Myrica cerifera (Wax Myrtle) Flashcards
How do you recognise Wax Myrtle?
Wax myrtle aka bayberry. A very variable plant ranging from small shrubs to trees of up to 14m depending if on dry or damp soils. An evergreen, it is native to the East coast of Central America and USA. Leaves used to flavour food, berries used to produce candles and soap.
What are Wax Myrtle’s main constituents?
Constituents
**Triterpenes. **
Flavonoids including myricitrin.
Astringent resins.
Diaryl heptanoids myricanone & myricanol.
What family is Wax Myrtle in?
Family: Myricaceae
What is Wax Myrtle good for?
Summary: **Astringent in gut, good for diarrhea and blood loss, but in the respiratory system works as an expectorant. **Bendle prefers agrimony for an astringent for Crohns or UC, but will use this as the ‘next step up’ if that doesn’t help.
Actions:
* **Astringent. **
* Expectorant.
* Circulatory stimulant.
* Febrifuge.
* Mucolytic
* Digestive tonic
* Some anti-inflammatories
Applications
* Sore throats
* Wounds
* Chronic diarrhoea.
* Infective illness where there is diarrhoea and fever.
* Inflammatory bowel disease esp. with diarrhoea and mucus.
* For sinusitis and sinus pain.
* Reducing fever.
* Prolapse of rectum and uterus (historical).
* Scabies (historical).
What is Wax Myrtle’s Latin name?
Myrica cerifera
What parts of Wax Myrtle do you use?
Parts used: bark and berry.
What safety issues might Wax Myrtle have?
Emetic in high doses. 10 – 30ml/week of 1:3 tincture. Bendle usually uses as a tincture.
What useful research does Wax Myrtle have?
External links:
Phytochemicals with Added Value from Morellaand MyricaSpecies
Research with very little connection to traditional use!
Historical perspective from the Physiomedical Dispensatory by William Cook - pub. 1869
Bog myrtle – Myrica gale
Nice pictures and some general background on one of the plants you are asked to research this week
