Plant Profile: Wild Cherry

Wild Cherry Bark

(Prunus serotina)

Family: ROSACEAE

Energetics: Warming. Drying

Taste: Acrid

Tissue States:

Systems Affected: Lungs. Spleen. Digestive system. Pancreas

Parts Used: Inner Bark

Key Components: Hydrocyanic glycoside. isoamygdalin, roganic acids, cyanogens. Tannins. Calcium. Potassium. Iron.

Preparations & dosage: Standard infusion. Best extracted in a cool/cold water overnight infusion. Tincture 1 droperfull as needed. Syrup 1 tsp as needed. Eyewash for pink eye & eye inflammation. 

Actions:

Foundational: Astringent. Bitter. 
Primary: Expectorant. Sedative. Carminative. 
Secondary:

Uses: 

• Calms respiratory nerves
• Opens passages by reducing swelling.
• Bronchitis, pleurisy, asthma, Tuberculosis. 
• Digestive weakness
• Promotes healthy bowel function and a healthy general digestive function.
• Ulcers, gastritis, colitis, diarrhea, dysentery. 
• Sedates & cools tissue to help it function properly. 
• soothing to wounds surrounded by redness. 
• Nervousness and anxiety that causes heart palpitations. 
• Appetite stimulant. 
• Digestive tonic especially for one who is recovering from illness. 

Combines Well With: 

• Spasmodic/whooping cough: combine with elecampane root, cramp bark, 1/4 part lobelia, 1/4 part ginger root. 
• Antiviral & immune enhancement: Combine with Elderberry
• Stubborn lingering cough: elecampane
• Deep bronchial infection: elecampane & pleurisy root. 

Identifying:

Growing: 

Harvesting: Best when harvested, dried and aged in fall. To not harm the trees, collect the soft inner bark from fallen tree limbs after a storm. Taking bark from the trunk will kill the tree. 

Sources:

The Way of Herbs: Michael Tierra. Pg 206-207
Herbs for Children's Health: Rosemary Gladstar. Pg 32
The Herbal Apothecary: JJ Pursell. Pg 175-177
The Complete Herbs Sourcebook: David Hoffman. Pg 331