Black Haw Bark
Also known as
Viburnum prunifolium. American sloe, stagbush, Southern Black Haw, Stag Bush, Viburnum, Viburnum lentago, Viburnum rufidulum.
Introduction
The black haw is a deciduous shrub that belongs to the honey suckle family. It is native to North America and grows in moist woods, thickets, and along stream banks. Its red berries ripen in August, and gradually turn blue through the winter. The berries are edible and may be eaten of the bush or made into jams or preserves. The root bark is collected in autumn, the stem bark in spring and summer. Native Americans used black haw for a variety of things including painful menses, to prevent miscarriage, as a postpartum antispasmodic, and in some cases for asthma.
Constituents
Acetic acid, amentoflavone, arbutin, esculetin, myristic acid, oleanolic acid, salicylic acid, scopoletin, tannins, ursolic acid.
Parts Used
Dried bark.
Typical Preparations
Tablets, tea, tincture.
Summary
Much of the knowledge of black haw that was not given by the Native Americans to the early settlers was taken from the King American Dispensatory (1854), a medical and herbal textbook. This text said, in part, that black haw was good for boosting fertility and to preclude abortion. This is said to account for many southern slave owners’ belief that they could produce a larger labor force (more slaves) by coercing their female slaves to eat the berries on a regular basis. Black haw is used to treat health problems caused by uterine contractions, including menstrual cramps and false labor pains. Black haw is a stronger uterine relaxant than cramp bark, and large or frequent doses may lower blood pressure. The reason black haw has been shown to lower blood pressure, and therefore help with uterine relaxation is the well known chemical constituent scopoletin, which is active and present in the herb.
Precautions
Black haw is safe in pregnancy, and may even prevent miscarriage. Its use is not recommended by those with a history of liver and/or kidney problems and its use may produce gastrointestinal upset.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
