Habitat

Desert, Sagebrush Steppe

Plant Uses

soak for pain & swelling, yellow dye

Video Presenter

Arnold Clifford

Rubber Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

Rubber Rabbitbrush (aka chamiso) (Chrysothamnus nauseosus, recently renamed Ericameria nauseosa) (Asteraceae, sunflower family)

This plant has three traditional uses.

The bright yellow flowers, which lure in a myriad of pollinator bugs in the fall, were used to make a yellow dye for clothing and crafts.

Boiled in water, the dried leaves and flowers were used by some tribes to soak arthritic joints to relieve pain and swelling.

Ceremonially, this species is considered potent medicine to treat someone who has been attacked or possessed by an unwanted spirit. Shoshone tradition uses it in this way to treat nightmares.

Note: many tribal members familiar with its ceremonial use will not speak of rabbitbrush to white people. Apparently, it can backfire and make things worse if used improperly.

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