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Whahow | | Name : | Whahow | | Synonyms : | Arrow-wood
Bitterash
Burningbush
Euonymus
Indianarrow
Indianarrowroot
Indianarrow wood
Indianroot
Pegwood
Spindletree
Strawberrytree
Wauhoo
Whahow
| | Parts Used : | Bark and root bark | | Habitat : | Found in moist woods and along riverbanks in the eastern United States;as far west as Montana and Texas. Ontario to Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas,Oklahoma to North Dakota. | | Description : | Wahoo is a deciduous shrub or small tree that grows up to 25 feethigh. The bark is gray and its smooth, somewhat quadrangular branchesbear opposite, elliptic, pointed leaves that are finely serrate andfine-haired underneath. Axillary cymes of 7 or more purple flowersappear during June. The fruit develops in October and is a scarlet,four-lobed capsule containing brown seeds with scarlet arils. Itsmost striking appearance is presented in winter, when its pale purplefruits have burst open and been exposed by the fallen leaves, allagainst a backdrop of glaring snow. It is this appearance which hasearned it the nickname of burning bush. Wahoo can be recognized bythe unusual structure of its fruit after the leaves drop in the autumn.
For medicinal use, the bark should be gathered in the fall. Thefruits may be attractive but they are considered poisonous and shouldnot be used. | | Constituents : | Bitter principle, euonic acid, crystalline glucoside, asparagins,fat, culvitol, 14% ash and resins.
Cholagogue (increases flow of bile to the intestine), alterative,cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, tonic | | Uses : | Wahoo was a popular diuretic drug during the nineteenth century.It was also recommended for chest and lungcongestion, indigestion,excellent laxative, usedto treat malaria (better thanquinine they say), dropsy, and fever.After the discovery early this century that wahoo has a digitalis-likeeffect on the heart, it also became popular as a cardiac drug.
It is basically a stomach bitter that removes liver congestion andthus relieves pains and congestion in the chest. A decoction of thebark will stimulate bile flow and have a mild laxative action; andalso is useful for treating venerealdiseases, uterine discharge, skin ailments and to induce vomiting.It is a remedy for dandruffand scalp problems. | | Dosage : | Infusion: steep 1 level tsp. bark in 1 cup water for 30 minutes.Take 1/2 to 1 cup an hour before meals for indigestion.
Decoction: 1 oz. bark boiled slowly in a pint of water. Whencooled, the decoction is served 2 to 3 times per day in wineglassfuldoses.
The bark may also be steeped in grain alcohol (not rubbing alcohol)to make a tincture, given in 5-10 drop doses (3-9 gms), usually mixedwith water or on sugar. | | Safety : | The leaves, bark, and fruit of wahoo are considered poisonous andcan cause various symptoms of poisoning, such as nausea, cold sweats,and prostration.
The fruits may be attractive but they are considered poisonous andshould not be used.
Using too much wahoo bark or root bark may result in a severe purgativeaction.
Should be used under medical supervision. | | Myths : | The name 'Wahoo' is a Native American name, most commonly appliedto a large shrub or small tree. The name wahoo is also given to anElm (Ulmus alata) and another variety, Euonymus americanus.
The European settlers didn't take long to pick up the Native Americanapplications of wahoo bark, using it for laxative, diuretic, and toniceffects. Something of a nineteenth century fad developed, and thebark went into various patent medicines and was extremely popularfor a time in England. It was listed as an official drug plant. In1912, a report was published showing the plant produced digitalis-likeeffect on the heart, boosting the herb's popularity as a heart medicine.But 4 years later wahoo was dropped as an official drug plant, thoughit continued to be included in the National Formulary until 1947. |
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