Sagebrush, Big Essential Oil (Artemisia tridentata)

Please note that the amount of camphor found in Sagebrush is about the same amount of camphor as rosemary camphor chemotype, which has no contraindications in Essential Oil Safety. However, it is worth taking note that camphor is known to cross the skin, mucous membranes, and the placenta barrier.

Sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata)is an evergreen bush that varies in size depending on rainfall and soil conditions. In ideal conditions the plant will reach nine to 10 feet in height, but three to four feet is more common. The trunk of Sagebrush is thick, woody, and older plants are often covered by a grayish-brown stringy bark. The leaves are wedge shaped and typically have three blunt teeth however sometimes they have four to nine teeth and occasionally are completely lacking teeth. In the fall, the small yellow flowers form in panicles at branch ends. Sagebrush is a prolific seeder.   Found in Southern British Columbia, Alberta, South Dakota south to the Rocky Mountains, New Mexico, central Arizona and California. In fact, a dozen species of Sagebrush grow in New Mexico’s Pueblo Province.

This plant is multi-faceted. The whole plant is strongly antimicrobial and has been used for ages in first aid, disinfectant and cleansing wash from the prehistoric Anasazis to the present day Paiutes and Oregon farmers. Many people used the smoke of burning leaves or the steam rising from moist Sagebrush on coals to cleanse the air of pestilence and spirits of the dead (Moore, 1989).     The natives of the Southwest (U.S.) have long used Sagebrush in various preparations. How it is prepared really is what defines the usage as seen in the following examples.  Inhaling Sagebrush vapor from a pot of simmering tea is beneficial for pulmonary issues as well as a sore throat. A poultice applied to the back and chest is helpful to speed up recovery from bronchitis and the flu.  Steeped oil can be applied to arthritic joints, sprains and strains to reduce inflammation and pain.  Because the leaves are substantially antibacterial and antifungal, the tea, poultice, powder and steeped oil are all effective for any skin or orifice infections.   As a tea, Sagebrush is an aromatic bitter. It is stimulating to hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen, and other gut secretions. This makes the tea beneficial to the body’s digestive process for some people.  In addition, the cold tea is a diuretic and the hot tea is diaphoretic.