Prickly Ash Bark

History and Uses:
Prickly Ash tree is native to North America, and the bark (and sometimes the berries) of these American trees are used as medicine. There are many other trees in this genus that grow on other continents, including Chinese Prickly Ash, which grows in Asia. The genus name, Zanthoxylum, is said to be derived from the Greek words, zanthos and xylum, meaning "yellow wood." Many eastern Native American tribes valued Prickly Ash Bark as a means to stimulate saliva flow and as a remedy for upset stomach, sore throats, aching muscles, skin infections and various other conditions. Eclectic physicians in the United States at the end of the nineteenth century continued the traditional uses of Prickly Ash Bark, primarily as a digestive aid, to strengthen the nervous system and for cholera. The bark was also widely used by herbalists to treat rheumatic conditions. The primary chemical constituents of Prickly Ash Bark include essential oils, fat, sugar, gum, alkaloids (fagarine, magnoflorine, laurifoline, nitidine, chelerythrine), tannin, lignin (asarin), coumarins and phenol (xanthoxylin). It has a stimulating effect upon the entire body, including the lymphatic system and mucous membranes. Prickly Ash Bark is said to stimulate sluggish digestion and help destroy toxins, worms and yeast overgrowth. It is considered to be as strong a stimulant as Cayenne Pepper, but is slower acting and longer lasting. Due to its stimulating effect on the lymphatic system, circulation and mucous membranes, this herb has a role in the holistic treatment of many specific conditions, a few of which have included arthritis, Candida, chilblains, cholera, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, flatulence, gonorrhea, lumbago, paralysis, Raynaud's disease, rheumatism, Sickle-cell anemia, sore throat, typhus and varicose veins. Known topical applications of this herb have included use as a poultice for toothaches, pelvic disorders, wounds, back pain and rheumatism, as well as a lotion for poor circulation and a massage oil for rheumatism and arthritis. The plant stems have even been used as a toothbrush.