White Oak Bark

History:

The White Oak tree is a stately, deciduous member of more than fifty species of oaks found in the United States, and is said to be native to the eastern part of North America. The "Mighty Oak," long a symbol of strength (and the emblem on the first flag of the Revolutionary forces during the United States War of Independence), thrives as an ornamental in rich, deep, well-drained, acidic soil in sun or partial shade and may reach well over one hundred feet in height at maturity. In ancient times, the Oak was dedicated to Thor, the Norse god of thunder, and this gave rise to the false belief that an Oak tree could never be struck by lightning. This belief led to the placement of acorn symbols in a home for protection, with acorn-shaped wooden pulls attached to Venetian Blind cords to guard those dwelling within. Oak's botanical genus, Quercus, is said to be derived from the Celtic word, quer, meaning "fine" and cuez, meaning "tree," and its botanical specific, alba, is translated from Latin, meaning "white." The White Oak has been an important medicinal treatment in the history of Native Americans and settlers alike. Several Native Americans ate the ground meal from acorns of the White Oak as a dietary staple, and many tribes used White Oak Bark as an important medicine for diarrhea, wounds and hemorrhoids. The Menominees and Potawatomis used a liquid from the scraped inner bark medicinally as a treatment for piles, and the Penobscots drank its liquid to treat diarrhea. The American Colonists learned of its medicinal uses from the Native Americans and also used it as a substitute for the English Oak, often employing it in barrel making, leather tanning and shipbuilding. White Oak is still a valuable hardwood timber product, which is used in furniture, railroad ties, flooring and cabinetmaking. It was listed as an astringent, tonic and antiseptic in the United States Pharmacopœia from 1820 to 1916, as well as the Dispensatory of the United States. There has been renewed interest in the inner bark and galls (growths produced by fungi and insects) of the White Oak because of the bitter tannin content, which is an excellent astringent and major source of tannic acid and an important ingredient in herbal medicines. The acorns of the White Oak have been roasted like coffee and used as a coffee or tea substitute, especially by those who suffer from looseness of the bowels. Some of the constituents in White Oak Bark include beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, catechin, gallic acid, pectin, quercetin, tannin, sulfur, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamin C.

White Oak Bark (the inner bark) is considered to be a powerful astringent with a long history in herbal medicine. Its rich tannin content has made it one of the most potent botanical treatments that has been used both internally and externally for centuries to support the body's own natural resources to control bleeding and relieve diarrhea, hemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, vomiting, nosebleeds, womb troubles and dysentery (echoing its use by early Native American tribes for such application). The astringency works with the body's natural capacity to help stop internal bleeding and may potentially be effective in cases of excessive menstrual flow and hemorrhages, including hemorrhaging of the lungs, bowels, stomach and spitting of blood.

As an herbal diuretic, White Oak Bark assists the body in its efforts to promote and increase the flow of urine; and as such, it also supports the body in its attempts to expel mucous discharge, flush out kidney stones and gallstones, as well as  improve the health of the bladder. There are reports that it may be useful for ulcerated bladder or bloody urine.  Moreover, White Oak is believed to work with the body's natural abilities to 'normalize' the function of the kidney, liver and spleen and has been used in cases of jaundice and other liver ailments.

White Oak Bark is considered a strong botanical antiseptic.  Apparently, the tannins reputedly bind with protein in the tissues, making them impermeable to bacterial invasion and infection, and this action may potentially be very helpful for supporting relief of a wide variety of infections, such as vaginal infections (including vaginitis and leukorrhœa), gleet (urethritis), bladder infection, chancre (canker) sores and venereal diseases. Its diuretic properties may enhance many of these applications.

White Oak Bark is considered a plant-based anthelmintic. The phenolic nature of the tannin complex reputedly acts as a natural antiseptic and parasiticide, or agent that supports the body's natural efforts to destroy and expel worms (including pinworms) and other parasites from the intestinal tract.

When used externally, White Oak Bark's natural astringency is considered to be hemostatic, or substance that helps to stop bleeding, again reflecting Native American and early Colonial use. The tannins appear to protect injured tissues by precipitating their proteins to form an antiseptic, protective coat under which regeneration of new tissues may take place, and this may be useful as a topical antiseptic for assisting the body's own healing properties to relieve burns, wounds, bee stings, skin abrasions and bleeding or infected mouth sores. White Oak Bark's astringents are often utilized in topical herbal medicines to relieve flabby ulcers, in douches for vaginal and cervical discharges and in washes for hemorrhoids.

Further supporting White Oak's astringent qualities, it is said to assist the body's own natural efforts to relieve goiter and swelling of the neck and varicose veins. It may also be a helpful support to help reduce swelling and hard growths when applied topically.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Currently, there are no known warnings with the use of White Oak Bark Herbal Supplement; however, it should be noted that prolonged use of astringents is not recommended.

Capsule Information:
Our White Oak Bark supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs."

Special Note:
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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.