Calycanthus, Sweet Shrub
Three varieties of Calycanthus have documented use in Herbal Medicine: Calycanthus floridus - Carolina Allspice, Calycanthus floridus glaucus - Eastern Sweetshrub, Calycanthus occidentalis - Californian Allspice
Two varieties are native to my region: Calycanthus floridus var. floridus (Sweet Betsy, Hairy Sweet-shrub), Calycanthus floridus var. glaucus (Sweet Betsy, Smooth Sweet-shrub)
Plants for A Future states:
Medicinal use of Carolina Allspice: Antispasmodic, disinfectant. The plant contains an alkaloid that has a powerfully depressant action on the heart. A fluid extract has been used as an antiperiodic. A tea made from the root or bark has been used as a strong emetic and diuretic for kidney and bladder ailments. A cold tea has been used as eye drops in the treatment of failing eyesight. An ooze from the bark has been used to treat children's sores, whilst an infusion has been used to treat hives.
Medicinal use of Eastern Sweetshrub: Emmenagogue. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat urinary problems.
Peterson Field Guides Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants tells us:
Cherokees used root bark tea as a strong emetic, diuretic for kidney and bladder ailments. Cold tea used as eyedrops for failing sight. Settlers used tea as a calming tonic for malaria.
Ceanothus, New Jersey Tea
Fourteen varieties of Ceanothus have documented use in Herbal Medicine: Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus arboreus - Catalina Mountain Lilac, Ceanothus cuneatus - Buckbrush, Ceanothus divergens - Cropleaf Ceanothus, Ceanothus fendleri - Fendler's Ceanothus, Ceanothus impressus - Santa Barbara Ceanothus, Ceanothus integerrimus - Deer Brush, Ceanothus maritimus - Maritime Ceanothus, Ceanothus ovatus - Smaller Red-Root, Ceanothus prostratus - Squaw Carpet, Ceanothus purpureus - Hollyleaf Ceanothus, Ceanothus sanguineus - Oregon Tea Tree, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus - Blue Brush, Ceanothus velutinus - Sticky Laurel
Only Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey-Tea) is native to my region.
The Cherokee used New Jersey Tea:
When tired in the chest, drink as much of the warm tea as you can and vomit. L.T. adds that when the flowers of this plant are out, snakes are most apt to strike. Take the root and make a hot tea for bowel complaint. Drink before bedtime.
The Lumbee called Ceanothus Red Shank:
Lumbee healers used Red Shank root to increase the potency of herbal preparations. A poultice made from Red Shank root, inner bark of the Red Oak and Mullein leaves was used to treat inflammation and sprains. The Chippewa used a decoction of the roots for constipation and shortness of breath.
Resources of The Southern Fields and Forests tells us:
NEW JERSEY TEA TRKE; RED-HOOT, Ceanothus Amcricanus, L.) Two varieties exist in the Southern States. Diffused in dry pine barrens; Richland; collected in St. John's; vicinity of Charleston; Newbern. Fl. July.
Lind. Nat. Syst. Bot. 108; Ferrein, Mat. Med. iii, 338; U. S. Disp. 1240 ; Ell. Bot. Med. Notes, 291 ; Mer. and de L. Diet, de M. Med. ii, 165; Boston Med. and Surg. Journal, 1835. See, also, the supplement to Mer. de L. Diet, de M. Med. 1846, 155.
This plant possesses a considerable degree of astringency, and has been used in gonorrheal discharges. It is applied by the Cherokee doctors as a wash in cancer, and may be used wherever an astringent is likely to be useful. The Indians employed it in lues venerea, preferring it to lobelia; if the case was violent, the root of the blackberry (Rtibus villosiis) was mixed with it. Stearns' Am. Herbal, 97. Referring to its anti-syphilitie powers, Ferrein says : "Eue guerit aussi en moins de quinze jours, les veneriens los plus inveteres." It is not now supposed to be endowed with a very decided virtue in this respect. Dr. Hubbard prescribes it with advantage in the aphthous affections of infants, in malignant dysentery and in other maladies dependent upon debility; he usually combines with it a little borax. See Journal de l’harm. xxiii, 354. Mr. Tuomey, State Geologist, informs me that much use is made of it in domestic practice in Chesterfield District. An infusion of the leaves was employed during the war of independence as a substitute for tea. I have experimented with the leaves, and obtained a liquor somewhat resembling common tea, both in color and taste. It imparts to wool a fine, persistent, cinnamon, nankeen color.
The above was included in my report on the Medical Botany of South Carolina, published in 1849. Since the beginning of the recent war I called the attention of our citizens to this plant as a substitute for foreign tea, in a brief communication, having again collected and used it, and induced others to do the same. I quote from this article: "Without any desire to exaggerate, I commend the substitute. It grows abundantly in our high pine ridge. The tea, prepared from this shrub, drawn as common tea, is certainly a good substitute for indifferent black tea. Properly dried and prepared, it is aromatic and not unpleasant. I am glad to report it as an article to be used in war times in place of a high-priced commodity, which, in every respect, it resembles, if it does not equal." Dr. John Bachman, also, at a later period (1802) directed attention to the plant, stating that he had used it for two months in his own family. The leaves should be carefully dried in the shade.
King’s American Dispensatory of 1898 states:
Ceanothus americanus is indigenous to the United States, and is very abundant in the West; it grows in dry woodlands, barrens, etc., flowering from June to August. The leaves are astringent and slightly bitter, and have been used as a substitute for tea, to which they have a strong resemblance when dried, both in taste and odor. The root is the medicinal part, and has a taste and smell somewhat resembling those of the peach leaf. It has been occasionally used for coloring. Water extracts its active principle.
Description.—Red-root is a long, cylindrical, thick, irregularly contorted, branching root, with either a simple or branched head, with knotty tubercles. Its surface is finely corrugated, and of a rusty-brown color. The bark is thin, and breaks with a granular fracture; the wood, light brownish-red, and tough. To the taste red-root is astringent and bitter, but has no odor.
Chemical Composition.—The leaves are said to contain tannin, a soft resin, a bitter extractive, a greenish coloring matter almost identical in color and taste with green tea, gum, a volatile substance, lignin, and a principle called ceanothine, but which does not appear to exert as much therapeutical value as the infusion or fluid extract of the root-bark. When purified, ceanothine is white; its odor and taste is similar to that of green tea; it is soluble in water, but insoluble in alcohol, ether, and carbon disulphide. Chloroform is its best solvent. Clinch (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1884) found in the leaves a volatile oil. The bark contains considerable tannin and ceanothine.
F. C. Gerlach (Amer. Jour. Pharm., 1891) found ceanothus-red, tannin, volatile oil, gallic acid, resin, vegetable wax, fixed oil, starch, saccharose, glucose, mucilage, albuminoids, calcium oxalate, and the alkaloid ceanothine, which he found to resemble caffeine in not forming salts, but differing in not being precipitated with Mayer's reagent (A. P. A. Proc., 1892).
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Astringent, expectorant, sedative, antispasmodic, and antisyphilitic. Ɣ It is used in gonorrhoea, dysentery, asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping-cough, and other pulmonary affections. Dose of a strong decoction, 1 tablespoonful 3 or 4 times a day. It has likewise been successfully used as a wash and gargle in the aphthae of children, sore mouth subsequent to fever, and in ulceration of the fauces attendant on scarlatina.
Besides the old uses, as given above, ceanothus has been found to be a useful gastric, hepatic, and splenic stimulant, and it is in splenic troubles that its action is most favorable. Scudder (Spec. Med.), states that it is indicated by splenic enlargement, with sallow, doughy skin, and expressionless face. Webster gives as indications, deep-seated splenic pain, though no enlargement be detectable, and for the pain of splenic hypertrophy, as well as for sympathetic, painful conditions depending upon splenic wrong. Its action is compared to that of carduus marianus, influencing the hepatic, and more so the splenic vessels, overcoming congestion. Hypertrophy of the spleen and splenitis of malarial origin are met with it. The cases of splenitis to which it is specially adapted are not acute, but rather sub-acute, after the active symptoms have passed, and when pressure does not markedly aggravate the pain. It was much used during the Civil War for malarial splenitis.Copious catarrhal profluvia in non-inflammatory conditions are benefited by its astringency. Ɣ For hepatic and splenic disorders the tincture of the leaves is preferred. Dose: Strong decoction, fl℥ss 3 times a day; specific ceanothus 1 to 10 drops.
Specific Indications and Uses.—Enlarged spleen; sallow, doughy skin expressionless countenance; non-inflammatory, catarrhal states, with profuse secretion.
Related Species.—Ceanothus ovalis, Bigelow. United States, Vermont to Rocky Mountains. Has oval leaves, and is probably similar to above species.
Ceanothus reclinatus, De Candolle. Mexico and West Indies. Used by the natives in gonorrhoea, syphilis, dysentery, ulceration of the mouth and fauces, and cancer.
Ceanothus azureus, Desfontaines, and Ceanothus caeruleus, Lagasca. Mexico. Febrifuge.
Jethro Kloss wrote:
RED ROOT (Ceanothus americanus)
Common Names: New Jersey tea, Walpole tea, wild snow ball, Jersey tea, mountain sweet, New Jersey tea tree, bobea.
Part Used: Root.
Medicinal Properties: Astringent, expectorant, sedative.
Description and Uses: This is one of the most wonderful remedies for any spleen trouble: it has a direct action on the spleen. It is also good in dysentery, asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, and tuberculosis, and is a splendid wash for a sore mouth during fevers and for canker sores in the mouth or throat. Gargling with a strong tea every two hours will reduce sore, swollen tonsils. If tonsils are very sore and swollen, make a swab and work around good and then gargle. It will reduce very badly enlarged tonsils, and the trouble will rarely recur. Excellent for piles or hemorrhoids. Inject the strong tea often.
It is effective in spasms, also is very effective in syphilis and gonorrhea. When combined with fringe tree and goldenseal, it is good for sick headache, acute indigestion, and nausea due to poor activity of the liver. Use one teaspoonful of the granulated red root to a pint of boiling water. Steep for twenty or thirty minutes. Drink one cupful of this tea before each meal and before going to bed. If the powdered herb is used, take half a teaspoonful in a cup of hot or cold water, an hour before each meal and before going to bed. If capsules are used, take one No.00 capsule before meals and also at bedtime.
Red root is also an excellent remedy in diabetes and is commonly used in asthma, bronchitis, and other lung infections.
Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians tells us:
Root decoction was used to relieve constipation with symptoms of bloating and shortness of breath. The Cherokee used the tea as a mouthwash to relieve toothaches. Leaves were used as a beverage tea.
Appalachian folk medicine used red root as a gargle for sore throats, thrush and oral inflammation. Tommie Bass* used a decoction of the root to treat prostate inflammation, psoriasis and glandular swellings.
Tommie Bass was a legendary Appalachian herbalist who was very important in preserving the tradition into the modern era.
Botany in A Day tells us:
The root contains many acids, including tannin, and is thus astringent, used in the conventional ways for inflamed tonsil, sore throat, nosebleed, menstrual hemorrhage, etc. Additionally, the root somehow stimulates “electrical repelling” between the blood vessels and the red blood cells. Increasing the blood charge helps keep the red blood cells flowing without clumping up. The enhanced flow is especially beneficial for headaches triggered by a heavy dinner, when fats flood into the bloodstream. Increasing the blood charge also facilitates a better exchange between the blood vessels and the lymph lymph tissue. It is beneficial to healthy people under stress, but is not a heroic herb to treat sick people.
Plants for A Future states:
Medicinal use of New Jersey Tea: The roots and root bark of New Jersey tea was used extensively by the North American Indians to treat fevers and problems of the mucous membranes such as catarrh and sore throats. Current day usage of the roots concentrates on their astringent, expectorant and antispasmodic actions and they are employed in the treatment of complaints such as asthma, bronchitis and coughs. The roots and root-bark are antispasmodic, antisyphilitic, strongly astringent (they contain 8% tannin), expectorant, haemostatic and sedative. They have a stimulatory effect on the lymphatic system, whilst an alkaloid in the roots is mildly hypotensive. The plant is used internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints including asthma and whooping cough, dysentery, sore throats, tonsillitis, haemorrhoids etc. A decoction of the bark is used as a skin wash for cancer and venereal sores. The powdered bark has been used to dust the sores. The roots are unearthed and partially harvested in the autumn or spring when their red colour is at its deepest. They are dried for later use.
Peterson Field Guides Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants tells us:
Leaf tea once a popular beverage. American Indians used root tea for colds, fevers, snake bites, stomach aches, lung ailments, laxative and blood tonic. Root strongly astringent (8% tannin content) expectorant and sedative. Root tea was once used for dysentery, asthma, sore throat, bronchitis, whooping cough, spleen inflammation or pain. Alkaloid in root mildly hypotensive (lowers blood pressure).
This article is an excerpt from
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide
Read about Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6: by Judson Carroll
His New book is:
Read About: The Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH
His new cookbook is:
Read About The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else"
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html
Available for purchase on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2
His other works include:
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide
Read About Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html
Available for purchase on Amazon:
Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
Read About Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else: http://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/04/growing-your-survival-herb-garden-for.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X4LYV9R
The Encyclopedia of Bitter Medicinal Herbs:
southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-encyclopedia-of-bitter-medicina.html
Available for purchase on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5MYJ35R
Christian Medicine, History and Practice:
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/01/christian-herbal-medicine-history-and.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B09P7RNCTB
Herbal Medicine for Preppers, Homesteaders and Permaculture People
southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/10/herbal-medicine-for-preppers.html
Also available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HMWXL25
Look Up: The Medicinal Trees of the American South, An Herbalist's Guide
http:///www.amazon.com/dp/1005082936
The Herbs and Weeds of Fr. Johannes Künzle:
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2021/05/announcing-new-book-herbs-and-weeds-of.html
Author: Judson Carroll. Judson Carroll is an Herbalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
His weekly articles may be read at judsoncarroll.com
His weekly podcast may be heard at: www.spreaker.com/show/southern-appalachian-herbs
He offers free, weekly herb classes: https://rumble.com/c/c-618325
Disclaimer
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.
