Black Haw

Parts Usually Used

Stem bark and root bark

Description of Plant(s) and Culture

A shrub or small tree 6-30 feet high; the leaves are elliptic to ovate; finely toothed; mostly smooth, dull (not shiny), 1-3 inches long. Bark is irregular, transversely curved and grayish brown, or where the outer bark has scaled off, brownish-red; inner surface reddish brown. The root bark is cinnamon colored and tastes bitter. The small white flowers are in flat clusters; blooms March to May.

The fruits are clusters of black berries, but bluish at first, on red stems. Sweet fruit is edible, but lacks flavor.

Where Found

Found in bogs, low woods; Eastern United States, but found in most North American states. More abundant in Connecticut to Florida; Texas to eastern Kansas.

Medicinal Properties

Antispasomodic, analgesic, astringent, sedative, cardiac tonic, uterine and muscle relaxant, nervine, diuretic, tonic

Biochemical Information

Amentoflavone, coumarins, scopoletine and aesculetine, arbutin, oleanolic, and ursolic acids, sterol.

Legends, Myths and Stories

Black Haw was a favorite with the Eclectics of 19th century America.

Uses

Historically, herbalists utilized black haw for nervous complaints, spasms, stress, chills, fever, and general pain. Traditional practitioners regarded it as a uterine tonic and employed it for menstrual cramps, as well as for asthma, palpitations, and circulation issues. The plant was also applied in historical folk medicine to address arthritis and rheumatic discomforts. In traditional practice, black haw was sometimes used interchangeably with cramp bark (Viburnum opulus), though older sources noted differences in their perceived resin content.

Bibliography

, Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , Copyright 1988, published 1992 American Folk Medicine , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973 The Complete Medicinal Herbal , by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993 Indian Herbalogy of North America , by Alma R.

, Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973 Old Ways Rediscovered , by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988 Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book) , edited by William H.

Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. , 1974