Quercus, the Oak

Mon cha ra   མོན་ཆ་ར  (Tibetan)
Picture Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Picture Atlas der officinellen pflanzen, Felix, 1899

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Botanical name:


Quercus spp.
Q. robur, Q. alba, and Q. petraea are currently listed as official

Parts used:


Bark; Leaf; Acorns and their Cups
Oak was also the preferred source for Polypody and Mistletoe

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry.

Classifications:


2N. REPELLENT.    2O. ASTRINGENT.    2S. STRENGTHENING.    2T. GLUTINATE
3F. LITHONTRIPTIC

Uses:


1. Stops Leakages and Bleeding:
-chronic Diarrhea and Dysentery

2. Promotes Urine, Clears Stones:
-promotes urine

3. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:

4. Tonic:

5. Externally:
-to stop bleeding of the Gums, or bleeding Piles, and to heal Ulcers


Dose:


Oak bark in Powder: 1–3 grams

Substitute:


… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


Astringent, Stop Leakage:
1. Diarrhea, chronic Dysentery:
i. Oak bark, … available in PRO version
ii. Diarrhea, chronic Dysentery: … available in PRO version
2. Incontinence and Diabetes:
i. Acorns, … available in PRO version
ii. Electuary for Diabetes: Acorn, … available in PRO version
iii. Diabetes, peeled Acorn, … available in PRO version
3. Enuresis:
i. Oak bark, … available in PRO version
ii. Oak bark, … available in PRO version
4. Fever, Oak leaf … available in PRO version

Other:
5. Stomach Ulcers, Oak bark, … available in PRO version
6. Spitting Blood, Oak leaf, … available in PRO version
7. Scrofula, Oak bark, … available in PRO version
8. Herpes, Ringworm, Eczema, Acorn cups, … available in PRO version
9. Rashes, Oak bark, … available in PRO version

Externally:
10. Shingles:
i. combine Oak bark with … available in PRO version
ii. Oak bark with … available in PRO version
11. Old sores, make a strong wash of Oak bark, … available in PRO version
12. Gonorrhea: Oak bark or leaf (1 or 2 oz.), … available in PRO version
13. Prolapse, Oak leaf with … available in PRO version
14. Douche for vaginal discharge, leukorrhea:
i. Oak bark with … available in PRO version
ii. Oak bark with … available in PRO version
iii. Oak bark with … available in PRO version
15. Suppository:
i. Oak bark, … available in PRO version
16. Astringent Fomentation:
i. Oak bark (1 oz.), … available in PRO version
ii. Oak bark (half oz.), … available in PRO version
iii. … available in PRO version
iv. Oak bark powder, … available in PRO version

Major Formula:


Astringent Strengthening Decoction
Decoction for Wounds

Cautions:


Very drying and astringent. Not used in Constipation.

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water of the Green leaves
  • Extra Info
  • History
Pliny on Acorns:
‘Acorns, pounded with salted axle-grease, are curative of those indurations known as “cacoethe.” [foul or cancerous tumors] The acorn of the holm-oak, however, is the most powerful in its effects; and in all these trees the bark is still more efficacious, as well as the inner membrane which lies beneath it. A decoction of this last is good for coeliac affections; and it is applied topically in cases of dysentery, as well as the acorns, which are employed also for the treatment of stings inflicted by serpents, fluxes, and suppurations. The leaves, acorns, and bark, as well as a decoction prepared from them, are good as counter-poisons. A decoction of the bark, boiled in cows’ milk, is used topically for stings inflicted by serpents, and is administered in wine for dysentery. The holm-oak is possessed of similar properties’. (The Natural History of Pliny, trans. by Bostock and Riley, Vol. 5, 1856)