Osha
- For the U.S. government agency, see Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- For the European Agency, see European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, (OSHA).
| Osha | ||||||||||||||
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| Ligusticum porteri Coult. & Rose |
Osha (Ligusticum porteri) is a perennial herb used for its medicinal properties. Osha grows in parts of the Rocky Mountains especially in the North American Southwest.
L. porteri (Osha) root or L. wallichii (Ligusticum) root can be steeped in ethanol (whisky, vodka, etc.) for at least a month. The resulting tincture is an effective, albeit pungent, liniment for sore muscles that can be stored (in a cool place) indefinitely.
Synonymy
Osha is also known by the following names:
- Osha root, Porter's Lovage, Porter's Licorice-root, Lovage, Wild Lovage, Porter's Wild Lovage, Loveroot, Porter's Ligusticum, Bear Medicine, Bear Root, Colorado Cough Root, Indian Root, Indian Parsley, Wild Parsley, Mountain Ginseng, Mountain Carrot, Nipo, Empress Of The Dark Forest, Chuchupate, Chuchupati, Chuchupaste, Chuchupatle, Guariaca, Hierba del cochino, Raíz del cochino, Washía (tarahumara), Yerba de cochino
In the Jicarilla language, osha is called ha’ich’idéé. The White Mountain Apache (WMA)call it '"Ha 'il chii' gah".
Osha is still commonly used widely by the Apaches and other native tribes. According to WMA Elders, they would use it as a snake and insect repellant:It has a strong smell. Apaches use this herb to aid in the curing of common colds, sore throats, cough, sinusitis, and other side effects of the winter season.
It is said that when put in water over your woodstove, it will help in keeping you immune in winter times.