The Medicinal Uses of Oak

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just
another post on an item you might wish to
have available if needed so that a physician can treat you and your
family as best as possible.  No medication, including those available
over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician. 
Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes
only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical
care.  A qualified, licensed physician or other medical provider should
be consulted before beginning any herbal or conventional treatment.

I’ve put off writing about the
medicinal uses of oak for far too long, and without any good reason either,
other than the fact that I don’t actually have an oak tree at my house. 
And that isn’t a good excuse, either, but it’s all I’ve got.  However,
based on what I’ve learned today, and especially because it may be of benefit
in cases of COVID-19, there will be at least one planted at the new
house. 

All species of oak, Quercus spp.,
are medicinally active; moreover, the galls on oak twigs, which are caused by
insects, are two to three times more medicinal than other oak bark.  This
tannin-based astringent works very well internally and externally. However,
internal use must be for a relatively short term, less than one week.[1]  It is an excellent choice for promoting
tissue healing and proliferation.[2]

One of the active constituents of
oak trees is quercetin which has the same Latin root as the scientific name for
oak, Quercus.  And you might recall seeing the name
quercetin.  It’s a dietary supplement
often used to reduce inflammation and pain, mitigate allergies, and protect the
skin and liver.  It’s also a zinc ionophore,
a substance that moves zinc through cell membranes.  And if this sounds vaguely familiar to you,
it’s because zinc deficiency is believed to play a role in COVID-19 infection
and recovery.  Some doctors believe that
increasing levels of zinc in the body will help prevent COVID.  Hydroxychloroquine is a zinc ionophore that
has been demonstrated to work wonders in COVID patients.  Will quercetin from oak tree bark work the
same way?  We don’t know.  But it does bear keeping in mind.[3]  Quercetin has also been shown to work against
rhinoviruses (which cause colds).[4]

The active constituents, what you
want for making medicine, come only from the bark of oak trees.  There is basically nothing in the roots or
leaves.  Collect the pinkish-rust colored
inner bark from larger branches of an oak tree, where the outer bark is
fissured.[5]  Then simply dehydrate the bark.[6]  Store in a dark bottle in a cool, dry
place.  This dry powder can be used to
make infusions, poultices, salves, and washes.

Powder.  The dry powder is an effective clotting agent
and also works well on abrasions and weeping sores and rashes.[7]

Salve.  Melt 2 tablespoons coconut oil and ¾ teaspoon
beeswax in a double boiler.  Stir in ½ teaspoon
of tincture or powder and transfer to a small container.  Use as needed for pressure sores/bed sores and
other wounds.[8]

Infusion.  Prepare an infusion by placing 1 teaspoon of
dried herb in a cup and adding 6 ounces of boiling water to it.  Cover and let steep 10-15 minutes.  An infusion is taken internally to manage
bleeding ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.  It is also helpful in stopping diarrhea and
alleviating bleeding gums.[9]

Poultice.  Dip a clean cloth into the cooled infusion.  Use this to gently dab and wash the skin and
effectively relieve the pain of sunburns and thermal burns and irritated and
weeping skin.

Wash.  Let an infusion cool and dip a clean cloth in
it to wash abrasions, lacerations, rashes, or any skin condition with redness,
swelling, or weeping, including sunburns and thermal burns.[10]
Internally, it is used as a gargle for treating pharyngitis and sinusitis.[11]

Decoction. For a decoction, put 1
tablespoon of powdered oak in a cup and cover with 1 cup of boiling water.  Cover and let steep two hours.  Use 2-4 oz, 2-3 x per day for dealing with an
E. coli O157:H7 infection.  For dealing
with a Campylobacter jejuni infection, use 6 ounces 6 times per day.

Tincture.  Measure the amount of inner oak bark by
weight.  Add five times the volume of
100-proof alcohol.  Make the tincture
with 50% alcohol, 40% water, and 10% glycerin. 
So an example would be 1 ounce of inner oak bark by weight, 5 ounces of
100-proof alcohol by volume, 4 ounces of water, and 1 ounce of glycerin.  The general dosage is 30 drops to 1 teaspoon,
up to 4 times per day.[12]

                                                                                                                                      

Caution.  Oak use is
considered quite safe, even in pregnancy, but only for short-term use (less than
one week).[13]

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