What is Prickly Ash?

Northern prickly ash, commonly known as Northern prickly ash or toothache tree, is a tree with both medicinal and culinary uses. According to research, the northern prickly ash grows in every part of the world. People across the world are using it to treat different health conditions. The leaves, the fruits, and the bark can be used to make herbs for the treatment and management of different health conditions, which will be discussed in detail in the other parts of this article. Coupled with its medicinal effects on human health, it is also a perfect food flavoring agent.

Courtesy of its natural properties, Northern prickly ash can treat several health conditions like toothache, fungal infections, malaria, ulcers, insomnia, cough, and cold.

Properties of Northern Prickly Ash

Packed within Northern prickly ash are the following properties;

• Antnauseal property; reduces irritation and nausea
• Antifungal property; blocks out or prevents fungal infections
• Antidiarrheal property; helps prevent and ease diarrhoeal symptoms
• Carminative property; breaks stomach gas
• Appetitive property; stimulates appetite in cases where there is a lack of appetite that may lead to severe malnutrition.
• Digestive property; aids in the proper digestion of food
• Rubefacient property; enhances healthy blood flow and circulation throughout the body
• Tonic property; it boosts bodily strength
• Antirheumatic property; it reduces rheumatism-related joint aches
• Diaphoretic property; reduces fever by triggering sweat
• Tinnitus property; eliminates ringing of the ears
• Liniment property; it works effectively for easing sore muscles
• Anti-inflammatory property; helps eliminate inflammation and pain

These properties, coupled with the nutrients in the herbs made from Northern prickly ash, are responsible for the health benefits it supplies to the body.

As healthy as Northern prickly ash can be to the health, it is best to take caution while using it, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on any medications. This will help you prevent side effects, complications, and drug interactions.

This article emphasizes the health benefits that Northern prickly ash has to offer the body when it is consumed in moderate dosages.

Below are the health benefits of Northern prickly ash;

Health Benefits of Northern Prickly Ash

Relieves Pain and Inflammation

Due to its high anti-inflammatory properties, Northern prickly ash is mostly used in treating toothaches, swellings, inflammation, and other forms of pain. According to research, Northern prickly ash has high anti-inflammatory properties, making it an effective pain reliever.

You can easily make a herbal drink out of the bark of Northern prickly ash by boiling the bark. Having done this, you should drink the herbal drink at least 2 times a day and watch out for improvements in the inflammation. If inflammation persists, you should consult professional medical attention, as the pain may result from an underlying health condition.

Boosts Appetite

Loss of appetite can stem from different factors like underlying health conditions. Whichever the cause of your loss of appetite is, ensure that you eat healthy and rich foods no matter what is important. This will help your body recover fast. Leaving loss of appetite to take a toll on you can lead to severe consequences like malnutrition, which can be unhealthy for you, as it can expose you to severe risks of other health conditions. Drinking the northern prickly ash herb is one of the best methods to boost your appetite. Ensure you drink it at least 2 times a day and try to eat each time you drink it.

Improves Digestion

Indigestion and everything that comes with it can cause severe discomfort and result from food contamination or an underlying health condition—watching what you eat and how it can help you prevent indigestion to a large extent.

However, whenever you notice any symptoms of indigestion, drink one glass of Northern prickly ash herbal drink. Suppose indigestion continues even after taking northern prickly ash for at least 2 days. In that case, you must confer with your doctor to ensure that an underlying health condition does not trigger indigestion.

Promotes Healthy Blood Circulation

It can be life-threatening when blood does not circulate throughout the body. This is because other body parts that are not getting enough blood flow will lack the nutrients that the blood lugs throughout the body. One such nutrient is oxygen.

When some parts of the body lack oxygen, it can lead to the temporal inactivity of those parts of the body. Drinking northern prickly ash herb will encourage blood flow and trigger the healthy circulation of blood throughout the body. It supports the cardiovascular system and helps it perform its functions properly.

Antibacterial and Antifungal

If you need a natural antibacterial or antifungal agent, you should try the northern prickly ash herb. This is because the herb is loaded with antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help reduce and prevent infection risks by up to 70%. In addition to this, applying crushed leaves of Northern prickly ash to injuries and wounds will not only speed up the healing process of that wound by promoting blood circulation to the injured area of the body but also protect the wound from infection.

May Prevent Cancer

According to research, more people die from cancer than people who die from other severe health conditions. Although, the major cause of cancer is still unknown, and so is the cure. However, some factors like genetics and sex, among others, have been discovered to increase one’s chances of suffering from cancer.

There is no ideal way to prevent cancer, but doing the best you can to prevent it will go a long way. Studies have shown that some foods, beverages, and healthy herbs contain anticancer properties. These properties are responsible for reducing cancer risks. Northern prickly ash is an effective herb in preventing cancer because it is packed with anticancer properties and antioxidant properties that protect the body cells against oxidative damage that can, one way or the other, lead to cancer.

Detoxifies the Body

Toxins, when they are not gotten rid of, can lead to severe consequences on the health. Although, the body has a natural process of detoxifying itself through the function of the liver. However, sometimes, the liver needs support from foods with natural properties that can support liver health and detoxify the body.

Northern prickly ash is one natural herb that is effective in detoxifying the body and supporting liver health. It is a rich source of compounds that secure liver health while detoxifying the body in the process. For healthy detoxification, you should drink one cup of Northern prickly ash about 3 to 4 times a week.

Regulates Blood Pressure

As much as everyone tries to prevent high blood pressure, you should also watch out for low blood pressure. Speaking about blood pressure, the most common kind of blood pressure is high blood pressure, and this is the first thing that comes to anyone’s consciousness when they hear the words “blood pressure.”

Low BP, on the other hand, is less often spoken about, unlike its other counterpart. Maintaining regulated blood pressure is healthy, and one of the best ways to ensure this is by drinking northern prickly ash daily. While doing this, ensure that you check your blood pressure regularly to prevent it from rising above normal.

Precautions

Northern prickly ash is healthy and safe for use only if you take it in healthy and moderate amounts.

However, despite how healthy this may be, it is best to void it if you are;

• Pregnant
• Breastfeeding
• Suffering from intestinal health conditions
• On any kind of medications

Conclusion

Northern prickly ash is a tree that adds many medicinal benefits to human health. It grows in different parts and regions of the world. Coupled with its medicinal uses, it is also used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages. Some of its health benefits include cancer prevention, liver health support, blood pressure regulation, healthy blood circulation, and healthy digestion, among others.

Despite how beneficial Northern prickly ash is to human health, it can cause severe side effects or complications in pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, people with underlying health conditions, and people on certain medications. To use Northern prickly ash to your benefit, you must boil the tree’s bark and drink the water when it cools.