What Is Osha Root Good for and What Are the Side Effects?

Osha root is an understudied herbal remedy with a long history in North America. Osha root is good for respiratory infections, indigestion, vomiting, and other ailments.

Osha root is an understudied herbal remedy with a long history in North America. For centuries, Hispanics, Native Americans, and other populations have used this plant to treat various ailments, such as bronchitis and sore throats. 

In the last two decades, natural medicine enthusiasts from all backgrounds have increasingly turned to osha root as a cure for respiratory diseases and other illnesses. But formal scientific research on osha root remains limited. Are you interested in using this herbal supplement? Learn about the uses and risks of osha root before you add it to your healthcare regimen. 

The osha plant belongs to the Apiacae family, which includes carrots, celery, dill, and parsley. Unlike its frequently farmed relatives, the osha plant mainly grows in the wild in Mexico and the southwestern United States. Experts estimate that there are over 40 to 60 flowering species of Ligusticum plants, but Lingusticum porteri is the main variety used as an herbal supplement today. 

The plant goes by several names, including: 

• Bear root
• Chuchupate 
• Mountain lovage 

In North America, Indigenous peoples traditionally used the osha plant for food, medicine, and rituals. Many southwest Hispanic communities also consumed the root as a herbal supplement.  

You can grow osha root under the right conditions, but most retailers obtain plants harvested in the wild. This method has led to concerns about the long-term sustainability of osha. Experts recommend that harvesters only gather 50% of mature plants from a site to ensure that osha can continue to thrive in the wild. 

Today, osha root has two primary uses: cooking and herbal medicine. Depending on your interests and health needs, you may acquire osha root for either or both purposes. 

The osha plant has many culinary uses. You can use the leaves, seeds, and roots to season food like chile and tacos. The raw leaves also make a delicious addition to salads or soups. 

Due to its alleged antibacterial and antiviral properties, many people also use osha root for medicinal purposes. Few studies have scientifically analyzed the plant’s healing properties. But some people have used osha root to treat these diseases and symptoms:  

• Bronchial pneumonia 
• Cold and flu 
• COVID-19
• Indigestion 
• Low appetite
• Vomiting  

Because researchers have not proven osha root’s effectiveness as a medicinal treatment, you should consider consulting your doctor before taking the supplement. 

You can purchase or prepare osha root in several forms: 

• Capsules: Herbal medicine suppliers sell 500 mg capsules of osha root extract. If you don’t want the hassle of preparing osha root, capsules are an easy and time-saving alternative. 
• Roots: You can buy dried, fresh, or whole osha roots to chew or turn into tea. Many grocery stores and online retailers carry osha root. 
• Tea: Create your own tea by simmering osha root in a pot with water for at least 30 minutes. For best results, simmer the tea for five to six hours, adding more water as necessary. 
• Tincture: You can take drops of osha root tincture up to five times daily to treat illness. Some herbal supplement retailers supply premade osha root tincture, but you can also prepare the mixture yourself. 

Always read the instructions or online recipes carefully to ensure that you correctly prepare the medicine and take the proper dosage. 

Scientists have not fully explored the benefits of osha root. Preliminary studies suggest that the supplement may provide these health benefits:  

• Decrease pain. A mice study found that osha root extract can serve as an effective analgesic, or pain reliever. 
• Fight harmful microbes. The osha plant has antimicrobial properties that can help fight dangerous bacteria that cause gastrointestinal issues, respiratory diseases, and nosocomial diseases that spread in hospitals. 
• Increase antioxidants. Osha root contains antioxidants, molecules that fight the harmful effects of oxidation. A diet rich in antioxidants may decrease the risk of cancer, macular degeneration, and other diseases. 
• Reduce inflammation. Several studies have discovered that osha root has anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-inflammatory medications and supplements reduce irritation and swelling caused by problems like arthritis, injuries, and menstrual cramps. 
• Regulate blood glucose. One study found that the supplement lowered blood glucose levels in mice. This result suggests that osha root could help prevent hypoglycemia in humans.  

More research is needed to conclusively determine the benefits of consuming osha root. A few recent studies primarily test the effects of the plant on animal subjects. But this limited research does indicate that osha root has various helpful properties that may positively impact human health. 

Healthcare professionals and researchers don’t fully understand how osha root affects the human body. Possible side effects of consuming this supplement include:  

• Hemlock poisoning: The osha plant closely resembles poisonous hemlock. Because people typically harvest osha root from the wild, pickers may confuse the two plants. If you accidentally consume poisonous hemlock instead of osha root, you may experience hemlock poisoning. Symptoms of this condition include confusion, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, seizures, sweating, and vomiting. In severe cases, poison hemlock can cause kidney failure and muscle paralysis. If you believe that you have accidentally taken poison hemlock instead of osha root, you should seek medical health immediately.  
• Pregnancy: Spanish and Mexican people in New Mexico traditionally used osha root as an abortifacient and a menstrual stimulant. Women should avoid consuming the plant while pregnant or lactating.  

The long-term side effects of taking osha root are unknown. Exercise caution while taking this herbal remedy and consider starting with a low dose to see how your body reacts. 

For centuries, North American Indigenous peoples have used osha root to treat many conditions. The scientific community has not yet devoted much attention to studying the effectiveness of this herbal remedy. Most information about osha root comes from folk wisdom. 

Because of the lack of scientific research, the full benefits and risks of taking osha root remain undiscovered. If you’re interested in trying the herbal supplement, you can ask your doctor for guidance.