About Pluchea odorata (L.) Cass.
Pluchea odorata is an annual or perennial herb that grows erect, reaching a maximum height of over one meter. The plant is glandular, covered in rough trichomes (hairs), and has a strong aromatic scent. Its oval, toothed leaves can grow up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long and are arranged alternately along stiff stems. Its inflorescence forms a large cluster made of many individual flower heads; each flower head is less than 1 cm (0.39 in) long and filled with bright pinkish-purple or magenta flowers. The plant produces fruit that is a tiny achene tipped with a bristly pappus. This species is native to the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. It grows in wetlands, other coastal habitats, and moist inland areas, most often in saline substrates. It is an introduced species and a noxious weed in Hawaii and New Caledonia. In some regions of the Caribbean, Pluchea odorata (known commonly as saltmarsh fleabane) is a widely consumed medicinal herbal tea. Hot tea made from its leaves acts as a stimulant, and it stimulates perspiration in the same manner as pleurisy root or pennyroyal, while also being diuretic. It is a safe and reliable menstrual stimulant for cases where menstrual flow begins late, is scanty, and is accompanied by clotty cramps. It is also antispasmodic, which relieves this cramping, and it similarly inhibits spasms and cramps from diarrhea and stomach ache. When used as an eyewash, it reduces redness and pain caused by hay fever, wind, and dust. Concentrated tea of this plant has been marketed as a coffee substitute. Unlike coffee, which is a vasoconstrictor, sweetscent tea is a vasodilator. This plant preparation is contraindicated for people who experience migraines and for people during pregnancy, and it should always be used in moderation.
