Edible Parts: Flowers  Inner bark  Manna  Shoots
Edible Uses: Tea

A honeydew can be obtained from the cut branches[257]. The young shoots can be made into a tea[257]. Leaves and the bark of twigs can be steeped to make a tea[257]. The catkins can be eaten raw[257]. Bark - raw or cooked[257]. This probably refers to the inner bark[K].

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.
Anodyne  Antiinflammatory  Antiperiodic  Antiseptic  Astringent  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Dysentery  
Febrifuge  Hypnotic  Sedative  Tonic

A decoction of the leaves and bark have been used as a febrifuge[257]. The following uses are for the closely related S. nigra. They probably also apply to this species. The bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative, tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 165]. It has been used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, ovarian pains and nocturnal emissions[4]. The bark of this species is used interchangeably with S. alba. It is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache[238]. The bark is removed during the summer and dried for later use[238]. The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic[238]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[238]. The fresh bark contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[213]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[213] and as an ingredient of spring tonics[229].

Baby care  Basketry

Landscape Uses: Aggressive surface roots possible, Seashore, Specimen. The stems are used in basket making. The N. American Indians used to debark the stems and then weave a basket so tight that it could be used to hold water[229]. The plant is usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as uprights. The small green branches can be split into two, peeled, twisted, dried and used for sewing coiled baskets[257]. The bark has been used as a padding in babies cradles[257]. Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator