Mormon Tea- Ephedra of the Southwest

Mormon Tea (Ephedra)
AKA Desert Tea, Cowboy Tea, Whorehouse Tea, Canutillo, Poptillo, American Ephedra


Mormon Tea has an interesting history in the Southwestern US. As the story goes, because of religious beliefs, Mormons wouldn't drink coffee or teas and therefore substituted this plant. In addition, a "Jack Mormon" (one who is a Mormon in name only) in the town of Elko Nevada was afflicted with a bad case of syphilis after a visit to Katie's Place. Katie's was a house of ill-repute and frequented by many locals. This man found that the tea eased his symptoms and he recommended it highly to all the patrons. Chances are he learned of the plant's ability to work on the urinary tract, from local natives, who have used it for many generations.


It is a plant with many properties, the most pronounced being the way it works as a stimulant and a decongestant. It is used to treat colds and flu. Mormon tea is related to the Chinese plant ma huang (E. sinica), which contains the medication ephedrine, a bronchial dilator, decongestant, and central nervous system stimulant much used in western medicine. The American species has no ephedrine, however. But the combination of ingredients present in the plant seem to create a similar effect in the human body. It is also used as a diuretic and an anti-inflammatory for the urinary tract. 


Mormon Tea is a safe plant to drink as a tea, a treatment for urinary tract inflammation and relief for sufferers of allergies and colds. A bonus of this gnarled desert plant is as a source of calcium, the highest of any non-toxic plant.


Future installments include; Is there really a use for those horrible goat-heads, that flatten bike tires and irritate dog's feet? Ethical wildcrafting, collecting plants for our use. Stay tuned...