Gymnosperma glutinosum
StarGymnosperma glutinosum
Synonyms: Baccharis fasciculosa, Selloa corymbosa, Gymnosperma scoparium, Denekia glutinosa, Xanthocephalum glutinosum, Selloa glutinosa, Gymnosperma corymbosum, Selloa multiflora, Gymnosperma multiflorum, Selloa scoparia
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Tatalencho is a widely used remedy in Mexican folk medicine. Decoctions and infusions of the resinous aerial parts and leaves are taken for gastrointestinal complaints including diarrhoea, stomach ache, and dysentery, and are used to treat colds and respiratory ailments; the plant is also applied externally to wounds, sores, and inflammations and used in baths for rheumatic and muscular pain (Martinez, Las Plantas Medicinales de Mexico; Argueta et al., 1994). Pharmacological studies report anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity attributed to flavonoids and diterpenoid constituents of the resin (Yam-Puc et al., 2019).
Botanical Description
Gymnosperma glutinosum, known in Mexico as tatalencho or escoba, is a resinous, much-branched shrub or subshrub of the Asteraceae growing to about half a metre to one and a half metres tall. The numerous slender stems are sticky and glossy with resin, bearing narrow, linear to oblanceolate, gland-dotted leaves with entire margins that are likewise glutinous and aromatic. The very small yellow flower heads are crowded into dense, flat-topped or rounded clusters at the branch tips, each head containing a few ray and disc florets. The achenes are small with a minute scaly pappus or none. Native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America, it is common on dry slopes, rocky ground, grassland, and disturbed sites, and is the only species in its genus.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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