Page 251 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Red Alder, Alnus rubra

Red Alder is a distinctive tree native to the northwest
coast of North America. It is a deciduous broadleaf
member of the Betulaceae (Birch) Family and gets its
name from the distinctive rusty-red coloring that de-
velops on the bruised or scraped bark.

Identification: Red Alder grows quickly and usu-
ally grows 25 to 50 feet (7.6 meters to 15 meters) high.
Trees that grow in the forest develop a tapered trunk
that extends up to a narrow and round shaped crown,
while trees growing in the open have a broad cone-
shaped crown and can be scrubby.

Its broad alternate leaves are greyish underneath and
bright green on the top. They have an oval-shape and Fevers, Headaches, Arthritis Pain: Red Alder
pointed tips. The coarsely toothed edges curl down- bark contains a painkiller that works like aspirin to re-
ward and are a distinguishing trait. Its veins form a duce fevers and relieve pain.
ladder-like pattern. Insect Bites, Poison Oak, Rashes, Eczema,

Flowers develop as female or male clusters. Female and Other Skin Irritations: For skin irritations,
flowers are on woody brown cones, while male flowers bites, swellings, eczema, and rashes, use a Red Alder
are long, drooping reddish catkins. The oval-shaped Bark Infusion or poultice directly on the skin. The red
female cones are just under an inch (2.5 cm) long and alder soothes the skin, relieves the pain, and reduces
produce 50 to 100 seeds that look like a narrow, swelling and inflammation.
winged nut.
Lice, Sca-
Edible Use: The catkins of red alder trees can be bies, and
eaten raw or fresh. They are rich in protein and nutri- Mites: To get
ents, and although rid of lice, sca-
they are bitter I bies, and
have gotten used mites, boil the
to the taste. The inner bark and
inner bark is leaves of the
sometimes dried red alder in
and powdered, vinegar and al-
and used as a flour low it to cool.
Red Coloration on bark, Walter Siegmund, CC by
to thicken soups Massage into 2.5
and sauces. The the affected areas. It kills them and eliminates the
sap of the red al- problem.
der has a sweet fla-
vor. Collect in late Tuberculosis: Red alder decoction has been tradi-
winter and con- tionally used to treat tuberculosis, lymphatic prob-
sume raw. lems, and syphilis.
Walter Siegmund - Own work, CC by 2.5
Medicinal Use: Harvesting: Collect red alder leaves during the
An extract or decoction of the dried bark is used in summer and use fresh. Collect the bark in the spring
most cases. The bark contains salicin. when new growth is occurring. Choose a young
branch, about 2 to 3 years old. Remove the branch
Diarrhea and Indigestion: A Red Alder Bark from the tree and remove the outer and inner bark. Dry
Decoction relieves indigestion, calms the stomach the bark for future use. Fresh bark can cause vomiting
muscles, and treats diarrhea. and stomach upset; only use dried bark.
250