Prunus serotina (Wild Cherry)

Question 1

How do you recognise Wild Cherry?

Answer 1

• A member of the Rosaceae.
• A deciduous tree of up to 25m with ovate leaves and white flowers.
• Native to eastern USA and central America.
• Very similar to Prunus padus – bird cherry.
• The black cherries are sour but edible.
• Used by Cherokee, Chippewa & Iroquois peoples for a range of symptoms including coughs & fevers & digestive problems, and externally for sores and ulcers.

Question 2

What are Wild Cherry’s main constituents?

Answer 2

Constituents:
* Cyanogenic glycosides.
* Non-hydrolysable tannins.
* Phenolic acids – benzoic and p-coumaric acid.
* Coumarins – scopoletin & scopoline.
* Essential oil.

Main antitussive action due to cyanogenic glycosides which are metabolized into hydrocyanic acid, which is safe in small amounts.”

Question 3

What family is Wild Cherry in?

Answer 3

Rosaceae

Question 4

What is Wild Cherry good for?

Answer 4

Summary: Cough medicine for unproductive, unnecessary and also come at night, use this. Relaxes smooth muscle in respiratory system.

Actions:
* Antitussive.
* Antispasmodic.
* Mild nervine relaxant/sedative.
* Astringent.
* Possibly expectorant.
* Mild cardiovascular tonic.

Applications:
* To reduce coughing especially at night.
* Bronchitis, whooping cough & croup.
* Asthma.
* Geriatric coughs – including due to cardiac failure & dry mucus membranes.
* Formerly used for palpitations and anxiety.
* Has been used for “nervous dyspepsia” (Barker).
* Has been used externally for sores and skin irritation.

Question 5

What is Wild Cherry ‘s Latin name?

Answer 5

Prunus serotina

Question 6

What parts of Wild Cherry do you use?

Answer 6

Parts used – inner bark. The bark on young trees is smooth but gets more thick and course with age.

Question 7

What safety issues might Wild Cherry have?

Answer 7

Safe but short term use only due to glycosides

Question 8

What useful research does Wild Cherry have?

Answer 8

External links:
* Phytopharmacological Possibilities of Bird Cherry Prunus padus L. and Prunus serotina L. Species and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals – a wide ranging examination that maybe supports the notion that Prunus padus can be used interchangeably with P. serotina.

Question 9

What remedies might you use Wild Cherry in?

Answer 9

Dosage: 20-30ml/week 1:3 tincture. Sometimes used as a syrup. Bendle uses as an anti-tussive, so for relaxing a cough, or for night coughs, and usually in tincture.

Can be used in a Liquorice, Hyssop and Wild Cherry Syrup for kids, plus maybe with some Thyme or Inula. Nice tasting which make people happy