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Prickly
Ash
(Zanthoxylum americanum)
toothache bush, yellow wood
 Description:
An aromatic shrub or tree, 10-25 feet tall with paired
short spines on the branches. The compound leaves are
oval, toothed with 5-11 leaflets, and lemon-scented when
crushed. Tiny green-yellow flowers, in axillary clusters
appear before the leaves appear. The fruit is a small,
dark berry-like capsule covered with lemon-scented, gandular
dots, containing one or more shiny black seeds. Found
in eastern and central U.S. in moist woods, and thickets.
Medicinal:
It is a anodyne, diaphoretic, irritant, stimulant, and
diuretic. The bark tea or tincture have been used by American
Indians and herbalists for chronic rheumatism, dysentery,
kidney, heart trouble, colds, coughs, lung ailments, and
uterine cramps. Berry tea is given for sore throats. The
bark is chewed for toothaches. Bark and berries are used
for the digestive and lymphatic system, skin diseases,
nervous headaches, and varicose veins. Use 1 teaspoon
of the dried bark or berries to 1 cup water. Take 1 cup
a day. Research shows it may have anticancer properties.
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