Hello circle of wise guides! This question is much different than the more clinical ones generally posted here, so I do hope this is ok to utilize this forum of knowledge for this. I am curious about any of your experiences with the Eastern Hemlock as medicine and/or if you have resources you recommend for reading on this evergreen and its medicinal values. I love to work with and get to know (spiritually and medicinally) the plants and medicines native to my surroundings. I live on some land inhabited by beautiful hemlock forests. These trees have called to me as a guide for quite some time now and Ive mainly just sat with them and listened. This winter I am being more deeply called to work with hemlock and would like to dive deeper into text on traditional uses. I have looked into Matt Woods Earthwise Herbal, Maude Grieves Modern Herbal, and the American Indian Medicines book recommended for this course, but all have very limited information on only the pitch. One source had a mention of hemlock and kidney yang deficiency, and another story for its uses for dysentery, but neither were clear on what parts were used. Id love to know more, and specifically about the uses of the needles/leaves Thanks so much for any insight!!

Here is a write up I did: Hemlock Spruce inner bark (Tsuga canadensis, syn. Abies canadensis). Warm/dry/balsamic The bark of this northern tree , which is also known as Eastern Hemlock, has a long history of use by native peoples. The bark is astringent and antibacterial, and has been used internally for diarrhea, head colds, damp coughs, digestive problems, and rheumatic pain by the Abnaki, Cherokee, Anishnaabeg, Malacite, Menominee, Micmac and Delaware peoples. The bark and leaves have been used topically as a wash for itching, eczema, to stop bleeding, and as steams for arthritic pain and colds. The Thomsonians used “Abies” topically as an ointment (mixed with lard, beeswax and Cayenne pepper) for rheumatism. A tea made from the boughs was used as a diuretic and to strengthen the kidneys and lower back. It is also recommended that for “bad water”, boiling it with Hemlock boughs will make it safe and palatable. The inner bark contains piceatannol, a powerful antioxidant and stilbenoids which are antibacterial and antifungal. A tea of the inner bark can be used for candida overgrowth of the bowel, as a douche for vaginal candidiasis, ulcerative colitis, Clostridium difficile infections (combine it with Chinese Coptis and Thyme) and gastroenteritis. The essential oil (distilled from the leaves) can be used as an inhalation (diluted in water) for sinusitis, bronchitis and head colds. Unfortunately, the Eastern Hemlock is under assault from an introduced invasive pest, the wooly adelgid, which is killing off this beautiful tree. Dose: Tea: 1-2 tsp. dried inner bark, 12 oz. water, decoct 15-20 minutes, take 4-8 oz. BID

Thank you so much for that info! I really appreciate it. I see in here the leaves only mentioned for external application. In your opinion, does a tea of the leaves have any benefit other than possibly energetically? Thanks again for your time and knowledge.

I am sure the leaves have some use, although I haven’t used them, I would look at the ethnobotanical literature , like Moermann.