Asteraceae.
Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California (Elevation: < 3,000 feet). Generally, grows on dry rocky mountain sides.
March to May.
Brittle bush has been shown to have sedative properties but also has many other medicinal uses.
A tea or tincture using the leaves of the plant can be used to treat hay fever, allergies, congestion, joint pain, and headaches.
Chewing the twigs of brittle bush is used for toothaches, earaches, sore gums, and cold sores.
Externally, it can be applied to open wounds or to sore joints, as a fresh flower poultice, brittle bush reduces pain and promotes healing due to the plant’s anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties.
The sap from brittle bush can be ingested directly to help loosen mucus. Internal ingestion can also increase the lubrication of the eyes to alleviate dryness or itchiness.