by Eric Yarnell, ND, RH(AHG)
Last updated 22 Jan 2022
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Table of Contents
Clinical Highlights
These herbs are a highly versatile and effective antimicrobial that is also immunostimulating.
Oshá is used primary for patients with acute respiratory tract infections.
Oshá has been poorly researched yet is revered in traditional medicine.
This herb has minimal to no toxicity (rare individuals can develop photosensitive rashes).
Ligusticum porteri is somewhat environmentally challenged, so only products made from sustainably-harvested sources should be used.
Oshá is used primary for patients with acute respiratory tract infections.
Oshá has been poorly researched yet is revered in traditional medicine.
This herb has minimal to no toxicity (rare individuals can develop photosensitive rashes).
Ligusticum porteri is somewhat environmentally challenged, so only products made from sustainably-harvested sources should be used.
Clinical Fundamentals
Principal Species Covered:
Part Used: the fresh root is preferred. Properly dried root retains some potency.
Taste: Pungent, "celery on steroids." Difficult to mask in formula, but other pungent herbs such as Zingiber officinale (ginger) are more effective corrigents than sweet-tasting herbs.
Major Actions:
A methanol extract of the related species Ligusticum mutellina (alpine motherwort), which is native to the mountains of western Europe, was most effectively antimicrobial against Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida spp (Sieniawska, et al. 2013).
Major Organ System Affinities
Major Indications:
Major Constituents:
Note that over 34,000 different compounds have been detected in Ligusticum canbyi (Turi and Murch 2013). Ligusticum grayi roots have been shown to contain a wide range of irregular sesquiterpenoids (Cool, et al. 2010).
(Z)-Ligustilide and related phthalides are also found in substantial quantities in Angelica sinensis (當歸 dāng guī) root (Lin, et al. 1998).
Adverse Effects: Digestive upset can occasionally occur, and is easily avoided if the herb is taken with a little food. There is a very slight risk that this herb can cause what appears to be a photosensitivity or hypersensitivity rash. The features of this rash, controversies about it, and other details are discussed in the monograph on Lomatium dissectum. A crude extract of L. porteri was not genotoxic in Drosophila (Castañeda Sortibrán, et al. 2011). The LD50 of L. porteri methanol-methyl chloride root extract in mice was ~1 g/kg (Déciga-Campos, et al. 2007).
Contraindications: This herb is traditionally considered a moderate emmenagogue and is not recommended in early pregnancy. In the late second and throughout the third trimester, it should be safe for short-term (<5 days) use for acute respiratory infections. It is not recommended for use in patients with menorrhagia.
Drug Interactions: As this herbs appears, empirically, to be immunostimulating, it may, theoretically, interfere with immunosuppressive drugs. This has not been studied and there are no published reports of any such interaction, but it is most prudent for patents with autoimmune conditions or with organ transplants to avoid these herbs until more information is available.
- Ligusticum porteri (oshá)
- Ligusticum grayi (Gray's licorice root, oshala)
- Ligusticum canbyi (Canby's lovage, Canby's licorice root)
- Ligusticum striatrum = L. wallichii (川芎 chuān xiōng): covered in a separate section below
Part Used: the fresh root is preferred. Properly dried root retains some potency.
Taste: Pungent, "celery on steroids." Difficult to mask in formula, but other pungent herbs such as Zingiber officinale (ginger) are more effective corrigents than sweet-tasting herbs.
Major Actions:
- Antimicrobial
- Immunostimulant (Nguyen, et al. 2016)
- Inflammation modulating (probably)
A methanol extract of the related species Ligusticum mutellina (alpine motherwort), which is native to the mountains of western Europe, was most effectively antimicrobial against Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida spp (Sieniawska, et al. 2013).
Major Organ System Affinities
- Respiratory Tract
Major Indications:
- Upper and lower respiratory infections
- Gastrointestinal infections
Major Constituents:
- (Z)-Ligustilide and related phthalide lactones (León, et al. 2017; Turi and Murch 2013)
- Furanocoumarins
Note that over 34,000 different compounds have been detected in Ligusticum canbyi (Turi and Murch 2013). Ligusticum grayi roots have been shown to contain a wide range of irregular sesquiterpenoids (Cool, et al. 2010).
(Z)-Ligustilide and related phthalides are also found in substantial quantities in Angelica sinensis (當歸 dāng guī) root (Lin, et al. 1998).
Adverse Effects: Digestive upset can occasionally occur, and is easily avoided if the herb is taken with a little food. There is a very slight risk that this herb can cause what appears to be a photosensitivity or hypersensitivity rash. The features of this rash, controversies about it, and other details are discussed in the monograph on Lomatium dissectum. A crude extract of L. porteri was not genotoxic in Drosophila (Castañeda Sortibrán, et al. 2011). The LD50 of L. porteri methanol-methyl chloride root extract in mice was ~1 g/kg (Déciga-Campos, et al. 2007).
Contraindications: This herb is traditionally considered a moderate emmenagogue and is not recommended in early pregnancy. In the late second and throughout the third trimester, it should be safe for short-term (<5 days) use for acute respiratory infections. It is not recommended for use in patients with menorrhagia.
Drug Interactions: As this herbs appears, empirically, to be immunostimulating, it may, theoretically, interfere with immunosuppressive drugs. This has not been studied and there are no published reports of any such interaction, but it is most prudent for patents with autoimmune conditions or with organ transplants to avoid these herbs until more information is available.
Pharmacy Essentials
Tincture: 1:2–1:3 w:v ratio, 60–70% ethanol
Dose:
Acute, adult: 1–3 ml q2–3h, adjusted for body size and sensitivities, until symptoms significantly subside, then qid until symptoms are completely gone
Chronic, adult: 1–2 ml tid (not typically used chronically)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Glycerite: surprisingly, given the chemistry of this plant, it seems to work well as a 75%+ vegetable glycerin extract. Dose it the same as the tincture, or slightly higher.
Decoction: 2–3 g (1 heaping tsp) of root simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
Dose:
Acute adult: 1 cup q2–3h until symptoms significantly subside, then qid until symptoms are completely gone
Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid (generally not necessary)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Capsules: these are not widely available, and their shelf life is likely under 1 year.
Dose:
Acute, adult: 1–2 g per dose, otherwise dosed as with acute tincture
Chronic, adult: 1–2 g tid (not usually taken chronically)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
Dose:
Acute, adult: 1–3 ml q2–3h, adjusted for body size and sensitivities, until symptoms significantly subside, then qid until symptoms are completely gone
Chronic, adult: 1–2 ml tid (not typically used chronically)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Glycerite: surprisingly, given the chemistry of this plant, it seems to work well as a 75%+ vegetable glycerin extract. Dose it the same as the tincture, or slightly higher.
Decoction: 2–3 g (1 heaping tsp) of root simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
Dose:
Acute adult: 1 cup q2–3h until symptoms significantly subside, then qid until symptoms are completely gone
Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid (generally not necessary)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Capsules: these are not widely available, and their shelf life is likely under 1 year.
Dose:
Acute, adult: 1–2 g per dose, otherwise dosed as with acute tincture
Chronic, adult: 1–2 g tid (not usually taken chronically)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
Other Names
Ligusticum porteri JM Coult et Rose:
Latin synonym: L. breviflobum Rydb
Ligusticum is derived from the Greek ligustikon, the name for an umbelliferous plant of the Mediterranean region, while porteri is named in honor of the American botanist Thomas Conrad Porter (1822–1901), who co-authored the first Colorado flora.
English Common Names: oshá (pronounced "o-SHAW" not "O-shuh"), Porter's lovage, Porter's licorice root, Indian parsley, Colorado cough root, bear root, bear medicine
Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
Akimel O'odham (Mountain Piman, Uto-Aztecan): payihosa
Akimel O'odham (Gila River Piman, Uto-Aztecan): jujubáádi
Hopilàvayi (Hopi, Uto-Aztecan): honngaapi ("bear root")
Núu-'apaghapi (Ute, Uto-Aztecan): kwiyag'atʉ tʉkapi ("bear root")
Rarámuri ra'ícha (Tarahumara, Uto-Aztecan): chuchupate, wasía (a term related to mother's milk)
Ndee biyáti' (Western Apache, Athabaskan): ha 'il chii' gah
Lakȟótiyapi (Lakota, Siouan): mato tapejuta ("bear medicine")
Shiwi'ma (Zuñi, isolate): kwimi dechi (literally "smelly root")
Spanish Common Names: chuchupate, chuchupati, chuchupaste, chuchupatle, guariaca, hierba del cochino, yerba de cochino, raíz del cochino, osha
Ligusticum grayi JM Coult et Rose
Named after American botanist Asa Gray (1810–1888).
English Common Names: Gray's lovage, oshala, Gray's licorice root, sheep wild lovage, kishwoof
Native American Common Names:
ís siwa wáó disi (Achuwami, proposed Hokan family): ql̓i (Nevin 2020)
Atsugé (Atsugewi, proposed Hokan family): bóhom ("wild parsley" from Garth 1953, may be L. grayi), probably the same as póxóm given by Olmsted 1984 as "poison hemlock" (but they appear similar and so there may have been confusion in the name)
Ligusticum canbyi JM Coult et Rose
Named after American banker, philanthropist, and botanist William Marriott Canby Sr (1831–1904).
Latin synonyms: Ligusticum caeruleomontanum H St John, Ligusticum leibergii JM Coult et Rose
English Common Names: Canby's lovage, Canby's licorice root
Latin synonym: L. breviflobum Rydb
Ligusticum is derived from the Greek ligustikon, the name for an umbelliferous plant of the Mediterranean region, while porteri is named in honor of the American botanist Thomas Conrad Porter (1822–1901), who co-authored the first Colorado flora.
English Common Names: oshá (pronounced "o-SHAW" not "O-shuh"), Porter's lovage, Porter's licorice root, Indian parsley, Colorado cough root, bear root, bear medicine
Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
Akimel O'odham (Mountain Piman, Uto-Aztecan): payihosa
Akimel O'odham (Gila River Piman, Uto-Aztecan): jujubáádi
Hopilàvayi (Hopi, Uto-Aztecan): honngaapi ("bear root")
Núu-'apaghapi (Ute, Uto-Aztecan): kwiyag'atʉ tʉkapi ("bear root")
Rarámuri ra'ícha (Tarahumara, Uto-Aztecan): chuchupate, wasía (a term related to mother's milk)
Ndee biyáti' (Western Apache, Athabaskan): ha 'il chii' gah
Lakȟótiyapi (Lakota, Siouan): mato tapejuta ("bear medicine")
Shiwi'ma (Zuñi, isolate): kwimi dechi (literally "smelly root")
Spanish Common Names: chuchupate, chuchupati, chuchupaste, chuchupatle, guariaca, hierba del cochino, yerba de cochino, raíz del cochino, osha
Ligusticum grayi JM Coult et Rose
Named after American botanist Asa Gray (1810–1888).
English Common Names: Gray's lovage, oshala, Gray's licorice root, sheep wild lovage, kishwoof
Native American Common Names:
ís siwa wáó disi (Achuwami, proposed Hokan family): ql̓i (Nevin 2020)
Atsugé (Atsugewi, proposed Hokan family): bóhom ("wild parsley" from Garth 1953, may be L. grayi), probably the same as póxóm given by Olmsted 1984 as "poison hemlock" (but they appear similar and so there may have been confusion in the name)
Ligusticum canbyi JM Coult et Rose
Named after American banker, philanthropist, and botanist William Marriott Canby Sr (1831–1904).
Latin synonyms: Ligusticum caeruleomontanum H St John, Ligusticum leibergii JM Coult et Rose
English Common Names: Canby's lovage, Canby's licorice root
Interchangeability of Species
Here Ligusticum porteri (oshá), L. grayi (Gray's licorice root), and L. canbyi (Canby's lovage) are considered interchangeable. All three are certainly revered by the indigenous people where they are native. Some state that L. porteri is superior to the other, but there is no clear basis for such a statement. Based on having used all three clinically, the author finds them similar in their activity and potency. There are of course no comparative clinical trials to give guidance. According to some texts, L. filicinum (fernleaf biscuit root) is also used in a similar way (Cook 1896). L. californicum (California wild lovage, California licorice root) is yet another alternative.
Lomatium dissectum (desert parsley) and Osmorhiza occidentalis (western sweet cicely) are also very similar in their properties to this herb, and the author has found them fairly interchangeable.
The author recommends using whichever species is found closest and most sustainably to the prescriber, rather than the most popular one.
Lomatium dissectum (desert parsley) and Osmorhiza occidentalis (western sweet cicely) are also very similar in their properties to this herb, and the author has found them fairly interchangeable.
The author recommends using whichever species is found closest and most sustainably to the prescriber, rather than the most popular one.
Advanced Clinical Information
Additional Actions:
In vitro, a methylene chloride extract of the seeds of L. hultenii was antifungal, as was (Z)-ligustilide in isolation (Meepagala, et al. 2005).
L. porteri has snown no antineoplastic activity in vitro (Nguyen, et al. 2017; Daniels, et al. 2006).
Additional Indications:
While L. porteri is not traditionally used for cardiovascular conditions, the traditional Chinese uses of L.striatum for such and the chemical similarity between the two strongly argues that osá may be effective in this realm.
- Antiatherosclerotic
- Antifungal (Meepagala, et al. 2005)
- Anti-nociceptive (Juárez-Reyes, et al. 2014; Déciga-Campos, et al. 2005)
- Carminative
- Expectorant
- Gastroprotective, anti-ulcer, including against alcohol and indomethacin (Pineda-Peña, et al. 2019; Velázquez-Moyado, et al. 2018 and 2015)
- α-Glucosidase inhibiting (Mata, et al. 2013; Brindis, et al. 2011)
- Spasmolytic (León, et al. 2011)
- Sedative (León, et al. 2011)
In vitro, a methylene chloride extract of the seeds of L. hultenii was antifungal, as was (Z)-ligustilide in isolation (Meepagala, et al. 2005).
L. porteri has snown no antineoplastic activity in vitro (Nguyen, et al. 2017; Daniels, et al. 2006).
Additional Indications:
- Pneumonia
- Dyspepsia
- Nausea
While L. porteri is not traditionally used for cardiovascular conditions, the traditional Chinese uses of L.striatum for such and the chemical similarity between the two strongly argues that osá may be effective in this realm.
Indication | Dose form | Culture and/or Region | Species | Citation |
Seizures | ? | Montana | Ligusticum canbyi | Hart 1992 |
URI, coughs | Chewed root, powdered root in hot water, poultice on chest or back | Atsugé (NE CA) | Ligusticum grayi | Garth 1953 |
Stomachache in children | Chewed root, powdered root in hot water | Atsugé (NE CA) | Ligusticum grayi | Garth 1953 |
Botanical Information
Botanical Description:
L. porteri: Perennial umbelliferous plant growing up to 1.3 m tall. The stem (which is hairless to pubescent) has no spots. There are 12–30 terminal rays, each 3.5–12 cm long. The tiny flowers are white and generally appear June–August. It has basal and cauline leaves that are alternate, compound, up to 30 cm long, and 3–4 times ternate-pinnate; the ultimate leaflets are up to 8 mm wide. Basal leaves are born on petioles up to 32 cm long, while the cauline leaves are sessile or near sessile. The fruit is oblong, cylindrical, or sometimes flattened, up to 8 mm long, hairless with narrow ribs. A fibrous root crown is generally present. Taproot exudes distinct strong celery odor and is covered with small root hairs.
L. grayi: Perennial umbelliferous plant growing 0.2–0.6 m (approximately 1–1.5 feet) tall. It has 7–14 rays (each 2–3.5 cm long) in its terminal umbels. The hairless stem has no spots. Leaves are mostly basal (at most 1–2 greatly reduced stem leaves), compound, dissected, and ternate or ternate-pinnate (with ultimate leaflets up to 3 cm long) with sheathing leaf bases. The flowers are carried in umbels, white to light red in color, without involucres. The glabrous fruits are laterally flattened and broadly elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 5–6.6 mm long, 8–12 oil tubes, with a prominent ribs and stylopodium. The taproots smell very strongly of celery and have no hollow chambers.
L. canbyi: The perennial herb grows up to 1.2 m tall. It has 15–40 rays in its terminal umbels, each 2.5–5 cm long. It has tiny white flowers without involucres. The hairless stem has no spots. The leaves are mostly basal, though there is always at least one developed stem leaf, and pinnately divided 2–3 times, with the ultimately leaflets up to 5 cm long and 4 cm wide, and can be toothed or finely divided. The fruit is oblong or elliptic, up to 6 mm long, hairless, with narrow ribs/wings. The tap root is pleasantly celery-scented and without hollow chambers.
Native range:
L. porteri: Found in ID, NV, WY, UT, CO, AZ, and NM. It is considered overall vulnerable, and imperiled specifically in WY, by NatureServe (as of Jan 2022).
L. grayi: It is generally found in meadows or at the edges of woodlands on mountain slopes in BC, WA (Cascade and Olympic Mountains, eastern WA), OR, CA, ID, NV, MT, WY, and is considered critically imperiled in UT according to NatureServe (as of Jan 2022).
L. canbyi: It is found in BC, AB, WA (Cascade Mountains and eastern WA only), OR, ID, MT, and NV, and is considered imperiled in WY according to NatureServe (as of Jan 2022).
L. porteri: Perennial umbelliferous plant growing up to 1.3 m tall. The stem (which is hairless to pubescent) has no spots. There are 12–30 terminal rays, each 3.5–12 cm long. The tiny flowers are white and generally appear June–August. It has basal and cauline leaves that are alternate, compound, up to 30 cm long, and 3–4 times ternate-pinnate; the ultimate leaflets are up to 8 mm wide. Basal leaves are born on petioles up to 32 cm long, while the cauline leaves are sessile or near sessile. The fruit is oblong, cylindrical, or sometimes flattened, up to 8 mm long, hairless with narrow ribs. A fibrous root crown is generally present. Taproot exudes distinct strong celery odor and is covered with small root hairs.
L. grayi: Perennial umbelliferous plant growing 0.2–0.6 m (approximately 1–1.5 feet) tall. It has 7–14 rays (each 2–3.5 cm long) in its terminal umbels. The hairless stem has no spots. Leaves are mostly basal (at most 1–2 greatly reduced stem leaves), compound, dissected, and ternate or ternate-pinnate (with ultimate leaflets up to 3 cm long) with sheathing leaf bases. The flowers are carried in umbels, white to light red in color, without involucres. The glabrous fruits are laterally flattened and broadly elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 5–6.6 mm long, 8–12 oil tubes, with a prominent ribs and stylopodium. The taproots smell very strongly of celery and have no hollow chambers.
L. canbyi: The perennial herb grows up to 1.2 m tall. It has 15–40 rays in its terminal umbels, each 2.5–5 cm long. It has tiny white flowers without involucres. The hairless stem has no spots. The leaves are mostly basal, though there is always at least one developed stem leaf, and pinnately divided 2–3 times, with the ultimately leaflets up to 5 cm long and 4 cm wide, and can be toothed or finely divided. The fruit is oblong or elliptic, up to 6 mm long, hairless, with narrow ribs/wings. The tap root is pleasantly celery-scented and without hollow chambers.
Native range:
L. porteri: Found in ID, NV, WY, UT, CO, AZ, and NM. It is considered overall vulnerable, and imperiled specifically in WY, by NatureServe (as of Jan 2022).
L. grayi: It is generally found in meadows or at the edges of woodlands on mountain slopes in BC, WA (Cascade and Olympic Mountains, eastern WA), OR, CA, ID, NV, MT, WY, and is considered critically imperiled in UT according to NatureServe (as of Jan 2022).
L. canbyi: It is found in BC, AB, WA (Cascade Mountains and eastern WA only), OR, ID, MT, and NV, and is considered imperiled in WY according to NatureServe (as of Jan 2022).
Harvest, Cultivation, and Ecology
Cultivation: Ligusticum spp have historically been difficult to grow; in fact, Michael Moore stated in the late 1970s that it was "almost impossible" (Moore 1979). Thankfully, he was wrong, and with a growing interest and focus in cultivating these precious medicinal plants, success has been achieved, though no on any large scale. Seeds require long stratification (over 10 weeks), particularly the farther north they come from, to get germination (Terrell and Fennell 2009).
Wildcrafting: It is generally recommended that harvest only occur in the fall, as this allows better identification of the plant in the wild. There are extremely dangerous members of the Apiaceae family that must not be mistaken for Ligusticum during harvesting, both for the safety of the harvester and anyone using the resulting medicine. Cicuta douglasii (western water hemlock) is particularly poisonous and must be carefully distinguished; it generally grows right next to or in standing water so it is unlikely to be confused with Ligusticum, but the results of such a mix-up could be catastrophic.
Extensive research by Dr. Kelly Kindscher, et al. from the University of Kansas in Colorado has shown that 33–66% of the mature population of L. porteri can be sustainable harvested every 10 yr (Kindscher, et al. 2019 and 2017). This was based on repeated analysis of different types of sites (undisturbed meadows, former burned sites, and forested sites) over many years showing no statistically-significant difference in the number of mature adults in each population over this time line. They actually found regeneration on a 5 year-time scale, but built in the 10 yr range to allow for ongoing climate change and to be conservative in ensuring the stability of this species. By intentionally leaving some rhizome pieces in the ground and avoiding harvesting any small individuals, it appears that wild oshá repopulates well in the wild. Of course habitat loss is also a concern, as humans continue to build roads, houses, cell phone towers, and other structures in ever more remote areas. Nevertheless, there are so many stands of oshá far away from any site humans are likely to be active it is unlikely the species would be driven to extinction.
There is no such research on wild harvesting of L. grayi or L. canbyi, but it is believed that following a similar plan should maintain wild populations.
Bears really do love and use Ligusticum spp.
Wildcrafting: It is generally recommended that harvest only occur in the fall, as this allows better identification of the plant in the wild. There are extremely dangerous members of the Apiaceae family that must not be mistaken for Ligusticum during harvesting, both for the safety of the harvester and anyone using the resulting medicine. Cicuta douglasii (western water hemlock) is particularly poisonous and must be carefully distinguished; it generally grows right next to or in standing water so it is unlikely to be confused with Ligusticum, but the results of such a mix-up could be catastrophic.
Extensive research by Dr. Kelly Kindscher, et al. from the University of Kansas in Colorado has shown that 33–66% of the mature population of L. porteri can be sustainable harvested every 10 yr (Kindscher, et al. 2019 and 2017). This was based on repeated analysis of different types of sites (undisturbed meadows, former burned sites, and forested sites) over many years showing no statistically-significant difference in the number of mature adults in each population over this time line. They actually found regeneration on a 5 year-time scale, but built in the 10 yr range to allow for ongoing climate change and to be conservative in ensuring the stability of this species. By intentionally leaving some rhizome pieces in the ground and avoiding harvesting any small individuals, it appears that wild oshá repopulates well in the wild. Of course habitat loss is also a concern, as humans continue to build roads, houses, cell phone towers, and other structures in ever more remote areas. Nevertheless, there are so many stands of oshá far away from any site humans are likely to be active it is unlikely the species would be driven to extinction.
There is no such research on wild harvesting of L. grayi or L. canbyi, but it is believed that following a similar plan should maintain wild populations.
Bears really do love and use Ligusticum spp.
Appendix: Chinese Lovage
Names
Ligusticum striatrum DC (川芎 chuān xiōng, Sichuan lovage)
Latin synonyms:
Cortia striata (Benth & Hook f) Leute
Laserpitium striatum Wall
Ligusticum chuanxiong SH Qiu, YQ Zeng, KY Pan, YC Tang & JM Xu
Ligusticum wallichii Franch
Oreocome striata (DC) Pimenov & Kljuykov
Pimpinella bengalensis H Wolff
Selinum striatum Benth ex CB Clarke
Selinum striatum Benth & Hook f
Latin synonyms:
Cortia striata (Benth & Hook f) Leute
Laserpitium striatum Wall
Ligusticum chuanxiong SH Qiu, YQ Zeng, KY Pan, YC Tang & JM Xu
Ligusticum wallichii Franch
Oreocome striata (DC) Pimenov & Kljuykov
Pimpinella bengalensis H Wolff
Selinum striatum Benth ex CB Clarke
Selinum striatum Benth & Hook f
Latin | Native Habitat |
Ligusticum striatum | Yunnan, Kashmir, Nepal |
Conioselinum anthriscoides | mountainous central China (Inner Mongolia to Yunnan) |
Conioselinum smithii | mountainous northeastern China (Hebei to Jilin) |
Traditional Chinese Medical View (Dharmananda 2002)
Energy: warm, acrid
TCM actions: activate Blood circulation, move stagnant Qi, dispel Wind and Cold, release the Exterior, alleviate pain
Channels Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium
Indications: headache, irregular menstruation, painful menstruation, upper abdominal pain, numbness of limbs, traumatic injury, sores, carbuncles, painful muscles and joints due to wind-damp
Ccontraindications: Yin deficiency with fire preponderance (menorrhagia, menstrual pain, or headaches)
Overdose: nausea, vomiting, dizziness. May inhibit platelet aggregation.
Harvest: summer when stem nodes are purple and swollen. Fibrous roots are removed.
TCM actions: activate Blood circulation, move stagnant Qi, dispel Wind and Cold, release the Exterior, alleviate pain
Channels Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium
Indications: headache, irregular menstruation, painful menstruation, upper abdominal pain, numbness of limbs, traumatic injury, sores, carbuncles, painful muscles and joints due to wind-damp
Ccontraindications: Yin deficiency with fire preponderance (menorrhagia, menstrual pain, or headaches)
Overdose: nausea, vomiting, dizziness. May inhibit platelet aggregation.
Harvest: summer when stem nodes are purple and swollen. Fibrous roots are removed.
Chinese Herbal Substitutes (Pu and Watson 2005)
Conioselinum anthriscoides (H Boissieu) Pimenov & Kljuykov (藁本 gǎo běn, Chinese lovage)
Latin synonyms:
Ligusticum sinense Oliv
Aegopodium anthriscoides (H Boissieu) H Boissieu
Carum anthriscoides H Boissieu
Conioselinum sinomedicum Pimenov & Kljuykov
Ligusticum harrysmithii M Hiroe
Ligusticum levistifolium H Wolff
Ligusticum markgrafianum Fedde ex H Wolff
Ligusticum pilgerianum Fedde ex H Wolff
Ligusticum silvaticum H Wolff
Conioselinum smithii (H Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov (辽藁本 liáo gǎo běn, Liaoning lovage)
Latin synonyms:
Ligusticum smithii H Wolff
Ligusticum jeholense (Nakai & Kitag) Nakai & Kitag
Cnidium jeholense Nakai & Kitag
Conioselinum jeholense (Nakai & Kitag) Pimen
Tilingia jeholensis (Nakai & Kitag) Leute
Ligusticum officinale (Makino) Kitag (藁本 gǎo běn, Chinese lovage)
Latin synonyms:
Cnidium officinale Makino
Angelica sinensis (Oliv) Diels (當歸, simplified 当归, dāng guī, dong quai)
Latin synonyms:
Ligusticum sinense Oliv
Aegopodium anthriscoides (H Boissieu) H Boissieu
Carum anthriscoides H Boissieu
Conioselinum sinomedicum Pimenov & Kljuykov
Ligusticum harrysmithii M Hiroe
Ligusticum levistifolium H Wolff
Ligusticum markgrafianum Fedde ex H Wolff
Ligusticum pilgerianum Fedde ex H Wolff
Ligusticum silvaticum H Wolff
Conioselinum smithii (H Wolff) Pimenov & Kljuykov (辽藁本 liáo gǎo běn, Liaoning lovage)
Latin synonyms:
Ligusticum smithii H Wolff
Ligusticum jeholense (Nakai & Kitag) Nakai & Kitag
Cnidium jeholense Nakai & Kitag
Conioselinum jeholense (Nakai & Kitag) Pimen
Tilingia jeholensis (Nakai & Kitag) Leute
Ligusticum officinale (Makino) Kitag (藁本 gǎo běn, Chinese lovage)
Latin synonyms:
Cnidium officinale Makino
Angelica sinensis (Oliv) Diels (當歸, simplified 当归, dāng guī, dong quai)
Western Medical Research
An extract of L. striatum inhibited fibrotic activity of rat hepatic stellate cells in vitro, as did Angelica sinensis (Chor, et al. 2005). Two subsequent trials have found that this herb and its phthalides are antifibrotic in rat hepatocytes (Lee, et al. 2007; Lin, et al. 2006).
L. striatum has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation (Yu, et al. 1987). An extract of this herb (as did an extract of Angelica sinensis) also inhibited vascular smooth muscle proliferation, possibly due to inhibiting nitric oxide synthesis (Hou, et al. 2005). Phthalides from L. striatum have been shown to decrease the size and damage of cerebral ischemia in rats (Tian, et al. 2005). A combination of L. striatum and Angelica sinensis protected endothelium against hydroen peroxide in part by inducing innate antioxidant defenses (Hou, et al. 2004).
L. striatum suppressed excessive inflammation triggered by influenza in vitro (Ko, et al. 2006).
A tincture of L. striatum inhibited Helicobacter pylori in vitro at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 60 mcg/ml (Li, et al. 2005).
L. striatum has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation (Yu, et al. 1987). An extract of this herb (as did an extract of Angelica sinensis) also inhibited vascular smooth muscle proliferation, possibly due to inhibiting nitric oxide synthesis (Hou, et al. 2005). Phthalides from L. striatum have been shown to decrease the size and damage of cerebral ischemia in rats (Tian, et al. 2005). A combination of L. striatum and Angelica sinensis protected endothelium against hydroen peroxide in part by inducing innate antioxidant defenses (Hou, et al. 2004).
L. striatum suppressed excessive inflammation triggered by influenza in vitro (Ko, et al. 2006).
A tincture of L. striatum inhibited Helicobacter pylori in vitro at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 60 mcg/ml (Li, et al. 2005).
References
Appelt GD (1985) "Pharmacological aspects of selected herbs employed in Hispanic folk medicine in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, USA: I. Ligusticum porteri (osha) and Matricaria chamomilla (manzanilla)" J Ethnopharmacol 13(1):51–55.
Brindis F, Rodríguez R, Bye R, González-Andrade M, Mata R (2011) "(Z)-3-butylidenephthalide from Ligusticum porteri, an α-glucosidase inhibitor" J Nat Prod 74(3):314–20.
Brounstein H (1993) "Ligusticum grayi Page" http://home.teleport.com/~howieb/treats/grayi.html [retrieved Sept 2005].
Castañeda Sortibrán A, Téllez MG, Ocotero VM, et al. (2011) "Chronic toxicity, genotoxic assay, and phytochemical analysis of four traditional medicinal plants" J Med Food 14(9):1018–22.
Cech R (2000) "New findings on germination of osha" United Plant Savers Newsletter, Fall. http://www.plantsavers.org/friends/UpS\_fall\_2000.pdf [retrieved March 2001].
Chor SY, Hui AY, To KF, et al. (2005) "Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of herbal medicine on hepatic stellate cell" J Ethnopharmacol 100(1–2):180–6.
Cook WH (1896) A Compend of the New Materia Medica Together With Additional Descriptions of Some Old Remedies (Chicago: Self-published).
Cool LG, Vermillion KE, Takeoka GR, Wong RY (2010) "Irregular sesquiterpenoids from Ligusticum grayi roots" Phytochemistry 71(13):1545–57.
Daniels AL, Van Slambrouck S, Lee RK, et al. (2006) "Effects of extracts from two Native American plants on proliferation of human breast and colon cancer cell lines in vitro" Oncol Rep 15(5):1327–31.
Dharmananda S (2002) "Ligusticum" Institute for Traditional Medicine, \url{www.itmo.org [retrieved March 2001].
Déciga-Campos M, González-Trujano E, Navarrete A, Mata R (2005) "Antinociceptive effect of selected Mexican traditional medicinal species" Proc West Pharmacol Soc 48:70–72.
Déciga-Campos M, Rivero-Cruz I, Arriaga-Alba M, et al. (2007) "Acute toxicity and mutagenic activity of Mexican plants used in traditional medicine" J Ethnopharmacol 110(2):334–42.
Felter HW, Lloyd JU (1898) King's American Dispensatory 18th ed (Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, reprinted 1983).
Garth T (1953) "Atsugewi ethnography" Anthropol Records 14(2):129–201.
Hart J (1979) "The ethnobotany of the Flathead Indians of western Montana" Botanical Museum Leaflets Harvard University 27(10):261-307.
Hou YZ, Zhao GR, Yang J, et al. (2004) "Protective effect of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis on endothelial cell damage induced by hydrogen peroxide" Life Sci 75(14):1775–86.
Hou YZ, Zhao GR, Yuan YJ, Zhu GG, Hiltunen R (2005) "Inhibition of rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis" J Ethnopharmacol 100(1-2):140–144.
Juárez-Reyes K, Angeles-López GE, Rivero-Cruz I, et al. (2014) "Antinociceptive activity of Ligusticum porteri preparations and compounds" Pharm Biol 52(1):14–20.
Kindscher K, Martin LM, Long Q. (2019) "The sustainable harvest of wild populations of oshá (Ligusticum porteri) in Southern Colorado for the herbal products trade" Econ Botany 73(3):341–56.
Kindscher K, Martin LM, Long Q, et al. (2017) "Harvesting and recolonization of wild populations of oshá (Ligusticum porteri) in Southern Colorado" Natural Areas J 37(2):178–87.
Ko HC, Wei BL, Chiou WF (2006) "The effect of medicinal plants used in Chinese folk medicine on RANTES secretion by virus-infected human epithelial cells" J Ethnopharmacol 107(2):205–10.
Lee TF, Lin YL, Huang YT (2007) "Studies on antiproliferative effects of phthalides from Ligusticum chuanxiong in hepatic stellate cells" Planta Med 73(6):527–34.
León A, Del-Ángel M, Ávila JL, Delgado G (2017) "Phthalides: Distribution in nature, chemical reactivity, synthesis, and biological activity" Prog Chem Org Nat Prod 104:127–246.
León A, Toscano RA, Tortoriello J, Delgado G (2011) "Phthalides and other constituents from Ligusticum porteri; sedative and spasmolytic activities of some natural products and derivatives" Nat Prod Res 25(13):1234–42.
Li Y, Xu C, Zhang Q, Liu JY, Tan RX (2005) "In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori action of 30 Chinese herbal medicines used to treat ulcer diseases" J Ethnopharmacol 98(3):329–33.
Lin LZ, He XG, Lian LZ, et al. (1998) "Liquid chromatographic-electrospray mass spectrometric study of the phthalides of Angelica sinensis and chemical changes of Z-ligustilide" J Chromatography A 810:71–79.
Lin YL, Lee TF, Huang YJ, Huang YT (2006) "Inhibitory effects of Ligusticum chuanxiong on the proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells" J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21(8):1257–65.
Mata R, Cristians S, Escandón-Rivera S, et al. (2013) "Mexican antidiabetic herbs: Valuable sources of inhibitors of α-glucosidases" J Nat Prod 76(3):468–83.
Meepagala KM, Sturtz G, Wedge DE, et al. (2005) "Phytotoxic and antifungal compounds from two Apiaceae species, Lomatium californicum and Ligusticum hultenii, rich sources of Z-ligustilide and apiol, respectively" J Chem Ecol 31:1567–78.
Moore M (1979) Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West (Santa Fe: Museum of NM Press).
Nevin BE (ed) (2020) Achumawi - English Dictionary. Webonary.org. SIL International. Retrieved 31 Jan 2022, from https://www.webonary.org/odissi/overview/.
Nguyen K, Sparks J, Omoruyi F (2017) "Effects of Ligusticum porteri (osha) root extract on human promyelocytic leukemia cells" Pharmacognosy Res 9(2):156–60.
Olmsted DL (1984) Lexicon of Atsugewi (Survey of California and Other Indian Languages, Report 5).
Pineda-Peña EA, Meza-Pérez DG, Chávez-Piña AE, et al. (2019) "Pharmacodynamic interaction of 3α-hydroxymasticadienonic acid and diligustilide against indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats" Drug Dev Res 80(5):585–94.
Pu F, Watson MF (2005) "72. Ligusticum Linnaeus, Sp Pl 1: 250, 1753" Flora of China 14:140–50. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora\_id=2\&taxon\_id=118546 [retrieved Sept 2005].
Remington HP, Wood HC, et al. (eds) (1918) Dispensatory of the United States of America.
Sieniawska E, Baj T, Los R, et al. (2013) "Phenolic acids content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Ligusticum mutellina L" Nat Prod Res 27(12):1108–10.
Tan YY, Huang SX, Luan YH, Zhao L (1994a) "Effect of siwutang (contains Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort) on the immunity of mice radiated by 60 Co" Chinese J Exp Clin Immunol 6(2):40.
Tan YY, Zhao L, Huang SX, Luan YH, Song XW (1994b) "Regulation of siwutang (contains Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort), bazhentang (contains Panax ginseng CA Mey) on the immunity of normal mice" Chinese J Exp Clin Immunol 5(6):43.
Terrell B, Fennell A (2009) "Oshá (bear root) Ligusticum porteri JM Coult & Rose var porteri" Native Plant J 10(2):110–8.
Tian JW, Fu FH, Jiang WL, et al. (2005) "Protective effect of Ligusticum chuanxiong phthalides on focal cerebral ischemia in rats and its related mechanism of action" Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 30(6):466–468.
Turi C, Murch SJ (2011) "The Genus Ligusticum in North America: An ethnobotanical review with special emphasis upon species commercially known as 'osha'" HerbalGram 89:40–51.
Turi CE, Murch SJ (2013) "Targeted and untargeted phytochemistry of Ligusticum canbyi: Indoleamines, phthalides, antioxidant potential, and use of metabolomics as a hypothesis-generating technique for compound discovery" Planta Med 79(14):1370–9.
Velázquez-Moyado JA, Balderas-López JL, Pineda-Peña EA, et al. (2018) "Diligustilide releases H2S and stabilizes S-nitrosothiols in ethanol-induced lesions on rat gastric mucosa" Inflammopharmacology 26(2):611–9.
Velázquez-Moyado JA, Martínez-González A, Linares E, et al. (2015) "Gastroprotective effect of diligustilide isolated from roots of Ligusticum porteri Coulter & Rose (Apiaceae) on ethanol-induced lesions in rats" J Ethnopharmacol 174:403–9.
Yu Z, Chen KJ, Qian ZH, et al. (1987) "Effect of chuanxiaong granule on platelet function and prostaglandin metabolism in coronary disease patients" Chin J Integr Trad Med 7:8–11 [in Chinese].
Brindis F, Rodríguez R, Bye R, González-Andrade M, Mata R (2011) "(Z)-3-butylidenephthalide from Ligusticum porteri, an α-glucosidase inhibitor" J Nat Prod 74(3):314–20.
Brounstein H (1993) "Ligusticum grayi Page" http://home.teleport.com/~howieb/treats/grayi.html [retrieved Sept 2005].
Castañeda Sortibrán A, Téllez MG, Ocotero VM, et al. (2011) "Chronic toxicity, genotoxic assay, and phytochemical analysis of four traditional medicinal plants" J Med Food 14(9):1018–22.
Cech R (2000) "New findings on germination of osha" United Plant Savers Newsletter, Fall. http://www.plantsavers.org/friends/UpS\_fall\_2000.pdf [retrieved March 2001].
Chor SY, Hui AY, To KF, et al. (2005) "Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of herbal medicine on hepatic stellate cell" J Ethnopharmacol 100(1–2):180–6.
Cook WH (1896) A Compend of the New Materia Medica Together With Additional Descriptions of Some Old Remedies (Chicago: Self-published).
Cool LG, Vermillion KE, Takeoka GR, Wong RY (2010) "Irregular sesquiterpenoids from Ligusticum grayi roots" Phytochemistry 71(13):1545–57.
Daniels AL, Van Slambrouck S, Lee RK, et al. (2006) "Effects of extracts from two Native American plants on proliferation of human breast and colon cancer cell lines in vitro" Oncol Rep 15(5):1327–31.
Dharmananda S (2002) "Ligusticum" Institute for Traditional Medicine, \url{www.itmo.org [retrieved March 2001].
Déciga-Campos M, González-Trujano E, Navarrete A, Mata R (2005) "Antinociceptive effect of selected Mexican traditional medicinal species" Proc West Pharmacol Soc 48:70–72.
Déciga-Campos M, Rivero-Cruz I, Arriaga-Alba M, et al. (2007) "Acute toxicity and mutagenic activity of Mexican plants used in traditional medicine" J Ethnopharmacol 110(2):334–42.
Felter HW, Lloyd JU (1898) King's American Dispensatory 18th ed (Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, reprinted 1983).
Garth T (1953) "Atsugewi ethnography" Anthropol Records 14(2):129–201.
Hart J (1979) "The ethnobotany of the Flathead Indians of western Montana" Botanical Museum Leaflets Harvard University 27(10):261-307.
Hou YZ, Zhao GR, Yang J, et al. (2004) "Protective effect of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis on endothelial cell damage induced by hydrogen peroxide" Life Sci 75(14):1775–86.
Hou YZ, Zhao GR, Yuan YJ, Zhu GG, Hiltunen R (2005) "Inhibition of rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis" J Ethnopharmacol 100(1-2):140–144.
Juárez-Reyes K, Angeles-López GE, Rivero-Cruz I, et al. (2014) "Antinociceptive activity of Ligusticum porteri preparations and compounds" Pharm Biol 52(1):14–20.
Kindscher K, Martin LM, Long Q. (2019) "The sustainable harvest of wild populations of oshá (Ligusticum porteri) in Southern Colorado for the herbal products trade" Econ Botany 73(3):341–56.
Kindscher K, Martin LM, Long Q, et al. (2017) "Harvesting and recolonization of wild populations of oshá (Ligusticum porteri) in Southern Colorado" Natural Areas J 37(2):178–87.
Ko HC, Wei BL, Chiou WF (2006) "The effect of medicinal plants used in Chinese folk medicine on RANTES secretion by virus-infected human epithelial cells" J Ethnopharmacol 107(2):205–10.
Lee TF, Lin YL, Huang YT (2007) "Studies on antiproliferative effects of phthalides from Ligusticum chuanxiong in hepatic stellate cells" Planta Med 73(6):527–34.
León A, Del-Ángel M, Ávila JL, Delgado G (2017) "Phthalides: Distribution in nature, chemical reactivity, synthesis, and biological activity" Prog Chem Org Nat Prod 104:127–246.
León A, Toscano RA, Tortoriello J, Delgado G (2011) "Phthalides and other constituents from Ligusticum porteri; sedative and spasmolytic activities of some natural products and derivatives" Nat Prod Res 25(13):1234–42.
Li Y, Xu C, Zhang Q, Liu JY, Tan RX (2005) "In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori action of 30 Chinese herbal medicines used to treat ulcer diseases" J Ethnopharmacol 98(3):329–33.
Lin LZ, He XG, Lian LZ, et al. (1998) "Liquid chromatographic-electrospray mass spectrometric study of the phthalides of Angelica sinensis and chemical changes of Z-ligustilide" J Chromatography A 810:71–79.
Lin YL, Lee TF, Huang YJ, Huang YT (2006) "Inhibitory effects of Ligusticum chuanxiong on the proliferation of rat hepatic stellate cells" J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21(8):1257–65.
Mata R, Cristians S, Escandón-Rivera S, et al. (2013) "Mexican antidiabetic herbs: Valuable sources of inhibitors of α-glucosidases" J Nat Prod 76(3):468–83.
Meepagala KM, Sturtz G, Wedge DE, et al. (2005) "Phytotoxic and antifungal compounds from two Apiaceae species, Lomatium californicum and Ligusticum hultenii, rich sources of Z-ligustilide and apiol, respectively" J Chem Ecol 31:1567–78.
Moore M (1979) Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West (Santa Fe: Museum of NM Press).
Nevin BE (ed) (2020) Achumawi - English Dictionary. Webonary.org. SIL International. Retrieved 31 Jan 2022, from https://www.webonary.org/odissi/overview/.
Nguyen K, Sparks J, Omoruyi F (2017) "Effects of Ligusticum porteri (osha) root extract on human promyelocytic leukemia cells" Pharmacognosy Res 9(2):156–60.
Olmsted DL (1984) Lexicon of Atsugewi (Survey of California and Other Indian Languages, Report 5).
Pineda-Peña EA, Meza-Pérez DG, Chávez-Piña AE, et al. (2019) "Pharmacodynamic interaction of 3α-hydroxymasticadienonic acid and diligustilide against indomethacin-induced gastric damage in rats" Drug Dev Res 80(5):585–94.
Pu F, Watson MF (2005) "72. Ligusticum Linnaeus, Sp Pl 1: 250, 1753" Flora of China 14:140–50. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora\_id=2\&taxon\_id=118546 [retrieved Sept 2005].
Remington HP, Wood HC, et al. (eds) (1918) Dispensatory of the United States of America.
Sieniawska E, Baj T, Los R, et al. (2013) "Phenolic acids content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Ligusticum mutellina L" Nat Prod Res 27(12):1108–10.
Tan YY, Huang SX, Luan YH, Zhao L (1994a) "Effect of siwutang (contains Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort) on the immunity of mice radiated by 60 Co" Chinese J Exp Clin Immunol 6(2):40.
Tan YY, Zhao L, Huang SX, Luan YH, Song XW (1994b) "Regulation of siwutang (contains Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort), bazhentang (contains Panax ginseng CA Mey) on the immunity of normal mice" Chinese J Exp Clin Immunol 5(6):43.
Terrell B, Fennell A (2009) "Oshá (bear root) Ligusticum porteri JM Coult & Rose var porteri" Native Plant J 10(2):110–8.
Tian JW, Fu FH, Jiang WL, et al. (2005) "Protective effect of Ligusticum chuanxiong phthalides on focal cerebral ischemia in rats and its related mechanism of action" Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 30(6):466–468.
Turi C, Murch SJ (2011) "The Genus Ligusticum in North America: An ethnobotanical review with special emphasis upon species commercially known as 'osha'" HerbalGram 89:40–51.
Turi CE, Murch SJ (2013) "Targeted and untargeted phytochemistry of Ligusticum canbyi: Indoleamines, phthalides, antioxidant potential, and use of metabolomics as a hypothesis-generating technique for compound discovery" Planta Med 79(14):1370–9.
Velázquez-Moyado JA, Balderas-López JL, Pineda-Peña EA, et al. (2018) "Diligustilide releases H2S and stabilizes S-nitrosothiols in ethanol-induced lesions on rat gastric mucosa" Inflammopharmacology 26(2):611–9.
Velázquez-Moyado JA, Martínez-González A, Linares E, et al. (2015) "Gastroprotective effect of diligustilide isolated from roots of Ligusticum porteri Coulter & Rose (Apiaceae) on ethanol-induced lesions in rats" J Ethnopharmacol 174:403–9.
Yu Z, Chen KJ, Qian ZH, et al. (1987) "Effect of chuanxiaong granule on platelet function and prostaglandin metabolism in coronary disease patients" Chin J Integr Trad Med 7:8–11 [in Chinese].