Medicinal Trees: Fraxinus, Ash

Seventeen varieties of Ash are used medicinally: Fraxinus americana - White Ash, Fraxinus angustifolia - Narrow-Leaved Ash, Fraxinus bungeana - Xiao Ye Qin, Fraxinus excelsior, Fraxinus floribunda - Himalayan Ash, Fraxinus hookeri, Fraxinus chinensis, Fraxinus latifolia - Oregon Ash, Fraxinus longicuspis, Fraxinus nigra - Black Ash, Fraxinus sambucifolia, raxinus ornus - Manna Ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Red Ash, Fraxinus quadrangulata - Blue Ash, Fraxinus texensis - Texas White Ash, Fraxinus velutina - Arizona Ash, Fraxinus xanthoxyloides

Only four Ashes grow in my region: Fraxinus americana (White Ash), Fraxinus caroliniana (Carolina Ash), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green Ash), Fraxinus profunda (Pumpkin Ash)

The bark of the ashes is astringent, like many trees. Taken as a decoction, it also has the effect of encouraging or increasing menstrual flow. Ash is also good for the liver and stomach, being a good bitter tonic for digestion. This bitter tonic is particularly good for stomach cramps. A soak in the infusion/tea made from Ash bark is good for cuts, scrapes and skin inflammations It has also been useful in getting rid of lice. The inner bark is a laxative. The leaves may be used as a poultice for sores and stings. Ash also has use in reducing fevers. Oddly enough, according to Plants for A Future, the seeds are thought to be an aphrodisiac. Ash may also help with painful urination and several women’s issues, according to folk use.

Saint Hildegard von Bingen gave the following entry on Ash in Physica:

The Ash Tree is more hot than cold. It denoted counsel. If anyone is troubled by gitcht in his side or other part of his body, as if all his limbs were broken and bruised, cook the leaves of ash tree in water. Place the sick person, nude, in a linen cloth. Having poured off the water, place the warm, cooked leaves all around him, particularly on the place where he is ailing. Do this often, and he will be better.

If you want to prepare beer from oats, without hops, cook it only with groats, with many ash leaves added. The beer, when drunk, will purge the stomach and make the chest light and pleasant.

Saint Hildegard, it should be remembered, introduced hops to beer brewing. The next time you drink a beer, toast Saint Hildegard, without whom we would not have our ale and lager as we know it!

Gerard included Ash in his Herbal:

This tree is called in Greek, Melia, and of divers, Milea: in Latin, Fraxinus: in High Dutch, Eschernbaum, Eschernholtz, and Steynschern: in Low Dutch, Esschen, and Esschenboom: in Italian, Frassino: in French, Fresne: in Spanish, Fresno, Fraxino, and Freixo: in English, Ash tree.

The fruit like unto cods is called of the apothecaries, Lingua Avis,["Bird's tongue"] and Lingua Passerina["Sparrow's tongue"]: it may be named in Greek, Ornithoglosson: yet some would have it called Orneoglossum; others make Ornus or the wild Ash to be called Orneoglossum: it is termed in English, Ash keys, and of some, Kite keys.

The Temperature and Virtues.

A. The leaves and bark of the Ash tree are dry and moderately hot: the seed is hot and dry in the second degree.

B. The juice of the leaves or the leaves themselves being applied, or taken with wine, cure the bitings of vipers, as Dioscorides saith.

C. The leaves of this tree are of so great virtue against serpents, as that they dare not so much as touch the morning and evening shadows of the tree, but shun them afar off, as Pliny reports, lib. 16. cap. 13. He also affirmeth, that the serpent being penned in with boughs laid round about, will sooner run into the fire, if any be there, than come near the boughs of the Ash: and that the Ash doth flower before the serpents appear, and doth not cast his leaves before they be gone again.

D. We write (saith he) upon experience, that if the serpent be set within the circle of a fire and the boughs, the serpent will sooner run into the fire than into the boughs. It is a wonderful courtesy in nature, that the Ash should flower before these serpents appear, and not cast his leaves before they be on again.

E. Both of them, that is to say the leaves and the bark, are reported to stop the belly: and being boiled with vinegar and water, do stay vomiting, if they be laid upon the stomach.

F. The leaves and bark of the Ash tree boiled in wine and drunk, do open the stoppings of the liver and spleen, and do greatly comfort them.

G. Three or four leaves of the Ash tree taken in wine each morning from time to time do make those lean that are fat, and keepeth them from feeding which do begin to wax fat.

H. The seed or kite-keys of the Ash tree provoke urine, increase natural seed, and stir up bodily lust, especially being powdered with nutmegs and drunk.

I. The wood is profitable for many things, being exalted by Homer's commendations, and Achilles' spear, as Pliny writeth. The shavings or small pieces thereof being drunk are said to be pernicious and deadly, as Dioscorides affirmeth.

K. The lye which is made with the ashes of the bark cureth the white scurf, and such other like roughness of the skin, as Pliny testifieth.

Culpepper said of Ash:

his is so well known, that time will be misspent in writing a description of it; and therefore I shall only insist upon the virtues of it.

Government and virtues. It is governed by the Sun; and the young tender tops, with the leaves, taken inwardly, and some of them outwardly applied, are singularly good against the biting of viper, adder, or any other venomous beast; and the water distilled therefrom being taken a small quantity every morning fasting, is a singular medicine for those that are subject to dropsy, or to abate the greatness of those that are too gross or fat. The decoction of the leaves in white wine helpeth to break the stone, and expel it, and cureth the jaundice. The ashes of the bark of the ash made into lee, and those heads bathed therewith, which are leprous, scabby, or scald, they are thereby cured. The kernals within the husks, commonly called ashen keys, prevail against stitches and pains in the sides, proceeding of wind, and voideth away the stone by provoking urine.

I can justly except against of all this, save only the first, viz. That ash-tree tops and leaves are good against the bitings of serpents and vipers. I suppose this had its rise from Gerrard or Pliny, both which hold, that there is such an antipathy between an adder and an ash-tree, that if an adder be encompassed round with ash-tree leaves, she will sooner run through the fire than through the leaves: The contrary to which is the truth, as both my eyes are witness. The rest are virtues something likely, only if it be in winter when you cannot get the leaves, you may safely use the bark instead of them. The keys you may easily keep all the year, gathering them when they are ripe.

Mrs. Grieves tells us:

The bark contains the bitter glucoside Fraxin, the bitter substance Fraxetin, tannin, quercetin, mannite, a little volatile oil, gum, malic acid, free and combined with calcium.

Ash bark has been employed as a bitter tonic and astringent, and is said to be valuable as an antiperiodic. On account of its astringency, it has been used, in decoction, extensively in the treatment of intermittent fever and ague, as a substitute for Peruvian bark. The decoction is odourless, though its taste is fairly bitter. It has been considered useful to remove obstructions of the liver and spleen, and in rheumatism of an arthritic nature.

A ley from the ashes of the bark was used formerly to cure scabby and leprous heads.

The leaves have diuretic, diaphoretic and purgative properties, and are employed in modern herbal medicine for their laxative action, especially in the treatment of gouty and rheumatic complaints, proving a useful substitute for Senna, having a less griping effect. The infusion of the leaves, 1 OZ. to the pint, may be given in frequent doses during the twenty-four hours.

The distilled water of the leaves, taken every morning, was considered good for dropsy and obesity.

A decoction of the leaves in white wine had the reputation of dissolving stone and curing jaundice.

The leaves should be gathered in June, well dried, powdered and kept in well corked bottles.

The leaves have been gathered to mix with tea and in some parts of the country are used to feed cattle, when grass is scarce in autumn, but when cows eat the leaves or shoots, the butter becomes rank.

The fruits of the different species of Ash are regarded as somewhat more active than the bark and leaves. Ash Keys were held in high reputation by the ancient physicians, being employed as a remedy for flatulence. They were also in more recent times preserved with salt and vinegar and sent to table as a pickle. Evelyn tells us: 'Ashen keys have the virtue of capers,' and they were often substituted for them in sauces and salads.

The keys will keep all the year round if gathered when ripe.

In Mexico, the bark and leaves of F. nigra (Marsh), the Black Swamp, Water Hoop or Basket Ash, are similarly employed to those of the Common Ash. In Mexico, also, the bark and leaves of F. lanceolata (Borch.), the Green or Blue Ash, are employed as a bitter tonic and the root as a diuretic.

In the United States, the bark of the American White Ash (F. Americana, Linn.) (F. acuminata, Lam.) finds similar employment. It has numerous small circular depressions externally and a slightly laminate structure.

There are many old superstitions concerning the tree. The ancient couplets connecting the flowering precedence of the Oak and Ash with the rainfall of the following summer, 'Oak choke, Ash splash,' etc., have no basis on fact.

According to another superstition, if the trunk of a sapling Ash were split and a ruptured child passed through, the sufferer would be cured.

The Ash had the reputation of magically curing warts: each wart must be pricked with a new pin that has been thrust into the tree, the pins are withdrawn and left in the tree, and the following charm is repeated:

'Ashen tree, ashen tree,

Pray buy these warts of me.'

And there was another superstition that if a live shrew mouse were buried in a hole bored in an Ash trunk and then plugged up a sprig of this Shrew Ash would cure the paralysis supposed to have been caused by a shrew creeping over the sick person's limbs.

Should one ever encounter a shrew creeping over one’s body.. well, at least now, you know what to do about it!

An Irish Herbal states:

The leaves, bark and tender buds of the ash tree open up the liver, provoke urine and are useful against dropsy. The inward bark is given with success against fevers, and the wood, burnt into ashes, cures scabs and ringworm.

Brother Aloysius wrote of Ash:

Ash leaves are used medicinally. The infusion consists of 1 ½ to 2 ½ per 2 cups boiling water. Take two cups daily for gout or rheumatism. It also acts as a purgative. The decoction of the bark and the young wood, 2 to 3 tablespoons per 2 cups wine, is beneficial for blockages of the liver and spleen.

Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests states:

WHITE ASH, {Fraxinus Americana, L.) In the Southern States we have the white, red, green, blue and water ash. Wilson says that F. Americana differs in few respects from the English ash, F. excelsior, which in England is used for every conceivable purpose by the farmer, turner, cabinet-maker, wheelwright, and for firewood. " The bark of the tree is used for tanning calfskins, and for dyeing green, blue and black; the ashes of the trunk, root or branches are comparatively rich in potash." Coal was also made from it. The leaves of the F. Americana "are said to be so highly offensive to the rattlesnake that that formidable reptile is never found on land where it grows; and it is the practice of hunters and others having occasion to traverse the woods in the summer months to stuff their boots or shoes with white ash leaves as a preventative of the bite of the rattlesnake."

King's American Dispensatory, 1898 tells us:

Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Tonic and astringent. An extract of the black ash used as a plaster is very valuable in salt-rheum and other cutaneous diseases. The infusion may be used internally as a tonic, and for all purposes where a combination of astringency with tonic influence is indicated. The white ash is also cathartic, and has been found beneficial in some cases of constipation, and also in dropsical affections. It may be used in the form of infusion or in bitters. The bark in white wine, is said to be efficient in curing ague-cake, or enlarged spleen. The seeds are said to prevent obesity. Dose of specific fraxinus, 10 to 60 drops.

Peterson Field Guides Eastern and Central Medicinal Plants tells us:

White or American ash Fraxinus americana: American Indians used inner bark tea as an emetic or strong laxative, to remove bile from intestines, as a tonic after childbirth, and to relieve stomach cramps, fevers; diuretic, promotes sweating, wash use for sores, itching, lice, snake bites. Inner bark chewed applied as a poultice to sores. Seeds thought to be aphrodisiac.

Botany In a Day states:

Ash is stimulating, diaphoretic, diuretic and laxative. Drink a tea of the inner bark for depression or tiredness; A strong tea for a laxative. A tea of the bark is used to reduce fever and to expel worms. A tea of the leaves is used as a laxative.

The Physicians Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines 3rd edition states of ash:

The main active principle is coumarin. Preparations of fresh ash bark showed an analgesic, antioxidative, and antiphlogistic action. Cyclo AMP phosphodiesterase is inhibited and antioxidative (radical trapping action) affect was proven for scopolotine, isofraxin, and fraxin. Preparations of ash leaf are used for arthritis, gout, bladder complaints, as well as, a laxative and diuretic. In folk medicine, ash leaf is internally used for fever, rheumatism, gout, edema, stones, constipation, stomach symptoms, and worm infestation; and for lower leg ulcers and wounds. Preparations of ash Barker used for fevers and as a tonic. Health risks or side effects following proper administration of design therapeutic dosages are not recorded.

This article is an excerpt from The Medicinal Trees of the American South, An Herbalist's Guide: by Judson Carroll

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Author: Judson Carroll. Judson Carroll is an Herbalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.