MIDTOWN FARM - Ambrosia ambrosioides | canyon bursage | chicura | ñuñui je:j

Common Names:  

English: canyon bursage, canyon ragweed

Spanish: chicura, yerba del sapo

Tohono O’odham: ñuñui je:j

Botanical Name:

Ambrosia ambrosioides

Family:

Asteraceae

Distribution:

Sonoran Desert (elevation: < 4,000 feet). Easily located in sandy or rocky washes.

Flowering Season:

March to May

Medicinal Uses:

Several species of Ambrosia are used medicinally in many different ways to relieve a runny nose or to alleviate seasonal allergies. Canyon bursage is considered special compared to other species of Ambrosia due to its unique medicinal properties.

Canyon bursage root is used medicinally to treat a variety of conditions. The root is used as a post-partum remedy for cleaning out and removing tissues in the uterus to help prevent infections. The root is also used to help with the pain and cramping associated with menstruation. The leaves are also a potent source of medicine.

A tea made from the leaves of the plant can be used to reduce stomach and intestinal cramps while also having laxative and diuretic effects. To support the respiratory system, a poultice of the warmed leaves can be placed on the chest to loosen mucous. Fresh chewed leaves are useful as an antispasmodic and for cramping associated with overexertion or dehydration.

References Cited:

Slattery, John. Southwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 112 Wild Plants for Health and Wellness. 2020. Print.

Kane, Charles W. Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest. 1st ed. United States]: Lincoln Town, 2011. Print.