17 Maple Tree Uses, Benefits, and Home Remedies

Do you want to know the most important maple tree uses and its health benefits? Continue reading this article!

The maple tree (Acer platanoides), also known as the Norway maple, has been used for centuries in central and northern Europe, for its amazing medicinal properties. When we think of the maple tree, the first (and perhaps the only) thing that pops up is maple syrup. But there’s more than just the sweet, delicious, caramel-tasting maple syrup that the maple tree has to offer to humankind. In fact, there are very many maple tree medicinal uses and health benefits, that most people know nothing of. We’re about to share them with you today.

Maple Tree Uses Throughout History

The maple tree is mentioned in the writings of famous Roman historian Plinius Secundus (23-79 AD). But notes about it are found in Papyrus Ebes (approx. 1550 BC), as one of the most important remedies used in ancient Egyptian medicine.

Dacians from the Danube Valley used maple trees for healing.

They used it to treat dysentery, and also crafted tools from its wood. In the 12th century, the famous nun Hildegard von Bingen described the maple as a “dry and cold” tree. She recommends it as medicine for prolonged fever, that can be used in two ways:

• taking soothing hot baths with maple leaves
• preparing a maple liqueur remedy that you mixed with wine

Other healers from the Middle Ages knew of the maple benefits very well. They all recommended it as one of the best remedies for fever.

Nowadays, the maple tree has once again become popular, especially due to the healing qualities of the maple sap. Traditional maple sap extraction has a very long history, and still, it has been largely forgotten for a long time. Today, maple sap is highly regarded and used worldwide. We all know it as maple syrup, the popular natural sweetener. But there are many other maple trees uses.

Up until the early 19th century, healers used maple leaves, branches, sap and trunk to prepare home remedies.

It is a pity that the use of the maple tree for medical purposes has been almost completely forgotten. These days, the only maple tree produce we still use is maple syrup, and only as a sweetener. For those who want to discover the most effective maple tree uses and health benefits, please continue reading this article.

Maple Tree Uses in Folk Medicine

Maple has been used in folk medicine for its antipyretic and inflammatory properties. They would harvest maple bark in early spring or autumn. Amongst the most popular maple tree uses we can enumerate.

• Maple bark pieces and crushed fresh bark leaves were used to make poultices for swollen joints and tired eyes.
• These poultices were also used for excess bile dysfunction, liver congestion, and rebalancing the gallbladder and the liver. They used dried maple tree leaves too, and coupled the treatment with a long-term maple syrup cure.
• Maple leaves were also used for heavy, hot, and swollen feet. They had a refreshing action, only by applying them directly on the feet overnight, or even throughout the day.
• Insect bites were also cured with fresh maple bark and leaves.
• The most common maple tree medicine was crushed maple leaves on the soles of the feet to alleviate fever.

What is Maple Tree Good For? 10 Maple Tree Uses w/ Remedies

Did you know that taking 2-3 teaspoons of freshly squeezed maple leaves and seeds juice a day has tonic, diuretic, anti-scorbutic, choleretic, antiseptic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties? 🍁

Maple tree leaves, sap, bark, buds, and syrup have very many health benefits. Here are the most important health benefits of the maple tree and maple tree uses.

1. Maple Tree Uses for Liver Health

The maple tree is your liver’s best friend. It helps normalize and reset the good functioning of the liver. Hence one of the most popular maple tree uses is a mild liver cleanser. Here is a simple home remedy with maple leaves for liver health.

Grind together:

• 1 tbsp dill seeds
• 2 tsp yarrow (flowers and leaves)
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp oats groats

Put the powdered herbs in 700 ml of cold water, over the fire. When the water reaches boiling point, continue boiling for 5 minutes. Then add 2 tbsp of minced maple leaves and put out the heat. Let the decoction infuse covered until it cools off. Strain and drink throughout the day in 4-5 reps, in between meals.

This remedy is recommended for:

• Healthy liver
• Bile ducts health

2. Maple Tree Uses for Gallbladder Health

Another less known maple tree uses is for gallbladder health. Maple leaves have a stimulating effect, that fights against biliary stasis and dissolves gallstones in the incipient stages.

Basically, maple is a holistic medicine for the liver, gallbladder, and duodenum, the filters of the human body.

Maple buds extract is a popular herbal remedy for gallbladder conditions, namely gallstones and biliary dyskinesia. This extract has the property of changing bile composition, to prevent gallstone formation. The recommended dosage is 2 ml (30 drops) in a little water, 1 to 2 times a day, before meals. For best results, follow the treatment for 40 days. Taken together with rosemary buds extract, the remedy helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides. For high cholesterol, the maple leaf decoction is also amazing (recipe later in the article).

This remedy is recommended for:

• Liver congestion
• Gallstones
• Slow bile
• Cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation)
• Cholestasis (bile obstruction)

3. Maple Tree Uses for Fever

Maple leaves and bark poultices are the way people have used maple to lower fever naturally. You can learn how to make the poultice later in the article. This is one of the most popular maple tree uses.

4. Maple Tree Uses for Arthritis & Gout

Maple leaf decoction is recommended for arthritis, gout, and spondylosis. You can find the recipe and instructions later in the article. This is one of the oldest maple tree uses.

5. Maple Tree Uses for Viral Respiratory Conditions

For respiratory conditions, either chronic or acute, you can use maple leaves decoction, a slightly different recipe than for arthritis and gout. You will also find the recipe and instructions later in the article. This is one of the most popular maple tree uses.

6. Maple Tree Uses for Diarrhea & Dysentery

Diarrhea and dysentery can be cured with maple bark decoction, which is one of the most effective maple tree uses. Prepare the remedy by boiling 1 heaping tsp of dried and powdered maple bark in 1 cup (250 ml) of water for 5 minutes. Let the decoction cool down until is lukewarm, so you can drink it. Drink 2-3 cups of this decoction a day, in small sips.

Read Also: 10 Natural Remedies for Diarrhea

7. Maple Tree Uses for Wounds

Only a few people know that one of the maple tree uses is to heal wounds. Actually, maple is also great in treating wounds and dermatoses. Prepare the exact same powdered maple bark decoction recipe as for diarrhea. But this time slip the tea well and use it to pad the wounds. Or you can also make crushed maple leaves poultices, applied to the wound. If the wound is bleeding, add yarrow, shepherd’s purse, or crushed walnut leaves into the poultice. Change the wound dressing twice a day.

8. Maple Tree Uses for Oral Health

Amongst the maple tree uses, concentrated maple leaf decoction is great for gargles against stomatitis and gingivitis. Prepare it by boiling 2 tbsp of dried and finely minced maple leaves in 350 ml of hot water for 5 minutes. Let the tea infuse until it has cooled down completely. Use it to rinse your mouth multiple times per day. Other herbs that you can add to this decoction to make a more powerful remedy are:

• Peppermint leaves
• Sage leaves
• Acacia branches seeds
• Nettle root
• Field milk thistle root

9. Maple Tree Uses for Stress & Depression

Few people know that one of the maple tree uses is as a natural remedy for stress and depression. Make tea with the following plants:

• maple leaves
• goosefoots
• lemon balm
• St John’s-wort

Add 1 teaspoon of each to 1 liter of water. Drink during the day, between meals, instead of water, in short cures of 5-7 days a month. In addition, take a relaxing bath with the same plants. This time add 1-2 spoonfuls of each plant to the bathtub. You can take an herbal bath twice a week to relieve stress and depression.

10. Maple Tree Uses for Impotence & Prostatitis

Amongst the popular maple tree uses, there is an effective remedy for impotence and prostate conditions, such as prostatitis with maple leaves. We’re talking maple leaves decoction combine with a special maple tincture. For the decoction, make a herbal blend with 1 tbsp of:

• dried or fresh maple leaves
• dried or fresh birch leaves
• dandelion root
• 1 tbsp juniper berries
• 1 tsp parsnip seeds
• 5 tbsp chopped onion peels

Infuse 1 tbsp of these herbs and berries in 350 ml of boiling water in a thermos. Let the tea infuse for 1 hour. Add 5-10 drops of maple leaves tincture (read the maple leaves tincture recipe #2, that we have below, in this article) into this tea, depending on body weight. Drink 100 ml of this tea, 3 times daily, 30 minutes before meals, or one hour after meals. Follow this treatment for 3-4 weeks. During the treatment also have 1/3 teaspoon of powdered parsley seeds, 3 times daily. You can add the powder to your infusion, or add it to your food. This is one of the most popular maple tree uses.

Read Also: 7 Natural Remedies for Prostatitis

5 Home Remedies with Maple to Make at Home

1. Maples Leaves Decoction

Maple leaves are indeed the most used part of the tree for natural treatments. Maple leaves decoction especially. This is perhaps the most popular home remedy with maple leaves, and this is how you can make it.

• Finely chop 3 maple leaves, and pour 350 ml of cold water over them.
• Heat it up and when it reaches boiling point, turn off the heat.
• Leave to infuse until the macerate cools down completely.

Of course, maple leaves tea can be slightly prepared differently, depending on the condition you wish to use it for. This recipe here is very effective for arthritis, gout, spondylosis, and high cholesterol. For these conditions, drink 100 ml of maple leaves decoction, 3 times a day, 15 minutes before the meals. Follow this treatment for 90 days, with a 1-week pause after every 30 days. So, drink the tea for 30 days, pause for 1 week, resume for another 30 days, pause for another week, and continue with the last 30 days of treatment. You will need around 270 Canadian maple leaves for the complete cure.

For chronic or acute respiratory conditions, such as pneumonia, as well as herpes and kidney dysfunctions, here is how you can prepare and use the maple leaf decoction.

• Mix 1 teaspoon of finely chopped maple leaves and buds
• Scald in 1 cup (250 ml) of hot water.
• Infuse in a thermos for 45 minutes.
• Drink 50 ml 4-5 times a day, 20 minutes before meals.

For herpes, pad the affected areas with this decoction.

Maple Leaves Decoction is Recommended for:

• Arthritis
• Gout
• Spondylosis
• High cholesterol
• Respiratory conditions (chronic & acute)
• Pneumonia
• Herpes
• Kidney dysfunctions
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Wounds (used externally)
• Stomatitis
• Gingivitis
• Stress
• Depression

2. Maples Leaves Tincture Recipe

There are 2 ways in which you can make maple leaves tincture at home. The first recipe is the classic way to make tinctures, with dried leaves in alcohol. The second recipe uses fresh maple leaves juice instead. Let’s start with the first one.

Maple Leaves Tincture Recipe – Natural Tonic

Gather lighter-red colored maple leaves. Dry them in the shade or in a dark place. Add 10 tablespoons of dried and crushed maple leaves into 500 ml of 40° moonshine or vodka in a jar. Seal and leave to macerate for 7 days in a dark place. To enjoy the tonic and anti-inflammatory properties of the maple leaves, have 20-30 drops of this tincture, 3 times a day, before meals. Dilute it in maple leaves tea ( 2 tsp fresh or dried leaves in 200 ml hot water).

Maple Leaves Tincture for Impotence

The second tincture recipe is recommended as a home remedy for impotence and prostatitis. Here is how you can make it. Gather young maple leaves and juice them. For every 70 ml of juice, add 30 ml of 96° alcohol. You can make more or less juice, but keep in mind this ratio. Pour in a seal-tight glass bottle and macerate for 7-10 days in a dark place.

3. Maple Leaves & Bark Poultices

You can use crushed fresh maple leaves (or dried) and minced maple bark to make poultices. Apply them to the liver area. In addition, have maple syrup or sap daily.

4. Maple Leaves Wine Remedy for Cancer

This old recipe here is considered a soothing balm for the body in the fight against cancer. Here is how you can make it. Mix together in a jar:

• 250 ml fresh maple leaves juice
• 100 ml of wild strawberry leaves (picked in the month of May; you can pick fresh and keep them in the freezer).
• 150 ml Aloe Vera juice
• 250 ml of organic honey
• 350 ml sweet red wine

Macerate for 2 weeks. Have 30 ml of the maple leaves wine remedy 30 minutes before meals.

5. Green Maple Seeds Powder for Bile Obstruction

Green maple tree seeds (before turning yellow) powder is a great remedy for (cholestasis) bile obstruction. They contain substances that aid the good functioning of the gallbladder, liver, and cystic canal.

Preparation

• Put the green maple seeds to dry in a cool dark place (never in the sun).
• Grind them to obtain a fine powder.

Green maple tree seeds powder is usually administered 20 minutes before the meals, 0.1 or 1 tsp, depending on the body weight. Over time, the pain in the liver area disappears and the appetite increases.

Maple Tree Uses for The Skin w/ Recipes

1. Maple Leaves Oil for Irritated Skin

Dried maple leaf infusion helps cleanse the skin, while fresh, crushed leaves have a soothing and inflammatory action for irritated skin. Recent studies have shown that maple tree leaves extract can help reduce wrinkles, due to its natural botox effect. Here is how you can prepare maple leaves oil for tensed and irritated skin.

Ingredients

• 150 ml apricot seeds oil
• 10 medium-sized fresh maple leaves
• 15 drops of sandalwood oil (for the lovely scent)

How to Make

Chop the leaves finely and put them in a mixing bowl. Pour the apricot oil over them and heat it up on bain-marie for 30 minutes. Let it cool down. Strain well and pour it into a dark glass bottle. Add the sandalwood drops and shake. Seal tight and store in a cool place.

2. Natural DIY Deodorant using Maple Leaves

Ingredients

• 5-6 fresh maple leaves
• 100 ml of water
• 1 ts baking soda
• 5 drops of grapefruit oil
• 5 drops of lime oil

How to Make

Chop the leaves finely and put them in a mixing bowl. Pour the hot water over them, cover them with a lid, and let them cool down. Strain the infusion. Add the baking soda to a small spray container (for cosmetic purposes). Pour the essential oil drops inside. Add in the strained maple leaves infusion too. Shake well. You can vary the essential oils in the recipe. Orange blossom and geranium oils also make a good combo.

Maple Tree Benefits for the Mind and Body

The maple tree is the 6th of the seven cosmic trees, symbolically speaking. It corresponds to the planet Jupiter, Thursday, the color blue, and zinc. The rest period of the maple tree is 3 and 4 AM and between 6 and 9 AM, it is most active. The energy of the maple tree is mellow and relaxing and induces a harmonious state that envelopes the human aura.

A maple tree soothes a troubled mind and dissolves fear

Maple not only heals the physical body but also the subtle, energy body. It is healing for those who’ve gone through a very shocking or frightening circumstance and didn’t recover afterward. Maple brings about peace and balance.

If you have a maple tree nearby, lay down beneath its shade for a few minutes ago. It is believed that sitting under the maple tree also helps protect us from the evil eye. Connecting with the maple tree is the best way to clear your mind and vent your thoughts. In addition, enjoy a cup of maple leaves tea daily.

Maple tree uses for a peaceful home

We can also use maple to create a calm, peaceful environment in our homes. Burn a small piece of maple wood on hot coal. It will release a pleasant-smelling smoke in the air, that clears out negative energies and brings about peace, calm, and tranquility. Maple – This is a spirit that always appears in an androgynous form: neither man nor woman, but embodying the qualities of both.

The Great Teachings of The Maple Tree

The maple tree is a great spiritual teacher for us all. It teaches about balance and staying connected to Mother Earth. The maple tree is connected to feminine energies. Thus, you can also use it to awaken the feminine aspects of yourself, such as intuition and creativity.

When the maple tree is in bloom, it attracts many fairy goddesses (feminine energy deities). If we connect with the tree during this magical time, we are helped by these feminine energies. It is believed that these energies can help and assist in fulfilling our utmost desires and wishes.

Read Also: 20 Health Benefits of The Oak Tree | Uses and Remedies

We hope you’ve found a lot of good information about maple tree uses, its benefits for our health, and how to use maple produce to make remedies. The maple tree is a miraculous tree and it’s a pity that we don’t enjoy its loving produce. Stay healthy, naturally!