Fouquieria splendens
Ocotillo is a warming and mildly drying lymphatic and blood/fluid mover. It has an affinity for the tissues and region of the pelvis and liver/portal vein system, and the respiratory system. It is a stimulant, decongestant, chologouge, expectorant, and mild emmengouge. It is a warming bitter, with a sweet, oily or soapy taste.
It improves digestion of and assimilation of dietary fats, improving the uptake of lipids from the liver/portal vein blood and intestines into the mesentery (digestive lymphatic tissue) and pelvic lymphatic tissue. It stimulates bile production and secretions by the liver and gall bladder. It moves stagnant qi, energy, blood, mucous, and intracellular fluid in the pelvic region or lungs outward, upward and downward. It decongests respiratory tissue and excess mucous by increasing secretions to move stagnant fluids out through productive coughing.
In women this stagnation shows up in sluggish menstruation, and uterine stagnancy, with cramps and old, brown spotting at the beginning of the cycle followed by clotted blood and cramping. Ocotillo can be helpful in cases of endometriosis in addressing the pooling, stagnant blood along with other therapies and herbs. It is also helpful for women experiencing loss of libido, again, working with all the aspects and root causes.
Actions: Pelvic decongestant, chologogue(stimulates bile production), bitter, lymphatic, expectorant(encourages coughing and removal of phlem), emmenagogue.