Gumweed Tincture

4 oz. brown glass bottle.(Grindelia squarrosa). Gumweed tincture is excellent used in asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and upper respiratory catarrh. This is also a good choice for ear and throat infections.

Gumweed also acts to relax smooth muscles and heart muscles. This helps to explain its use in the treatment of asthmatic and bronchial conditions, especially where these are associated with a rapid heart beat and nervous response. Because of the relaxing effect on the heart and pulse rate, there may be a reduction in blood pressure.

There are about twenty-five species of the genus, seven or eight being found in South America. The early growth of most of them is covered with a glutinous varnish. They are perennial or biennial herbs or small shrubs, with stems up to half-a-yard long, round, yellow, and smooth, with alternate, light-green, coarsely-toothed leaves having a clasping base. They are easily broken off when dried, so are often found loose in packages. The solitary, terminal flower-heads are large and yellow, both disk and radiate. Taste and odour are slightly aromatic, the former bitter.

Constituents: Grindelia may contain as much as 21 per cent of amorphous resins. There is also found tannin, laevoglucose, and a little volatile oil. The presence of glucosides has not been confirmed.