You can buy our December herb of the month, Wild Cherry Bark (or Prunus serotina), in many popular herbal cough formulas. We work with this tree during the darkest time of the year, when winter can bring seasonal discomfort to our respiratory tract.
Botanical description
Wild Cherry (also known as Black Cherry) belongs to the Rosaceae family, better known as the Rose family. It is specifically in the Rose subfamily Drupaceae.
Typical features of the rose family include serrated leaves, five separate sepals, five separate petals and numerous stamens and styles. Like most rose family trees, Wild Cherry shows off its beautiful white-pink aromatic blossoms in the spring. It can grow between 60 and 90 feet tall! The leaves are oval in shape with a slightly serrated edge and vibrate yellow-gold to red in autumn.
The Wild Cherry tree is native to American forests and is prized by woodworkers for its beautiful redwood finish. Herbalists and plant enthusiasts alike value the tree’s inner bark for medicinal uses.
Medicinal use of wild cherry bark
Wild birds such as the American robin, northern mockingbird, blue jay and northern cardinal share this beautiful tree with us, despite the leaves and young twigs that prussic acidwhich is very toxic in large quantities.
Birds and other wildlife cherish summer-ripe wild cherries, and we use the inner mature tree bark for medicinal purposes. These parts are non-toxic.
Drying wet cough
The almond-like aromatics of Inner Wild Cherry Barst have astringent properties that support a healthy inflammatory response in the upper respiratory tract. The constituents or plant substances found in the inner bark can have a drying effect on the tissue, which is useful for boggy, wet coughs. However, we don’t want herbs to dry out our airways. Therefore, marshmallow root or other soothing herbs pair nicely with the bark of wild cherries to prevent overdrying of the tissue.
Expectorant
The bark of wild cherries also has medicinal expectorant properties necessary to move built-up mucus up and out! It may feel uncomfortable to cough up coarse mucus, but it is necessary for happy, healthy lung function.
Moving nasty mucus is important because a buildup can cause blocked airways, but we need that mucus to protect the epithelial tissue in our airways. A bit complicated, right? Welp, the body produces mucus to protect against foreign particles or pesky seasonal insects. But if there is too much of it, expectorants are useful because they help move the mucus up and out with a productive cough.
You can experience this kind of blend in WishGarden’s Serious AM and Serious PM cough syrup. Both taste delicious and support healthy mucous glands for discomfort in the throat and upper respiratory tract.
Immune and respiratory support
Get over it! herbal formula combines wild cherry bark and Yerba Mansa together for a classic mucosal power duo! It goes deep to support our immune and respiratory systems, and Goldenseal root helps maintain a healthy microbial balance. If a stubborn bug won’t let you go, get over it! can get the job done.
Gentle enough for children, wild cherry bark is included in most children’s cough formulas. Kick-It Cough Soothing & Quieting For Kids, our natural cough suppressant for kids, helps your little ones calm their coughs and soothe their sore throats. Adding this formula to a little hot water with lemon and local honey can go a long way for a picky child.
Soothing gastrointestinal complaints
I especially like the bark of wild cherries to relieve gastrointestinal complaints. You can make a cold or warm water infusion using the dry inner bark of Wild Cherry combined with Marshmallow root. Water extracts the polysaccharides or vegetable starches from the plant, which is great for your gut health!
Warnings
The Prunus family is known for its poisonous tree branches. Unfortunately, the cattle have eaten many young branches or seeds in excessive amounts and learned this the hard way. It is important to properly identify each medicinal tree and know which parts are non-poisonous.
The non-toxic part of the bark of wild cherries is traditionally used for herbal formulas for children and adults. However, it is not recommended for the delicate stages of pregnancy due to the teratogenic cyanogenic glycoside plant compound, which can cause complications.
Be sure to check with your doctor before considering herbal formulas!
Native Americans and wild cherries
Like most popular plant companions, we can thank the Native Americans for their long history of discovering medicinal native plants. Cherokee people have used the bark of wild cherries for more than 400 years. They preferred long water infusions during seasonal discomfort.
Wild or black cherries are rarely harvested today, yet they were cherished by native tribes in the past. They grow abundantly in the wild, just as they did many years ago, so find a berry next summer and see for yourself why they are so loved!
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in Medical Herbalism. She owns it Blue yarrow herbs also known as Herbal Vice, an herbal product company that practices bioregional herbal medicine by growing plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the purchasing and sourcing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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