by Eric Yarnell, ND, RH(AHG)
Last updated 26 Mar 2022
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Table of Contents
Clinical Highlights
Prickly ash is a cardiovascular stimulant and sialagogue.
Prickly ash is often used in formulas to improve absorption of the formula's components and to have a "warming" effect.
Prickly ash is indicated in patients who have atonic cardiovascular systems and insufficient salivation (as we as digestion in general).
Prickly ash is quite potent and only small does are needed for strong effects.
Prickly ash does not cause serious adverse effects. Minor problems including burning in the mouth from its bitter pungency and excess salivation are common.
Prickly ash is often used in formulas to improve absorption of the formula's components and to have a "warming" effect.
Prickly ash is indicated in patients who have atonic cardiovascular systems and insufficient salivation (as we as digestion in general).
Prickly ash is quite potent and only small does are needed for strong effects.
Prickly ash does not cause serious adverse effects. Minor problems including burning in the mouth from its bitter pungency and excess salivation are common.
Zanthoxylum americanum flowers and spines (photo copyright E. Yarnell)
Zanthoxylum americanum branch (photo copyright E. Yarnell)
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Zanthoxylum americanum leaf (photo copyright E. Yarnell)
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Clinical Fundamentals
Part Used: Fresh or dried bark of branches is used.
Taste: Pungent, earthy, and intensely bitter, the bark is fairly unpleasant to most. High ethanol and other organic solvent extracts (as well as whole crude bark) leave a tingling, anesthetic sensation in the mouth.
Major Actions:
Major Organ System Affinities
Major Indications:
Major Constituents:
Adverse Effects: Prickly ash can cause burning then numbness in the mouth and pharynx, nausea, and excessive salivation, even at therapeutic doses. These wear off quickly and rarely cause termination of therapy. The very strong and unpleasant taste can be off-putting to some patients.
Contraindications: Prickly ash is not recommend in patients with hyperactive gastrointestinal tracts, such as people with hyperchlorhydria or acutely active peptic ulcers. Prickly ash may exacerbate open sores in the mouth or pharynx. It may aggravate already elevated blood pressure (though it will not cause hypertension). Its safety in pregnancy and lactation are unknown.
Drug Interactions: None documented or suspected. Some patients may experience enough of a speeding up of their transit time that prickly ash could, theoretically, change absorption of medications they are taking.
Taste: Pungent, earthy, and intensely bitter, the bark is fairly unpleasant to most. High ethanol and other organic solvent extracts (as well as whole crude bark) leave a tingling, anesthetic sensation in the mouth.
Major Actions:
- Cardiovascular stimulant
- Pungent gastrointestinal stimulant
- Partly through stimulating cholinergic and 5-HT3 receptors (Shibata, et al. 1999)
- Sialagogue
- Anesthetic, topical (in mouth)
Major Organ System Affinities
- Cardiovascular system
- Gastrointestinal tract
Major Indications:
- Hypotension
- Poor circulation
- Constipation, atonic
- Gastroparesis
- Poor gut motility and secretion
- Hypochlorhydria
- Insufficient saliva production
- Oropharyngeal infections
- Peptic ulcer prevention (not for treatment)
- Tooth/gum pain (topical as anesthetic)
Major Constituents:
- Alkaloids
- Isobutylamide
Adverse Effects: Prickly ash can cause burning then numbness in the mouth and pharynx, nausea, and excessive salivation, even at therapeutic doses. These wear off quickly and rarely cause termination of therapy. The very strong and unpleasant taste can be off-putting to some patients.
Contraindications: Prickly ash is not recommend in patients with hyperactive gastrointestinal tracts, such as people with hyperchlorhydria or acutely active peptic ulcers. Prickly ash may exacerbate open sores in the mouth or pharynx. It may aggravate already elevated blood pressure (though it will not cause hypertension). Its safety in pregnancy and lactation are unknown.
Drug Interactions: None documented or suspected. Some patients may experience enough of a speeding up of their transit time that prickly ash could, theoretically, change absorption of medications they are taking.
Pharmacy Essentials
Tincture: 1:3–1:5 w:v ratio, 50–60% ethanol
Dose:
Acute, adult: 0.5–1 ml tid cc or more frequently, adjusted for body size and sensitivities
Chronic, adult: 0.5–1 ml tid cc
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Glycerite: not recommended
Decoction: 1–3 g (1 heaping tsp) of bark simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
Dose:
Acute adult: 1 cup tid cc or more frequently as needed
Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid cc
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Capsules: these are not widely available; those that are from relatively unknown sources. Recommended dose of unextracted bark would be 500–1000 mg tid cc.
If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
Dose:
Acute, adult: 0.5–1 ml tid cc or more frequently, adjusted for body size and sensitivities
Chronic, adult: 0.5–1 ml tid cc
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Glycerite: not recommended
Decoction: 1–3 g (1 heaping tsp) of bark simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
Dose:
Acute adult: 1 cup tid cc or more frequently as needed
Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid cc
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size
Capsules: these are not widely available; those that are from relatively unknown sources. Recommended dose of unextracted bark would be 500–1000 mg tid cc.
If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
Other Names
Latin synonyms:
Current correct Latin binomial: Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L
Fagara caroliniana Engl
Fagara clava-herculis Small
Fagara clava-herculis var fruticosa Sarg
Fagara fraxinifolia Lam
Kampmannia fraxinifolium Raf
Pseudopetalon glandulosum Raf
Pseudopetalon tricarpum Raf
Xanthophyllon clava-herculis St.-Lag
Xanthophyllon clavatum St.-Lag
Zanthoxylum alveolatum Shuttlew. ex S.Watson
Zanthoxylum aromaticum (Blume) Miq
Zanthoxylum aromaticum Willd
Zanthoxylum carolinianum Lam
Zanthoxylum catesbianum Raf
Zanthoxylum clavatum St.-Lag
Zanthoxylum glandulosum (Raf.) Raf
Zanthoxylum hidalgense Lundell
Zanthoxylum macrophyllum Nutt
Zanthoxylum tricarpum Michx
English Common Names: southern prickly ash, Hercules's club (referring to Hercules favored use of a gnarled club for a weapon), sea ash, pepperwood, tingle tongue, wild orange, sea ash, yellow Hercules, yellow prickly ash, yellow wood, prickly yellow wood
French Common Names: clavalier, frêne epineux
German Common Names: Zahnwehrinde, Zahnwehholz
Latin synonyms:
Current correct Latin binomial: Zanthoxylum americanum Mill
Mioptrila odorata Raf
Thylax fraxineum (Willd.) Raf
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis var americanum Du Roi
Zanthoxylum fraxineum Willd
Zanthoxylum fraxinifolium Marshall
Zanthoxylum mite Willd
Zanthoxylum parvum Shinners
Zanthoxylum ramiflorum Michx
English Common Names: American prickly ash, common prickly ash, northern prickly ash, toothache tree, angelica-tree, pellitory bark, suter-berry
Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
Nēhiyawēwin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Cree, Algonquian):
Wôbanakiôdwawôgan (Eastern Abenaki, Algonquian): kagdwiakwam (<kagowi, "angry" referring to the spines)
Kanien’kéha (Mohawk, Iriquoian): a’enna’ón:we
French Common Names: clavalier, frêne epineux
German Common Names: Zahnwehrinde, Zahnwehholz
Zanthoxylum <Greek "yellow wood"
Current correct Latin binomial: Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L
Fagara caroliniana Engl
Fagara clava-herculis Small
Fagara clava-herculis var fruticosa Sarg
Fagara fraxinifolia Lam
Kampmannia fraxinifolium Raf
Pseudopetalon glandulosum Raf
Pseudopetalon tricarpum Raf
Xanthophyllon clava-herculis St.-Lag
Xanthophyllon clavatum St.-Lag
Zanthoxylum alveolatum Shuttlew. ex S.Watson
Zanthoxylum aromaticum (Blume) Miq
Zanthoxylum aromaticum Willd
Zanthoxylum carolinianum Lam
Zanthoxylum catesbianum Raf
Zanthoxylum clavatum St.-Lag
Zanthoxylum glandulosum (Raf.) Raf
Zanthoxylum hidalgense Lundell
Zanthoxylum macrophyllum Nutt
Zanthoxylum tricarpum Michx
English Common Names: southern prickly ash, Hercules's club (referring to Hercules favored use of a gnarled club for a weapon), sea ash, pepperwood, tingle tongue, wild orange, sea ash, yellow Hercules, yellow prickly ash, yellow wood, prickly yellow wood
French Common Names: clavalier, frêne epineux
German Common Names: Zahnwehrinde, Zahnwehholz
Latin synonyms:
Current correct Latin binomial: Zanthoxylum americanum Mill
Mioptrila odorata Raf
Thylax fraxineum (Willd.) Raf
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis var americanum Du Roi
Zanthoxylum fraxineum Willd
Zanthoxylum fraxinifolium Marshall
Zanthoxylum mite Willd
Zanthoxylum parvum Shinners
Zanthoxylum ramiflorum Michx
English Common Names: American prickly ash, common prickly ash, northern prickly ash, toothache tree, angelica-tree, pellitory bark, suter-berry
Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
Nēhiyawēwin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Cree, Algonquian):
Wôbanakiôdwawôgan (Eastern Abenaki, Algonquian): kagdwiakwam (<kagowi, "angry" referring to the spines)
Kanien’kéha (Mohawk, Iriquoian): a’enna’ón:we
French Common Names: clavalier, frêne epineux
German Common Names: Zahnwehrinde, Zahnwehholz
Zanthoxylum <Greek "yellow wood"
Interchangeability of Species
Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash, toothache tree) and Z. clava-herculis (southern prickly ash) are completely interchangeable.
Zanthoxylum aramatum (Indian prickly ash) fruit is reportedly used traditionally in India as a carminative, stomachic, and anthelmintic for rheumatism, dyspepsia, scabies, snake bite, cholera, and diabetes (Veda Priya, et al. 2017).
Several species of Zanthoxylum are used in Chinese medicine. These are summarized in the table below:
Zanthoxylum nitidum
Zanthoxylum aramatum (Indian prickly ash) fruit is reportedly used traditionally in India as a carminative, stomachic, and anthelmintic for rheumatism, dyspepsia, scabies, snake bite, cholera, and diabetes (Veda Priya, et al. 2017).
Several species of Zanthoxylum are used in Chinese medicine. These are summarized in the table below:
Zanthoxylum nitidum
| Latin binomial | Chinese common name | Part used | Principle actions | Principle indications |
| Zanthoxylum alanthoides | 海桐皮 hǎi tóng pí | Bark | dispels Wind-Damp, unblocks collaterals, alleviates pain and itch, promotes urination, reduces edema, kills parasites | Wind-Damp Bi, edema, scabies, toothache |
| Zanthoxylum bungeanum | 兩花椒 huā jiāo | Fruit hull | warms the Middle Jiao, disperses Cold, alleviates pain, kills parasites, dries Damp, alleviates pain | diarrhea, vomiting, roundworms, moist skin ulcers |
| Zanthoxylum bungeanum | 椒目 jiāo mù | Seed | promotes water metabolism and diuretic, reduces swelling, calms wheezing, relieves dyspnea, eliminates Phlegm | edema, asthma |
| Zanthoxylum nitidum | 兩麵針 (trad), 两面针 (simpl) liǎng miàn zhēn | Leaf and root | dispel Wind-Damp, promote Qi and Blood movement, unblock collaterals, stops pain | swelling, arthritis, snakebite, cancer, toothache |
| Zanthoxylum piperitum | 山椒 shān jiāo | Fruit | unblocks bowels, treats constipation | as Zanthoxylum bungeanum but slightly inferior |
| Zanthoxylum schinifolium | 兩青椒 qīng jiāo | Fruit hull | as Zanthoxylum bungeanum but slightly inferior | as Zanthoxylum bungeanum but slightly inferior |
Advanced Clinical Information
Additional Actions:
Additional Indications:
- Alkaloids inhibit topoisomerase I (Wang, et al. 1993)
- Alkaloids antineoplastic (Cushman, et al. 1984)
- Antibacterial (Veda Priya, et al. 2017)
- Antifungal (Bafi-Yeboa, et al. 2005)
- Antiparasitic (Goodman, et al. 2019)
Additional Indications:
- Cancer
- Parasitic gastrointestinal infections
Classic Formulas
Spiced Bitters (Colby 1846)
Combine these ingredients:
Populus tremuloides (aspen) bark powder 32 oz
Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash) bark powder 12 oz
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) root powder 8 oz
Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizome powder 8 oz
Syzygium aromaticum (clove) flower bud powder 8 oz
Chelone glabra (balmony) herb powder 8 oz
Capsicum minimum (cayenne) fruit powder 6 oz
Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon) bark powder 4 oz
Sugar 5 lb
Sig: 1 tsp powder in 0.5 cup of hot water tid ic.
Indications: anorexia, indigestion, jaundice, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Pulvis Xanthoxyli Compositus (Felter and Lloyd 1898)
Preparation.--Take of oleoresin of prickly ash bark, hydrochlorate of berberine, and sulphate of quinine, each, 1 drachm; sugar of milk, a sufficient quantity. Mix together, adding just enough sugar of milk to form the mass into a powder, and then divide into 60 powders.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.--This is a valuable stimulating tonic and alterative, and may be employed in cases requiring such action, as in debility of the digestive functions, dyspepsia, convalescence from fevers, diarrhoea, and dysentery, hepatic torpor, periodical headache, scrofula, and other chronic diseases accompanied with excessive debility. The dose is 1 powder, to be repeated 3 or 4 times a day. It may be given in water, milk, molasses, syrup, or wine, as symptoms may indicate. One powder contains a grain, each, of the three medicinal agents entering into its composition (J. King).
Jethro Kloss’ Composition Powder
Therapeutic principle: diaphoretic with a pungent and warm nature.
Contents:
Myrica cerifera (bayberry) powder 4 oz
Zingiber officinale (ginger) powder 2 oz
Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) powder 1 oz
Zanthoxylum americanum (prickly ash) powder 1 dram
Capsicum frutescens (cayenne) powder 1 dram
Sig: One cup of tea every hour until the patient perspires freely. To prepare, use all of the herbs in powdered form, mix and put through a fine sieve twice. Steep one teaspoonful in a covered cup of boiling water for fifteen minutes. Drink the clear liquid poured off from the sediment.
Indication: Fever, hoarseness, lack of perspiration, cramps, colic, rhinitis, pharyngitis, body aches, sluggish circulation, cough, headache, intolerance of cold, no perspiration. The pulse tends to be superficial and tight, while the tongue usually has a thin white coating.
Extract of Trifolium Compound (Felter and Lloyd 1898)
This preparation is a specialty of the Wm. S. Merrell Chemical Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a combination of the alterative, tonic, and eliminative properties of the recently expressed juices or extracts from fresh or green plants with potassium iodide. The compound contains the extracts of Trifolium pratense, Stillingia sylvatica, Lappa minor, Phytolacca decandra Picramnia antidesma [cascara amarga], Berberis aquifolium, Podophyllum peltatum, tincture of Xanthoxylum carolinianum and potassium iodide. It is designed for administration in syphilis, scrofula, chronic rheumatism, glandular and various skin affections.
Hoxsey Formula (Brinker 1996)
Developed by Harry Hoxsey (1901-1973). Hoxsey's tale that it came originally from his great grandfather's observation of horses being cured of cancer by browsing these herbs is belied by the fact that there is nowhere these herbs grow in the same place, let alone that horses would eat them (such as Frangula, Phytolacca, and Mahonia). Morris Fishbein, MD and the AMA fought against him strongly. Mildred Nelson, RN was Hoxsey's longtime nurse (after her mother was apparently cured by him) and championed the use of this formula even after his death. Hoxsey Biomedical Center in Tijuana, Mexico still exists to this day (after it was forced to relocate out of Dallas).
Hoxsey's formula was more clearly closely modeled on the Trifolium Compound from from around 1890 noted above and sold principally by Parke, Davis and Company.
As revealed in court on 6 Jan 1949:
Zanthoxylum americanum (prickly ash)
Frangula alnus = Rhamnus frangula (alder buckthorn)
Frangula purshiana (cascara sagrada)
potassium iodide
Medicago sativa (alfalfa)
Trifolium pratense (red clover)
syrup of honey drip cane
As identified in 1954:
Potassium iodide 150 mg
Licorice 20 mg
Red clover 20 mg
Burdock root 10 mg
Stillingia root 10 mg
Berberis root 10 mg
Poke root 10 mg
Cascara amarga 5 mg
Prickly ash bark 5 mg
Buckthorn bark 20 mg
Sig: 1 tsp qid (after meals and at bedtime)
Combine these ingredients:
Populus tremuloides (aspen) bark powder 32 oz
Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash) bark powder 12 oz
Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) root powder 8 oz
Zingiber officinale (ginger) rhizome powder 8 oz
Syzygium aromaticum (clove) flower bud powder 8 oz
Chelone glabra (balmony) herb powder 8 oz
Capsicum minimum (cayenne) fruit powder 6 oz
Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon) bark powder 4 oz
Sugar 5 lb
Sig: 1 tsp powder in 0.5 cup of hot water tid ic.
Indications: anorexia, indigestion, jaundice, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Pulvis Xanthoxyli Compositus (Felter and Lloyd 1898)
Preparation.--Take of oleoresin of prickly ash bark, hydrochlorate of berberine, and sulphate of quinine, each, 1 drachm; sugar of milk, a sufficient quantity. Mix together, adding just enough sugar of milk to form the mass into a powder, and then divide into 60 powders.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.--This is a valuable stimulating tonic and alterative, and may be employed in cases requiring such action, as in debility of the digestive functions, dyspepsia, convalescence from fevers, diarrhoea, and dysentery, hepatic torpor, periodical headache, scrofula, and other chronic diseases accompanied with excessive debility. The dose is 1 powder, to be repeated 3 or 4 times a day. It may be given in water, milk, molasses, syrup, or wine, as symptoms may indicate. One powder contains a grain, each, of the three medicinal agents entering into its composition (J. King).
Jethro Kloss’ Composition Powder
Therapeutic principle: diaphoretic with a pungent and warm nature.
Contents:
Myrica cerifera (bayberry) powder 4 oz
Zingiber officinale (ginger) powder 2 oz
Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) powder 1 oz
Zanthoxylum americanum (prickly ash) powder 1 dram
Capsicum frutescens (cayenne) powder 1 dram
Sig: One cup of tea every hour until the patient perspires freely. To prepare, use all of the herbs in powdered form, mix and put through a fine sieve twice. Steep one teaspoonful in a covered cup of boiling water for fifteen minutes. Drink the clear liquid poured off from the sediment.
Indication: Fever, hoarseness, lack of perspiration, cramps, colic, rhinitis, pharyngitis, body aches, sluggish circulation, cough, headache, intolerance of cold, no perspiration. The pulse tends to be superficial and tight, while the tongue usually has a thin white coating.
Extract of Trifolium Compound (Felter and Lloyd 1898)
This preparation is a specialty of the Wm. S. Merrell Chemical Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a combination of the alterative, tonic, and eliminative properties of the recently expressed juices or extracts from fresh or green plants with potassium iodide. The compound contains the extracts of Trifolium pratense, Stillingia sylvatica, Lappa minor, Phytolacca decandra Picramnia antidesma [cascara amarga], Berberis aquifolium, Podophyllum peltatum, tincture of Xanthoxylum carolinianum and potassium iodide. It is designed for administration in syphilis, scrofula, chronic rheumatism, glandular and various skin affections.
Hoxsey Formula (Brinker 1996)
Developed by Harry Hoxsey (1901-1973). Hoxsey's tale that it came originally from his great grandfather's observation of horses being cured of cancer by browsing these herbs is belied by the fact that there is nowhere these herbs grow in the same place, let alone that horses would eat them (such as Frangula, Phytolacca, and Mahonia). Morris Fishbein, MD and the AMA fought against him strongly. Mildred Nelson, RN was Hoxsey's longtime nurse (after her mother was apparently cured by him) and championed the use of this formula even after his death. Hoxsey Biomedical Center in Tijuana, Mexico still exists to this day (after it was forced to relocate out of Dallas).
Hoxsey's formula was more clearly closely modeled on the Trifolium Compound from from around 1890 noted above and sold principally by Parke, Davis and Company.
As revealed in court on 6 Jan 1949:
Zanthoxylum americanum (prickly ash)
Frangula alnus = Rhamnus frangula (alder buckthorn)
Frangula purshiana (cascara sagrada)
potassium iodide
Medicago sativa (alfalfa)
Trifolium pratense (red clover)
syrup of honey drip cane
As identified in 1954:
Potassium iodide 150 mg
Licorice 20 mg
Red clover 20 mg
Burdock root 10 mg
Stillingia root 10 mg
Berberis root 10 mg
Poke root 10 mg
Cascara amarga 5 mg
Prickly ash bark 5 mg
Buckthorn bark 20 mg
Sig: 1 tsp qid (after meals and at bedtime)
Monograph from Eclectic Materia Medica (Felter 1922)
XANTHOXYLUM.
The bark and berries of (1) Xanthoxylum americanum, Miller, and (2) Xanthoxylum clava-herculis, Lamarck (Nat. Ord. Rutaceae). Shrubs of North America. Dose, 5 to 60 grains.
Common Names: Prickly Ash; (1) Northern Prickly Ash; (2) Southern Prickly Ash.
Principal Constituents.—A green acrid oil, a white crystallizable resin, a soft acrid resin, tannin, and a bitter substance thought to be an alkaloid.
Preparation.--Specific Medicine Xanthoxylum. Dose, 5 to 60 drops.
Specific Indications.--Hypersecretion from debility and relaxation of the mucosa (small doses); atony of the nervous system (larger doses); capillary engorgement in the eruptive diseases; sluggish circulation; tympanites in bowel disorders; intestinal and gastric torpor, with deficient secretion; dryness of mouth and fauces, with glazed surface;
flatulent colic; Asiatic cholera; uterine cramps and neuralgia.
Action.--Prickly ash impresses the secretions and the nervous and circulatory systems. The bark, when chewed, imparts a sweetish aromatic taste, followed by bitterness and persistent acridity; the berries act similarly. The drug has remarkable sialagogue properties, inducing a copious flow of saliva and mucus. Swallowed, it warms the
stomach and augments the secretion of the gastric and intestinal juices, and probably increases hepatic and pancreatic activity. The action of the heart is strengthened by xanthoxylum, the pulse slightly quickened, and the glands of the skin are stimulated to greater activity. The urine is decidedly increased by prickly ash.
Therapy.--Preparations of prickly ash bark are to be preferred when stimulant, tonic, sialagogue, and alterative properties are desired; that of the berries when a carminative stimulant and antispasmodic is needed, especially in disorders of the stomach and bowels.
Xanthoxylum is particularly grateful in stomach disorders. It is an ideal gastric stimulant, and as a remedy for simple gastric atony it ranks well with capsicum. When food ferments readily and gaseous accumulations distend the stomach, and there is much belching, from five to fifteen drops of specific medicine xanthoxylum may be given, preferably in hot water, one hour before and one hour after meals. Both hydrastis and capsicum, or each of them, may be given with it, if indications are clear for them, and together the three agents offer comfort to those who suffer the distress of so-called flatulent dyspepsia. It is a remedy of much worth in atonic dyspepsia and in gastric catarrh, when there is enfeeblement and relaxation of tissues and hypersecretion. It is also of value in constipation when due to deficient secretion (small doses). Formerly it was greatly valued in spasmodic conditions of the bowels with colic, and in cholera morbus in weak individuals, and to restore tone and normal secretion after attacks of epidemic dysentery, a disease once more prevalent than at the present time. King introduced the tincture of the berries as. a remedy for Asiatic cholera, in which it proved phenomenally successful; and for tympanitic distention of the bowels arising during peritonitis. As a rule, however, it should not be given in inflammatory conditions.
As a stimulant to sluggish membranes prickly ash may be given internally (and used locally) in dry, glazed pharyngitis with crusts of adherent, dried mucus. Of its alterative power there is no question, and prickly ash is an ingredient of a popular compound known as “Trifolium Compound”, which has been extensively used in chronic syphilitic dyscrasia. It is not to be assumed that it has antisyphilitic virtues, but it exerts a favorable alterative action which renders syphilitics more amenable to reparation of tissues. Sometimes a tincture of prickly ash berries is the best drug that can be given in socalled chronic muscular rheumatism; and it is not without value in lumbago and myalgia. Chewing prickly ash bark is a domestic custom for the relief of toothache.
Xanthoxlum should also be remembered where nerve force is low and in the recuperative stage from attacks of neuritis or other forms of nerve involvement in which function is greatly impaired but is yet capable of restoration. Xanthoxylum deserves further study, chiefly as an alterative.
The bark and berries of (1) Xanthoxylum americanum, Miller, and (2) Xanthoxylum clava-herculis, Lamarck (Nat. Ord. Rutaceae). Shrubs of North America. Dose, 5 to 60 grains.
Common Names: Prickly Ash; (1) Northern Prickly Ash; (2) Southern Prickly Ash.
Principal Constituents.—A green acrid oil, a white crystallizable resin, a soft acrid resin, tannin, and a bitter substance thought to be an alkaloid.
Preparation.--Specific Medicine Xanthoxylum. Dose, 5 to 60 drops.
Specific Indications.--Hypersecretion from debility and relaxation of the mucosa (small doses); atony of the nervous system (larger doses); capillary engorgement in the eruptive diseases; sluggish circulation; tympanites in bowel disorders; intestinal and gastric torpor, with deficient secretion; dryness of mouth and fauces, with glazed surface;
flatulent colic; Asiatic cholera; uterine cramps and neuralgia.
Action.--Prickly ash impresses the secretions and the nervous and circulatory systems. The bark, when chewed, imparts a sweetish aromatic taste, followed by bitterness and persistent acridity; the berries act similarly. The drug has remarkable sialagogue properties, inducing a copious flow of saliva and mucus. Swallowed, it warms the
stomach and augments the secretion of the gastric and intestinal juices, and probably increases hepatic and pancreatic activity. The action of the heart is strengthened by xanthoxylum, the pulse slightly quickened, and the glands of the skin are stimulated to greater activity. The urine is decidedly increased by prickly ash.
Therapy.--Preparations of prickly ash bark are to be preferred when stimulant, tonic, sialagogue, and alterative properties are desired; that of the berries when a carminative stimulant and antispasmodic is needed, especially in disorders of the stomach and bowels.
Xanthoxylum is particularly grateful in stomach disorders. It is an ideal gastric stimulant, and as a remedy for simple gastric atony it ranks well with capsicum. When food ferments readily and gaseous accumulations distend the stomach, and there is much belching, from five to fifteen drops of specific medicine xanthoxylum may be given, preferably in hot water, one hour before and one hour after meals. Both hydrastis and capsicum, or each of them, may be given with it, if indications are clear for them, and together the three agents offer comfort to those who suffer the distress of so-called flatulent dyspepsia. It is a remedy of much worth in atonic dyspepsia and in gastric catarrh, when there is enfeeblement and relaxation of tissues and hypersecretion. It is also of value in constipation when due to deficient secretion (small doses). Formerly it was greatly valued in spasmodic conditions of the bowels with colic, and in cholera morbus in weak individuals, and to restore tone and normal secretion after attacks of epidemic dysentery, a disease once more prevalent than at the present time. King introduced the tincture of the berries as. a remedy for Asiatic cholera, in which it proved phenomenally successful; and for tympanitic distention of the bowels arising during peritonitis. As a rule, however, it should not be given in inflammatory conditions.
As a stimulant to sluggish membranes prickly ash may be given internally (and used locally) in dry, glazed pharyngitis with crusts of adherent, dried mucus. Of its alterative power there is no question, and prickly ash is an ingredient of a popular compound known as “Trifolium Compound”, which has been extensively used in chronic syphilitic dyscrasia. It is not to be assumed that it has antisyphilitic virtues, but it exerts a favorable alterative action which renders syphilitics more amenable to reparation of tissues. Sometimes a tincture of prickly ash berries is the best drug that can be given in socalled chronic muscular rheumatism; and it is not without value in lumbago and myalgia. Chewing prickly ash bark is a domestic custom for the relief of toothache.
Xanthoxlum should also be remembered where nerve force is low and in the recuperative stage from attacks of neuritis or other forms of nerve involvement in which function is greatly impaired but is yet capable of restoration. Xanthoxylum deserves further study, chiefly as an alterative.
Botanical Information
Note that despite the common name, Zanthoxylum is not related to the true ash, genus Fraxinus in family Oleaceae.
Botanical Description (Z. americanum): Northern prickly ash grows as a tall shrub to short tree (3–6 m), often forming thickets. The crowns of the tree branch extensively. All parts of the tree (leaves, bark, fruit) are strongly aromatic when cut. The main stem bark is generally smooth and gray to brown in color, which that on branches is more reddish-brown to gray, and is pubescent on new growth. Most trees will have pair spines 5–15 mm long at intervals along the bark. The deciduous, pinnately-compound leaves (bearing 5–11 leaflets) are alternate, dull green above (paler below), elliptic to oblong-ovate, up to 7.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, initially pubescent but becoming smooth with age, with veins sunken into the leaf and crenate or entire margins. The midveins are indeed in the middle of the leaflets. The leaflet apex is obtuse and the base asymmetrical. The terminal leaflet is borne on a short petiole while lateral leaflets are sessile; the rachis holding all these is pubescent (but as is common with this species, becoming smooth with age). The inflorescence is an axillary cyme containing multiple tiny yellow-green to greenish flowers, with hairy pedicels, no sepals, 5 petals with rounded apices, 5 exserted stamens, 2–5 pistils (with slender styles and 2 ovules), generally appearing in April and May (appearing before the leaves). The fruit is a strong-smelling, greenish to red-brown follicle 4–5 mm long, subglobose to ellipsoid in shape, with a pitted surface, bearing 1–2 seeds, generally ripe by July to September.[Description based on the University of Oklahoma, accessed 2 August 2000]
Botanical Description (Z. clava-herculis): Southern prickly ash is a dioecious shrub/tree grows initially to as much as 10 m (rarely 16 m), then often settles into a shorter height when fully mature, usually growing in thickets. All parts of the tree (leaves, bark, fruit) are strongly aromatic when cut. The bark is generally gray and is armed with paired spines extending from protuberances. It has pinnately-compound leaves (with 5–19 leaflets), each leaflet up to 7 cm long, lancoleate to ovate-lanceolate, smooth, leathery and shiny green above (dull green below), with finely toothed margins. The midveins are not centrally located (unlike in Z. americanum) but instead are closer to the lower leaf margins. The always-smooth leaflets are borne on short petiolules, to 3 mm long. The inflorescence is a compound, axillary cyme with many small yellow-green flowers (at most 8 mm wide), with five sepals, 5 petals, 5 stamens (on staminate trees) or 2 or 3 pistils (on pistillate trees). The fruit (found only on pistillate trees) is a reddish to black follicle up to 5 mm in diameter, subglobose, appearing wrinkled and/or pitted, and sessile or nearly so. [Description based on Weakly, et al. 2012]
Native ranges: Z. americanum prefers moist but well-drained, rocky, open woodlands and tolerates alkaline soils. It is found predominantly in the areas on the southern edge of the Great Lakes, extending as far east as New England, as far north as Ontario and Quebec, as far south as Oklahoma and Georgia (sparsely), as far west as the Dakotas and Kansas. Z. clava-herculis prefers maritime forests and dune scrub (and occasionally grows on shell middens) in sandy soils. It grows along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts as far north as Virginia and Arkansas, as far south as Florida, and as far west as Texas.
Botanical Description (Z. americanum): Northern prickly ash grows as a tall shrub to short tree (3–6 m), often forming thickets. The crowns of the tree branch extensively. All parts of the tree (leaves, bark, fruit) are strongly aromatic when cut. The main stem bark is generally smooth and gray to brown in color, which that on branches is more reddish-brown to gray, and is pubescent on new growth. Most trees will have pair spines 5–15 mm long at intervals along the bark. The deciduous, pinnately-compound leaves (bearing 5–11 leaflets) are alternate, dull green above (paler below), elliptic to oblong-ovate, up to 7.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, initially pubescent but becoming smooth with age, with veins sunken into the leaf and crenate or entire margins. The midveins are indeed in the middle of the leaflets. The leaflet apex is obtuse and the base asymmetrical. The terminal leaflet is borne on a short petiole while lateral leaflets are sessile; the rachis holding all these is pubescent (but as is common with this species, becoming smooth with age). The inflorescence is an axillary cyme containing multiple tiny yellow-green to greenish flowers, with hairy pedicels, no sepals, 5 petals with rounded apices, 5 exserted stamens, 2–5 pistils (with slender styles and 2 ovules), generally appearing in April and May (appearing before the leaves). The fruit is a strong-smelling, greenish to red-brown follicle 4–5 mm long, subglobose to ellipsoid in shape, with a pitted surface, bearing 1–2 seeds, generally ripe by July to September.[Description based on the University of Oklahoma, accessed 2 August 2000]
Botanical Description (Z. clava-herculis): Southern prickly ash is a dioecious shrub/tree grows initially to as much as 10 m (rarely 16 m), then often settles into a shorter height when fully mature, usually growing in thickets. All parts of the tree (leaves, bark, fruit) are strongly aromatic when cut. The bark is generally gray and is armed with paired spines extending from protuberances. It has pinnately-compound leaves (with 5–19 leaflets), each leaflet up to 7 cm long, lancoleate to ovate-lanceolate, smooth, leathery and shiny green above (dull green below), with finely toothed margins. The midveins are not centrally located (unlike in Z. americanum) but instead are closer to the lower leaf margins. The always-smooth leaflets are borne on short petiolules, to 3 mm long. The inflorescence is a compound, axillary cyme with many small yellow-green flowers (at most 8 mm wide), with five sepals, 5 petals, 5 stamens (on staminate trees) or 2 or 3 pistils (on pistillate trees). The fruit (found only on pistillate trees) is a reddish to black follicle up to 5 mm in diameter, subglobose, appearing wrinkled and/or pitted, and sessile or nearly so. [Description based on Weakly, et al. 2012]
Native ranges: Z. americanum prefers moist but well-drained, rocky, open woodlands and tolerates alkaline soils. It is found predominantly in the areas on the southern edge of the Great Lakes, extending as far east as New England, as far north as Ontario and Quebec, as far south as Oklahoma and Georgia (sparsely), as far west as the Dakotas and Kansas. Z. clava-herculis prefers maritime forests and dune scrub (and occasionally grows on shell middens) in sandy soils. It grows along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts as far north as Virginia and Arkansas, as far south as Florida, and as far west as Texas.
Native range of Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
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Native range of Zanthoxylum americanum
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Harvest, Cultivation, and Ecology
Cultivation: There is no known cultivation of these species.
Wildcrafting: Essentially all commercial material comes from the wild. Only branch bark should be harvested to help sustain both species.
Ecological Status: Both species have suffered habitat loss but are not considered threatened. Neither is a major herb of commerce. The more widespread Z. americanum should probably be favored as medicine for sustainability reasons.
Wildcrafting: Essentially all commercial material comes from the wild. Only branch bark should be harvested to help sustain both species.
Ecological Status: Both species have suffered habitat loss but are not considered threatened. Neither is a major herb of commerce. The more widespread Z. americanum should probably be favored as medicine for sustainability reasons.
References
Bafi-Yeboa NF, Arnason JT, Baker J, Smith ML (2005) " Antifungal constituents of northern prickly ash, Zanthoxylum americanum Mill" Phytomedicine 12(5):370–7.
Brinker F (1996) "The Hoxsey treatment: Cancer quackery or effective physiological adjuvant?" J Naturopathic Med 6:9–24.
Colby B (1846) A Guide to Health, Being an Exposition of the Thomsonian System of Practice (Milford, NH: John Burns).
Cushman M, et al. (1984) "Synthesis and biological activity of structural analogues of the anticancer benzophenanthridine alkaloid nitidine chloride" J Med Chem 27:544–547.
Felter HW (1922) Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, reprinted 1998).
Felter HW, Lloyd JU (1898) King's American Dispensatory 18th ed (reprinted 1983, Portland OR: Eclectic Medical Publications)
Goodman CD, Hoang AT, Diallo D, et al. (2019) "Anti-plasmodial Effects of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides" Planta Med 85(13):1073–9.
Shibata C, Sasaki I, Naito H, et al. (1999) "The herbal medicine dai-kenchu-tou stimulates upper gut motility through cholinergic and 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptors in conscious dogs" Surgery 126(5):918–24.
Veda Priya G, MallikarjunaRao T, Ganga Rao B (2017) Antibacterial activity of Saponaria officinalis and Zanthoxylum aramatum" Int J Pharmacol Toxicol 5(1):1–4.
Wang M (1981) "Isolation of anticancer alkaloids from Zanthoxylum nitidum and structure of its alkaloid c" Yao Hsueh Tung Pao 16(2):48 [in Chinese].
Weakly AS, Ludwig JC, Townsend JF, Crowder B (2012) Flora of Virginia (Ft Worth, TX: BRIT Press).
Brinker F (1996) "The Hoxsey treatment: Cancer quackery or effective physiological adjuvant?" J Naturopathic Med 6:9–24.
Colby B (1846) A Guide to Health, Being an Exposition of the Thomsonian System of Practice (Milford, NH: John Burns).
Cushman M, et al. (1984) "Synthesis and biological activity of structural analogues of the anticancer benzophenanthridine alkaloid nitidine chloride" J Med Chem 27:544–547.
Felter HW (1922) Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, reprinted 1998).
Felter HW, Lloyd JU (1898) King's American Dispensatory 18th ed (reprinted 1983, Portland OR: Eclectic Medical Publications)
Goodman CD, Hoang AT, Diallo D, et al. (2019) "Anti-plasmodial Effects of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides" Planta Med 85(13):1073–9.
Shibata C, Sasaki I, Naito H, et al. (1999) "The herbal medicine dai-kenchu-tou stimulates upper gut motility through cholinergic and 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptors in conscious dogs" Surgery 126(5):918–24.
Veda Priya G, MallikarjunaRao T, Ganga Rao B (2017) Antibacterial activity of Saponaria officinalis and Zanthoxylum aramatum" Int J Pharmacol Toxicol 5(1):1–4.
Wang M (1981) "Isolation of anticancer alkaloids from Zanthoxylum nitidum and structure of its alkaloid c" Yao Hsueh Tung Pao 16(2):48 [in Chinese].
Weakly AS, Ludwig JC, Townsend JF, Crowder B (2012) Flora of Virginia (Ft Worth, TX: BRIT Press).