Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Tea

Fruit - raw or cooked[106]. A sweetish resinous flesh[82]. They can be crushed and used as a flavouring in soups and stews[257]. The cones are about 5mm in diameter[200]. About 10mm according to another report[226]. A tea is made from the fruit[159]. It is not very nice[159]. It is made from the young branchlets and the fruit according to one report[183].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Abortifacient  Anthelmintic  Antiseptic  Aromatherapy  Cancer  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Emmenagogue  
Rubefacient  Stimulant

Pencil cedar leaves were much used medicinally by the native N. American Indians, and also in folk medicine by the white settlers, especially to treat chest complaints and skin problems such as venereal warts and other excrescences[269]. The leaves are anthelmintic, diuretic, rubefacient and stimulant[4, 257]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds, general weakness and as a medicine for convalescents[257]. The berries are anthelmintic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue and mildly antiseptic[4, 213, 222, 257]. They have been chewed as a treatment for mouth ulcers[213, 257] or made into a tea to treat colds, rheumatism, worms etc[222, 257]. The fresh young twigs are used as a diuretic[213]. An infusion has been used both internally and as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[257]. The essential oil from the wood is an abortifacient, in some cases it has caused vomiting, convulsions, coma and death[4, 213]. The plant is said to contain the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin[222]. The essential oil from the berries is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Composing'[210].

Essential  Incense  Insecticide  Repellent  Shelterbelt  Tinder  Wood

An essential oil is obtained from the wood[1, 46, 57, 61]. Composed of cedar camphor or cedrol[213], it is used in soaps, as an insecticide and moth repellent[61, 213], a deodorant, in polishes, perfumery etc[4, 21]. Chips of the wood have been used as moth repellents[269]. The leaves are used as an incense[46, 213] and are also either burnt or crushed and then scattered around as an insect repellent[169, 257]. The crushed bark can be used as a soft base in cradles[257]. The bark has also been cut into strips and used to make mats[257, 269]. The red inner bark is a source of a red dye[269]. The bark of the tree is useful as tinder in starting fires Boy Scout style[269]. Some cultivars of this tree are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 90cm apart each way[208]. 'Tripartita' and 'Chamberlaynii' have been recommended[208]. A fairly wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting[200]. Wood - very durable, light, brittle, soft, easily worked, very fragrant, insect-resistant[1, 46, 82, 171, 227]. The wood does not shrink much on drying and weighs 30lb per cubic foot[227]. The reddish wood is highly prized for cabinet making[226], it is also used for fencing, the casing of lead pencils etc[1, 46, 82, 171].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover  Scented Plants