Black Haw

Viburnum prunifolium

 

Monograph

1. Plant Family:
• Caprifoliaceae, or honeysuckle family ^[1]
2. Habitat & Cultivation:
• Black Haw is native to eastern North America, from Connecticut west to eastern Kansas, and south to Alabama and Texas. Wherever it lives, it prefers sunny woodland with well-drained soil and adequate water. ^[1]
3. Parts Used:
• Dried bark or stems of trunk ^[2]
4. Herbal Actions:
• Antispasmodic
• Astringent
• Bronchospasmolytic/anti-asthmatic
• Hypotensive
• Nervine tonic
• Partus preparator
• Parturifacient
• Uterine sedative/spasmolytic
• Uterine tonic ^[1]
5. Indications:
• Irritable uterus
• Dysmenorrhea
• PID
• Menstrual cramps
• False labor pains
• Threatened SAB
• High blood pressure
• Asthma ^[2]
6. Plant Constituents:
• Coumarins (scopoletin, aesculetin), phenolic acids, fiflavones, triterpenes (oleanolic and ursolic acids) ^[2]
7. System Affinities:
• Digestive, nervous, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal ^[1]  
8. Energetics:
• Slow, heavy, dry ^[3]
9. Safety:
• No side effects known. ^[1]
10. Interactions:
• None known. ^[2]

Personal Experience

1. Organoleptics:
• The tincture we were given is a light orange color. It is similar to the color of the cramp bark tea I made this week. It tastes amazing! It’s incredibly sweet, almost like cough syrup.
2. Preparation Method:
• Tincture: (1:5 in 60%) 5 – 10 mL 3x/day.
• Decoction: 2 teaspoons dried herb in 1 cup water, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 mins. Drink 3x/day. ^[2]
3. Usage Notes:
• After using this tincture all day today, I do think it helped to lower and regulate my heart rate. It made me feel very grounded.

Sources:

1. Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 5 Study Questions. Bastyr University: SP-18_MW5123-A Botanicals 3: Pregnancy.
2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
3. Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.