Herb Plants of the Southwest

Soap Plant

• The native Indian tribes of southern California bathed in lather produced by the soap lily, Chlorogalum pomeridianum. They removed the outer fibers and scales from the bulbs, crushed them and rubbed their hands and clothing with water. The wet bulbs produced lather, adding softness and shine to hair, and removing dandruff, according to W.P. Armstrong, from Palomar College.

  Native tribes also peeled, roasted and ate the soap lily bulbs. They cooked them slowly in earth ovens to remove the soapy flavor. The baking bulbs produced a thick glue-like substance; the Indians attached feathers to arrow shafts and coated baskets in the glue to make them watertight. They also ate the spring shoots of the young lily plants, and wrapped acorn bread in the older leaves.

Ocotillo

• Ocotillo grows in the desert regions of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. This shallow-rooted desert plant has numerous long, thin stems, covered in woody thorns. Researchers at the New Mexico State University report that a tincture made from the bark lessens the symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disorders. The Cahuilla Indians brewed an ocotillo root tea and served it to elderly people suffering from wet hacking coughs; the Apache people drank fresh or dried ocotillo blossoms in a tea to treat muscle aches and swelling.

Prodigiosa

• Brickellia grandiflora or prodigiosa is a perennial herb that grows to be between 3 and 5 feet tall. It has one main root that produces numerous branches with 2-inch long rich green leaves. Prodigiosa grows as far north as Washington, as far south as Mexico, and as far east as Arkansas. People in Mexico bathe in prodigiosa to lessen arthritis symptoms. Medicinal chemicals in the stems and leaves help dissolve small gallstones, lower blood sugar levels and improve digestion, according to the New Mexico State University's Medicinal Plants of the Southwest website.

Skunkbush Sumac

• Several different varieties of Rhus trilobata, or skunkbush sumac, grow from the desert southwest to the Pacific Northwest, and as far east as Maryland. Skunkbush is a deciduous perennial shrub that reaches between 1 and 3 feet in height, depending upon its location. The leaves grow in groups of three. The shrub produces yellowish flowers in the spring, and sticky reddish-orange berries in the fall. The Utah State University Extension explains that Native Americans created foods, medicines and drinks with skunkbush berries. They also made clothing dyes and baskets from the leaves, twigs, shoots and stems.