Why Ocotillo?

Foquieria splendens

Occotillo spends much of it’s life as a bundle of brown sticks, but when the desert rains come their flesh turns green and small leaves sprout up and down it’s thorny spindles. In the spring time Occotillo bursts into color with red flame-like flowers perched on top of the long branches. The flowers are important food for hummingbirds, carpenter bees and squirrels.

We love that this plant comes to life when the desert has rain- like grief, moving through our bodies best when we cry.

Occotillo is a powerful herbal remedy to support a broken heart. It helps move stagnant energy and clears blockages in the reproductive system. Occotillo stimulates the heart and liver and can help the lymph do it’s good work of cleaning out the body. We love to sip a tea of Occotillo bark and flowers when life’s sadness is stuck in our chest and we need a little help to move it through.