OSHA (Ligusticum porter) aka - Bear Root

Osha is an important perennial herb that inhabits the dry, upland meadows and ravines of the Rocky Mountains. The beneficial part of the Osha plant is the root, which has long been considered sacred by Native Americans and used for cold, cough, and other respiratory ailments. The root contains oils, including camphor, saponins, ferulic acid, terpenes, and phytosterols. Because of these elements, osha root is, arguably, the best American herb for lung and throat problems. Osha root can help alleviate breathing problems; it helps clear mucus from the sinuses and lungs by increasing expectoration; this relieves congestion and makes breathing easier. Osha root also increases blood circulation to the lungs, which increases dilation during constriction. For this reason, it is of particular interest as a support mechanism for emphysema, pneumonia, asthma, and allergies. The bronchio-dilating effect is increased by Osha root’s ability to help the lungs by increasing oxygen utilization and uptake in the body. It is believed the increased blood oxygenation is facilitated by an increase in gas exchange through the alveoli in the lungs. In simpler terms, osha root helps one to take deeper breaths. One of the most notable benefits of osha root are its numbing effects, which help soothe the irritated tissue of a sore throat.