Ailanthus altissima

Ailanthus altissima
Family:Ailanthus altissima; Anthelmintic; Antibacterial; Antispasmodic; Astringent; Bitter; Cardiac; Deobstruent; Diuretic; Emetic; Emmenagogue; Febrifuge; Rubefacient.
Common name:Tree of heaven
The tree of heaven is not often used in Western herbal medicine though it is more popular in the Orient. Various parts of the plant are used though the bark is the part most commonly used - however it contains a glycoside that has not been fully researched and so should be used with caution. The root and stem bark are antispasmodic astringent bitter cardiac depressant diuretic emetic febrifuge rubefacient and vermifuge. The vermifuge properties do not act on round worms or earthworms. A nauseatingly bitter herb it is used internally to treat malaria and fevers it also slows the heart rate and relaxes spasms. It needs to be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner since the bark readily causes vomiting. In China the bark is a popular remedy for dysentery and other complaints of the bowels. In one clinical trial 81 out of 82 patients were cured of dysentery when they were given this herb. A tincture of the root-bark has been used successfully in the treatment of cardiac palpitations asthma and epilepsy. Tree-of-heaven is a folk remedy for asthma cancer diarrhoea dysentery dysmenorrhoea dysuria ejaculation (premature) epilepsy eruption fever gonorrhoea haematochezia leucorrhoea malaria metrorrhagia sores spasms spermatorrhoea stomachic tumours of the breast (China) and wet dreams The bark is harvested in the spring and dried for later use. The leaves bark of the trunk and roots are put into a wash to treat parasitic ulcers itch and eruptions. In Korea the root bark is used in the treatment of coughs gastric and intestinal upsets. The stembark is emmenagogue. The leaves are anthelmintic astringent and deobstruent. The fruit is used in the treatment of bloody stools and dysentery. They have also been used to treat ophthalmic diseases. Extracts from the plant are bactericidal. The tree is used in homeopathic remedies for cancer. A resin extracted from the roots and leaves is a revulsive or vesicant.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 00:53 []