Prunus serotina (Wild Cherry, Virginia Prune Bark)
Family: Rosaceae
Habitat/Botanical Description: Grown worldwide, Prunus is a tree with thick, reddish, fragrant bark with a rough dark cortex separating into narrow layers. The leaves are oblong, lanceolate, tapering, serrate with short and incurved teeth, thick, smooth, dark green, and shining. The flowers are small, white and rosaceous. The fruit is small, round, black cherry with a round and smooth drupe. The tree blooms in May and ripens fruit in August and September. Prunus virginiana is the choke cherry tree/bush.
Part Used: Bark
Active Constituents:
Benzaldehyde, coumarins, eudesmic acid, cyanogenic glycoside (prunasin), scopoletin, sugars, tannins
Medicinal Actions:
Anti-tussive, astringent, sedative
Medicinal Use:
1)       Prunus is a cough suppressant so is indicated for treatment of irritated coughs. It is best used when a cough is disturbing sleep and slowing recovery.
2)       Spasmodic cough that has been keeping people up
3)       Reduce the cyagenic effect of the plant
4)       Large amount
5)       Cold infusion is a good way to use it
6)       It is also used to reduce the post-infective chronic lingering dry cough. It reduces nervous irritation and has a mild astringent soothing effect on the irritated tissues. It can be used as a tonic for paroxysmal coughs, the astringent reducing the mucus that may be deep in the tissues.
7)       The bitter action also stimulates appetite and digestion, helping to rebuild the strength of the patient.
8)       Contraindications: Sluggish and depressed conditions
9)       Toxicity: Due to the cyanogenic glycosides, long term use or excessive dosing can increase the amount of circulating cyanide. Enzymes involved in the clotting cascade use minute amounts of cyanide. Large amounts can cause convulsions, respiratory paralysis and death.
Drug Interactions: None
Pharmacy:
Infusion: 1 tsp/cup TID
Tincture (1:5): 2 – 4 ml TID