03/21/2019
Here are some ideas about Spring Barking: White Oak. Let me know what you think or if you have any questions!
Winter is such a beautiful time of year when fresh snow blankets the trees and ground while the air is crisp and cold. In Minnesota, it seems like such a time may never give way to the bouncing robins, melting ice, and green buds that symbolize spring. We have finally begun our journey to warmer temperatures and believe it or not, there is already much that can be done to prepare your herbal cabinets!
When the weather starts to warm up, it becomes the season of collecting and harvesting barks. Mother nature is so good to us and offers support throughout all of her seasons. I will start by covering how to identify a very common tree in Minnesota and then go into detail of how to properly harvest and prepare a bark tincture to add to your apothecary.
First, a gorgeous, tall, steady-growing tree in many of our backyards or nearby parks is called the White Oak or Quercus alba. Oak trees are known for their slow, straight growth which results in a very hard wood that is great for lumber and building things. Carpentry is only one use of this amazing tree. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in order to identify a White Oak, look for a tall, straight trunk with grayish bark and shallow cracks. The DNR also mentions that these trees carry acorns and their leaves have lobe-like projections that alternate on the stems (2019).
Once you have identified your White Oak, search for a small, 1-2 centimeter branch that is close enough to the ground to reach. Remember that one of the principal ideals of herbalism is to only take what you need and will use and to thank the tree is some form for giving of itself in order to help you heal. Use some garden shears or scissors to clip the limb at a bend or change of direction in the branch. While transporting the clipped branch, try to ensure that the freshly cut end stays upwards so the ‘life’ of the tree stays in it.
When you arrive home or to the place where you will be making your tincture, gather your supplies into a well-lit area with a space that is easy for working-I use my kitchen table or counter. You will need a glass jar (if this is your first tincture I recommend using a 4oz jar, but it does not matter whether it is a mason jar or a pickle jar as long as it has been properly cleaned with soap and water), a small knife (I use a dull paring knife-actually, the duller it is the better for this type of project), a piece of paper (I recommend a piece of newspaper or at least a 9x11” sheet of paper to collect your bark remnants on before you transfer them into your jar), your branch of White Oak, and about 3-4 oz of vodka (or any alcohol of your choosing, brandy is also suitable). Use the paring knife to take off the first two layers of the bark off the branch and collect the pieces onto the newspaper-you will see that there is a bright green layer underneath the grayish outer bark and you want both of those layers in your tincture. It does not have to be perfect, but the less of the whitish inner branch you have the better. After you have shaved the branch use the newspaper to funnel the bark pieces into the glass jar.
The rule of thumb for bark tinctures is about 4 parts alcohol to 1 part bark, so unlike a fresh plant tincture, you will only have a small layer of bark in the bottom of the jar before adding the vodka. Fill the rest of the jar with vodka and place the top back on the jar. Let the tincture sit in a cool, dark place for about 6 weeks before straining through a cheesecloth to remove the bark pieces. You may then transfer your tincture into a dropper bottle for easier use.
The White Oak tree has many uses in herbalism due to its astringent quality. It treats swollen and relaxed tissue like prolapse or collapsing tissue, hemorrhoids, and diarrhea. It helps redistribute fluids and so treats edema, swelling, varicose veins, and sinus drainage. It has been traditionally used as a toothbrush because it can remineralize teeth and may help treat cavities. It also moistens dry tissue, helps treat constipation, and dissolves scar tissue. The ability to heal scars and scar tissue also gives a profile to the fact that much of the medicinal properties of the tree are kept in the burrs or large bumps on the trunk. These bumps contain a higher concentration of the healing entities of the Oak and so if there are branches growing from these burrs, those would be ideal for your tincture. There is also a ‘personality’ to White Oak that can be described as someone who has overused their body or mind and remains stubborn and very responsible. Think of an Oak tree; it has a very stable foundation and an extensive root network which reflects on their ‘personality.’
Remember that Mother nature gives us many tools to improve and maintain a high quality of life. The plants and trees around us have knowledge and healing powers aplenty and are waiting and willing to share with us whenever we respect them and call upon them. The White Oak is a mighty tree with a strong personality and many healing properties.
Works Cited
White oak - Minnesota DNR. (2019). Retrieved from
FormHeight 60' to 80' with a diameter of 24" to 36", although it can grow larger; tall and narrow-crowned in the forest; short in the open, crowned by a broad, rounded top with limbs spreading irregularly; well-grown specimens are strikingly beautiful.BarkPale gray with scaly ridges and shallow fiss...
