Naming
Taxonomy
No taxonomy linked yet.
Naming |
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| Botanical Name: | Abies canadensis |
| Common Names: | Canada pitch tree; Hemlock Bark; Hemlock Leaves; Hemlock |
| Key Name: | Hemlock spruceAbies |
| Parts Used: | Bark (astringent)bark; leaf; resin |
| Sister Plants: | Tsuga canadensis; Abies balsamea |
| Comments: | Conifer used in traditional respiratory and skin remedies |
Taxonomy |
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No taxonomy linked yet. |
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Characteristics |
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| Identifying Character: | Evergreen conifer; flat needles; small cones; Bark with resin blisters |
| Stem: | Trunk up to 30m; straight; scaly gray-brown Bark; resinous |
| Leaves: | Flat needles 1-2cm; dark green above; white bands below; arranged in two ranks |
| Flowers: | Male cones yellow; female cones small green then brown |
| Fruit: | Small ovoid cones 1.5-2.5cm; brown at maturity; winged seeds |
| Taste: | Bitter; Astringent |
| Odour: | Aromatic; resinous |
| Root: | Shallow fibrous root system; prefers moist soils |
| Image: |
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Distribution |
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| Distribution: | Eastern North America; Canada; USA; temperate forests |
| Cultivation: | Moist well-drained acidic soil; partial shade; propagated by seed |
| Harvest: | Bark and resin spring to fall; needles year-round; dry in shade |
Medical |
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| Therapeutic Action: | Astringent,Diaphoretic Herbal: Expectorant; Astringent; Diaphoretic; TCM: Clears heat; resolves phlegm |
| Medical Uses: | Herbal: cough; Bronchitis; skin sores; Naturopathic: respiratory congestion |
| Constituents: | resins; Tannins; essential oils; alpha-pinene">alpha-pinene; bornyl acetate">bornyl acetate |
| Solvents: | alcohol (tincture); water (Decoction); oil (infused) |
| Dosage: | tincture 10-30 drops 3x daily; tea 1-2 cups daily |
| Administration: | oral; Topical |
| Formulas: | |
| Contraindications: | Pregnancy; large doses toxic |
| Preparation: | Decoction: simmer Bark 20 min; tincture 1:5 in 40% alcohol |
| Chinese: | None documented |
| Veterinary: | Herbal: respiratory support in livestock |
| Homeopathic: | HOMEOPATHIC: 6C for coughs |
Pollination and Pollinators |
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| Apis: | No |
| Pollinator: | wind; occasional bees for pollen |
| Pollen: | Yes |
| Pollen Notes: | Wind-pollinated; minor bee pollen source in spring |
| Nectar: | No |
| Nectar Notes: | |
Other |
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| Non-Medical Uses: | lumber; tannins for leather |
| Culinary Uses: | |
| History: | Indigenous North American use for respiratory ailments and tanning |
| Reference: | Kings Dispensary,Natural Healing With Herbs Grieve M. A Modern Herbal 1931; USDA Plants Database |
| URL: | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuga_canadensis |
| Share: | Public |
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