Last night I went to the library to return some books and get some more. But out in the parking lot, I found a few nice things too:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/...c95b6dca_b.jpg
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata)
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
Mormon tea (Ephedra viridis Coville)
The creosote bush is like the medicine cabinet of the desert, as it has antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Since some research has shown that it can have damaging effects on the liver, I'll just use it for topical applications - like treating bites, stings, and scrapes. ;)
Jojoba nuts are mostly a food. Though, I used some as a soap ingredient, as both an exfoliant and moisturizer.
This time, I might try it as a dietary aid. Supposedly ingesting 1 or 2 before a meal gives one a feeling of satiety. You have to go easy though, because they are also a laxative! :blushing:
Traditional uses for Mormon Tea include treatment for colds, stomach ailments, arthritis, and syphilis. It was used externally to treat sores.
I keep some around to use as a mildly-stimulating tea, and to help my asthma. In an emergency, I'd reach for my albuterol inhaler. But if my chest is feeling mildly tight, due to poor air quality or exertion, I might gnaw on a twig, and it seems to reduce my symptoms.
Good thing one of the books I got at the library was:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...SH20_OU01_.jpg
A couple weeks ago, I was at the in-laws, and noticed their chaste trees had lots of dried seeds on the. So I grabbed a few, out of curiosity, but not knowing if they were useful or not.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/...81ff7574_b.jpg
Turns out, it's good for lots of things:
http://www.drugs.com/npp/chaste-tree.html
I think I'm going to try it out for uh... "lady problems".:blushing:
