1. Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden
Gardening with Western L.A. County Native Plants
Project SOUND – 2012 (our 8th year)
© Project SOUND

2. Extraordinary Scents
Native Plant Scents for
Potpourri and More
C.M. Vadheim and T. Drake
CSUDH & Madrona Marsh Preserve
Madrona Marsh Preserve
May 5 & 8, 2012
© Project SOUND

3. Do you ever wish you knew more about
how to use your native plants?
© Project SOUND

4. http://www.sepulvedaba
sinwildlife.org/vegemana
ge.html
Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across a
thousand miles and all the years we have lived. - Helen Keller
© Project SOUND

5. Smell is our most primitive sense
 Memories recalled by smells
often feel more vivid and
emotional than those
associated with sights,
sounds and tastes.
 Unlike the other sense
organs, the nose sends
information directly to the
limbic system, a primitive
part of the brain concerned
with memory and emotion.
© Project SOUND

6. Floral scent is often the most powerfully
sensual experience in the garden
 The scent-sensing part of
the brain is very ancient
 Floral memories can last a
lifetime – and are among
the strongest memories
 Not all people experience
the same scent in the same
way:
 Biologic differences –
different receptors
http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Aromatherapy--Encyclopedia-of-Alternative-Medicine
 The memories that
particular scents evoke
© Project SOUND

7. Despite their complexity, plant scents can be as
recognizable as their other attributes
 The human nose is capable of
recognizing 10,000 scents.
 Scent in plants comes from
volatile oils found in the glands of
flowers, leaves, branches, seeds,
bark, and, in some cases, roots.
 More than 3,000 chemically
different oils have been identified
from at least eighty-seven
families of plants.
© Project SOUND

8. The experience of scent is individualistic
 Yet some scents have been
purported to cause certain
effects for a long time –
and in many different
cultures:
 Lavender – calming
 Mint – energizing
 Sage can reduce mental
fatigue, stress and mental
exhaustion.
 Is there a chemical basis
for these effects?
http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2011/10/the-
floral-fragrance-note-both-you-and-he-will-love.html
© Project SOUND

9. Practitioners of aromatherapy say ‘yes’
 An aromatherapy garden focuses on the scents of the plants
and flowers in it. The scents are the basis for the essential
oils used in aromatherapy.
 Essential oils are volatile (from the Latin volare, meaning to
fly), which means they evaporate at or above room
temperature.
 Heat releases the fragrance of the oils (essentially the
plant's perfume or flavor), hence the more noticeable
fragrances generated by a walk through a summer garden. In
the winter these fragrances are less noticeable as the cooler
air prevents easy evaporation of the oils from plants.
 A scentless garden would have amazed the ancient Greeks,
Romans, Persians – even the Victorians!
© Project SOUND

10. Traditional  Simple
Hanging herbs
methods of using 
 Simmering herbs
scented foliage  Scented wood for drawers
 Bath ‘teas’
 Hand rubs
 Slightly more complex
 Smudge sticks
 Sachets/scent pillows
 Bath salts
 Potpourri/infusers
 Infused oils for massage
 Scents/flavors/oils
 Hydrosols and essential oils
 Soaps
 Candles
 Perfumes
© Project SOUND

11. CA native essential oils and other products –
commonly available for purchase
 Salvia apiana
 Salvia mellifera
 Achillea millefolia
 Balsam fir
 Juniper
http://www.artisan-aromatics.com/sunshop/catalog/artisan-essential-
oils-/yarrow--milfoil-62.html
 Bay Laurel
 Monterey Cypress
 Incense Cedar
http://www.wildrootbotanicals.com/html/essential_stan.html
© Project SOUND

12. * Incense Cedar – Calocedrus decurrens
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
© Project SOUND

13. * Incense Cedar – Calocedrus decurrens
 Montane forests from
Oregon south through
California to northern Baja
California, Mexico and east
to western Nevada
 Locally in San Gabriel Mtns.
 On mesic sites including
riparian habitats in mixed-
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?157,158,159
evergreen, yellow-pine
forests, 2000-7000 feet
© 2005 Steven Perkins © Project SOUND

14. Incense Cedar: a true N. American Cedar
 Size:
 Commonly 40 to 70 ft. with age
– may be much taller
 10-25+ ft wide
 Growth rate fast up to 20 ft.
 Growth form:
 Woody tree
 Can live 500+ years
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database  Bark thick, furrowed, cinnamon-
brown –later gray
 Foliage:
 Bright green; in flattened
sprays of scale-like leaves
 Very aromatic
 Roots: taproots and shallow
laterals © Project SOUND
Susan McDougall @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

15. Flowers are unusual
 Blooms: winter/spring
 Flowers:
 Separate male an female
cones (on same tree)
 Female cones urn-shaped –
small but noticeable
 Seeds:
 Take 1 year to develop
 Female cones split open
(decorative) releasing seeds
 Vegetative reproduction:
 Tip-propagate from current
year’s growth in fall
Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences
© Project SOUND

16. Incense Cedar:  Soils:
not demanding  Texture: likes a deep, well-drained
loam – takes most
 pH: any local – wide range (5.5-8.0)
 Light: full sun to part-shade
 Water:
 Winter: good, deep water
 Summer: amazingly drought
tolerant; good in Water Zone 2 once
established
 Fertilizer: very tolerant
 Other: likes an organic mulch
 Does well in a wide range of
conditions
© 2010 Ryan Gilmore
© Project SOUND

17. Incense Cedar is a
magnificent tree
 Good choice for evergreen tree in
large yards, parks, business parks,
schools & other large areas
 Used as a large screen
© Project SOUND
http://shriverfarms.com/default.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus_decurrens http://www.panoramio.com/photo/37860873

18. Human uses of Incense Cedar
 Flavoring
 Leaves used to flavor acorn meal
 Medicinal
 Leaves decocted to treat stomach
ailments
 Foliage steamed to treat nasal
congestion and colds
 Other
 Wood used for shelters by native
Californians
 Wood still used as insect-resistant
lumber, fence posts, railroad ties,
venetian blinds, greenhouse benches,
siding, decking, cedar chests, pencils
© 2012 Daniel Passarini and shingles.
 Roots and bark used for basket-making
© Project SOUND

19. Monterey Cypress
-Cupressus macrocarpa
'Citriodora'
© Project SOUND

20. Why do cedars & junipers have unique,
earthy or ‘woodsy’ scents
 Cedar oil (cedarwood oil; Cypress oil) is an
essential oil derived from the foliage, and
sometimes the wood and roots, of various
types of conifers, most in the pine or cypress
botanical families.
 The most important cedar oils are produced
from distilling wood of junipers and cypresses
(Juniperus and Cupressus spp. - family
Cupressaceae), rather than true cedars
(Cedrus spp., of the family Pinaceae).
 Similar oils are distilled, pressed or chemically
extracted in small quantities from wood, roots
http://www.hardtofinditems.com/cedar-oil-32oz.html and leaves from plants of the genera
Calocedrus.
© Project SOUND

21. What makes up the ‘scent of Cedar’?
 The main components of
cypress oil are a-pinene,
camphene, sabinene, b-pinene,
d-3carene, myrcene, a-
terpinene, terpinolene, linalool,
bornyl acetate, cedrol and
cadinene
 The main components of
Incense Cedar oil are: δ-3-
carene, limonene, α-pinene,
terpinolene, α-fenchyl
acetate, with some cedrol.
© Project SOUND

22.  Essential oils are volatile, natural, complex
What are compounds characterized by a strong odor
and are formed by aromatic plants as
‘essential oils’? secondary metabolites.
 Chemically, essential oils are very complex
natural mixtures which can contain about
20–60 components at quite different
concentrations. They are characterized by
2–3 major components at fairly high
concentrations (20–70%), compared to
other components present in trace
amounts.
 Generally, these major components
determine the biological properties of the
essential oil. The components include two
groups with different biosynthetical
origins: the main group is composed of
terpenes, and the other of aromatic and
aliphatic constituents, all characterized by
their low molecular weight.
© Project SOUND

23.  Various essential oils have been used medicinally at
Essential oils different periods in history. Medical applications
proposed by those who sell medicinal oils range
from skin treatments to remedies for cancer, and
often are based solely on historical accounts of use
of essential oils for these purposes. Claims for the
efficacy of medical treatments and treatment of
cancers in particular, are now subject to regulation
in most countries.
 Interest in essential oils has revived in recent
decades with the popularity of aromatherapy, a
branch of alternative medicine that claims that
essential oils and other aromatic compounds have
curative effects. Oils are volatilized or diluted in a
carrier oil and used in massage, diffused in the air
by a nebulizer, heated over a candle flame, or
burned as incense.
© Project SOUND

24. The distillation process: the most common
method for extracting essential oils
http://www.baldwins.co.uk/blog/2011/07/how-is-essential-oils-produced/
© Project SOUND

25. Hydrosols and ‘Floral Waters’
 Made by distilling the whole plant;
contain not only essential oils, but
many other water soluble components
 More true to the essence of the plant
and a more complete representation of
it, chemically.
 Contain the same medicinal properties
as the essential oils, but not as
concentrated, so it can be used in
more applications.
 Can be used as a facial toner/cleanser,
perfume, deodorant or room freshener
- or incorporate into lotions/
homemade soap.
© Project SOUND

26.  An organic compound (a monoterpene)
alpha-Pinene  Contains a reactive four-membered
ring; very reactive.
 Found in the oils of many species of
many coniferous trees, notably the
pine. It is also found in the essential
oil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis
 Known for its growth-inhibitory
activity. α-pinene inhibits early root
growth and causes oxidative damage in
root tissue through enhanced
generation of ROS, as indicated by
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:(1S)-
disruption of membrane integrity and
(%E2%88%92)-alpha-pinene-from-xtal-3D-
balls.png
elevated antioxidant enzyme levels.
 In the atmosphere alpha-pinene
undergoes reactions with ozone, the
OH radical or the NO3 radical
© Project SOUND

27.  Large/diverse class of organic compounds,
The terpenes produced by a variety of plants, particularly
conifers though also by some insects
(termites; swallowtail butterflies)
 The major components of resin, and of
turpentine produced from resin
 Often strong smelling; may have a protective
function.
 Terpenes/terpenoids are primary
constituents of the essential oils of many
plants/flowers; used widely as natural flavor
additives for food, as fragrances in
perfumery, and in traditional and alternative
medicines such as aromatherapy.
Derived from isoprene  Emitted in substantial amounts by vegetation,
( C5H8 ) The basic molecular and these emissions are affected by
formulae of terpenes are temperature, light intensity.
multiples of that, (C5H8)n © Project SOUND

28.  Have been known for several centuries
Monoterpenes as components of the fragrant oils
obtained from leaves, flowers and
fruits.
 Monoterpenes, with sesquiterpenes, are
the main constituents of essential oils.
α-pinene is one of the principal species
 While a few, such as camphor, occur in
a near pure form, most occur as
Mono-cyclic monoterpenes complex mixtures, often of isomers
difficult to separate.
 Have numerous basic actions in plants:
 Allelochemical functions between plants
and between plants and predators.
 A role in wound healing.
 As anti-oxidants
 Many monoterpenes possess antitumor
activity in animal and cell models.
bi-cyclic monoterpenes
© Project SOUND

29.  A sesquiterpenoid (C15H26O)
Cedrol  Isolated from cedarwood oil extracts
 A fragrant compound with demonstrated
effects on animals:
 Autonomic NS effects in many animal
species: decreases heart rate, systolic blood
pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and
respiratory rate in humans.
 Anti-microbial: human skin microbial flora
Staphylococcus
http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---
C/Cedrol.htm  Anti-tumor: (+)-Cedrol was identified as one
of the terpene compounds showing activity
against human renal adenocarcinoma and
The ancient Egyptians amelanotic melanoma cell proliferation.
actually used cedar oil in
one form of embalming  What's fascinating about the studies on
cedrol is that it seems that we don't need
to actually be able to smell it to be
affected by it! The reaction isn't
necessarily about smelling it!
© Project SOUND

30. Why is so little known about the actual
effects of many plant compounds?
 Many compounds; we’re just
beginning to understand their
functions in plants
 Less $$ for plant than animal
research
 Current skepticism about ‘herbal
medicine;
 Volatile & reactive – many break-
down compounds which may be the
active forms
 Some information is proprietary –
pharmaceutical industry
© Project SOUND

31. Cedar oil – actually does kill insects
 Cedar oil has an overwhelming effect on insects –
in an unusual way.
 The aroma of cedar oil breathed in by an insect
causes a respiratory blockage; the insect cannot
continue to breathe, therefore it suffocates.
 This is why many research studies show the
quick and high mortality rate of insects when
they come in contact with cedar oil. Unlike
pesticides that have to be digested or touched,
cedar oil only needs to permeate in order to
eliminate an insect.
 This works very well with pheromone-driven
insects that need to follow a "chemical trail" in
order to complete tasks.
 Insects like bees, wasps, butterflies and other
non-pheromone-driven insects will simply stay
away from this aroma.
© Project SOUND

32. Traditional delivery modes made use of
the nature of essential oils
 As teas or infusions
 Scent inhaled (like aroma therapy)
 In baths
 Smudging - French hospitals, which
use much more aromatherapy than
ours, used a rosemary/juniper smudge
as a disinfectant until fairly recently.
 Incense Cedar (as well as juniper and
cypress) traditionally used in sweat
lodge ceremonies as spiritual purifiers
and for the attraction of good energy,
while eliminating negative energies.
http://siskiyouwildcrafting.com/cedar.html
© Project SOUND

33. Commercially available products with CA
native scented materials
 Dried herbs or flowers
 Teas
 Wood
 Essential Oils
 Hydrosols/Floral Waters
http://www.lalaessentialoils.com/yarrow-
http://www.nhrorganicoils.com/products.p
essential-oil.html
 Scented soaps, bath
hp?id=2874
products, lotions, candles
using CA native plant
materials
http://www.aromatherapyoilsuk.co.uk/yarrow-essential-oil-blue-yarrow-achillea-millefolium/ © Project SOUND
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrosols-Yarrow-Organic-200-mL/dp/B006FXK87Q

34. Uses of Cedar (Cypress) oil
 Burners and vaporizers
 Useful in vapor therapy for all breathing difficulty, such as
asthma, emphysema, whooping cough and bronchitis. It also helps to
calm the mind and dispel anger.
 Blended massageoil or in the bath
 Cypress oil can be used as a massage oil or diluted in the bath for
arthritis, asthma, cellulite, cramps, diarrhea, sweaty feet,
rheumatism, varicose veins, heavy menstruation and menopause.
 Lotions and creams
 In a cream base, cypress oil can be used for varicose and broken
veins, as well as clearing an oily and congested skin.
 Cold compress
 Used diluted on a cold compress, very effective for a nosebleed.
 Foot bath
 If it is added to a footbath, it will help control perspiration with it
astringent and deodorant properties.
© Project SOUND

35. The Mint Family -
Lamiaceae
 Aromatic herbs or shrubs, rarely
trees or vines
 Usually with stems square in
cross-section, 4-sided, and
Monardella linioides flowers in long clusters, heads,
or interrupted whorls on the
Mentha arvensis
stem.
 ~ 180 genera and 3,500 species
nearly worldwide.
 The Mediterranean region, the
chief area of diversity, has
produced many spices and
flavorings; various mints,
oregano, marjoram, thyme, sage,
and basil. Catnip and lavender are
also in the family. © Project SOUND
Salvia brandegeei

36. * Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum californicum
© 2001 Jeff Abbas
© Project SOUND

37. * Mountain Mint – Pycnanthemum californicum
 Foothills of mountina ranges
from OR to Mexico
 Locally in the San Gabriels
 Moist sites of chaparral, oak
woodland, and coniferous
forests
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4861,4862
 The genus Pycnanthemum - in the mint family, Lamiaceae.
 Most species are very strongly scented and pungent
 Most are used in cooking and in making herbal tea – mints tend to be ‘safe’.
 All species in this genus are native to North America.
© Project SOUND

38. CA Mountain Mint – a typical mint
 Size:
 1-2 ft tall
 Spreading to 4+ ft wide
 Growth form:
 Herbaceous perennial
 Stems erect (for the most part)
 Fast-growing (like Stachys)
 Woodsy looking
 Foliage:
 Attractive gray-green color – may
be fuzzy or not
 Simple, lance-shaped leaves
 Make a nice tea
 Roots:
 Spreading via rhizomes
© 2006 Dean Wm. Taylor, Ph.D. © Project SOUND

39. Flowers are tiny & sweet
 Blooms:
 Summer - usually June-Aug
in our area
 Flowers:
 In ball-like cluster typical of
Mint family
 Flowers are small
 White, usually with lavender
spots
 Very old-fashioned look
© 2009 Neal Kramer  Butterfly plant
 Seeds:
 Many tiny seeds – can shake
them out of dried clusters
© Project SOUND
© 2001 Jeff Abbas

40. Easy to please  Soils:
 Texture: any, very adaptable
 pH: any local
 Light: full sun to part-shade
 Water:
 Winter: takes seasonal flooding –
good for wet parts of garden
 Summer: needs regular water –
Zone 2-3 to 3.
 Fertilizer: would do best with some
added humus or leaf mulch
 Other: treat like other mints – take
out parts that are growing where you
don’t want it (pot up and give new
plants away – or use them fresh or
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3922100003_85f1edee51.jpg dried)
© Project SOUND

41. Use Mountain Mint in
wet areas
 Under a birdbath or fountain
 Places where the neighbor’s
water makes the soil damp
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/97463864_abe4a596f8.jpg?v=0  In bog gardens
 In large, moist-soil containers
 In the vegetable garden
 Moist areas along walkways –
smells wonderful when stepped
on – and it doesn’t mind a bit!
 Around ponds/pools
© 2001 Jeff Abbas
© Project SOUND

42. Mountain Mint is good for cooking
 Harvest mature leaves at the
height of bloom – summer
 Use fresh or dry (lower temp.)
then store in airtight (glass is
good) jar until used
 Cool infusion tea with lime juice
is excellent. Cold infused is best
- put in quart jar of water and
place in sun, or in refrigerator
over night.
 Also, use in cooking where you
want a distinctive, strong mint
scent and flavor – raw (salads;
sandwiches) or cooked
http://marcussamuelsson.com/recipes/iced-mint-green-tea-recipe
© Project SOUND

43. It was also used medicinally
 Native Californians used both
the roots and leaves for
medicine. A tea made with the
leaves and an infusion of the
tops were used to cure such
conditions as chills and fever.
 Was used for a variety of
conditions: stomach upset,
colds, sinus headache,
sinusitis, fevers, tonic,
stimulant, increases
perspiration, relaxant
(stomach), colic, breath
freshener.
© Project SOUND

44. Why do plants make the ‘essential oils’
chemicals?
 A wide range of reasons, many
related to communication:
 To attract pollinators – or the
spreaders of seed (usually in
flowers, fruits)
 To repel herbivores – insect or
other; either cue or toxin
 As breakdown products from
compounds used for other purposes
 As protection against fungi, bacteria
and viruses
 To prevent other plants from
growing too close ?
 To communicate with other plants –
via soil water or air
© Project SOUND

45. Plant chemistry is exceedingly complex
 Different molecules in the same
essential oil can exert different
effects. Remember, essential oils are
complex mixtures of chemicals
 A single species of plant can have
several different chemotypes based
on its chemical composition. A plant
grown in one area might produce an
essential oil with a completely
different chemistry than the same
species grown in another location.
The bottom line: low doses (of plant chemicals) will usually be safer than
higher doses – so start slow. Inhaled or topical uses will usually be
safer than ingestion.
© Project SOUND

46. Why do mints smell/taste ‘minty’
 Composition of essential oils varies
by species – even by individual
plant – yet all are distinctly minty
 Like fine blended perfumes:
different key notes, but an
underlying fragrance of mint
 Principal components of most
Pycnanthemums (incl. CA Mountain
Mint) :
 Pulegone
 Menthone
 Limonene
© Project SOUND

47.  A monoterpene
Pulegone  Has a pleasant odor similar to
pennyroyal, peppermint and
camphor.
 Is used in flavoring agents, in
perfumery, and in aromatherapy
 A chemical similar to capsaicin that
also has pain-relieving effects.
 Toxic if ingested in large quantities;
broken down if heated
 Insect repellant; Pycnanthemums
are less toxic to animals/humans
than peppermint and other insect
repellants
© Project SOUND

48. Menthone explains part of the ‘minty’ scent
 Menthone is also a monoterpene and a
ketone.
 It is structurally related to menthol
which has a secondary alcohol in place of
the carbonyl.
 Is a constituent of the essential oils of
pennyroyal, peppermint, Pelargonium
geraniums, and other scented species
 Menthone is used in perfumery and
cosmetics for its characteristic aromatic
and minty odor.
© Project SOUND

49. d-Limonene  One of the most common terpenes in
nature - produced by many plants
 Some forms have distinct scent of citrus
 Uses:
 As a scent agent in food, cosmetics &
perfumes
 As a cleaner/de-greaser
 As a solvent for paint removal, glue
removal, clearing tissues for histology -
can replace a wide variety of products,
including mineral spirits, methyl ethyl
ketone, acetone, toluene, glycol ethers,
and of course fluorinated and chlorinated
http://www.floridachemical.com/whatisd-limonene.htm
organic solvents.
 As it is combustible, limonene has also
been considered as a biofuel
 ? anti- cancer effects
 As a botanical insecticide
© Project SOUND
http://www.petworldshop.com/adams-1007664/adams-flea-amp-tick-shampoo-limonene.php

50. Dangers of distilled essential oils
 Highly concentrated
 Should not be applied directly to the skin in their undiluted state
 Dilute with passive carrier oils before ingestion or topical application. Common
carrier oils include olive, almond, hazelnut and grapeseed. A common ratio of
essential oil disbursed in a carrier oil is 0.5–3% (most under 10%).
 Some can cause severe irritation, provoke an allergic reaction and, over time,
prove hepatotoxic. Try low dose test on your skin to determine sensitivity.
 Some essential oils, including many of the citrus peel oils, are photosensitizers.
 Consult the material safety data sheets (MSDS) for hazards and handling
requirements of particular oils.
 Handling
 Can be aggressive toward rubbers/plastics
 Are oils – spills will stain
 Use in Pregnancy
 The use of essential oils in pregnancy is not recommended due to inadequate
published evidence to demonstrate evidence of safety.
© Project SOUND

51. Other cautions about the use of
purchased essential oils
 Ingesting essential oils
 Used extensively as flavoring agents - according to strict Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and flavorist standards in low doses
 Ingestion of essential oils for therapeutic purposes should never be
done except under the supervision of someone licensed to prescribe
such treatment.
 Some common essential oils are toxic internally.
 The internal use of essential oils can pose hazards to pregnant
women and should not be used during pregnancy.
 Flammability
 The flash point of each essential oil is different. Many of the
common essential oils, such as lavender and citrus oils, are classed as
a Class 3 Flammable Liquid, as they have a flash point of 50–60 °C.
© Project SOUND

52. Benefits of using your own fresh or dried
herbal products
 Lower cost
 Guaranteed fresh; and you get to enjoy
the harvesting
 You know no pesticides have been used on
them
 You know that the product has not been
treated or adulterated – and contains only
the herb you want
 Doses of chemicals are low in fresh/dry
products compared to distilled essential
oils
 You’re limited to what your garden can
produce – not as likely to overdo
© Project SOUND

53. Air drying herbs: easy & inexpensive
1. Cut healthy herb branches mid-
morning from plant. The best time to
cut herbs for drying is just before
they flower—this is when they
contain the most oil, which is what
gives them their aroma and flavor.
2. Pull off any diseased/dry leaves; make
sure there are no insects on leaves.
3. Pull off lower leaves from herb
branches, so that you have space to
tie them together.
http://www.flowersociety.org/abundance-in-medicine-making.html 4. If dirty, rinse herbs with cool water;
gently pat dry with a paper towel.
© Project SOUND

54. Air drying herbs: easy & inexpensive
5. Combine 5-6 herb branches together
then tie with string.
6. Label a paper bag with the name of the
herb(s). Make several holes in the bag
then place the herb bundle, leaves down,
into the bag so that the stems are at
the opening of the bag. Gather the open
end of the bag around the stems and tie
closed. Hang the bag in a well ventilated,
warm room (70 to 80 degrees F). You
can dry herbs without placing them in a
paper bag, but the paper bag helps keep
dust off of the herbs while they’re
drying.
7. Check herbs in approximately two weeks
then periodically until dried. The drying
process should take approximately 2 to
4 weeks. © Project SOUND

55. Air drying herbs: easy & inexpensive
8. Store your dried herbs in
an air-tight container in a
cool place away from
direct sunlight
9. Use within 6-12 months;
will lose their potency
© Project SOUND

56. Simple uses for your dried native herbs
 Simmering herbs – to give a
touch of fragrance to the whole
house; great on cold winter days
 Scented wands & wreaths
 Potpourri jars
© Project SOUND

57. Simple native potpourri: your choice of
scents
 Use any combination of dried
leaves and flowers – ‘blend
your own perfume’
 Store it in an air-tight jar –
open when you need a little
fragrance
 Replenish the herbs as needed
 A ‘fixative’ will keep the
potpourri fresh longer – and
you won’t need to hide it away
© Project SOUND

58.  The fixative absorbs and retains
Fixatives for potpourri the volatile scented essences.
 Some common fixatives (readily
available on-line or at some craft
or herbal/health food stores):
 Chopped orris root (root of
Florentine Iris) - has little scent
so it is a good base. Use 1-2
tablespoons of dried orris root
per cup dried potpourri mix.
http://evepenman.blogspot.com/2012/02/home-made-potpourri.html
 Chopped calamus root
 Oak moss, cellulose, ground gum
benzoin or fiberfix
 A cheap alternative is dried
citrus peel – use lemon or
whatever you have available
 Some people also add a few drops
of essential oils
http://www.incendiary-arts.com/catalog/product_info.php?
products_id=130&osCsid=v1pj9rcgirb1rsb2so3rdi8ga4 © Project SOUND

59. Fruit and Herb Soaps
 Relatively simple and straight
forward in the home kitchen if you
purchase ‘melt-and-pour’ soap
bases – lots of sources online
 You can use fresh, pureed
materials (all fruits and herbs;
whole berries, herb leaves, or
citrus rinds, etc).
http://essentialoilworld.com/essentialoilreviews/all-natural-personal-care-
products/all-natural-essential-oil-soap
 You can also use ground, dried
materials: ground dried juniper
berries; mint leaves; sage leaves,
etc.
 Follow the directions exactly
 Warning: may become an addicting
hobby
© Project SOUND
http://trusk4u.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

60. Purple Sage – Salvia leucophylla
Photo by Amy Findlay
© Project SOUND

61. Purple Sage – Salvia leucophylla
 Central and southern coast and
coastal mountains of CA to Baja
 Dry open hills, usually in areas
http://www.swsbm.com/Maps/Salvia_leucophylla.gif with coastal influence:
 Chaparral
 Coastal sage scrub
 leucophylla: white-leaved
 Many variants and hybrids -
confusing
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?4745,4865,4879
© Project SOUND

62. Why choose Purple Sage?
http://wildfire.geog.csulb.edu/resac/project/veg/images/salvia/sage2.jpg http://www.timetotrack.com/jay/sagep.htm
 Lovely foliage: gray-green in spring, white-soft in summer – nice aroma
 Attractive flowers: often lavender to pinkish; lovely “pastel” look to entire plant
 Mounded growth habit
 Many horticultural cultivars and hybrids – with wide range of characteristics
(flower color; height/size; scent)
© Project SOUND

63. Sages – long used in herbal therapy
 Sage & sage oils have been used for
many medical conditions – and for a
long time
 Calming/soothing properties; used to
calm and induce sleep
 The proven therapeutic properties of
sage oil:
 anti-spasmotic
 anti-inflammatory
http://theresaann.hubpages.com/hub/clary-sage-
essential-oils-properties-and-benefits
 antibacterial, antiseptic; skin wounds,
urinary tract and colon

http://theresaann.hubpages.com/hub/healing-with-essential-oils
© Project SOUND

64. Salvia leucophylla: used like common
sage
 Used in soaps, perfumes and
cosmetics
 Sage stimulates skin. Used in skin
lotions, massage oils.
 In herbal baths it is mixed with
lavender for stimulation.
http://chickenknits.blogspot.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
 In the foot bath it stimulates and
relieves aches – used by Chumash
(with Black & White Sages)
 Used for herb wreaths and in
potpourris and sachets.
© Project SOUND

65.  Waxy, white or transparent solid with a
strong, aromatic odor
Camphor
 Found in wood of camphor & laurel trees –
also in rosemary & Purple Sage
 Used for its scent, as an ingredient in
cooking (mainly in India), for medicinal
purposes, and in religious ceremonies
 Modern uses:
 as a moth repellent
 as an antimicrobial substance
 in embalming & fireworks
 Solid camphor releases fumes that form a
rust-preventative coating - stored in tool
chests to protect tools against rust.
 Camphor crystals used to prevent damage to
insect collections by other small insects.
© Project SOUND

66.  Camphor is readily absorbed through
Camphor the skin and produces a feeling of
cooling similar to that of menthol,
and acts as slight local anesthetic
and antimicrobial substance.
 There are anti-itch gels and cooling
gels with camphor as the active
ingredient.
 Camphor is an active ingredient
(along with menthol) in vapor-steam
products, such as Vicks VapoRub. A
recent publication in Pediatrics
suggests the topical application of
VapoRub may improve symptoms of
High doses of camphor are colds and sleep quality when
toxic – very high doses can compared to a control
kill; USDA limits to topical
preparations
© Project SOUND

67.  AKA Eucalyptol; high concentrations
in Eucalyptus species
Cineole
 Also found in camphor laurel, bay
leaves, tea tree, mugwort, sweet basil,
wormwood, rosemary, sage and other
aromatic plant foliage.
 Fresh camphor-like smell and a spicy,
cooling taste
 Used as a flavoring at low levels
(0.002%) in various products, including
Although it can be used baked goods, confectionery, meat
internally as a flavoring and products and beverages.
medicine ingredient at very
low doses, typical of many  Medical uses: for colds, runny nose;
essential oils (volatile oils),
eucalyptol is toxic if ingested also reduces pain & inflammation in
at higher than normal doses topical applications; kills oral bacteria;
may improve concentration abilities
© Project SOUND

68. Smudging: another way to use native herbs
 An integral part of the Native
American, Celt, and other ancient
cultures as a way to cleanse, purify,
clear, and release energy.
 Used in many ceremonies and rituals,
setting the mood, and preparing
those involved emotionally,
spiritually, and psychically.
 Often employed before meditation,
prayer, sweat lodge, when people are
ill/depressed, or just to ‘create a
http://spiritwings4me.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html new beginning’.
 Smudging can be performed in one's
environment, on the physical body,
and personal possessions.
© Project SOUND

69. Using aromatic
smoke
 Commonly, smudging is done
with a bundle or stick.
Another method is to put the
http://smudging.org/?tag=smudging herbs into a pot.
 Either way, the herbs are lit
to form an ember that imparts
a stream of smoke.
 This smoke is fanned or
moved around the area, person
or items, generally in a
clockwise direction.
© Project SOUND
http://whitewolfewilderness.fatcow.com/store/product18.html

70. Many aromatic herbs are used for making
smudge sticks
 Western Sages
 Silver King Artemisia
 Lavender
 Mugwort
 Yarrow
 Hemlock Pine
 Balsam
 Cedar
 Juniper
 Angelica
 Yerba Santa
 Many others
http://sageandsmudge.com/smudgesticks.htm
© Project SOUND

71.  Gather small branches (ask the plant
Making a for permission before cutting).
smudge stick  Let herbs sit for several hours to a
day until they become slightly limp.
 Choose the twine for wrapping the
smudge stick. Use a natural material
like cotton or hemp. Take a length of
string and measure three and a half
times the length of the branches.
 Lay out your cuttings and form an
easy to wrap bundle.
 Tie a loop on one end of the twine;
make a slipknot. Place the slipknot
loop around the bottom of the stems,
pulling tight.
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/lammascrafts/ss/SmudgeSticks_4.htm
© Project SOUND

72.  Wrap the twine around the
Making a smudge smudge stick until you have
reached the top. Be sure to keep a
stick moderate tension. If the twine is
too tight the smudge stick will not
burn well - if it is too loose your
smudge stick will fall apart.
 When you have reached the top,
reverse the direction, wrap again
to the bottom, and tie a knot.
 Some people like to tie the twine
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/lammascrafts/ss/SmudgeSticks_4.htm in several places as they wrap
 Dry the smudge stick for several
weeks in a warm, dry place
© Project SOUND

73. How to Burn your Smudge Stick
 Light the tip of the stick well. Make sure
the sage has plenty of air for the flame
to really get going. Allow the sage to
smolder.
 Use a feather or other fanning device
(your hands work just as well) to direct
the smoke where you'd like it to travel.
Inhale the smoke lightly as you visualize
all negativity leaving your body and
environment.
 To easily put out the smudge, have a
plate (or traditionally, an abalone shell)
filled with a bit of sand nearby. When
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/lammascrafts/ss/SmudgeSticks_4.htm you are finished, put the sage out in the
sand by lightly tamping it down until
extinguished. Stored properly, a sage
stick can last for years of use!
© Project SOUND

74. Smudging is not for everyone…
 People with respiratory
conditions (asthma; chronic
bronchitis; etc.)
 People with smoke allergies
 Some people may be allergic to
sage or other components
when burned
http://www.isabellacatalog.com/p/White-Sage-Wildcrafted-Smudge-Stick.cfm  Be sensible and respectful –
start slowly and test individual
plant parts for their effect on
you
© Project SOUND

75. Herbal sachets are a milder way of using
native aromatic plants
 Sachets can be placed in
drawers with sweaters,
gloves, lingerie, and linens
to give them a beautiful
scent.
 They can also be hung on
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-
hangers under dresses and
to-make-a-moth-repellent-s-76949
shirts or even placed inside
shoes, or put into suitcases
or in the pockets of winter
coats being stored through
the summer.
© Project SOUND

76. Making an herbal sachet
 Select or make a small bag with a somewhat
open weave. Be sure to leave one side open,
if you are making bags. Purchased re-
useable tea or herb bags work fine
http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-make-
 Mix together enough dried herbs to fill the
lavender-sachet.html
bag.
 If you’d like to enhance the scent, a few
drops of essential oil can be added; orris
root powder can be used as a fixative.
 Fill the bag with the flowers and herbs.
 Either sew the bag closed, or tie the end
tightly with ribbon or string.
 Enjoy. Rubbing the bag gently will further
crush the herbs and release their
fragrance.
© Project SOUND

77. Customize your sachets
 An insect repellent blend might
include: lavender, rosemary, sage,
mint, santolina, pennyroyal, tansy,
mugwort, cedarwood chips…
http://evepenman.blogspot.com/2012/02/home-made-potpourri.html
 A soothing potpourri if you want to
know how to make poutpourri might
include: lemon balm, lemon verbena,
rose petals, lavender, calendula,
meadowsweet, chamomile…
 For sachets tucked in with clothes
you might try rose and lavender mixes
or a blend of citrus peel, spearmint,
lemon verbena, and thyme, with a drop
or two of pine essential oil.
http://knitforyourlife.blogspot.com/2008/12/lavender-sachet-free-pattern.html
http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/recipestepbystep/ss/StockSachet_3.htm © Project SOUND

78. California (Coastal) Sagebrush –
Artemisia californica
© Project SOUND

79. California (Coastal) Sagebrush –
Artemisia californica
 Coastal CA from Marin County and
Napa County south to San Diego
County & Baja – a ‘CA endemic’
 Coastal scrub, chaparral, dry
foothills, especially near coast, <
800 m.
 May even be found on Coastal
Prairie/strand
 Artemisia: referring to the Greek
goddess Artemis who so benefited
from a plant of this family that
she gave it her own name
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?609,719,726
© Project SOUND

80. Adaptations to
mediterranean climate
 Shrub form – not large
 Re-sprouts from crown when
damaged (by fire or eating)
 Leaves:
 Small
 Silvery
 Seasonally dimorphic
 Roots:
 Shallow, net-like
 Forms adventitious roots when
stems touch soil
 Interesting chemicals:
 Scented foliage – to repel
herbivores
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/californiasagebrush.html
 Burns readily
© Project SOUND

81. Ca Sagebrush is great  Use in rock gardens, herb
gardens, and in flower beds
for local gardens and borders.
 The silvery gray foliage makes
an excellent backdrop or
separator for bright-colored
or delicate flowers.
 Especially attractive massed
in sunny areas
 Include in a fragrance
garden: very aromatic; fills
the air around it with its
lovely scent
 Useful for erosion control
 An interesting ‘cut flower’
Important habitat plant:
• Fall bee-food  Can make a tea from the
leaves – was used by Native
• Birds: important for roosting, cover
Californians for colds
• Lizards: important cover plant
 Can be a fire hazard
© Project SOUND

82. Artemisia: scents function to protect the
vulnerable parts of the plant
 Most species have strong aromas
and bitter tastes from terpenoids
and sesquiterpene lactones - an
adaptation to discourage herbivory
 Artemisia oils had inhibitory
effects on the growth of:
 bacteria (Escherichia coli,
Staphylococcus aureus, and
Staphylococcus epidermidis);
 yeasts (Candida albicans,
Cryptococcus neoformans);
 and dermatophytes (Trichophyton
rubrum, Microsporum canis, and
Microsporum gypseum), Fonsecaea
pedrosoi and Aspergillus niger
© Project SOUND

83. California Sagebrush: medicines &
memories
 Native peoples used artemisia for the
treatment of coughs and colds. It is
said to help alleviate menstrual cramps
in women and to ease labor. The Cahuilla
Indian word for this plant is hulvel. Like
many sages, California sagebrush can be
used in cooking as a spice.
 The smell of Californian sagebrush
reminds many Californians of the smell
of grandmother's house. A pleasant
smell, like Californian sagebrush, can
help the patient remember long-lost
memories. Aromatherapy is a very
powerful way of bringing back pleasant
memories.
© Project SOUND

84. Native California uses suggest ways we
might use sagebrush
 The Luiseño and Cahuilla tribes used coastal sagebrush in girl’s
puberty rights; smoke from the leaves purified and perfumed the
skin and clothes of the young girls in the ceremony.
 A tea of the stems and leaves was also used by women at the
beginning of each menstrual period and after giving birth.
 For respiratory ailments, a decoction of the leaves and stems was
used externally for the relief of colds, cough, and asthma, and a
decoction was taken internally for bronchitis.
 Some tribes used a decoction of the plant as a bath for
rheumatism. The scents and warmth added to the soothing
effect
 Some Indians of the California coast used the leaves to relieve
tooth aches and as a poultice for wounds, and the Cahuilla chewed
and smoked the leaves mixed with wild tobacco.
 The pungent smell of the coastal sagebrush makes it effective as
an insect repellent
© Project SOUND

85. California Sagebrush Tea: easy to prepare
 They say that the tea can  12 cups water
be drunk safely, in 2 Tbsp dried California
moderation, and that it will sagebrush (loosely packed)
bring back pleasant
memories.  Bring water to a boil and
remove from heat. Add
 Used also for irregular sagebrush and let steep for
periods at least 4 hours. It’s best to
let it steep overnight, strain
 You could also use this as a out the sagebrush, and
refrigerate the remaining
room freshener or insect
amount.
repellant
© Project SOUND

86. Simple Ways to Use Herbs in your Bath
http://www.herb.co.za/herb-remedies/herbalbathrecipes.htm
 Make an herbal infusion (basically a strong tea), using a handful of
herbs and a quart of boiling water. Let it steep for half an hour
to an hour, then strain and add to the drawn bath.
 Soak a handful of herbs in a quart of warm milk for several hours.
Strain and add the milk to the drawn bath.
© Project SOUND

87. Simple Ways to Use Herbs in your Bath
 Place herbs in a muslin bag or tea
strainer. Than place the bag or strainer
under the water as you run your bath (use
hot water). When the bath is drawn, place
the bag or strainer in the tub. Let the
water cool, then enjoy your bath. Squeeze
the herbal bath sachet gently to extract
the remainder of the herbs' essence. You
can either leave the herbal bath sachet in
the water during the bath or remove it.
 To make your bath more emollient (skin
softening), add almond meal or skim milk
powder. Or soak finely ground oatmeal or
barley in warm water, strain, and add the
water to your herbal bath.
http://www.orataiimport.com/pb/wp_c93b399c/wp_c93b399c.html
© Project SOUND

88. Herbal body scrub
1 cup sea salt, kosher salt or epsom salts
1/2 cup sunflower oil (or other oil – almond is nice)
1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
1 tablespoon dried herbs ground very fine (parsley,
mint, lavender, sagebrush or a combination)
1 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
1. Mix together all ingredients and pour into
clean jar with tight-fitting lid.
2. To use: While standing in the tub or shower,
take a handful of the scrub and gently
massage into skin. Massage salt all over body,
rinse with warm water and pat dry. Do not use
soap or other cleansers, to preserve the
moisturizing effect.
3. Store any leftover scrub in a cool, dry place or
refrigerator.
© Project SOUND

89. CA Mugwort - Artemisia douglasiana

90. CA Mugwort - Artemisia douglasiana
 Much of non-desert CA: WA to Baja
 Many Plant Communities including
Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral,
Freshwater Marsh, Mountain Meadow,
Mixed-evergreen Forest, Southern
Oak Woodland
 A plant of moist/riparian places
 Named for David Douglas (1798-1834),
Scottish botanist who made several
journeys to America. Douglas provided
the material from which some 300
species of California plants were to be
described
http://www.swsbm.com/Maps/Artemisia_douglasiana.gif
 ‘Mugwort’ from use of this species in
mugs to flavor beer prior to hops

91. CA Mugwort in the wild
 Usually in damp places in drier
surroundings - a ‘facultative
wetland indicator species’
 grows vigorously in the late
winter through the middle of
spring
 When the sun is shining it
inverts its leaves so the pale
undersides face the sun,
reflecting most of the rays
and keeping the plant from
losing valuable moisture
 Loses it’s leaves in summer
drought
http://www.baynatives.com/plants/Artemisia-douglasiana/

92. Uses for CA Mugwort
 Ground cover on naturally
landscaped slopes, hillsides
 Under trees/shrubs like Mule
Fat
 In planters & pots – contained
situations
 For erosion control
This is an important medicine plant
for Native Californians. Used as a
purifying plant in ceremonies.
Also good for treating stomach &
other gastrointestinal illnesses

93. Some traditional uses of Mugwort
 It was used for flavoring beer before the
introduction of hops. The plant was
gathered when in flower and dried. Malt
liquor was then boiled with it so as to form
a strong decoction, and the liquid thus
prepared was added to the beer.
 Mugwort is occasionally employed as an
aromatic culinary herb, being one of the
green herbs with which poultry are often
stuffed during roasting.
 The leaves used to be steeped in baths, to
communicate an invigorating property to
http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/mugwort.html
the water.
 Placed among woolen cloths it prevents and
destroys the moths.
© Project SOUND