When I first came into contact with this medicinal herbs I was amazing by it's abundance. In the valleys of arid Argentina Jarilla grows wild as far as the eye can see. Enthusiastic about getting first hand experience with this herb I had heard so much about I experimented making infused oils, smoke bundles, tea and floor washes.
Here in South America we call Larrea divaricata Jarilla or Chaparral and there is a very closely related sister species of North America called Cresote Bush, which grows in Northern Mexico and the desert Southwestern states, have you heard of it?
When my partner and I were making our way through tropical South America he began to remiss about the plants of his native Argentina. Jarilla in particular and, as he said, the smell of cleanliness it exudes. I suppose that association will always be on my mind when I smell this wonderful herb.
When we lived for a few months down in the valley there was no searching for Jarilla, it grows everywhere in such arid shrubland. But now that we are living higher up in the mountain and surrounded by older forests I have a secluded spot that I suspect only the goats and I know about.
Through the front yard, across the creek and along a shady trail that branches off from the creek I am on the hunt for my Jarilla spot. I go here every year and even documented my excursion in a herbalism zine I made a few years back. Jarilla is a perfect plant to wildharvest, as it is one that actually grows more abundantly in the wild than in a garden. Unlike other herbs that have adapted to the conditions of a garden, Jarilla only seems to grow surrounded by other Jarilla bushes and a few pioneer species that protect it. Goats and humans tend to feed on or harvest the leaves. The way to harvest Jarilla correctly is by breaking off the stem so that two new stems grow in its place rather than cutting down or uprooting the whole bush.
Upon returning home it is of upmost important to process for drying right away. Jarilla is a really resinous plant, so leaving them piled up in a basket will make it hard to separate later and will likely lead to mold. Hiding out from the mid-summer sun, I made bouquets off all the bounty. Some of these little bouquets will be used in smoke cleanses, some broken down for tea bags, and others saved to be added to bath water.
The leaves, flowers, and the stems all contain the resinous potency for which we value Jarilla. Most herbalists go to Jarilla as a kind of Arnica replacement. Used topically as either a tea or salve it has amazing healing skin powers and is a great massage oil when muscles are in pain after strenuous work.
Jarilla has many applications when made into a tea or infusion as well. For the most part I tend to bathe in Jarilla tea, that is, add a strong infusion to bath water due to the muscle relaxing properties as well as the tea being antiseptic, vulnerary (heals the skin), as well as astringent. Though some folks use Jarilla as a tea to induce sweating and thus lessen the pressures of fever. I tend to use yarrow or elderflower for this reason but, it is worth noting one of the many uses of the nearly-panacea-plant.
In the local herb lore old wives make brooms with Jarilla bundles as the bristles because not only does the plant have an antiseptic property as well as a wonderful scent, it is also so to purify the area of dangerous spirits. For this reason I like to keep a couple of dried bundles handy both for dusting and for fueling a cleansing smoke afterwards.
Sounds like a useful tree to have around. You're lucky!
It really is useful and I am sure I will learn more and more applications over the years. Thanks for the comment!!
Oh I see,I think Jarilla is good for skincare too right?
Since you use it to bath.
If yes,how do you think it can be used for the skincare,is it in a facial cream or something?
It is great for the skin! Especially someone who has acne, or wants to healing cuts, mosquito bites, or is trying to fight off some kind of infection like yeast (candida). I think this would be a great herb for teenagers as well since they are prone to acne as well as strong odors.
I have tried it in a cream too but I mostly ended up using it on my neck and shoulders as it is really ideal for muscle pain more than anything else. But I have also used it on pets when they have a cut or bite of some kind. So many applications of Jarilla!!
Oh thank you so much
Never heard of that one. Pretty neat plant!
It is quite beautiful in the wild and so useful!
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I can see you have a lot of herbs collection, and it does require patience and passion in collecting all kinds of herbs. Dyou know what?, if you live in my town you will definately be called medicine expert or even a great doctor because we value the herbalist very much @celendulacraft.
Wish you the best
Thank you for noticing my herb collection! It is important to me to make use of the herbs that grow around me and in the garden and to have them on hand in case anyone is in need of a remedy. I really appreciate your saying that I would be called an herb expert in your town and that people value herbalists there. That is so important as it is the first medicine and often the gentlest form of medicine. Thanks again!