Black Haw Bark

History and Uses:
Black Haw is found in the eastern and central areas of the United States. This deciduous shrub can reach almost thirty feet in height, with its branches spreading upward, and the parts of this plant used medicinally are the bark, root and berries. Black Haw has similar uses to its relative Cramp Bark. In 1866, Dr. E.W. Jenks of Detroit described Black Haw as "particularly valuable in preventing abortion and miscarriage." The herb was also thought to "tone up the reproductive system," preventing or removing harassing nervous symptoms that often torment pregnant women. The herb enabled the system to resist the deleterious influence of any drugs, used for the purpose of inducing abortions. Black Haw was largely employed during the times of slavery to counteract the effects of cotton root (an abortive agent). The sedative and anodyne properties of this herb were used for treating dysmenorrhea - enabling the uterus to bear the burden cast on it with much less suffering. Known chemical constituents of Black Haw include amentoflavone, coumarins (scopoletin, aesculetin), salicin, oleanic acid, ursolic acid, isovalerianic acid, scopoletin, phytosterol, aesculetine, viburnine and essential oil. Scopoletin has been identified as a uterine relaxant, and the herb also relaxes peripheral blood vessels, thus lowering high blood pressure, and helps minimize chances of hemorrhage prior to childbirth and during menopause. The salicin content has the analgesic and other effects associated with salicylates. Black Haw's antispasmodic properties are also thought to make it a viable treatment for asthma. Heinerman, in his book, Miracle Healing Herbs, gives anecdotal evidence of the use of this herb for treating both asthma and bronchitis - it was felt that the herb helped in the evacuation of mucus in the lungs and throat.