OAK BARK - PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS

Oak bark contains tannins (gallic acid, ellagic acid and cvercitanic acid), cvercitol, pectins, resins and mineral salts. For therapeutic purposes, the bark of young oak branches, three to five years old, harvested in spring, around March and April, is used. The active principles in oak bark have astringent, antidiarrhoeal, haemostatic, disinfectant and odourless action.

Due to the substances it contains, oak bark is useful in diarrhoea, enteritis, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, haemorrhoids, as well as in pharyngitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, ulcers, frostbite, burns and to combat excessive sweating in the feet.

For internal use it is used as a bark decoction (to treat diarrhoea, fever and intestinal haemorrhages) or as ground acorn coffee, which is tonic for the stomach and intestines. Acorn coffee can be used by people with stomach, liver and intestinal sensitivities. Acorn coffee is made from a teaspoon of roasted oak fruit and is very effective in cases of diarrhoea for stool regulation. For the relief of hyperacid gastritis, ulcers and enteritis, a decoction made from one teaspoon of chopped bark to 200 ml of cold water is recommended. Boil the mixture for 20-30 minutes. Two cups of unsweetened tea a day between meals is recommended. It is a good remedy for throat ailments, stomatitis, haemorrhoids and dandruff.

For external use is used decoction of bark for gargling in the treatment of throat ailments, in stomatitis and gingivitis with decoction prepared from 3-4 teaspoons of ground bark to 1 cup of water. The bark decoction used in the form of baths is also effective in case of hemorrhoids and if you rinse your hair with it you can effectively fight dandruff. A decoction made from two tablespoons of oak bark, which is left to steep for 10 minutes, and another two hours before straining, is used for washes and compresses. Oak bark tea can also be used to relieve excessive sweating of the hands and feet by washing the skin with a decoction of 20-30 g of oak bark to 1 litre of water.
For the treatment of skin diseases a tea more concentrated, from three to four teaspoons of bark to 250 ml of water, boiled for 20 minutes. This tea is used to make compresses in different diseases dermatological. It can also be used for gargling or vaginal rinses.
The bark powder, obtained by grinding in a coffee grinder, can be put on various wounds. It can also be put in shoes by people with sweaty feet.