-IBIS-1.7.0-
rx
herb
Rhus aromatica, glabra (Sweet Sumach)
Botanicals

definition

botanical name(s): Rhus aromatica, Rhus glabra

synonyms: sweet sumach, fragrant sumach

part(s) used: root bark, berries

qualities:

affinities:

actions:

dosage:

» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.

therapy:

toxicity: 5; see tannic acid/tannin toxidrome

» contraindicated in inflammation of such organs as the intestines, kidneys, uterus, and lungs due to irritating effect of its volatiles oil locally and during excretion (Felter and Lloyd)

» handling fresh plant can cause contact dermatitis, although not as toxic as Rhus toxicodendron; blisters and vesicles usually occur due to individual hypersensitivity reactions (Kinghorn, pp. 161-170)

» tannins, a major constituent group of this plant, have been shown to have carcinogenic and carcinostatic potentials (Morton, p. 361)

constituents: tannins; Rhus aromatica contains essential oil and resin; the genus Rhus does not contain the poisonous urushiols present in the closely related species R. toxicodendron.

footnotes

Felter, H. W.; Lloyd, J. U. 1983. King's American Dispensatory, Vols. I and II. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.

Kinghorn, A.D. Editor. 1979. Toxic Plants. New York: Columbia University Press.

Morton, J.F. 1977. Major Medicinal Plants: Botany, Culture, Uses. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.