Liquidambar orientalis

Liquidambar orientalis
Family:Liquidambar orientalis; Antibacterial; Antidote; Antiinflammatory; Parasiticide; Pectoral; Salve; Stimulant; Vulnerary.
Common name:Oriental sweet gum
A resin obtained from the wood and inner bark acts both as an irritant and an expectorant within the respiratory tract. It is one of the ingredients of 'Friar's Balsam' an expectorant mixture that is inhaled to stimulate a productive cough. Externally it is applied to the skin to treat a range of diseases. The resin is also mixed with Hamamelis virginiana and Rose water to make an astringent face lotion. The resin is antibacterial anti-inflammatory antiseptic expectorant pectoral salve and stimulant. It is taken internally in the treatment of strokes infantile convulsions coma heart disease and pruritis. It is also used in the treatment of cancer. Externally it is mixed with oil and used to treat scabies wounds ulcers etc. The bark is harvested in the autumn and the resin extracted from the bark. The leaves fruits and roots are used in similar ways to the resin and are also considered to be antidote parasiticide and vulnerary.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 04:13 []