We are excited to debut our new mural on the wall at the north end of campus completed by two local muralists, Shela Yu and Blaise Danio. The mural’s theme celebrates the desert and includes local plants and wildlife. The southwestern landscape is intended to be a celebration of nature and welcome people to the space. This is a first step toward developing this area (including the current dirt lot pictured above) that we hope will eventually be a community space and house expanded medicinal gardens. Developing and renovating this area will create opportunities for teaching both Sonoran students and the community on a variety of topics such as basics of growing vegetables, organic gardening techniques and harvesting medicinal plants.
Read on for a feature on one of the medicinal Sonoran Desert plants grown in our current garden, the creosote bush!
The Sonoran Desert is home to many medicinal plants, including the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) which is one of many Southwestern native plants that we grow in the Sonoran medicinal garden. It is an evergreen perennial shrub with small green leaves and yellow flowers. The plant is resinous and imparts a characteristic odor that people associate with the smell of rain in the desert. The plant is long-lived, likely due to its high antioxidant content, and is often added to salves to impart natural preservation. The leaves are harvested and used fresh or dry for its antimicrobial, antioxidant and inflammation modulating activity. Creosote bush has a long traditional use by indigenous populations. As a strong antimicrobial, it can be applied topically as in a wash or salve to wounds to keep from getting infected. Other uses include a topical rub for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain. Liver disease is a contraindication for internal use of the plant. Most often it is used short-term internally and only in small doses.