Six Medicinal Plants that are Native to Texas

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Six Medicinal Plants that are Native to TexasC H E R Y L H A M I L T O N

Six Medicinal Plants that are Native to Texas

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Elderberry is a tall shrub that is found throughout the central and eastern parts of Texas. The shrub produces an abundant supply of fruit. Elderber-ry prefers moist soils and low, wet places. It is often found along the sides of permanent streams and rivers as well as forest margins and bottom-lands. Its blue-black fruits can be eaten fresh or dried for future use.

Elderberry is used for a variety of medicinal purposes. The flowers and leaves can be used as a tea to break a dry fever and as a low-level antiviral.

Elderberry syrup is used as a cold and flu remedy. Ripe elderberries are high in vitamin A and C and are a good source of calcium, iron, sterols and flavonoids. Elderberries have twice the vitamin C of oranges and three times the antioxidants of blueberries. They are nutritional powerhouses marked by high levels of anthocyanins, which is known to improve im-mune function. It is possible that some of the berries’ medicinal qualities are enhanced by fermentation.

Common Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, subspecies canadensis)

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Dried leaves can be used as a poultice for sore joints, sores and tumors. The berry juice made into a salve aids burns and scalds. The flowers contain tannins, which explains its traditional use to reduce bleeding, diarrhea and congestion.

The unripe fruit, twigs and roots of the elderberry are toxic. The ripe fruit bothers some people.

Interesting facts: The history of Elderberry dates as far back as 400 BC, when Hippocrates, the “Father of Medi-cine,” called the elder tree “nature’s medicine chest.”

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Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

Yaupon holly is a slow-growing evergreen woody shrub or small tree that is found primarily in the southeastern parts of Texas along the edges of woods, bottomlands and among coastal dunes. It is also found on stream banks, in wet woodlands and floodplains. Yaupon holly is North America’s version of Yerba Mate.

Dried or lightly roasted leaves can be made into a stimulating tea. The leaves contain 1% to 1.5% caffeine. The tea can ward off fatigue and is a

mild cerebral/cardiovascular stimulant. Yaupon is a good source of flavo-noid antioxidants, and it makes a wonderful general health drink when used in moderation. Too much tea may cause gastrointestinal upset. The yellow to bright red fruit is bitter and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

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Interesting facts: Texas can boast of being the source of the first reference by a European to the use of yaupon tea. The Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca reported that the Karankawa, who lived along the Texas coast, drank a tea from yaupon holly leaves.

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More than a dozen species of Prickly pear exist in Texas. The majority of the species are found in West Texas.

The blooms, fruit, seed and entire plant can be eaten. The blooms, pads and fruits are high in calcium and potassium as well as vitamins A and C.

All parts of the plant will lower cholesterol and blood sugar and are useful in controlling or preventing adult-onset diabetes. The pads (nopales) are

useful in preventing diet-related cardiovascular disease as well as protect-ing the male prostate gland.

The fresh inner pad can be used as a topical healing agent for burns, scrapes and stings. The mature pads can be used as a poultice and antiseptic for wounds. Other uses include placing pieces of a pad on mouth sores, aching teeth or infected gums.The flowers create a lovely, tart tea with antibacte-rial and anti-inflammatory effects.

Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.)

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Be sure to remove the thorns and abundant tiny thorns (glochids) from the outer fruit/pad skin before eaten. Excessive consumption may cause digestive upset.

Interesting facts: Splotches of white cottony fungus found on prickly pear pads are the soft, waxy webs of the females of a scale insect called cochineal that feeds on the plants. These insects produce carminic acid. When the white cottony material is rubbed between one’s fin-gers, a dazzling red color emerges. An ounce of the dried insect will dye a pound of wool.

This dye was used for centuries in Atzec robes and the robes of European royalty. It has been used for the redcoats of the British Regulars and the jackets of Canadian Mounties. When this dye was exported by the Spaniards to Europe, it was almost as valuable as gold and silver.

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Turk’s Cap: (Malvaviscus arboreus)

Turk’s cap is a medium-size perennial shrub that is most prevalent in the Coastal Plain region of Texas. It tends to grow wild along the sides of streams and creeks. Tea made from Turk’s cap flowers may be used to treat coughs and urinary irritability. The leaf poultice is emollient and can be used to address superficial skin redness and inflammation. Its flowers are used medicinally to promote menstrual flow. The flowers are high in antioxidants.

The flowers, fruits and young leaves of Turk’s Cap may be eaten raw or cooked. They

are high in calcium and vitamins A and C.

Interesting facts: Children like to pluck Turk’s cap flowers and suck the sweet nectar from the base of the petals. One of its Spanish names is Manzanilla, because its small, mealy red fruit sort of tastes like apples.

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Passionflower is found in a variety of environments in the Eastern and southern re-gions of Texas including creek bottoms and high, rocky ravines. The climbing vines are most commonly found on shrubs and trees. The fruit of the passionflower is high in potassium, niacin, vitamin A and vitamin C. Passionflower is best known as a central nervous system sedative and the tincture or tea can be useful for mild insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations (from emotional stress) and spastic cough.

Passionflower: (Passiflora incarnata, affinis, foetida and others)

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Interesting facts: The “passion” in Passionflower refers to the passion of Jesus in Christian theology. Spanish missionaries observed that the various flower parts resembled the crucifixion of Jesus.

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Mesquite is a thorny, small, hardy Texas tree that is extremely adaptable to various habitats. It may be found in dry plains, scrub and grassland drainages. It reaches its greatest size in rich bottomland near streams.

The tree produces narrow, tan legume pods 4 to 10 inches long. The pods may be eaten after they have ripened fully and have become dry and brittle. Pods should only be harvested from the tree before rainfall and not from the ground, as they mold quickly and can become cov-

ered with a toxic fungus.

Mesquite beans are stabilizing to blood sugar levels. Recent research indicates that eating mesquite pods lowers blood glucose, insulin and cholesterol concentrations.

Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) The beans are also rich in calcium, iron and other minerals. Mesquite meal has popular in health food stores for its nutritional value and delicious flavor.

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Sucking on hardened sap nodules will provide relief of gastritis/heartburn. These sap nodules may also be made into a weak eyewash for eye inflammation.

Juice from the leaves can treat pinkeye and eye infections as well as treating acid stomach.

Native Americans boiled the inner bark in water to give to newborns and treated diarrhea

with an infusion of mesquite roots or gum. Both mesquite gum and powdered mesquite bark have antiseptic qualities.

Interesting facts: Mesquite firewood is a favorite for grilling meat and vegetables and for firing pottery. Wood workers prize the wood for tool handles and carvings. The sap can be dissolved directly onto the tongue as a traditional candy.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Please do not use any plant if uncertain of its identity.

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Cheryl Hamilton retired from a 38-year career in education in 2009. and received her certification as a Texas Master Naturalist in 2007 and has contributed more than 6,500 volunteer hours in Texas in the areas of native and invasive plants. She has trained citizen scientists to identify invasive plants and has presented more than 100 local, state and national workshops teaching adults about native and invasive plants in Texas.In 2010, Hamilton co-founded a group of citizen scientists who volunteer weekly to eradicate invasive plants and restore local habitats. This group has received several statewide awards.

She is a citizen scientist with the Invaders of Texas program, an instructor for the Native Plant Society of Texas and a Certified Interpretive Guide with the National Association for Interpretation. In 2015, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama for her lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.

She has been practicing Buddhism since 2003, and received Jukai lay ordination from the Order of the Morningstar Sangha in 2015. She has participated in Treasury of Knowledge retreats, offered through CRC, and follows Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche online and through extensive dharma readings.

CHERYL HAMILTON

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