Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Women's Health Pain & Inflammation First Aid

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Black Haw

Viburnum prunifolium

Also known as Stagbush, Sloe-Leaved Viburnum, Sweet Haw, American Sloe

At a glance

Family

Adoxaceae (formerly classed in Caprifoliaceae)

Type

Deciduous shrub or small tree

Parts used

Root bark and stem bark (dried)

Size

12 to 15 feet tall, occasionally reaching 20 feet

Bloom

Flat-topped clusters of small white flowers in April and May, followed by blue-black fruit in fall

Habitat

Woodland edges, fencerows, and dry rocky slopes across the eastern and southeastern United States

Acquisition

Grow or buy

Traditional remedies in HerbSense

Key benefits

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Traditional uterine tonic

Traditionally eased menstrual cramping

Traditionally calmed muscle spasms

Traditionally supported pregnancy comfort

Traditional uses

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Black haw has long stood beside its close cousin cramp bark as one of the great womb tonics of American herbalism, its stripped bark simmered into decoctions by midwives, Eclectic physicians, and rural households alike. Indigenous peoples of the eastern woodlands used the bark and berries for a range of complaints before European settlers adopted it, and by the nineteenth century it had earned a steady place in physicians' bags as a remedy to ease painful cramping and settle an unsettled womb. It was official in the United States Pharmacopoeia for decades, a rare honor for a native shrub, prescribed with real seriousness rather than folk whimsy. Herbalists today still reach for it first when cramping, whether monthly or otherwise, calls for something gentle but dependable.

Growing guide

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Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowers and fruits best with at least a half day of direct light

Soil

Adaptable to average, well-drained soil, including clay; tolerates both slightly acidic and alkaline conditions

Water

Regular water while establishing, then fairly drought tolerant; avoid waterlogged ground

Planting

Set out nursery stock in fall or early spring; seed germination is slow and often needs two seasons of cold stratification, so most gardeners start from a young shrub

Fresh to dried

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Harvest

Strip bark from root or older stems in fall after the leaves drop, taking only partial bark from a given plant so it can recover; never fully girdle a stem or trunk

Drying

Spread the peeled bark in a single layer in a warm, shaded, well-ventilated spot until it snaps cleanly rather than bends

Storage

Keep dried bark in an airtight container away from light and heat; it holds its strength well for about a year

Best forms

Dried bark prepared as a simmered decoction or as a tincture, since the tough, woody bark does not yield much to a simple hot-water steep

Traditional preparations

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Featured preparation

Black Haw Bark Decoction

The traditional way to draw the constituents out of black haw's tough bark, gently simmered rather than steeped.

How it's made. Traditionally, 1 teaspoon of dried, cut black haw bark is simmered in 1 cup of water for about 15 minutes, then strained. A small cup is taken as needed.

Secondary preparation

Black Haw Tincture

A concentrated liquid extract, favored by herbalists for its convenience and long shelf life.

How it's made. Traditionally prepared by a professional herbalist or purchased ready-made from a reputable supplier, and taken in small, measured drops according to label guidance.

Pairs well with

✦Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus)
✦Ginger root
✦Raspberry leaf

Substitutes

✦Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus)
✦Cinnamon bark

Choose it when

“For the ache that asks for something rooted, steady, and unhurried.”

Did you know?

Black haw earned a place in the official United States Pharmacopoeia from 1882 to 1926, where it was listed specifically to help prevent threatened miscarriage, a striking level of formal recognition for a hedgerow shrub most people today only know for its inky autumn berries.

Safety

Black haw bark contains aspirin-like compounds, so avoid it if you're sensitive to salicylates, and use caution with blood thinners. Its oxalate content means those prone to kidney stones should avoid it, and it should only be used in pregnancy under a midwife or physician's guidance.