Medicinal Trees: Hemlock (Tsuga... not poison hemlock)

Five varieties of Tsuga have been found useful in Herbal Medicine: Tsuga canadensis - Canadian Hemlock, Tsuga caroliniana - Carolina Hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla - Western Hemlock, Tsuga chinensis - Chinese Hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana - Mountain Hemlock

Two varieties of Hemlock are native to my region: Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) and Tsuga caroliniana (Carolina Hemlock)

It should be noted that these are Hemlock trees, not the “poison hemlock”, which is an umbelliferous, herbaceous plant.

The Thomsonian System of Medicine states:

HEMLOCK. Canadensis. INNER BARK. (Dr. Thomson.)

This is the common hemlock tree, and grows in all parts of New England. The best medicine is to peel the bark from the young tree, and shave the dross from the outside, and preserve only the inner bark; dry it carefully, and pound or grind the rind to a powder. A tea made by putting boiling water to this bark is a good medicine for canker, and many other complaints. The first of my using hemlock bark as medicine was in 1814. Being in want of something for canker, I tried some of it by chewing, and found it to answer, and made use of it to good advantage. Since then, have made constant use of it, and have always found it a very good medicine, both for canker and other complaints of the bowels and stomach. A tea made of this bark is very good, and may be used freely ; it is good to give the emetic and No. 2 in, and may be used for drink in all cases of sickness, especially when going through a course of medicine and steaming. This, with bayberry bark and the lily root, forms No. 3, or what has been commonly called coffee, though many other things may be added, or either of them be used to advantage alone. The boughs, made into a tea, are very good for gravel and other obstructions of the urinary passages, and for rheumatism. The dose of the Fluid Ext. or Tincture is from 15 to 60 minims. One of the finest preparations made is Pinus Canadensis, made by the Rio Chemical Company of New York City. It is uniform in strength and gives entire satisfaction

Plants for A Future lists:

Medicinal use of Carolina Hemlock: The bark is astringent, diaphoretic and diuretic. A tea made from the inner bark or twigs is helpful in the treatment of kidney or bladder problems, and also makes a good enema for treating diarrhoea. It can also be used as a gargle or mouthwash for mouth and throat problems or externally to wash sores and ulcers. A poultice of the bark has been used to treat itchy armpits. The powdered bark can be put into shoes for tender or sweaty feet or for foot odour. An infusion of the stem tips has been used to treat kidney problems. A decoction of the roots has been used as a birthing aid to help expel the afterbirth. The roots have been chewed in order to treat diarrhoea.

Edible parts of Carolina Hemlock: Inner bark - raw or dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread. The leaves and twigs yield "spruce oil", which is used commercially to flavour chewing gum, soft drinks, ice cream etc. A herbal tea is made from the young shoot tips. These tips are also an ingredient of "spruce beer".

Botany In a Day states:

Tsuga is astringent, diarrhetic, and diaphoretic. A tea of the bark or twigs is used for sore mouth or throat, and kidneys or bladder problems. Externally it is used as a wash for sores. The inner bark was reportedly used by the Native Americans for food in the springtime.

The Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine tells us:

The active agents are the tannin, hemlock tannin, and picea tannols. The drug has astringent, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic and diuretic properties. Unproven uses: pinus bark is used for digestive disorders, diarrhea, and diseases of the mouth and throat. It was formerly used to treat scurvy.

This article is an excerpt from The Medicinal Trees of the American South, An Herbalist's Guide: by Judson Carroll

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

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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.