N.M. researchers hope to cultivate 'calming herb'

July 25th, 2008 By MELANIE DABOVICH , Associated Press Writer

This photo provided by Charles Martin shows a crop of yerba mansa at the demonstration plot at New Mexico State University's Sustainable Agriculture Science Center in Alcalde, N.M., on June 12, 2008. Though the herb is relatively unknown outside of the Southwest, experts in the industry say yerba mansa could become as popular as other medicinal herbs including goldenseal and Echinacea. Martin has made yerba mansa a viable agricultural crop for New Mexico\'s small farmers. (AP Photo/Courtesy of New Mexico State University\'s Sustainable Agriculture Science Center)

(AP) -- The plant has been described by local residents as magical, its qualities almost mythical. The native herb yerba mansa, translated from Spanish as the "calming herb," has been used for centuries throughout the Southwest by American Indians and Hispanics for ailments ranging from toothaches to sinus infections.

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• jscroft - Jul 25, 2008
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  "But before the ancient medicinal herb can get its day in the sun, researchers must find a way to protect the ecologically threatened plant from depletion by habitat loss and urban development."
  
  That's ridiculous! If you really want to protect the damned thing, EXPLOIT IT COMMERCIALLY! You don't see corn, wheat, or chickens on the endangered list, do you?
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• GDM - Jul 25, 2008
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  It would be nice to see some scientific evidence of the "active" ingredients of this plant before we go all ga-ga over it. Seems to me that premature use of some of these herbal remedies have caused adverse side effects.
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• yyz - Jul 25, 2008
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  I tend to agree with GDM. Besides anecdotal reports & 'antimicrobial-antibacterial' properties mentioned in the article, exactly what are the active ingredients of this herb? As in St Johns Wort, do any active ingredients act adversely with other medications. It seems way too early to tout this new 'herbal remedy'.
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• Doug_Huffman - Jul 25, 2008
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  Stuff with no side-effects generally have no effects at all.
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• Glis - Jul 25, 2008
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  A hardy plant that has both a calming and pain kill effect? I've never heard of such a thing.
  
  Spring 2009 'Yerba Mansa Madness' at a theatre near you.
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• Mercury_01 - Jul 25, 2008
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  Yeah, Ive never heard of such a thing either Glis, and I certainly dont have anything like that growing in my cabinet.
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• mattytheory - Jul 25, 2008
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  Only a matter of time before the government outlaws this. GO GO USA!
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• NeilFarbstein - Jul 25, 2008
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  legalize it!
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• agg - Jul 25, 2008
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  I did a scientific study on something. You should be scared that something may be threatened by evil corporations and human development. Now give me money so I can find more ways to scare you. I'm no longer interested in science, rather I just want to scare people into giving me money.
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• COCO - Jul 28, 2008
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  this is the thin edge of the wedge - could be a back door for legal marijuana - the gate way drug to death!!
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