Silver Maple
- Origin
- North America
- Part used
- Bark
- Tradition
- Traditional ethnobotany
Silver maple, a familiar tree of the riverbanks and plains of North America, was long known to Indigenous peoples and early settlers for the use of its bark. Less celebrated than its cousin the sugar maple for its sap, it nonetheless held a discreet place in the folk pharmacopoeia of old.
Traditional uses
Support for the liver and gallbladder
The bark was traditionally used as a decoction to support liver function and help with difficult digestion.
Soothing coughs
Amerindian tribes used the bark in preparations to calm coughing and irritation of the airways.
Use as a skin compress
Applied externally, the bark decoction was reputed to soothe certain minor skin irritation or conditions.
A traditional fever remedy
Certain ethnobotanical sources report a use of the bark as a folk remedy to bring down fever.
Before you use it
A traditional use poorly documented by modern research: seek the advice of a health professional before any internal use. Avoid in pregnant or breastfeeding women, for lack of sufficient safety data. Do not give to young children without medical advice. Do not confuse with other maple species; verify botanical identification before harvesting.
The detailed notebook
- Prepared as a paste or decoction
- Traditional duration of use
- Known contraindications
- Related species and their uses
Where to find it
Partner herbalists — available with the detailed notebook.
Sources
Wikipedia