Heal Thyself—Save the Osha

By Kimberly Lord Stewart

Ethnobotanist Shawn Sigstedt has dedicated his life to the preservation and study of osha (Ligusticum porteri), a white-flowered plant that’s native to the mountainous American West. The root of the plant, which acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, can help treat colds, flu, upper respiratory infections, and even arthritis. But overharvesting of wild osha, climate change, and loss of habitat threaten populations of the plant with extinction. Sigstedt is determined to prevent that from happening: After traveling to three continents researching the plant, he’s developed an innovative sustainable method for cultivating it. For more information, contact Shawn Sigstedt at park@healingplanet.org.

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