Hydrangea Root, Cut & Sifted (Hydrangea arborescens) – Dried Herb, Wildcrafted

Hydrangea–commonly known as Smooth Hydrangea, Wild Hydrangea, Sevenbark, or in some cases, Sheep Flower–is a perennial shrub Native to the southeastern United States and northern Asia. The Wild Hydrangea is a medium sized shrub with heart shaped and dark green leaves, smooth bark and white flowers that resemble snowballs.

Hydrangea is a genus of 70–75 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas. The greatest diversity of the species is in eastern Asia, notably Korea, China, and Japan. There are only six types that are commonly cultivated in North American gardens, ranging in different colours. Depending on the acidity of the soil, a pH lower than 6.0 yields blue or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms. Whereas, alkaline soil with a pH above 7.0 promotes pinks and reds, and soil with a PH between 6-7.0 the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink. Hydrangea is a member of the Hydrangeaceae botanical family which includes flowering plants, comprising 19 genera and about 260 species of woody ornamental trees, shrubs, vines and herbs, native primarily to tropical, subtropical and north temperate regions. The name hydrangea comes from the Greek words “hydros”, meaning water, and “angos”, meaning jar, which is fitting because these plants require a lot of water.

Hydrangea has shown up in the fossil record as far back as 70 million years in North America, and in Asia as far back as 25 million years. Many Hydrangeas are believed to have originated in Japan and have a long, documented history there where they are mentioned in poems composed during Japan’s Nara Period, 710-794 AD. In the 1700s, William and John Bartram, who were a naturalist and botanist, collected and identified indigenous plants in the Appalachian Mountains. John first came across H. arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea) in the 1730s and in 1776 William discovered H. quercifolia, the Oakleaf Hydrangea native to Georgia.

After the discovery of Hydrangea in North America the plant became popular cultivated shrubs around North America, and they were brought to England in the 1730s where the popularity as an ornamental grew. In North America, indigenous people had long been using wild Hydrangea roots and rhizome medicinally before the 1700s as a painkiller and for kidney, bladder, prostate and gallbladder ailments. In Traditional Chinese medicine Hydrangea was used medicinally for thousands of years used to treat kidney, prostate and bladder disorders.

Properties:

The taste and energetics of Hydrangea root are sweet, pungent, bitter, acrid cooling, drying and astringent. Hydrangea has an affinity to the kidneys, bladder, prostate, lungs, liver and gallbladder. For a tea to possibly support kidneys where there is gravel, combine Hydrangea with Marshmallow Root, Gravel Root and Cleavers. To support the gallbladder combine Hydrangea with Boldo Leaf, Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle Seed, Wild Yam Root or Turmeric Root.

How to use:

1 teaspoon of Hydrangea Root to one cup of boiling water. Simmer for 15 minutes, strain and drink up to three cups a day.

Cautions & contraindications:

Hydrangea is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth in large amounts. Doses of more than 2 grams of dried Hydrangea Toot might cause dizziness and feelings of tightness in the chest.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. Please consult your healthcare provider prior to the use of this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or have a medical condition. Individual results may vary.