Acacia

Parts Usually Used

Gum

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Acacia Greggii Bush Acacia is a small, spiny, leguminous tree or shrub. After the rainy season ends, the stem begins to exude gum, which is collected from December to June for marketing as gum Arabic. The acacia has alternate, bipinnate leaves and axillary racemes of yellow flowers arranged in globose heads. The fruit is an oblong pod. There are literally dozens of species of acacia, worldwide.

Their descriptions and usefulness varies greatly. Be sure to get the advice of a knowledgeable herbalist before using acacia.

Where Found

Acacia Greggii Leaves Acacia senegal L. : Grows in sandy soil, mostly in tropical Africa Acacia greggii: a member of the Fabaceae family; it is native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Medicinal Properties

Demulcent, mucilaginous, antiviral

Legends, Myths and Stories

Acacia Negev Tree, Israel Acacia was a sacred wood for the ancient Hebrews. Moses used acacia wood in building the Ark of the Covenant and the sacred Tabernacle (see Exodus, chapters 25-40). According to Near-Eastern Christian legend, a thorny species of acacia was used for Christ’s crown of thorns. ” Used for inflammation of the eyes, due to dust; vaqueros and travelers habitually carry acacia seeds and put 4 in each eye on retiring.

Uses

Historical herbalists utilized gum arabic primarily for its demulcent qualities, believing it formed a soothing coating over the respiratory, alimentary, and urinary tracts. Traditional practitioners recommended it for complaints such as coughs, sore throats, catarrh, and diarrhea, and it was occasionally applied as an eyewash.

Bibliography

, Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994 Indian Uses of Native Plants , by Edith Van Allen Murphey, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1958, print 1990 The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023