Looking for the most important health benefits of oak leaves and the uses and remedies of the oak tree? Continue reading this article and discover all the remedies you can do with oak leaves, bark, and acorns.
In all the cultures of the world, trees symbolize life as well as a rich resource for health. Romania makes no exception. In traditional Eastern European villages, trees are considered the source of “universal remedies” that people make from their roots, bark, leaves, buds, and flowers.
In This Article You Will Find:
The History of The Oak Tree
Its history is surrounded by mythology and legends. Dacians, Celts, Germanic tribes and Romans have all venerated oak as being the tree of the Gods.
Oak was regarded as a male tree, characterized by strength and endurance. Its ample and rich crown has been the witness of many tribal gatherings in ancient times.
The oak was also used as an oracle, and the wise would decode the messages from the Gods from the rustle of its leaves. More so, due to the many health benefits of oak leaves, bark, and acorns, people used them as medicine.
Oak Tree Uses
The oak tree has been used in very many old remedies, due to the many health benefits of oak leaves, bark, and acorns. Pliny the Elder mentioned in Naturalis Historia that acorns could be ground and mixed with flour to make bread. Famous nun Hildegard von Bingen (XII century) has noted that acorns shouldn’t be consumed by humans since they are very fattening. Still, during the scarce times of war, people used acorn flour as a coffee replacement. Today, we once again see that oak acorns are used again as a coffee substitute.
Round and roasted acorns make great natural remedies for diarrhea for example, although phytotherapy uses the bark of the oak mostly. There is a giant pharmacy hidden beneath the bark of a tree, with tons of miracle cures, which we will present to you right now. Here you have 20 health benefits of oak leaves, bark, acorns, and flowers that we’re sure you didn’t know about.
Health Benefits of Oak Leaves & Natural Remedies
Before we get into the health benefits of oak leaves, bark, and acorns, here is a little information on how to harvest oak parts. Oak is spread throughout the European continent, in mixed deciduous forests, at altitudes not higher than 600-700 m. The oak tree blooms in April and May and in favorable conditions can reach 1000 years. This tree is also easy to cultivate. Oak loves humus-rich and loose grounds and although it grows steady, it may take quite some time.
1. Parts Used in Natural Remedies
- bark (Cortex quercuum)
- leaves (Folium queercum)
- acorns (Glandes queercum)
2. Harvest Time
- bark (March to May)
- leaves (May to June)
- acorns (September to November)
3. Active Substance
- tannins
4. Health Benefits of Oak Leaves, Bark & Acorn
- astringent
- anti-inflammatory
- hemostatic
- anti-diarrhea
- disinfecting
- general tonic
- healing/scarring
- tissue fortifier
- anti sudorific
Internal Uses of Oak Tree
Used internally, there are many health benefits of oak leaves, bark, and acorns for:
- hyper acid gastritis
- gastro-duodenal ulcers
- diarrhea
- enteritis
- melena
- hemorrhoids
- anemia
- rickets
4 Home Remedies with Oak Bark and Oak Acorns
1. Oak Bark Remedy for Gastritis
Add 2 tsp of minced oak bark to 1 cup of cold water. Boil the mix for 20-30 minutes. Drink 2 cups of unsweetened tea per day in between meals.
2. Oak Bark Remedy for Bowel Conditions
Another way to use oak for gastric and intestinal conditions is this. Boil 2 tsp of oak bark powder in a cup of water for 10-15 minutes. Leave the tea to cool off for a bit with a lid on. Drink 1-2 cups per day.
3. Oak Acorns Remedy for Diarrhea
The third remedy with oak for diarrhea and regulating bowel movements is this. Make a coffee with 1 tsp of the ground and roasted acorns. Drink 1 cup of unsweetened oak coffee every morning on an empty stomach. It will help you regulate your bowel movements if you’re faced with diarrhea.
4. Oak Acorns Powder Remedy for Anemia
Another health benefit of oak is for anemia and rickets. Make a decoction with 1 tsp of the ground and roasted acorn (powder) per cup of hot water. Boil it for 1-2 minutes and strain. Have 2-3 cups per day.
7 External Health Uses of Oak Bark with Recipes
1. Hemorrhoids Remedy
Prepare a decoction with 20-30 g of minced oak bark per 1 L of water. Boil for 5 minutes and then cover the pot. Let the water cool down until lukewarm and then strain well. Bathe locally using an anal irrigator. This remedy is also amazing for treating frostbite.
2. Leucorrhoea Remedy with Oak Bark
Make a decoction with 2 tbsp of minced oak bark in a cup of water and do vaginal washes twice a day. Perform one in the morning and the one in the evening, right before bedtime.
3. Gingivitis Remedy with Oak Bark
Make an oak tincture at home with:
- 10 g oak bark and 100 ml of alcohol in a glass bottle
- soak for 10 days, and shake the bottle well 2-3 times per day
- strain and pour into small, amber glasses bottles.
- seal with a cork.
Use the oak tincture for gargles, by adding 10-15 drops of tincture to 1 cup of cold water (room temperature). Rub the gums and rinse well afterward. You can also use oak for toothache. Infuse 3-4 tsp of powdered oak bark in 250 ml of water. Rinse your mouth with this decoction. It is highly effective for very many oral conditions, including tooth pain.
4. Dried Up Breast Milk
Oak tree bark has an anti galactagogue effect which means that it naturally increases milk production in breastfeeding women. If you have low lactation while pregnant, you can use the oak bark decoction as follows:
- infuse 2-3 tbsp minced oak bark in 1 cup of water
- apply local warm poultices with this oak decoction
Read Also: Maple Tree Uses, Benefits, and Home Remedies
5. Rhinopharyngitis, Acute or Chronic Pharyngitis
For rhinopharyngitis and acute or chronic pharyngitis use warm oak tea for gargles, 2-3 times every day. make a tea by adding 3-4 tsp of powdered oak bark to 250 ml of water. You can also use oak bark tea to pad frostbites.
6. Hair Fall Remedy with Oak Decoction
Add 4 tsp of oak bark powder to 250 ml of hot water and make a decoction. Pad the roots of your hair all across your scalp. You can also use it for scalp baths or frictions on a weekly basis or 2 times a week.
3 Health Uses of Oak Leaves, Flowers, and Acorns
1. Healthy Coffee Alternative with Oak Acorns
You’ll need some oak acorns, water, and cardamom. Peel off the bark from the acorns and finely cut their inside. Roast it on medium heat in a pan without oils. Leave it to cool down and then use a mortar to turn it into flour. Keep the acorn flour in a sealed jar.
Oak Acorns Coffee Recipe
- Boil 1 tsp of this powder into 1 cup of hot water and bring to a boil.
- Add a pinch of cardamom powder.
- You can add your milk of choice for extra flavor.
It is easier to peel the oak acorns if you soak them for 1 day in the water. Basically, their peel will pop off and you can easily get the inside. By doing this, the acorn flour will taste less bitter as well!
1. Oak Leaves Smudging for Energy Cleansing
This is one of the many health benefits of oak leaves for the mind and the spirit. For the oak leaves smudging, you need sand, a heat-resistant pot, and charcoal. Dry, mince, and mix together:
- 1 part oak leaves, oak flowers, sage, nettle seeds, wild mint
- 3 parts larch raisin
- put ¼ tsp of the mix on a piece on a heated piece of charcoal.
The charcoal will soon start to fumigate. You’ll need a feather or paper to direct the smoke towards the walls of the house. Start with the east-oriented walls of the house. The smoke smudging process will end at an open door or window, where the negative energies that have gathered in the house can exit. When you are done, open up the windows to air the entire house really well.
2. Foot Spray with Oak Leaves
If you suffer from foot odor, you can use oak leaves to make a natural foot spray. For the anti-sweat foot spray, you will need:
- 5 fresh oak leaves
- a tiny bit of wild thyme and sage
- ¼ L of water
- 1 tsp sodium bicarbonate
Finely chop the oak leaves and the wild sage and thyme and place them in a pot. Pour the hot water over them, let the tea cool down, and then strain it well. Add the sodium bicarbonate to a 100 ml capacity spray bottle. Fill up the rest of the bottle with the herbal tea, seal, and shake well. There you have your own natural anti-sweat foot spray ready to use. This is one of the most popular health uses of oak leaves and is easy to make. Attention! The spray can leave brown-colored stains on your whiter-colored shoes!
Oak Tree Uses in Folk Medicine
Lately, the use of oak bark and especially oak leaves have become less popular. However, a few decades ago, these parts were used for treating a lot of conditions due to the health benefits of oak leaves, bark, and acorns. The many health benefits of oak leaves and bark still await for us to rediscover these remedies.
- The bark and the acorns were used for treating spleen and liver hypertrophy caused by alcohol abuse.
- In children, they were used to treat and prevent rickets and scrofula.
- Herbal doctors recommend oak bark decoction sits baths for women who suffer from vaginal discharge. The effects are immediate.
- Oak bark, acorns, and even leaves were used for soothing malaria symptoms.
- Oak was successfully used in treating uterine prolapse and hemorrhoids.
Read Also: 10 Amazing Healing Trees for The Mind & Body
These are the most popular health benefits of oak leaves, oak bark, and acorns. Let us know in the comments below if you’ve made use of the many health benefits of oak leaves, bark, and acorns so far. We hope you’ve found something new reading this article and if you enjoyed it, please share.
