Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines: Lingustrum, Privet

Privet is another one that would surprise many to learn that it is not native to my region. Privet 

is so widespread as to be considered and “invasive weed” by many. Seven varieties of Privet 

have been naturized here; three are shrub-form: Ligustrum amurense (Amur Privet), Ligustrum obtusifolium (Border Privet) and Ligustrum vulgare (European Privet).

Gerard wrote:

The leaves of Privet do cure the swellings, apostumations, and ulcers of the mouth or throat, being gargarised with the juice or decoction thereof, and therefore they be excellent good to be put into lotions, to wash the secret parts, and the scaldings with women, cankers and sores in children's mouths.

Brother Aloysius wrote of Privet (Ligustrum vulgare):

Leaves and flowers are used medicinally, but only externally, for inflammation, and as a gargle 

for an ulcerated throat and mouth, ulceration of the gums and scurvy.

Ligustrum lucidum (also called Chinese Privet, but not to be confused with Ligustrum sinese) is 

the only member of this olive family of shrubby trees to be widely used in Herbal Medicine.

Culpepper tells us:

Description. Privet is a bush or shrub that grows not to any great bigness, having many smooth, tough, pliant branches, cloathed with small oblong leaves, broadest in the middle, and sharp-pointed at the end. It bears long and narrow green leaves by the couples, and sweet smelling white flowers in tufts at the end of the branches, which turn into small black berries that have a purplish juice with them, and some seeds that are flat on the one side, with a hole or dent therein.

Place. It grows in this country, in divers woods.

Time. Our privet flowers in June and July: the berries are ripe in August and September.

Government and virtues. The Moon is lady of this. It is little used in physic with us in these times, more than in lotions, to wash sores and sore mouths, and to cool inflammations, and dry up fluxes. Yet Matthiolus saith, it serves all the uses for which Cypress, or the East Privet, is appointed by Dioscorides and Galen. He further saith, That the oil that is made of the flowers of Privet infused therein, and set in the Sun, is singularly good for the inflammations of wounds, and for the headache, coming of a hot cause. There is a sweet water also distilled from the flowers, that is good for all those diseases that need cooling and drying, and therefore helps all fluxes of the belly or stomach, bloody-fluxes, and women's courses, being either drank or applied; as all those that void blood at the mouth, or any other place, and for distillations of rheum in the eyes, especially if it be used with tutia.

An Irish Herbal states:

It has a binding and cooling nature, good for ulcers and inflammations of the mouth and throat.

Plants for A Future States:

Medicinal use of Privet: The leaves are astringent, bitter, detergent, vulnerary. Internal use of this plant should be avoided since it can produce allergic symptoms. Externally it is a safe and effective treatment. The bark has been used as a stomachic, though this is not really recommended.

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This article is an excerpt from 

Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide

Read about Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast An Herbalist's Guide: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html

Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6: by Judson Carroll

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Available for purchase on Amazon:

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Author: Judson Carroll. Judson Carroll is an Herbalist from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

His weekly articles may be read at judsoncarroll.com

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Disclaimer

The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.