Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, June 12, 2021

9 Mountain Views News Saturday, June 12, 2021 9 Mountain Views News Saturday, June 12, 2021 
CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

TREATING UPPER RESPIRATORY ISSUES -- AND THE FLU 
-- WITH HERBS 

Nyerges has led and organized ethnobotany walks since 1974. He is the author of Guide to Wild Foods 
and Useful Plants, How to Survive Anywhere, and other books. Information about his classes and 
books is available from School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Los Angeles, CA 90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-
Reliance.com. The following information came interviews with Dr. James Adams, recently retired 
pharmacologist at USC. Dr. Adams is the author of “Healing with Medicinal Plants.” 

PART TWO -HERBAL KNOWLEDGE 
Here are some of the herbs commonly available in the wild, and typically can be purchased in the dried form 
in herb shops. 

ELDERBERRY FLOWERS (Sambucus nigra; formerly Sambucus Mexicana)
Different species of the elderberry tree can be found world-wide, often near water. It can be a large bush or a 
small tree, with pinnately divided leaves. Though the fruit has long been cooked and used for juices, wine, jam, 
and jellies, it is the flowers that are used for colds and flus. Indigenous people of California used the flowers 
to cure colds and flus. The flowers are made into an infusion and drunk. The flowers are only available in the 
spring, so you’d need to collect and dry them to be available year-round. 

Here is the procedure: Add one teaspoon of flowers to 1.5 cups of water in a covered pot, and let the flowers 
simmer in the water for 5 minutes. Drink when cool enough to drink. 

One popular liquer, St. Germain, is made in France from elder flowers; it is commonly used as a safe remedy 
for colds and flus. 

You can also purchase Sambucal over the counter. However, read the label to ensure that it does not contain 
high fructose corn syrup and other undesirables. 

You can also purchase Elderberry fizzies from health food stores. 

EVERLASTING, CALIFORNIA (Pseudognaphalium californicum)
This one, and several related species, are somewhat widespread in the West. Leaves have a sweet odor, akin to 
butterscotch or oranges. It’s easily grown in backyard gardens, and the flowers can be collected and dried, so 
that the herb can be available year-round. 

I learned about its uses from Dr. James Adams, author of “Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West.” Whenever 
I feel congested and have difficulty breathing, often after a day of being out in the willow forest, I drink 
an infusion of the everlasting flowers. There is a quick and immediate effect. (I often drink this along with 
stinging nettle tea, which also has mild decongestant effects.) 

Dr. Adams recommends using these flowers at the first signs of a cold, or flu. 

The flowers contain flavinols which stimulate the immune system and help get rid of flu virus. 

The medicine is the flowers. For a cold or flu, put 1 teaspoon of flowers into a (covered) pot of water, and heat 
until it simmers. Dr. Adams suggests drinking it for 4 nights in a row for colds and flus. 

YERBA SANTA (Eriodictyon spp.)
This is a very common western herb, with several species that are more or less used a like. 

Yerba Santa leaves are boiled in water, and the fumes are inhaled for upper respiratory issues. 

Herbalists use this herb for many afflictions, and it is particularly good for coughs, breathing, and congestion 
issues. The indigenous peoples of California used this herb for coughs. 

The infusion or decoction of yerba santa can also be drunk for a sore throat, cough, or breathing issues. However, 
the straight yerba santa decoction is very strong. Hummingbird sage is often added to make it palatable. 
Some herbalists add a sweetener before serving, but not all. 

Another method is to boil the leaves in a covered container, and then open the container and inhale the fumes. 
Use about 5 leaves per cup. You can reuse this liquid for up to five days, then use fresh leaves. 

WHITE SAGE (Salvia apiana)
This is a common native plant of the West, whose leaves are used in a broad spectrum of medicinal applications. 

According to Dr. Adams, white sage is used as infusion for sore throats, and made into a drink to cure colds 
and flus, and other uses. 

The leaves can be made into a drink by putting a leaf in cold water to promote strengthening, and cure colds 
and flus. The leaves can also be used in an infusion. 

White sage is a great herb to have, and to grow, and to use in daily drinks and medicinal applications. 

Please note: White sage is being threatened due to over-harvesting, mostly by those who sell it at markets as a 
“new age smudge.” I strongly suggest that you grow the plant in your own yard for personal use. Buy the plants 
(or seeds) from a local native plant nursery. 

COMMENTS 
There are many other remedies for flu, coughs, and sore throats. Included here were just a few of the common 
wild plants which are safe and easy to use. 

Note: None of the above should be construed to take the place of competent medical advice in a face-to-face 
setting. Chronic coughing or chronic sore throat may be an indication of a more serious disorder. Use your 
common sense, and consult a medical authority if you are experiencing any sort of chronic disorder. 

SUGGESTED REFERENCES 
Dr. James Adams’ (et al) “Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West.” An excellent guide with color photographs 
of the medicinal uses of plants by native people of the West. Includes the chemistry of the plants, practical 
advice, and sound warnings. Available from the store at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com, or Amazon. 

Michael Moore’s “Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West” (and other books by Moore). Moore’s books cover 
a lot of territory. They include mostly line drawings and some photos. 

SWEET SENIORS NEED NEW HOME 

Meet BABY & ZENA, 
born 2007.These two 
very lovely girls belonged 
to an older couple 
who can no longer 
care for them. Baby is 
a beautifully colored 
tortie (tortoiseshell), 
and Zena is a medium-
haired mix with stun


ning blue eyes. Zena is super friendly, seeks out people 
and loves to be touched. She is very engaged in 
what's going on around her and loves to hang by the 
window to check out what is going on outside. Baby is not as friendly as more cautious than 
Zena. She is not one you can pet immediately but rather you have to allow her to know you 
a little bit and warm up to be petted. However, she is calm and not demanding of anyone's 
attention. She just prefers to just hang out and check out people. Both cats are very good 
eaters. The girls are healthy for their age and would make someone very happy for many 
years. Purr-haps that would be a retired person, or a couple who work from home in a quiet, 
calm environment (just examples). Please fill out the adoption application on the Adoption 
Procedures page on our website at www.lifelineforpets.org. 

Pet of the Week

 Daisy Mae is nine years old and loves to snuggle! Shewants to be her favorite person’s shadow all the time.
If you leave the house, she’ll give you lots of wiggly tailwags and excited little huffs when you return. DaisyMae’s hobbies include exploring outside, playing “findthe kibble”, and anything that lets her be close to herperson. Daisy Mae would do best as the only pet in thehome and can’t wait to bond with you!

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptionsinclude spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriatevaccines.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCAAnimal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to carefor your pet.

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule a virtual adoption appointment atpasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoptionappointments are available every day at 5:00 p.m. for the following day.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters byphone calls or email. 


All Things By Jeff Brown 

ONE DAY AT A TIME 

“As more and more of the population is vaccinated, governments need to give Americansan off-ramp to the post-pandemic world.Ending outdoor mask man-dates is a good placeto start.Requiring that people always wear masks when they leave home,and especially inplaces wtih low levels of viral transmission, is over-kill.Covid-19 is basically an indoor/
talking disease.The coronavirus disperses out-side, posing little risk to people who arewalking alone or even swiftly passing by strangers.In fact,almost all of the documentedcases of outdoor transmission have involved long conversations or face to face yelling.Sogo outside,get vaccinat-ed,and get your life back.” Derek Thompson in TheAtlantic.com