White Oak Bark - The Magick Moon

White Oak Bark is cut, and sold by the ounce.

White Oak Bark, also called Tanners Bark, British Oak, and Common Oak. This family has many members including Red Oak, White Oak, Live Oak, White Oak, Swamp Oak, Scrub Oak, Blackjack Oak, Pin Oak, Chinkapin, and many others.

Oak is reported to be a variation on the Anglo Saxon word 'Ac' which means 'tree'. It is a very sacred tree in many cultures, and it was used in worship by the Druids. Druid legend holds that groves of Oaks were very sacred, treated as holy places, and used as ritual sites.

The Romans and Greeks also honored the mighty Oak. In 'The Golden Bough' Frazer describes a holy place in Greece called Dodona, where an Oak was the site of an Oracle of Zeus. King Arthur's round table was made from a solid slab of Oak, and is displayed at Winchester.

White oak bark has been an important herb used by Native American cultures for hundreds of years as a medicine to treat wounds and intestinal problems. White oak bark is one of the strongest natural astringent herbs available. It provides not only great astringent properties, but anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties as well.

Rich in tannins, white oak bark also provides vitamin B12 and minerals like calcium, iron and zinc. White oak bark's astringent properties tighten tissues and strengthen blood vessels, making it ideal for treating diarrhea, hemorrhoids and varicose veins. The blood-clotting agents active in white oak bark are also helpful to cease nosebleeds.

White oak bark has also been used to treat inflammation and irritations caused by poor digestion, ulcers, strep throat and skin problems.

Magical Properties:
Zodiac: Gemini, Cancer
Gender: Male
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Deities: Dianus, Jupiter, Thor, Cybele, Rhea, Janus, Herne, Erato, Pan, Hecate, Brighid, Zeus, and Dagda
Basic Powers: Luck, Fertility, Healing / Health, Money Drawing, Potency, Protection, Prosperity, Longevity

The Oak is a tree of the sun, and sacred to Brighid and the Dagda. Druids do not celebrate unless in the presence of an oak, yew, ash, or other sacred tree. Oak symbolized abundance, fertility, longevity, protection, and the ability to withstand the lightening blasts of spiritual awareness while remaining firmly rooted in the material. All parts of the tree are powerful protective charms, which bring healing. Today many believe there is no wand as sacred as one that has been made with Oak.

A tree as long-lived and strong as the oak naturally offers magical protection. Oak Galls, known as Serpent's Eggs, were used in magical charms. Acorns bring fertility and abundance to any endeavor. Carry one for luck. Acorns gathered at night hold the most fertility powers. The Druids and priestesses listened to the rustling oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak leaves purifies the atmosphere.

Acorns are easily used as symbols of fertility. They can be strung as beads, set in the temple for decoration or, dried and ground into flour for some of the best ritual cakes to be found. Acorns can be adapted into amulets and Tokens.

Modern Lore keeps the Oak as one of most sacred trees. Many believe that the Yule log should be of Oak. When it is but ashes, those are strewn throughout the land to bring good fortune and wealth in the coming year.

The bark of the Oak may be dried and powdered and used to unite one with the Gods and Goddesses.

Oak is used to bring protection against the ferocity of the elements and the dangers of life, and we use oak to ask for divine assistance in having our needs met.

Oak Charm for Protection:
For this charm to help protect either yourself or your personal property, such as a home or car, you will need 2 oak twigs and some red thread.

Gather two oak twigs from any oak tree. if you cannot find fallen branches and you decide to take live ones, ask permission first, take small pieces, only the two that you need, and leave an offering of blessed water on the roots of the tree.

Form a cross with the twigs by laying one across the other.

Tie them together at the center with the red string using a chant such as: 'Oak tree tall, oak tree strong, guard me and mine against all wrong.'

You can then either place the oak charm in your home near your main entry way, such as the front door, in your car or carry it with you in a red charm bag.

Oak Charm for Prosperity:
If you are looking to use the oak to draw a little financial fortune your way, the acorns from an oak tree can help. For this one you'll need one acorn, a green charm bag or green piece of cloth, and three oak leaves.

On the evening of a full moon, either go out and gather your acorn, or take an acorn you already have outside, and while standing under the moon and stars, hold the acorn and say: 'Seed of the stars, I plant my wish, blessed with the power of the forest.'

Plant the acorn in soil either at the based of the oak tree, in a small pot, or in another sacred place on your property. Do while visualizing your finances growing and improving.

Take three oak leaves from the tree and leave an offering of blessed water on the roots.
Place the leaves inside your charm bag and either carry it with you to help increase your financial situation or you can keep it at your home office or desk where you work on your bank statements or pay bills.

Medicinal Usage:
Oak bark is one of the most powerful astringents in the herbal materia medica. It can be used for chronic diarrhea, dysentery and mucous discharge or excessive stomach or lung catarrh. It is also used for gastritis and for stomach and duodenal ulcers, but should be avoided in nervous stomach and intestinal complaints.

An infusion is useful for all types of internal and external hemorrhages, such as an ulcerated bladder or stomach, in tuberculosis or liver inflammation.

As a gargle it is useful to staunch bleeding gums and to soothe a sore throat, for tonsillitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis.

Externally it can be used as a sit bath or enema for hemorrhoids and prolapsed colon and as a douche for leucorrhoea. Used internally and externally at the same time it is a useful remedy for varicose veins.

Externally it can also be applied to burns, chilblains and rash, skin irritations, weeping eczema, contact dermatitis and insect bites, sweaty feet and putrid wounds and ulcers.

A liniment may be applied to goiter, swollen glands and hardened swellings or tumors.

A snuff made from the powdered bark is a preventive remedy for consumption, a decoction made from the bark and acorns with milk is considered an antidote and best first aid remedy for poisoning, whether from plants, mushrooms or nicotine.

Caution: Oak bark should not be used for nervous stomach or intestinal complaints.

Culinary Usage:
N/A

Cosmetic Usage:
N/A

Usage Example:
The bark used for oak remedies needs to be taken from the branches of the tree and not the trunk as this could kill the tree. It should also be done in the early part of the spring and it can then be dried and stored for use throughout the year. The leaves need to be gathered before Summer Solstice because after this time the leaves will contain too many plant alkaloids which can make some people very ill and cause hallucinations.

Oak Bark Tea:
To make a tea that can be used for internal healing, use a tablespoon of dried White or English oak bark and simmer in a pint of water, in a nonmetallic pot, covered tightly, for ten minutes.

Drink up to three cups a day to help with sore throat, fever, stomach problems, or diarrhea.

Oak Leaf Tea:
To make a leaf tea which can be used for external healing, such as to dress cuts, scrapes and burns, steep two teaspoons of shredded White or English oak leaves in one cup of boiled water for about twenty minutes. You can then take strips of clean cloth, soak them in the water, and then wrap them around the area to be treated.

Healing Salve using Oak:
This salve uses oak as one of its ingredients and can be used to help soothe irritation on the skin as well as help to heal small cuts.

Melt 1 ounce of beeswax in 8 ounces of warm olive oil.

Mix in 1 teaspoon each of the following in a powdered form: White oak bark, Myrrh, Comfrey.

Store in a canning jar, bottling while still warm, and keep in a dark place. This makes about 10 ounces and will last a good long while and can be simply smoothed on the irritated or injured area when needed.

NOTE: Although there are medical usage notations provided for White Oak Bark listed above, we are not doctors, and do not provide this educational information as medical advice. We suggest you consult with a physician or certified herbalist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information provided above is strictly informational, and not meant or intended as medical advice. The Magick Moon, nor its employees shall be held responsible, or liable for the misuse of herbs listed in this section.

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