Northern White Cedar(Thuja occidentalis L.)
Other Names:
Northern White Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Atlantic White Cedar, Eastern White Cedar, Swamp cedar, Cedrus Lycea, False White Cedar, Hackmatack, Lebensbaum, Thuia du Canada, Techny Arborvitae, American Arborvitae or just Arborvitae
Range:
Family:
Cupressaceae– Cypress family
Growth Type:
An evergreen coniferous tree which is native to Northeast United States, and Southeast Canada. It has been widely cultivated as an ornamental. It is used quite often as a privacy screen, or to mark property lines. The tree is often stunted or prostrate. The branches may take root if the tree falls.
Height:
30 - 70 feet tall
Leaves:
The foliage forms in flat sprays with scale-like leaves
Stem/Trunk:
The trunk can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. The bark is red-brown, furrowed and peels in narrow, longitudinal strips.
Root:
Spreading root mass
Flower Season:
N/A
Flower Appearance:
N/A
Seed/Fruit:
Trees have male and female cones. The male cones are small, inconspicuous, and are located at the tips of the twigs. The female cones start out similarly inconspicuous, but grow to about 1/3 - 3/4 inch long at maturity. The cones have 6-12 overlapping, thin, leathery scales, each scale bearing 1–2 small seeds with a pair of narrow lateral wings. The cones are slender, yellow-green ripening to brown.
Miscellaneous characteristics:
N/A
Habitat:
Occurring naturally in moist shaded forests thickets, and along lakes and rivers. It has seen such wide use as an ornamental, that it grows in virtually all habitats in the great lakes region.
Parts Used:
Leaves, twigs, bark
Uses:
Culinary Uses:
A tea can be brewed from the leaves which has been shown to contain 50 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of tea. Can also be used as a flavoring.
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Energetics
Taste: Bitter
Thermal: Cooling
Humidity: Moistening
Medicinal Uses:
The tea has been used to treat scurvy. I will typically add dried or tinctured Thuja to my cold remedies. Salve made from the twigs and bark is an excellent topical for treating various foot and skin fungi, including Candida and athletes foot. The distilled essential oil of Thuja has been shown to effectively remove skin tags.
I have read, and heard anecdotal evidence that Thuja has been used as an externally applied tincture or ointment for the treatment of warts, ringworm and thrush. An injection of the tincture into venereal warts is said to cause them to disappear. I cannot verify anything in this last paragraph, as I have not tried it.
Cautions According To WebMD
Contra-Indications
None Known
Possible Side Effects:
None Known
Possible Interactions:
None Known
Medicinal Actions:
Antibacterial,
Antifungal,
Antimicrobial,
Immunostimulant
Herbal Preparations For White Cedar
Cold Infusion
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh
Place 2 ounces of the fresh chopped plant material into a quart mason jar, and fill the jar with clear cold water. Cover the jar, place it in a sunny location, and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. If refrigerated, the infusion will last a couple of days.
Dosage: 2-3 oz four times daily. For topical use.
Infused Oil
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh or dried
Natural Solar infusion method:
In a quart mason jar, thoroughly mix 2 ounces of fresh chopped herb or root (or 1 ounce of dried) and 6 ounces by weight of the oil of your choice. Cover the jar and place in a sunny spot for a month or so. Strain your oil, return to the cleaned jar and store in the refrigerator until needed.
Crock Pot Method: (My favorite)
Place 2 ounces of fresh, or 1 ounce of dried, plant material and 6 ounces by weight of grape seed oil into a crock pot. Mix thoroughly, set the dial to its lowest setting, and allow to heat uncovered for 12 hours. After this time has elapsed, place the cover on the crock pot and turn the switch to off. Allow the pot to sit covered until the following morning. Then turn the crock pot once again to its lowest setting, remove the cover, and allow to heat uncovered for an additional 12 hours. Once this time has elapsed, allow the oil to cool enough that you can touch it without burning yourself, and then strain the plant material out. Now place the strained infused oil into a pint-sized mason jar and store it in the refrigerator until needed. (When straining my infused oils, I place a coffee filter into a fine metal sieve, and set the sieve over a glass bowl. I then pour the mixture into the strainer, and let it sit until all the oil has drained. Once it appears that it has completely drained, you will notice that there is much less than the 6 ounces of oil you started with. I usually take a large wooded spoon, or something else heavy, and pack the mixture into the strainer. I am always surprised how much oil is still released from the plant material. You can expect to yield just over 5 ounces by weight of your infused oil)
Dosage: You can apply infused oil topically as needed. You can also follow the directions below to turn your infused oil into an ointment or salve.
Ointment or Salve
Infused oils are turned into ointments and salves. I have found a 5:1 ration by weight of infused oil to bees wax yields the best consistency of ointment. In a medium saucepan, heat 5 ounces, by weight, of your previously prepared infused oil over low heat. When the oil is hot enough, stir in 1 ounce of grated bees wax. When the wax is completely dissolved, dip the back of a clean cold spoon into the mixture. Allow it to cool and solidify. If you find the ointment is too hard, add a little more oil, if you find it is too soft, add a little more bees wax, until you reach your desired consistency. To make an even more luxurious feeling ointment, before it cools, try adding 1 tablespoon of lanolin to your ointments. If you are anything like me, you will love the luxurious texture, and soothing effect it has on your skin.
Dosage: Apply topically as needed
Tincture
Part Used: Leaves
Plant State: Fresh
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:2
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Fill the jar to the neck with chopped fresh leaves, then pour in 750 ml of 100 proof vodka, or 500 ml of 150 proof Everclear and 250 ml of water. Next pour the contents of the jar into a blender and blend until all of the plant material is thoroughly chopped into fine pieces and incorporated into the menstrum. This will increase the surface area and provide better leaching of the plant constituents. As a matter of fact, this method works so well that, if necessary, the tincture can be used in as little as 7 days. Now pour the contents of the blender back into the jar, being careful to scrape every last bit of goodness from the blender. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage: 5-15 drops four times daily. For topical use, dilute in water
NOTE: Due to the neurotoxic compound thujone, internal use can be harmful if used for prolonged periods or while pregnant.
The floowing photos courtesy of: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E., et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook. USDA NRCS ND State Soil Conservation Committee; NDSU Extension and Western Area Power Administration, Bismarck.
