Chionanthus, Fringetree

Fringe-tree, Old Man’s Beard, Flowering Ash

Guimpel, F., Otto, F., Hayne, F.G., Abbildung der fremden, in
Deutschland ausdauernden Holzarten (1809-1829)

(Photo by 阿橋) (Wikimedia)

Chionanthus bark
Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919

Botanical name:

Chionanthus virginicus

Parts used:

Root-bark

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Bitter

Uses:

1. Clears Liver Heat, Resolves Damp:
-Headache, red eyes, constipation
-Jaundice, Hepatic congestion
-Cholecystitis, Gall Stones
-Hepatitis, Liver swelling, Cirrhosis
-Pancreatitis

2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Malarial Fever, chronic Intermittent Fevers
-Typhoid Fever

3. Promotes Digestion:
-promotes appetite and digestion (as a bitter tonic)
-used for chronic weakness with poor digestion and liver involvement

4. Used for Diabetes:
-Diabetes, principally when there is Liver involvement

5. Externally:
-applied to Sores, Wounds, Ulcers and Scrofulous Ulcers
-poultice is applied to Inflammations

Dose:

Powder: 1–2 grams
Tincture (1:5 in 40% alcohol): 1–2 mls, 10 drops being a common dose, three times daily
Infusion: 1–2 teaspoonfuls per cup, 2–3 times daily

Main Combinations:

1. Jaundice:
i. Fringetree, Celandine, Dandelion,
2. Cholagogue, Fringetree, Celandine, Dandelion, St. Mary’s Thistle, Burdock, Nettle
3. To prevent Gall Stones, Chionanthus with Leptandra and Dandelion
4. Cirrhosis, Chionanthus, Agimony, St. Mary’s Thistle

Major Formulas:

Cautions:

Avoid overdose. It has been considered narcotic in overdose. (King)