American Yew
Parts Usually Used
Leaves (needles)
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Straggling evergreen shrub, rarely over 7 feet. Twigs smooth, green; reddish brown on older branches. Needles 2-ranked, 3/8-1 inch long, narrowing into abrupt fine points; green on both sides, but with light green bands below; needles often develop a reddish tint in winter. Female plants produce juicy, cuplike red arils (pulp) surrounding 1/2 inch fruits. Seeds stony.
Where Found
Rich woods. Newfoundland to West Virginia; northeastern Kentucky to Iowa.
Uses
Historically, Native Americans utilized leaf tea from this shrub both internally and externally for complaints such as rheumatism, bowel ailments, fevers, colds, and scurvy, as well as for its reputed diuretic properties and to address blood clots. The twigs were also burned as a fumigant in steam baths for rheumatism. In traditional herbalism, the needles were described as having antirheumatic and hypotensive properties.
Additionally, the Celts used yew sap to create poison arrows, while the wood was traditionally employed in the crafting of longbows.
Warning
All plant parts (except perhaps the red aril) of this and other yews contain the toxic alkaloid taxine and are considered poisonous. Ingesting as few as 50 leaves (needles) has resulted in fatalities. Berries are considered poisonous to man and beast.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. The Herbalist Almanac , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1988, fifth printing, 1994 Indian Uses of Native Plants , by Edith Van Allen Murphey, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1958, print 1990 Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A.
, 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living , by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988).