Wild Cherry Bark Prunus serotina

Personality: The taste (as with many barks) is astringent and slightly bitter. The bark itself should have a reddish hue, when dried. Outer bark and the darker bark of older trees should not be used, only the inner bark of young growth.

Sources: This herb comes from the Native American tradition and the tree is indigenous to North America. British herbalists have moved more towards native British plants in recent years but some herbs, such as Wild Cherry, are hard to find substitutes for. It is however, a rather specialist remedy in this country and you might find it difficult to source, other than from specialist suppliers.

Anecdotes: Wild Cherry bark could be seen as ‘unholistic’ because it is a cough suppressant. Most herbalists like to go below the symptoms (such as a cough) and treat the root causes of the problem. Symptomatic medicine definitely has its place though. When a young child cannot sleep because of a dry hacking cough, a little wild cherry and wild lettuce will induce sleep and calm the cough. The restful night that the child (and parents) get, will greatly help the natural healing process.

Uses: I only use Wild Cherry very specifically, for unproductive, irritating coughs and almost always just at night (when coughs tend to be worst).

Actions: Anti-tussive, sedative, astringent.

Dosage & Preparations: Up to 2ml of the tincture at night. Reduce the dose in proportion to body weight for children, using 70kg as the adult average, e.g. a 28kg child would be given 40% of the adult dose. Combines well with Wild Lettuce or Valerian.

Safety: Safe in therapeutic doses, but toxic in large doses. Store out of reach of children.

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