The scientific name of the gum plant is Grindelia camporum. It is also known as field gumweed, gumplant, gumweed and big California gumplant. It is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. Gumplant is native to Central California. Mostly, it is found in San Joaquin Valleys and Sacramento. But, this plant can be also found to the east across the North Coast Ranges and around San Francisco, south along the outer Southern Coast Ranges into Baja California, west along the Sierra Nevadas, and north to the Cascade Range foothills. Gumplant prefers sunny areas with sandy or loamy, well-drained soil.
The size of this plant is from 1.2 – 2.0 meters and it is 80 cm wide. The flowering season of gumplant is from May to November. The lifespan of this plant is from four to five years. The taste of gumplant is bitter. Usually, the aerial parts, flowering tops, and dried leaves of gumplant are used. There is not enough scientific confirmation for the use of this herb, but there is much anecdotal evidence as well as many years of traditional use to rely on. When large doses of gumplant are taken, then it can irritate the kidneys.
Also, gumplant is high in selenium, which is toxic when it is ingested in large amounts. Women who are breastfeeding or pregnant should not use gumplant because there are not enough studies to approve the usage of it.
Here are some health benefits of gumplant:
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Treats allergic reaction to poison oak:
It is known that the gumplant can help to prevent the growth of poison oak. This is possible because it has calming effects on the skin.
Urinary tract infections:
In traditional medicine, gumplant has been used to treat urinary tract infections and cystitis. But, there are no studies to show the efficacy for urinary tract infections, but it can work for these conditions because it has excellent antibacterial actions.
Antimicrobial benefits:
In many studies was confirmed that the gumplant has both naturally antibacterial and antifungal activities. They were confirmed against a range of bacterial and fungal strains. In studies was shown that the resin fractions and phenolic acids extracted from the gumplant were able to prevent the growth of many different bacterial strains, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.
Many studies were shown that gumplant can inhibit the growth of various fungi, including Mucormucedo, Trichodermaviride, and Candida tropicalis. In other studies was found that the essential oil from the Grindelia camp forum was effective against many fungal species.
Antioxidant potential:
The gumplant has many different flavonoids, which are having antioxidant properties, such as quercetin and kaempferol. These antioxidants can help to protect us against diseases that are caused by free radicals or oxidative stress. Also, antioxidants have anti-aging properties which can help your skin to look younger and healthier.
Cures inflammation:
There are some studies in which are found that gumplant has anti-inflammatory properties. These studies were studying the anti-inflammatory activities of an extract that is taken from the gumplant. They have found that many of the compounds present in the gumplant have anti-inflammatory properties, such as kaempferol and quercetin.
Inflammation is one of the major causes of serious diseases like heart disease and cancer. When you take natural anti-inflammatory herbs like gumplant, then you can reduce the risk of illnesses, and also it can help you to treat some inflammatory conditions.
Skin health:
It has been shown that the gumplant can be applied topically to treat many different skin complaints and it has often been used as a natural remedy for dermatitis. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which are making it one of the best home remedies for stings, bites, cuts, and minor wounds. Also, the gumplant can help to prevent infection and soothe the redness and irritation. The gumplant is an effective home remedy for reactions to poison oak or poison ivy.
