Botanical Name: Quercus alba

Energetics:  neutral to cooling, drying

Major Property:  Astringent

White Oak Bark is considered by many to be “the” astringent to measure all other herbal astringents against.  It’s that good! Astringent means that it tightens/tones/strengthens tissues that have relaxed to the point that they leak or collapse.  

Examples of Use:  organ prolapses, acute diarrhea, loose teeth, severe varicose veins, hemorrhoids, gum disease/bleeding gums

Part Used:  I use the bark.  Trim branches by mid-March, carefully with clean pruner, to avoid oak wilt

Preparation:  I make tincture, oil

Personal Observations:

Acute diarrhea - 1-3 drops every 10 minutes for a couple hours.  If diarrhea continues, take more after bowel movements.

Hemorrhoids - salve made from oil applied to external hemorrhoids.  I’ve heard the tincture helps with internal hemorrhoids, but haven’t had anyone come to me with that malady (yet).

Reattach and mineralize teeth - I fell and had severe damage to front teeth.   White Oak Bark was part of a blend I sprayed on my teeth to help with healing.

Gum disease - daily, add several drops to some water and swish in your mouth for a couple minutes.  Or add to oil if you do oil pulling. Plantain is good to add for this, also.

This brief overview merely highlights my observations.  There is, of course, a great deal of information that you can find on the Internet.  

Please add your own experiences so that together we can create a more comprehensive overview.

As always, if you have a chronic ailment that is not resolving itself or an acute issue, seek the attention of your physician.