In Germany the Oak tree is the king of the trees.
One reason for this is the durable wood and the long life oth the Oak.
The acorns that ripen in autumn taste bitter, but through washing very intensive the bitter essences disapear and the dried acorns can be used as flower what helped a lot in hungry times. The acorns can also be used as coffee substitute.
The bark of the young branches of the Oak are very astringent,
what makes them a good remedy against bleeding and inflammation.
It is mainly used externally as a bath or a poultice.
Medicinal Uses
- Eczemas
- Bad healing wounds
- Diarrhea
- Astringent
- Antibacterial
- Stops bleeding
- Inflammation-inhibitory
- Sore throat
- Mouth inflammations
- Diarrhea
- Gastritis
- Gastric ulcers
- Diabetes
- Haemorrhoids
- Blood sugar sinking
- Cystitises
- Eczemas
- Athlete's foot
- Frostbites
- Varicose veins
- Furuncle
- Gum bleeding
- Burns
- Ulcers
- Cuts
- Inflamation of the eyelid (blepharitis)
- Sweaty feet
Information
| Used Parts: | Bark |
| Substances: | Tannic essence, Tannic acid, Quercetin, Bitter essence |
| Time to collect: | March until May |
Methods
The bark of the young branches of the Oak is used as a medical remedy.
It is full of tannic essence, that makes the Oak bark strong astringent.
Oak can be used as tea externally and internally.
Tea
To prepare an Oak decoction (tea) pour one cup of cold water over one or two spoonful of Oak bark. Heat the water with the bark and boil it for five minutes.Than filter the tea and drink it slowly or use it externally.
Internal use
Oak bark can be used internally against diarrhea and inflammations of the digestive system.It also helps against stomach ulcers.
You can use Oak also to ally inflammations of the mouth and the gums.
External use
Oak tea can be used external as poultice, in washings or as bath.This can help against eczemas and ulcers.
In baths it can help to shrink haemorrhoids and furuncles.
Kitchen
In bad times, people ate the acorns of the Oak as flower or coffee substitute.To use them as flower the bitter essences need to be washed out before.
Plant description
Oak is at home in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere.
You can find Oak trees in mixed forests together with other kinds of trees.
The Oak can become up to 40 meters high.
It is a tree, that can become up to 800 years old. In some cases there are Oaks, that are more than 1000 years old.
The stem of the Oak can become up three meters in diameter.
The bark of the young shouts is plain, later it becomes deeply wrinkled.
The leaves are lobed and become up to 15 cm long. They are glossy and thick. Their colour is dark green at the topside. The underside is light green.
From april to may the flowers are blossoming. They are green and tiny, hanging in panicles.
The acorns (seeds) are ripening in autumn. They taste bitter, but they are loved a lot by pigs, that like to eat nourishing fruits of the Oak.