Eastern Hemlock
OTHER NAME(S): Canada Pitch, Canadian Hemlock, Hemlock Bark, Hemlock Gum, Hemlock Spruce, Hemlocktanne, Pruche du Canada, Pruche de l'Est, Tsuga, Tsuga du Canada, Tuya del Canadá, Tsuga canadensis, Corteza de Pino, Pruche de l’est
Overview
Eastern hemlock is a plant. The bark is used as medicine.
People use eastern hemlock for conditions such as digestive disorders, diarrhea, a disease caused by vitamin C-deficiency (scurvy), and diseases of the mouth and throat, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Eastern hemlock contains tannins. Astringent chemicals, such as tannins, can cause the mouth, throat, and digestive tract linings to shrink and form a protective surface coating.
Eastern hemlock contains tannins. Astringent chemicals, such as tannins, can cause the mouth, throat, and digestive tract linings to shrink and form a protective surface coating.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Diarrhea.
- Digestive disorders.
- Diseases of the mouth and throat.
- Severe lack of vitamin C (scurvy).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of eastern hemlock for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if eastern hemlock is safe. However, eastern hemlock contains chemicals called tannins. Therefore, it might cause side effects such as stomach problems, damage to the kidney and liver, and increased risk of cancer.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if eastern hemlock is safe. However, eastern hemlock contains chemicals called tannins. Therefore, it might cause side effects such as stomach problems, damage to the kidney and liver, and increased risk of cancer.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if eastern hemlock is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Eastern Hemlock overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of eastern hemlock depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for eastern hemlock. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Mitchell, J. C. Patch test results - screening set and plants. Contact Dermatitis Newsletter 1970;8:177.
- Adamczyk B, Simon J, Kitunen V, Adamczyk S, Smolander A. Tannins and their complex interaction with different organic nitrogen compounds and enzymes: old paradigms versus recent advances. ChemistryOpen. 2017;6(5):610-614.
- McRae JM, Kennedy JA. Wine and grape tannin interactions with salivary proteins and their impact on astringency: a review of current research. Molecules. 2011;16(3):2348-64.