Champorweed

 Camphorweed – Heterotheca subaxillaris  AKA Mexican Arnica or False Arnica

This plant is extremely beneficial for treating sprains and bruises and can reduce pain and inflammation.  Best for acute and painful injuries that are painful even when resting. It is a tissue sedative and lessens the reactive process that causes inflammation in the tissues.

Most people have heard about Arnica, in fact, you can find all sorts of creams, salves, ointments, etc. for strains and bruising that contain Arnica over the counter at almost any store that sells aspirin.  Many have tried these oils, ointments, liniments, etc, only to be disappointed and walk away thinking that herbal remedies aren’t that great.  Not true my friend, not true!  The problem often is that you are not using the right remedy for the right problem.

Compare with Arnica.  Arnica is best to use when it hurts to move, not when it hurts to be still.  Camphorweed is for when it hurts to be still, not when it hurts to move.

So, if you have a pulled muscle that might not hurt at all, or at least very little, if you’re not using that muscle, but the moment you try to move, it hurts, use Arnica.  If you have a sprained ankle, while it will definitely hurt worse if you try to walk on it, it will still throb and hurt even while you’re seated with that foot elevated and cushioned. Camphorweed is the plant you want!

This weed, and it definitely qualifies to wear the label of a weed as it is almost impossible to get rid of without chemical intervention (DON’T DO THIS!)), is not a small weed, as it can grow to a height of around 5-1/2 to 6 feet tall.  It doesn’t always grow that large, and sometimes will even grow with it’s stem laying along the ground instead of growing straight up, but it is capable of growing that tall.  It is not one of the most pleasurable herbs to harvest as the whole plant is sticky.  Not like tree sap sticky, or cacti sticky, but more like a tacky sticky.  Like cleavers, or a tacky glue, like dried rubber cement or the adhesive used to make tape or labels stick to surfaces.  When I harvest it, I usually take a damp rag with me to wipe my hands with frequently.  Does it really help?  Probably not, but, it makes me feel better anyway.  This plant has won over so many unbelievers to the power of herbs!  And the best part from my point of view is that the harvest window for it is sooo looong!  You can harvest from the time of the first bloom in late spring throughout the summer until, and sometimes even for weeks after, the first really good frost if it is growing where it has even the slightest protection.  It will grow in pretty much any soil type, and while it grows best and largest in full sunlight, I have several that grow every year under my tractor shed, through the gravel floor in total shade!

Harvesting, while not a pleasant job, is super easy.  Just snip off the flowers, dry them, either in the shade, or in a dehydrator or oven on the lowest setting, then put them in a jar and cover them with rubbing alcohol.  Let them sit for a few weeks, strain off, and you have a liniment.  Yes, you can use a liquor like wine, vodka or Everclear, but, rubbing alcohol is so much cheaper and since this is a plant for external use only, why waste money on a more expensive solvent?   You can even use the dried leaves in this if you find that you didn’t harvest enough flowers to fill your jar, but, the flowers are the strongest part.  And, yes, you may also use this method using even the fresh plant, without the drying.  Just snip off the  flowering branches, leaves and all, smash them down tightly in a jar, cover with alcohol, wait a few days, and use.  Again the DRY FLOWERS make the strongest medicine, but, if you find yourself in a pinch where you don’t have the time to be so particular …  you can still make a medicine that will bring relief.

Best to harvest just after it begins to go to seed.  The aerial parts are made into a tea for a soak, or heated in water ever so slightly and then mashed for a poultice.  The heating is not absolutely necessary, but does make the pounding or grinding into a smooth poultice much easier.

 C. Shaw

 

Liability Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or licensed physician before using any herbal remedies, supplements, or alternative treatments, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a pre-existing medical condition, or are taking any medications.

Herbal remedies can interact with prescription drugs, cause allergic reactions, or have side effects that vary from person to person. The author and this blog do not claim that any herbs, recipes, or practices discussed will prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition.

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