Osha ia a perennial plant growing up to 0.9m. It has long thin hollow stalk with large divided leaves, which can reach heights of 2 ft (0.6 m). Osha's seeds and flowers are at the top of the plant and spread out in the form of an umbrella, whence its Latin family name. Osha flowers are white and the seeds have a sweet celery-like smell, as does the entire plant. The root is very hairy, brown on the outside and yellow on the inside.

Antirheumatic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, digestive, expectorant, febrifuge and stomachic (roots)

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The roots are used for treating head colds with dry cough, certain stages of pharyngitis, early stages of tonsillitis, coughs, influenza with persistent coughing, dry, hot fevers, TB, acute brochial pneumonia, toothache, painful menstruation, retained placenta, gastrointestinal discomfort, in particular indigestion and stomach upset associated with vomiting. It can be used to increase appetite. An infusion of the roots is used externally to treat body aches. Osha can be given together with echinacea for leukocytosis.

There are no known side effects with using osha other than allergy or hypersensitivity to it or to its plant family. High doses of osha taken over extended periods of time, however, may cause kidney or liver toxicity.