Anyone know about Telegraph Weed?

[Oleeta]

Hi All!

I am trying to find out about "Heterotheca Grandiflora," commonly known as "Telegraph Weed." It's a very common plant here in Southern California and I wonder if anyone out there knows about it's medicinal uses. It belongs to the sunflower family. There's so much of it, seems it ought to be useful. Thanks for your help and happy foraging! Oleeta

[karen joy]

Oleeta, somehow I remember hearing about this plant when studying with the Natural History Museum in San Diego, though I can't remember much about it... just that I wanted to note it. And I left my books with brother in law when I moved away from the southwest.






[:D]

[desertmedicinewoman]

Well from my studies it is also called camphor weed...SMELL it! but different spp.. Heterotheca subaxilaris, latifolia or scabra

otherwise known as telegraph plant, false arnica, mexican arnica
Michael Moore mentions grandiflora under this entry so i'm assuming it cn be used in a similar fashion.
he also says a tea or diluted linament is antiseptica nd anti fungal, when you need to wash a wound, scrape or cut prior to bandaging. also the salve or linament is an excellent rub for sprains, dislocation or hyperextensions. Doesn't work as well for arthritis as true arnica, but does work. best used when there is pain upon movement.

in my studies this was definately an external use only plant, and i collected some leaf this summer from the rosette stage, but traditional mexican use calls for the flowers. Both will work...use the whole plant in fact!!

[Oleeta]

Thanks for the info. This is definately the plant I have. It does smell like Camphor. I wonder if it can be used the same way and could you use it the same way as Arnica or are they all the same plant? Desertmedicinewoman, thanks, I'll keep that info in my notes.

Green Blessings, Oleeta