Gently simmer the crushed root in water for about fifteen minutes, then strain. This preparation was traditionally used in small quantities and occasionally, never for prolonged use. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The root was crushed to obtain a paste, possibly moistened, then applied directly to the skin using a clean cloth. The application was renewed once or twice daily as needed. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The fragrant resin extracted from the root was traditionally burned or smoked for its balsamic vapors, particularly during purification rituals or to relieve the respiratory passages. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
It is found in the wild on dry, sunny hillsides of the North American West, from the Rockies to the Columbia Plateau. It is more rarely offered in specialized herbalist shops, often as imported dried root.
The root is traditionally harvested in autumn or very early spring, when the plant concentrates its reserves underground.