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Thurs. through Mon.
7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
301 W. Hwy 90
Marathon
432-386-4352
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by
Marguerite
Made in the Big Bend
HWY 118 • Terlingua
1/4 mi S of Hwy 170
432.371.2292
HARPER ’ S
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Presidio’s favorite hardware store for almost a century
tools • plumbing supplies • home & garden
Monday - Saturday 7:30 am to 6 pm
701 O’Reilly Street • Presidio • 432-229-3256
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ANDY WARHOL
“The Last Supper”
MARIA ZERRES
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Brite Building 107-109 N Highland, Marfa
Open weekends noon to 5 pm
For hours, please call: 432.729.3315
or visit www.aynfoundation.com
24
Cenizo
First Quarter 2016
Folkways
by Maya Brown Zniewski
C
CHAPARRAL – DESERT RAIN
haparral is also
known as creosote
bush, greasewood
or desert rain bush. Its
Latin or botanical name is
Larrea tridentate. It is among
my favorite plants for the
scent, for its usefulness and
for its ability to survive. To
say it smells like the desert
after the rain is the perfect
description.
Creosote is native to
much of the Southwest
United
States
and
Northern Mexico. A simi-
larly-used species of this
plant lives in Peru, Bolivia,
and Argentina. There is an
example of chaparral that
has been radiocarbon
dated at 11,700 years old, making it one
of oldest living organisms on earth. Can
you imagine what the “King Clone” cre-
osote bush has experienced?
One of the reasons creosote lives so
long is that it is amazingly drought toler-
ant; if you feel the leaves they feel like
leather. This, and an unusual root system
that is both a tap root and a spread of
wider roots, allows creosote to live for a
long time. Although recently much cre-
osote was killed by the fires in West Texas
and California, it is still a highly available
plant. You might consider using it for a
salve, as did the Ancient Peoples.
If you’ve read the Cenizo Journal previ-
ously you may know how to make a salve.
For those who don’t, here is a refresher:
1.) To make a salve first make an infused
oil; 2.) Heat the oil slightly on the stove; 3.)
Add beeswax or candelilla wax - about 4
parts oil to one part beeswax or if using
candelilla wax about 8 parts oil to one
part wax; 4.) Pour into a wide mouth jar
and let cool.
An infused oil is also very simple to
make. The folk way is to stuff a jar, loose-
ly, with creosote leaves (no need to
remove every little twig) and cover with
oil. Put a lid on the jar and let sit about six
weeks in the cupboard. Then strain off the
oil. Follow salve making instructions or
use as an oil only. You can also infuse oil
in a crock-pot on low for a day or two.
Experiment and see what works best for
you.
Generally creosote oil or salve is used
for an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-
inflammatory and/or anti-parasitic appli-
cation. It makes an excellent sunblock
and is often applied to scrapes, bites and
wounds. Traditionally it was used in vari-
ous forms for colds, chest infections, lung
congestion, gas, arthritis, T.B., nausea,
poisons, body odor, and many other ail-
ments. It was an indigenous medicine
chest.
The F.D.A. does not recommend its
use internally and Health Canada (the
Canadian F.D.A.) bans the use of creosote
internally, so skip the tea blends. If you do
an internet search for creosote bush you’ll
see it listed as an anti-cancer plant. Yes, it
is in the investigative stage of anti-cancer
treatments, but please do not treat cancer
with creosote bush. One should see a
qualified health care practitioner for can-
cer treatment. Chaparral is a bitter tasting
plant; if you crush chaparral leaves and
smell them I bet you can get a feel for how
bitter they might be in a tea or tincture
(an herbal plant extracted in alcohol used
for medicinal purposes.)
Go out and see chaparral/creosote
bush for yourselves! It grows all across Big
Bend and smells like desert rain.