vegetable oil, water, or Everclear. Use good land stewardship in harvesting and make sure you have the right permits or permission to do so. Consult with your doctor before using any botanical.

Not only does creosote bush offer medicinal benefits, but it is also an excellent aromatic. Ever go outside right after a rain and realize how clean the air smells? Say thanks to the creosote bush. You would never realize gazing across desert lands that within grows a botanical that serves as a natural pharmaceutical. Creosote bush is an amazing plant with a multitude of medicinal benefits.