Prickly Ash

Prickly Ash

Scientific Name: Xanthoxylem americanum

Part used: Bark and berries

Native to: North America

In a Word: Body Heater

Uses: Poor Circulation, Raynaud’s disease and phenomena

Prickly Ash is a North American plant that has been used for centuries to warm cold hands and feet. The Native Americans first used it to make the cold North American winters more bearable. In turn, the Native Americans let the European colonials know of its warming capacity. It has a long and interesting history and is an ideal herbal medicine for people with cold hands and feet. We feel this is especially true if the problem is a little more serious than the occasional case of chilly extremities, in the case of Raynaud's Phenomena or Raynaud's Disease.

Understanding Raynaud's Disease and Raynaud's Phenomena

Raynaud's Disease, on a physiological level, is a spasm of the arteries supplying the fingers and toes. When the arteries go into spasm, blood flow to the extremities is reduced. The digits, fingers and toes, deprived of proper blood supply, go blue and cold. The spasms are usually triggered by cold and are relieved by the application of heat. When these bouts of cold hands and feet are unrelated to a greater disease process, patients are said to have Raynaud's Disease. However, when these bouts of cold hands and feet are a part of a greater disease process, patients are said to suffer from Raynaud's Phenomena. There are certain conditions which are often attended by these bouts of freezing extremities. Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) and Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (PSS) are two such diseases that often come packing with this frigid digit phenomena. These patients are said to suffer from Raynaud's Phenomena.

Now, Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) and Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (PSS) are both auto-immune diseases, diseases in which the immune system runs amuck and begins to attack the body. When the immune system backfires and turns on the body, drama ensues. Any organ or tissue can receive abuse from the out of control immune system. For reasons that mystify the scientific community, people suffering from auto-immune diseases like SLE and PSS often develop Raynaud's Phenomena.

Doctors in the last century were extremely fond of the medicinal prickly ash and extolled its virtue and efficacy.

To summarize the situation, in Raynaud's Disease, patients only experience a sudden loss of circulation to their hands and feet. In Raynaud's Phenomena, patients experience sudden bouts of loss of circulation and a whole lot more. In this second case, the condition is linked to immune system malfunction. In either case, prickly ash is an ideal herbal medicine as it gets the blood rushing to the extremities thus warming them up.

Though few people know about this medicinal plant today, in the last century, it was the number one treatment for conditions like Raynaud's Disease and Raynaud's Phenomena. Doctors in those days were extremely fond of this medicinal plant and extolled its virtue and efficacy. We will adventure through old medical books to gain a better understanding of Prickly Ash and to see its relevance in both conditions.

Raynaud's Disease

Very simply put, the doctors in the last century used Prickly Ash as a circulatory stimulant. When people suffered from poor circulation to their hands and feet, or "sluggish circulation" as they would have said, they called in the Prickly Ash to get the blood moving. Doctor Peterson wrote this in 1905,

"Xanthoxylum (Prickly Ash) stimulates the nerve centers and thus increases the functional activity of the different organs of the body. Has a tonic effect on the heart and will antagonize congestion and blood stasis. Its action on the capillaries is similar to that of belladonna but is much safer to use as there are no toxic effects from its use. When taken, it causes a warmth and tingling through the whole body. It stimulates the heart and capillary circulation and thus assists in overcoming congestion and blood stasis. We think of it where the circulation is sluggish, mucous membrane relaxed and there is general lack of nerve tone."

Doctor Peterson tells us that Prickly Ash does more than get the circulation rocking. He tells us that it stimulates the entire body. By stimulating the nerves and the digestion, Prickly Ash acts as a general tonic. Here are his words to this effect.

"Prickly Ash Stimulates the nerve centers and in this way increases the tone and functional activity of different organs of the body. In rheumatism as a gastro tonic, in atonic diarrhoea and dysentery, colic, cholera morbus, Asiatic cholera, chronic atonic dyspepsia. Combined with hydrastis, it makes a valuable restorative in condition of weakness, malnutrition, after debilitating fevers, diarrhoea, dysentery, etc. It has a superior tonic influence upon the stomach and digestion and improves nutrition. A valuable remedy in chronic atonic dyspepsia."

This good doctor, and all of his fellow doctors, felt that Prickly Ash was an ideal medicine when a person’s circulation needed some stimulation. They also said that along with circulatory stimulation came a general tonic effect. Two for the price of one! The patients who use Prickly Ash tend to agree with the long dead doctors.

Raynaud's Phenomena

Raynaud's Phenomena is a bit more complicated because we have more going on than deficient circulation. In this case, the fundamental problem is abnormal immune function. The poor circulation is merely a symptom. Does Prickly Ash have a role to play in this case too? The answer is yes.

The same dead doctors that used Prickly Ash to treat circulatory abnormalities used it to treat conditions that We now know are caused by an immune system gone wrong. Here is an example of this feeling left behind by a certain Dr. Ellingwood. This quote comes from a book written in 1898.

"Prickly ash has been deservedly valued in domestic practice as a remedy for chronic rheumatism, and was once quite popular as a masticatory for the relief of toothache. It undoubtedly has some value in rheumatic complaints. Its value in chronic rheumatism is very likely due to its eliminative power. It is best adapted to debilitated patients, and to cases of transient and fugitive forms of rheumatism, particularly lumbago, torticollis, myalgia, and muscular rheumatism."

Today we know that Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition caused by the immune system attacking the body. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, the immune system goes after the joints. When the immune system goes on the warpath, it can attack any system in the body. In conditions like Systemic Lupus Erythematose, the immune system commonly attacks the respiratory system, the urinary system, and the skin, though no part of the body is safe from attack. The same is true for Progressive Systemic Sclerosis; no part of the body is safe from the abusive immune system.

Those Doctors used Prickly Ash for what we now know are auto-immune diseases, regardless of what part of the body the immune system was attacking. For this reason, many think and find Prickly Ash is a good choice for those suffering from Raynaud's Phenomena. The plant increases circulation and addresses auto-immune disease all in one go.

As is often the case with herbal medicines, very little research has been conducted on this medicinal plant. In the absence of modern clinical research, We rely on the recommendations of the dead doctors and contemporary practitioners of herbal medicine. In both cases the recommendation is Prickly Ash is a good choice if one wants to use an herbal medicine to treat Raynaud's Disease or Raynaud's Phenomena.

Again, as is often the case with herbal medicines, Prickly Ash does not work overnight. It must be used for at least three months before one decides whether it is having a beneficial effect. Herbal Medicine does not offer instant cures or overnight wonders, rather slow and gradual improvement. As the doctors in the last century rightly said, it improves general health while dealing with a specific problem. In both cases, it needs to be given time to show its power.

One last note! Herbal medicines work but they are not necessarily pretty! Prickly Ash Tincture is a strange looking liquid, fear not, the tincture you have received has not gone off. It just has a cloudy appearance. Make certain you shake the jar before using the tincture.

People with poor circulation, those with conditions like Raynaud’s and those with the more garden variety of poor circulation, are told that there is not a lot that can be done for them. Wrong. As you have seen, Prickly Ash has a long history of being used for exactly that purpose. If you suffer from occasional cold hands and feet, you can use Prickly Ash on an as needed basis. If the problem is chronic, and indeed a symptom of a more serious problem, Prickly Ash should be taken three times a day as a tonic. It has immediate effects; one feels a flush of warmth shortly after taking it. But, to remedy the underlying condition, it needs to be taken for periods of time. Warm up! There is hope for the frigid digit brigade!

Tincture (1:5, 45% alcohol): 2.5 ml 3 times daily after food