American basswood

Tilia americana

A large broadleaf tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant flowers, related to the European lime. The flowers contain mucilage and flavonoids. The wood is soft and easy to carve; the inner bark gives strong fibre.

Safety notes

Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.

Cautions by tradition (1)

Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: The masks are sacred and not meant to be shown or sold.

Preparation

Young twigs or flowers as a tea; the decoction of the twigs as a bath.

Use in traditions

The Haudenosaunee carve the masks of the False Face society from the soft basswood, directly in the living tree. Cord was made from the inner bark. In the notes in Herrick, healers bathed a child that was late in walking in a decoction of young twigs, and used the bark for bladder complaints and injuries.

Applications

Use by tradition

How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.

Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine

Attributed effects

For a child that is late in walking, for bladder complaints and after injuries. The masks of the False Faces are carved from the wood.

Preparation and amount

Boil young twigs and bathe the child in the water; the bark as a decoction.

Caution: The masks are sacred and not meant to be shown or sold.

Ways to prepare herbs: Tea (infusion)Decoction Steam and bath

Sources

All herbs from North America →