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False White Cedar | | Name : | False White Cedar | | Synonyms : | Arbor-vitae
Falsewhite cedar
Thuja
Treeof life
Yellowcedar
| | Parts Used : | Leaves, inner bark, leaf oil and seeds. | | Habitat : | A native of the U.S. and Canada, this tree does best in moist, sandyloam. In a dry situation, it will suffer from both heat and cold.Found in swamps; cool rocky woods. Most nurseries stock several varieties.Found growing in the wet ground from New Hampshire to Florida. | | Description : | Although a slow grower, Thuja is a well-known ornamental Americanevergreen; it can reach 70-80 feet, retaining its dense, pyramidalform. Some say the northern white cedar is of the cypress family,some references say it is of the pine family. This hardy evergreenhas dense, scale-like foliage, waxy to the touch, and fragrant. Leavesin flattened sprays; small, appressed overlapping. Cones bell-shaped,with loose scales. | | Constituents : | Stimulant, astringent, vermifuge, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,diuretic, emmenogogue, expectorant, anthelmintic, irritant
Experimentally, leaf oil is antiseptic, expectorant, counterirritant;extracts have shown antiviral properties against herpessimplex. | | Uses : | The leaves and tops are used for chronic cough, fever,and gout. An infusion made of1 oz. of the tender leaves to a pint of boiling water may be taken1 tbsp. at a time as a diuretic, emmenogogue, and uterine stimulant.Applied externally, it is said to remove wartsand fungoid growths. As a counterirritant, it is useful for reliefof muscular aches and pains.A salve for external application can be made by boiling a quantityof the leaves in lard.
The oil has been used as an aromatic ingredient in soap liniment.And the odor of the essential oil is pungent, almost overpowering.It is matched by a strong bitter taste. Arborvitae oil may be homedistilled and used as an insect repellent.
American Indians used leaf tea for headaches,colds, in cough syrups, in steambaths for rheumatism, arthritis,congestion, and gout; externally, as a wash for swollen feet and burns.Inner-bark tea used for consumption.Doctors once used leaf tincture externally on warts,venereal warts, gonorrhea,syphilis, prostate problems,toothache, whooping cough,piles, ulcers,bed sores, and fungusinfections. Internally, leaf tincture was used for bronchitis,asthma, pulmonarydisease, enlarged prostate with urinary incontinence.
Folk medicine cancer remedy. | | Safety : | Taken in excess, the oil can produce unpleasant results; it was officiallylisted as an abortifacient (a drug or agent causing abortion) andconvulsant in overdose.
Leaf oil is considered toxic, causing hypotension (low blood pressure),and convulsions. Fatalities have been reported.
Do Not use this herb during pregnancy.
Do Not use without medical supervision. | | Myths : | Native Americans put boughs of cedar on teepee poles, said to wardoff lightning. Thunderbird was said to nest in mountain cedars. Redcedar (J. scopulorum), used ceremonially on the altar of the sacredwoman at the Sun Dance. | | Sold : | Tincture |
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