Sumac Berry Whole

Botanical Name: Rhus glabra

Sumac is a deciduous shrub native to North America found in all 48 mainland states of USA and in southern Canada. It is used extensively by Native Americans for food and medicine. Young shoots and roots are peeled and eaten raw. The fruit is also eaten raw, cooked or made into a lemonade-like drink.

The active constituents in Sumac are being studied for use in many diseases some possible applications are in the treatment of TB, diabetes, and some cancers. The plant contains Calcium malate, Dihydrofisetin, Fisetin, Iodine, Gallic-acid-methylester, tannic and gallic acids, Selenium, Tartaric-acid, and many beneficial minerals.

An infusion of the bark or roots is antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, galactogogue, haemostatic, rubefacient and tonic.

It is used in alternative medicine for the treatment of colds, diarrhea, fevers, general debility, to increase the flow of breast milk, sore mouths and throats, rectal bleeding, inflammation of the bladder and painful urination, retention of urine and dysentery and is applied externally to treat excessive vaginal discharge, burns and skin eruptions.

The powdered bark is made into a good antiseptic salve. An infusion of the leaves is used for asthma, diarrhea and stomatosis.

A poultice of the leaves used to treat skin rashes. The leaves also chewed for sore gums and rubbed on sore lips.

An infusion of the berries is diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, purgative and refrigerant.