Bitterroot Restoration

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
 Division: Magnoliophyta
  Class: Magnoliopsida
   Order: Fagales
    Family: Betulaceae
     Genus: Alnus
      Species: Alnus incana

This plant is found in swamps and along the marshy banks of streams from New England south to Florida and Texas and westward to Ohio and Minnesota.

Common Name: speckled alder, tag alder, grey alder, hoary alder

Part used: The bark.

Medicinal Uses: The bark of this plant is alterative, astringent, emetic, laxative, ophthalmic, stomachic and tonic. The bark contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge. The root bark was mixed with molasses and used in the treatment of toothache. A decoction of the inner bark was used as a wash for sore eyes.

The outer bark is astringent and is applied as a poultice to bleeding wounds, it also reduces swellings.