Yerba Santa Tea

🌿 Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum)

Also known as: Holy Herb • Mountain Balm • Bear Weed • Consumptive’s Weed
Family: Boraginaceae (Borage Family)
Origin: Southwestern United States & Northern Mexico
Parts Used: Leaf
Primary Use: Respiratory Health • Lung Cleansing • Mucus Support • Spiritual Protection

✨ Description

Yerba Santa, meaning “Holy Herb” in Spanish, is a sacred and aromatic plant native to the sun-soaked mountains of California and the desert Southwest. Long cherished by Indigenous healers and herbalists, it is revered as both a respiratory tonic and a spiritual cleanser.

This silvery-green leaf carries a sweet, balsamic aroma with a hint of eucalyptus and honey — a scent that seems to open the chest and clear both airways and energy. Yerba Santa is often used in teas, steams, and smokes to support healthy lungs, reduce congestion, and ease breathing difficulties.

Beyond its physical uses, Yerba Santa holds a deeply spiritual presence. It has been used in ceremonial burnings to release grief, clear negativity, and restore inner strength, making it a staple in both healing and ritual work.

💪 Internal Uses & Benefits

• Respiratory Support: Loosens and clears mucus from the lungs and sinuses.
• Expectorant & Decongestant: Helps open airways and soothe sore throats or coughs.
• Lung Cleanser: Supports recovery after smoking, pollution exposure, or illness.
• Digestive Aid: Can ease mild bloating and stimulate healthy digestion.
• Detoxifying Support: Encourages lymphatic flow and gentle elimination.

How to Use:

• Tea: Steep 1 tsp of Yerba Santa leaf in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink 1–2 times daily for lung support.
• Steam Inhalation: Add leaves to hot water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale deeply for sinus and chest relief.
• Tincture: 1–2 droppers in water as needed for cough or congestion.

Pairs Well With:

• Mullein: For clearing the lungs and soothing tissue.
• Peppermint or Eucalyptus: For cooling, opening blends.
• Licorice Root: To coat and protect mucous membranes.
• Thyme or Hyssop: For antibacterial and bronchial support.

💨 Smoke & Aromatic Use

Yerba Santa is a powerful smoke herb often used in purification rituals. When burned, it produces a sweet, uplifting scent that clears stagnant energy and opens the heart.

You can smoke Yerba Santa alone or combine it with Mullein, Blue Lotus, or Mugwort to create a spiritual and respiratory blend that calms the mind while cleansing the lungs.
Its gentle, resinous smoke also makes it ideal for emotional healing and meditation.

🔮 Metaphysical & Energetic Uses

Element: Air & Fire
Chakra Alignment: Heart & Throat

Yerba Santa is a plant of emotional release and self-love. It’s said to lift grief from the chest, open the lungs to receive life’s breath, and protect one’s spirit from energetic heaviness.

This sacred plant teaches acceptance, especially during transitions or emotional hardship, making it a perfect ally for healers, empaths, and anyone processing loss.

Energetic Signature: Warming, uplifting, clearing.
Affirmation:

“I breathe freely, releasing all that no longer serves me. My heart expands with strength, love, and renewal.”

🌾 Harvest & Sourcing

Our Yerba Santa is wildcrafted from the arid mountains of the American Southwest, where it thrives under intense sun and dry winds. The leaves are hand-picked and slowly dried to preserve their aromatic oils and potent healing properties.

⚖️ Energetics & Taste

• Taste: Sweet, balsamic, resinous, slightly bitter.
• Energetic Profile: Warming, drying, protective.

⚠️ Warnings

• Avoid use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Not intended for long-term use in large quantities.
• May cause dryness in the mouth or throat; increase water intake when using regularly.

🌻 A Note from the Herbalist

Yerba Santa is both a lung healer and a heart soother. It’s the herb I turn to when grief sits heavy in the chest or when the breath feels shallow from emotional weight. Combined with Mullein or Peppermint, it makes one of the most comforting teas for congestion and emotional clarity.

“As you breathe deeply, you begin again — Yerba Santa reminds us that healing begins with breath.”

🌿 Yerba Santa vs. Yerba Mate — The Breath of the Earth & The Fire of the South

Although their names sound similar, Yerba Santa and Yerba Mate are two very different plants with entirely unique purposes, energies, and traditions. One clears the lungs and emotions, while the other fuels the mind and body. Together, they represent the perfect balance of calm respiration and vibrant action — the inhale and the exhale of herbal wellness.