Viburnum prunifolium
Part Used: Dried stem bark
Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) is a herb found in the Eastern and Central USA. This deciduous plant can reach almost 16-1/2 feet in height, with its branches spreading upward. The leaves are dull-colored, finely toothed and nearly 3 inches long. The flowers are quite noticeable, somewhat large, and appear in nearly-topped heads between 3 and 5 inches in width. The active constituents found in Black Haw are coumarins (including scopoletin), bitter glycoside (viburnin), triterpenoid saponins, salicosides, resin, plant acids (including valeric acid), viburnin, tannin, arbutin, trace of volatile oil. Black Haw has been used to ease the symptoms of menopause and menstrual discomfort. It has also been used for false labor pains and in threatened miscarriage. In addition, it has been used to lower blood pressure in hypertension and as an anti-spasmodic the treatment of asthma. For centuries, Black Haw has been used for medical purposes, mainly for gynecological conditions.
Scopoletin, a coumarin, has been identified as a uterine relaxant; it has a number of pharmacological actions probably mediated via autonomic transmission blockade. Salicin has the analgesic and other effects of salicylates. Black Haw is a powerful relaxant of the uterus and is used for dysmenorrhoea, false labor pains as well as in threatened miscarriage. Its relaxant and sedative actions are taken advantage of in its use in reducing blood pressure in hypertension. Its anti-spasmodic properties make it a viable treatment for asthma. Traditional use of Black Haw is for the treatment of uterine irritability and hyperasthesia; threatened abortion; uterine colic; dysmenorrhoea with deficient menses; severe lumbar and bearing-down pains; cramp-like, expulsive menstrual pain; intermittent, painful contractions of the pelvic tissues; after-pains and false pains of pregnancy; and obstinate hiccough. It may be used as an antispasmodic in the treatment of asthma. A cream may be applied to muscle cramps or muscle tension. As Black Haw contains salicin, a chemical relative of aspirin, people who are allergic to that substance should not use it. The chemicals in Black Haw do relax the uterus and therefore probably prevent miscarriage; however, the salicin may be teratogenic. Consequently, pregnant women should not use Black Haw.
References:
Holistic Online. http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h94.htm
Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viburnum_prunifolium
