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Quercus alba White oak Deciduous tree (1 Page of 5) The Quercus alba plant species is found in Eastern N. America - Maine to Florida, west to Texas and Minnesota. It is a member of the Fagaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as White oak. Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses Medicinal | Edible Uses Latin Name: Quercus alba Common Name: White oak Family: Fagaceae Author: L. Known Hazards: None known Mature Height: 20 Mature Width: 10 Habitat: Dry woods[43], gravelly ridges, sandy plains, rich uplands and moist bottoms[82]. The best specimens are found in deep rich well-drained loamy soils[229].
Medicinal Information: White oak was often used medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes, who valued it especially for its antiseptic and astringent properties and used it in the treatment of many complaints[257]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism.
The inner bark contains 6 - 11% tannin, it has powerful antiseptic and astringent properties and is also expectorant and tonic[61, 102, 213, 257]. The bark is boiled and the liquid drunk in the treatment of bleeding piles and diarrhoea, intermittent fevers, coughs and colds, consumption, asthma, lost voice etc[213, 257]. The bark has been chewed as a treatment for mouth sores[257]. Externally, it is used as a wash for skin eruptions, burns, rashes, bruises, ulcers etc and as a vaginal douche[222, 257]. It has also been used as a wash for muscular pains[257]. The bark is best collected in the spring[213].
Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc[4].
For further Quercus alba gardening information click on one of the blue links below Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses Medicinal | Edible Uses
The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'. View their bibliography

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