Common pricklyash

1
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum P.
Mill. Synonyms Zanthoxylum carolinianum, Z.
clava-herculis,
Fagra clava-herculis,
Xanthoxylum spp. Other common names
pricklyash, American prickly ash, northern
prickly ash, sea ash,
toothache tree, toothache bush, Hercules-club,
angelica tree,
wild orange, yellowwood, yellow prickly ash,
prickly yellowwood, pepperwood.
Photo courtesy of John Kasmer. Northeastern
Illinois University.

• MEDICINALLY
• An odoriferous irritant sap, fluidextractum
  xanthoyli, can be extracted. An ointment made by
  mixing it with bear fat was applied to open
  ulcers and sores. A poultice was applied for
  rheumatism, hemorrhages, burns and sharp pains.
  A tea made by brewing the berries or bark was
  used to treat colds, coughs, colic, fever,
  tuberculosis, backaches, rheumatism, intestinal
  worms, cancer, childbirth pains, to cleanse
  wounds and to induce sweat, saliva flow and
  vomiting. It was commonly used to treat
  toothaches. The bark was ground into powder and
  placed around the aching tooth. Larger bark
  pieces were chewed to break up a diseased tooth
  before it was removed. The bark was also smoked
  to relieve dental pain.

Slide developed by Pat Broyles, Soil
Conservationist, Manhattan, KS. PMC. USDA is an
equal opportunity employer.