OCHA (Chuchupate; Bear root)
Uses: Effective in treating colds and loosening phlegm in lung infections. Used as a tea, or chewed root, is an anesthetic and disinfectant for sore throat. The root is an effective disinfectant and skin wash. Chewed or brewed in tea it stimulates sweating often when other measures fail. It is an excellent stomach bitter and carminative.
Secondary uses: The root considered as a talisman, is thought to be effective in warding off rattlesnakes; and possibly ward off witches & spells. (Michael Moore, 1992; Los Remedios)
*Osha has traditionally been used in Native American, Latin American, and South American cultures for its purported medicinal benefits.