Medicinal properties of oak bark

Oak always evokes associations with good health and longevity. This is actually true - the lifespan of this tree is approximately four hundred years. The bark of this tree is valued for its healing properties. It is used to improve health and preserve youth.

Properties of oak bark

It is not surprising that this wonderful plant was revered by our ancestors, and its bark was used quite widely in healing. Even now, oak bark is often used in recipes for both folk and traditional medicine.

Most often, the bark of this tree is used to heal diseases of the epidermis and mucous membranes of the mouth. Preparations based on oak bark successfully treat burns, eliminate excessive sweating, help cure diarrhea, some gynecological diseases and frostbite.

Oak bark contains a large percentage of tannins, which form a kind of protective barrier on the surface of the skin and prevent irritation. These same substances can effectively cope with pathogenic microflora. In addition to tanning components, the components of oak bark include flavonoids, starch and pectin.

The healing qualities of the bark are fully manifested when:

• Healing from dysentery, gastrointestinal diseases and hemorrhoidal bleeding as an astringent.
• Diseases of the oral cavity, to eliminate sore throat and bad breath.
• Wounds on the skin, burns and other injuries.
• High sweating in the form of baths.
• Treatment of gynecological diseases.
• Seborrhea, to improve the condition of the hair and restore the strength of the curls.

Application of oak bark

A variety of products are made from the crushed bark of a century-old tree. It is a component of ointments, decoction, infusion and tincture. The drugs can be used both internally and externally. For example, to heal burns, lotions are made using a concentrated decoction. The same decoction is used for medicinal baths for excessive sweating of the extremities.

Oak decoction helps eliminate bad odor from the mouth and treats some dental diseases, for example, gingivitis, stomatitis, gumboil, and periodontal disease. This is possible due to the excellent astringent qualities of the substance.

To eliminate prolonged uterine bleeding, an aqueous infusion of crushed bark is used. To prepare it, pour half a small spoon of dry raw material with cool water (2 cups) and leave overnight. Then the infusion is filtered and 200 ml of red wine is added. The resulting product is drunk in a glass in the morning and evening.

To eliminate colpitis, erosion, vulvovaginitis and leucorrhoea, douching with a decoction of pieces of bark is used. The product is first cooled to a warm state. To prevent bedsores, oak decoction is used as a hygiene product for wiping bedridden patients.

To relieve pain in the throat and to heal from a sore throat, gargle with an infusion of crushed raw materials. To prepare, pour boiling water (1 glass) into 2 large spoons of ground dry bark and leave for half an hour.

To cope with hair loss and improve the condition of your hair, use an infusion of oak bark and onion peel. Dry ingredients are mixed in equal proportions and one glass is measured. Pour in a liter of boiling water and leave to steep for one hour. Then filter and rub into the epidermis of the head. This procedure is done after washing the hair. It significantly strengthens hair follicles, reduces the number of lost hairs and activates the growth of new ones.

If this infusion is used as a mask before washing your hair, you can cope with dandruff. The product is rubbed into the epidermis of the head, as in the previous recipe. Then a polyethylene cap is put on the curls and insulated. After an hour, you can wash your hair as usual.

How to brew oak bark

Usually the crushed bark is used for external treatment. However, the method of preparing the decoction differs depending on what disease needs to be cured. Traditionally, the decoction is made from one large spoon of raw materials, which is poured with boiling water in the amount of 2 glasses. This mixture is boiled over low heat for 10 minutes and then left to brew for half an hour. Before using the decoction, it must be filtered.

For foot baths, the decoction is prepared in a different way. To do this, take a package of bark containing 200 g of raw material, pour it into a container and pour in 2 liters of boiling water. The product is boiled over low heat for a quarter of an hour, and then left to brew for 3 hours and strained. The resulting high concentration decoction is diluted in half with water and used for a bath.

In some cases, a tincture of pieces of oak bark in alcohol is used. To prepare it, mix a tablespoon of crushed raw materials and 300 ml of vodka. The mixture is placed in a dark glass container and kept for a week in a dark place.

To eliminate problems with gums and stop inflammatory processes in the mouth, a decoction is prepared using a water bath. To do this, take 3 large spoons of pieces of bark and pour in 200 ml of boiling water. The raw materials are placed in a water bath and simmered for 25 minutes. Before use, such a decoction is cooled, filtered and the amount is adjusted to 300 ml with boiled water.

Contraindications for oak bark

Despite all the advantages of this product, not everyone can use products using oak bark. There are few obstacles to the use of decoction, infusion and other dosage forms with oak bark:

• Allergic reaction to oak bark components and individual intolerance.
• Chronic constipation.
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding, oak bark products should be used very carefully and only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Although oak bark is considered a fairly safe remedy, you should not increase the dosage of drugs or abuse treatment. This can trigger attacks of nausea and even vomiting. Treatment with oak bark should not be used for longer than 2 weeks.

Oak bark for children

For infants, a decoction using oak bark can only be used for external use. For example, to eliminate prickly heat, a decoction is added to a child’s bathtub. Ingestion of products using bark should not be given to a child, since the baby’s body does not tolerate the effects of high concentrations of tanning and astringent components.

For oral use, preparations containing this drug can only be given from the age of two. For example, using a decoction you can relieve a child of diarrhea. In this case, the decoction is prepared according to a special recipe. It needs to be brewed in a thermos, mixing chamomile flowers and ground bark, taken in a small spoon, with half a liter of boiling water. When the broth has cooled to room temperature, it is used to give the child an enema.