Download Chokecherry/Wild cherry

Chokecherry/Wild cherry
Botanical Name:
Family:
Common Names:
Range:
Prunus Virginiana
Rose
Bird Cherry
Common in dry woods, thickets and some open woods in low to mid elevations.
Identification: Large shrub or small tree to 30 ft tall. dark red to nearly black; fruits mature July to
September.Smooth grayish bark marked with small horizontal slits; Twigs dark red to nearly black, leaves finely
toothed, with 2-3 prominent glands near the stalk tip; flowers creamy white forming bottlebrush like clusters in
May – June producing hanging clusters (drupes) of ¼” wide, dark red to black cherries.
Wildlife: Chokecherry is important to many wildlife animals. Birds, rabbits, rodents and bears all seek out and eat
its fruit. It provides food, cover and nesting habitat for a variety of birds. Birds will also take advantage of its
growth form for cover and nesting habitat. It is used extensively by deer as a browse source in the winter. The
early spring flowers provide an important source of nectar for butterflies, honeybees and ants.
Conservation: Chokecherry is used extensively in shelterbelts, windbreaks, wildlife habitat and mass plantings for
erosion control. Chokecherry does well in riparian area planting. It provides thermal cover over the water and
works well in stabilizing streambanks. It has been used on disturbed sites such as mined land reclamation,
highway right-of-ways and construction sites. It is a good erosion control plant because it can form thickets and
spread by rhizomes.
Chokecherry Therapeutics:
Parts Used:
Inner bark, Ripe fruits
Preparation:
Decoction, Infusion, Tincture of inner bark
Syrup, jam, jelly, wine from berries
Harvesting:
Harvest bark in early spring before flowering or after fruiting; Fruits when ripen fall
Medicinal Actions:
● Anti-cancer
• Anti-inflamatory
• Anti-tussive
• Anodyne
• Astringent
• Bitter
• Expectorant
• Febrifuge (reduce fevers)
• Mild sedative/Narcotic
• Vermifuge (expel worms)
Constituents:
● Cyanogenic glycosides including hydrocyanic acid,prunasin, volatile oil, benzaldehyde, coumarins, resin,
tannin, benzoic acid, gallic acid, malic acid, starch
● Flavanoids, Anthocyanins, Melatonin
Caution: The seed and leaves can contain high concentrations of hydrogen cyanide, a poison that gives
almonds their characteristic flavour. This toxin is readily detected by its bitter taste. Usually present in too
small a quantity to do any harm, any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten[ In small quantities,
hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of
benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
Respiratory:
• The cyanogenic glycosides make Wild Cherry a powerful cough remedy. Prussic acid sedates the sensory
nerves which inhibits the cough reflex.
• Bronchitis, whooping cough, and racking coughs from cold as it loosens phlegm in the throat and the chest
Digestive:
● The glycosides and volatile oil improve digestion, promoting secretions, calming irritation and tightening
and toning the mucous membranes
● Diarrhea
Immune:
●
The anthocyanins - anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, are at least 10 times more active than
aspirin according to 1998 study from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. The
antioxidant activity in cherries is even greater than that of vitamin E
●
As wild cherry may have anticancer properties, more research is being done at Johns Hopkins University to
study the use of cherries in alleviating the pain of cancer.
Cardio-vascular:
● “Wild Cherry bark acts upon the cardio-vascular system, equalizing the circulation and reducing the
irritation and congestion which would encumber the heart. The combination of sweet and bitter indicates a
remedy that is especially nutritive, as both these flavors stimulate the secretions of the mouth, stomach and
digestive system. Bitterness is associated with the heart and circulation as well, since it reduces irritation
and fever. The nourishing influence indicated by the sweet flavor is directed, as it were, towards the heart.
This is joined by the astringency, which also tones up the heart. Prunus serotina not only reduces irritation
but nourishes, tonifies and strengthens the heart muscle.” Mathew Wood, Herbalist
http://bearmedicineherbals.com/?p=375
Dosage: Infusions, teas and decoctions up to 2 cups daily. Not for long term use
Tincture: 10 drops maximum
Choke Cherry Pharmacy
Cough and Sore Throat Syrup
2 parts Slippery Elm Bark
1 part Wild Cherry bark
2 parts Licorice root
Ginger
1 part Cinnamon bark
4 parts Fennel Seeds
1/8 part Orange Peel
Use 2 ounces of herb mixture to one quart of water. Simmer the liquid down to one pint. This will give you a very
strong, thick tea. Strain the herbs out and add in sweetener. Either 1 or 2 cups. You may need to warm the liquid
for everything to dissolve and mix well. Add in any brandy, essential oils, fruit concentrates, etc you wish. Mix
again and bottle.
Choke Cherry Pantry
Chokecherry Juice for Syrup or Jelly
Add water to 1 gallon of berries to barely cover the berries. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.Strain
through a colander, saving the juice and returning the berries to your pan. Barely cover with water and bring to a
boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain as before, saving the juice and returning the berries again to your pan.
Other Uses:
A green dye can be obtained from the leaves; A green dye is obtained from the inner bark in spring; A dark grey to green dye can be obtained
from the fruit; A purplish-red dye is obtained from the fruit
Wood - close grained, moderately strong, hard, heavy, does not burn easily. It is not valuable because of its small size and irregular shape, but
is used for skewers