- Region
- North America
- Origin
- Forests of southeastern North America, from Connecticut to Florida and Texas, and in the mountains of Mexico and Central America
- Traditions
- Cherokee medicine
North America · Herb · № 992
Liquidambar styraciflua
Herb · North America
American sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
A tall tree with star-shaped leaves, splendid autumn colours and spiky round seed balls. When the bark is wounded a fragrant resin, American storax, seeps out; for centuries it has gone into ointments, perfume and incense. The resin is mildly antiseptic.
Safety notes
The resin can cause a rash in sensitive people; test it first on a small patch of skin. Not on deep wounds. Diarrhoea with blood needs a doctor. 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)
- Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine: Can cause a rash; diarrhoea with blood needs a doctor.
Preparation
Chew the hardened resin as gum; melt the resin in fat as an ointment.
Use in traditions
The English name sweetgum comes from the sweet resin, which Cherokee children chewed as gum. According to Hamel and Chiltoskey the Cherokee made an ointment of it, with sheep or cow tallow, for wounds, sores and itch, and used the resin as a drawing plaster. They took resin or inner bark for diarrhoea and dysentery, and gave an infusion of the bark for heavy bleeding and to very nervous patients. The bark went, with hearts-a-bustin' and summer grapes, into a tea. The Aztecs called the tree the 'resin tree' and mixed the resin into their tobacco.
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.
Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine
Attributed effects
An ointment with sheep or cow tallow for wounds, sores and itch, and a drawing plaster; resin or inner bark for diarrhoea and dysentery; the bark for heavy bleeding and for nervous patients. Children chewed the resin as gum.
Preparation and amount
Chew the resin, or melt it in fat into an ointment; a tea of the inner bark.
Caution: Can cause a rash; diarrhoea with blood needs a doctor.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)Salve and balm