Manzanita
Manzanita
Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos patula or Arctostaphylos mewukka.
This beautiful California native shrub/tree with reddish bark is a wonderful edible and medicinal herb. Used externally in formulas to treat poison oak, rashes, and bug bites.
Below is an overview of manzanita, combining and interpreting the best of Western science, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), shamanism, folklore and more. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of manzanita.
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Western
Western Name: Manzanita
Also Known As: Mountain Driftwood
Organs/Systems: Stomach, Bladder, Uterus, Skin
Key Actions: Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic
Medicinal Uses: Genitourinary remedy, poison oak, kidney ailments, urinary tract infections (UTI’s), headaches, prostate infections, cramps.

Eastern
Pin Yin: Not traditionally used in TCM.
Also Known As: N/A
Meridians: Lung, Kidney, Bladder, Chong and Ren
Key Actions: Clears Heat, Reduces Inflammation, Clears Toxins, Tonifies Urogenital Organs, Stimulates Uterus
Medicinal Uses: Stomach, skin disorders, urinary tract infections (UTI’s), uterine cramping, promotes contractions and enhances labor.
Parts Most Frequently Used: Berries are edible, Leaves (both green and grey varietals), Bark
Flavors: Astringent, Cold, Dry
Caution: Pregnancy and overuse can cause stomach upset, due to high tannin levels.
History/Folklore: Name comes from the Spanish for “little apple.” It has been used as early as the 13th century by Native Americans for food and smoking. The bark is very difficult to cure, so it is seldom used as timber. Some furniture will use whole branches to prevent cracking and preserve deep red color. The dead wood decays slowly and can last for many years, both on and off the plant. Branches are often used as perches for pet parrots and other large birds. Unlike other woods, manzanita wood does not leach out tannins in water, which makes it an excellent decorative wood for aquariums. Although it is an excellent wood to burn since it retains heat for long periods, it can crack stoves and thin-walled barbecues.
Key Constituents:
Tannins

Mountain Driftwood
Called Mountain Driftwood due to its grey color of wood/bark as it ages. The wood is decay resistant. Ages very slowly.

Bearberry
Bearberry (Uva-ursi, Arctostaphylus uva-ursi) is a third member of the heath family of Manzanita, is also good for urinary tract infections (UTI’s) and uterine cramping.

Manzanita Dye
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