Uses Of Hydrangea

 

Hydrangea has been used for hundreds of years as a treatment for enlarged or inflamed prostate glands, and is often combined with Horsetail for this purpose. It is one of the best herbal remedies for treatment of pain related to kidney problems, especially kidney stones, by reducing the size of the stones and allowing them to pass painlessly. It is believed to be of general benefit for overall kidney and bladder function, thereby benefiting many who suffer from general urinary tract problems and infections.

Dried/ Preserved Hydrangea

The dried flowers of Bigleaf Hydrangeas are favorites of florists

Medicinal Uses of Hydrangea

The name hydrangea comes from the Greek word meaning water vessel, very appropriate due to its action on our water processing organs. Hydrangea is indigenous to the United States where it grows from New York to Florida and then west to Iowa and Oklahoma. Several varieties of hydrangea are cultivated around the world to adorn gardens with their splendor,                                          

such as Hydrangea hortensis. This variety is native to North America, although it is widely found in gardens in China and Japan for its aesthetic beauty. Hydrangea macrophylla is of Asian origin and is used medicinally. The Cherokee Indians used hydrangea for kidney and bladder stones and introduced it to the early settlers. It became very popular with the eclectic American herbalists of the 19th century.                                           

The root is the part of the Hydrangea plant that is used internally for medicinal purposes, and fresh root can be dug in the fall and used as a syrup with honey and sugar, or simply steeped in water and drunk as a tea. The root becomes quite hard and difficult to work with once harvested, so cut into pieces and dry for long-term use.

Externally, Hydrangea bark can be peeled and used as a compress or ointment for treatment of bruises, burns, sprains, and sore muscles.

Scientific Name: Hydrangea arborescens

Part used: Bark

Uses: Prostate

Prostatitis, in many ways, is a mystery to health care practitioners. We know that prostatitis starts with a bacterial infection. Bacteria take up residence in the prostate and as it proliferates, the person possessing the infected prostate becomes aware of a problem. The person with an infected prostate gland very quickly appears at the general practitioner’s surgery demanding treatment. They are given antibiotics to kill the bacteria.

It is at this point in the story things become mysterious. Even after the bacteria have been killed, or should have been killed, the sensations and discomfort continue. Course after course of antibiotic are used and still there is a constant desire to urinate and a long list of unpleasant sensations issue from below the belt. Some health care practitioners feel that the problem is that the antibiotics cannot get into the prostate and completely clear the infection. Other practitioners feel that the bacteria are actually gone but the nerves have been affected so that the sensations remain. No one really has an answer to this riddle, but the fact remains many people, despite having been treated with many courses of antibiotics, continue to suffer with prostatitis.

This is very much where wild hydrangea comes in. Though the scientific community may not know what the problem really is, the patient will tell you there is something wrong. Wild hydrangea, according to the physicians of the last century, was a tonic to the entire genito-urinary system, which includes the prostate. Tonics were medicinal plants that were seen to generally improve the health of a part, in this case the prostate. The doctors of the day did not entirely understand how tonics worked, but they observed that when they were used, the health of the lungs, the stomach, or the prostate was improved. Someone with prostatitis is in need of a prostate tonic which is exactly what they get with wild hydrangea.

Beyond this tonic activity, prostatitis is very much about unpleasant sensations and discomfort. Wild hydrangea is very specifically active in reducing unpleasant sensations issuing from the urinary tract, whether due to a stone or prostatitis.

Most of hydrangea’s health benefits come from the root, which is usually collected in the fall. The most common use for hydrangea is for the kidneys and bladder because of its effective diuretic quality which helps increase the flow of urine. This takes impurities out of the system and lessens the likelihood of infection along the entire urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, prostate (in men) and urethra. Diuretic herbs like hydrangea are a helpful addition to cleansing programs to assist in the elimination of toxins.

Hydrangea is considered an anti-lithic herb, which prevents stones or gravel from forming in the kidneys and bladder. Anti-lithic herbs can also assist the body in removing stones and gravel from these organs. This was a significant use of hydrangea by Native Americans.

Like most diuretic herbs, hydrangea is an excellent choice for treating inflamed or enlarged prostate glands. It is commonly combined with horsetail for this purpose. Maintaining healthy urine flow keeps the prostate less likely to constrict around the urethra, which prevents stagnant urine from causing more infection. This can also reduce inflammation by eliminating impurities from the prostate.

This wonderful herb is also known to be a tonic, as it produces a healthy reaction from the kidneys and bladder so that they can function better. When an organ works more efficiently, there is less strain on the entire system so that the rest of the body is rejuvenated.

Other uses for hydrangea include its diaphoretic properties (promoting perspiration and cooling the body) and its influence on the circulatory system. The bark was used by the American Indians externally for wounds, burns, sore muscles and sprains.

Hydrangea is found in herbal combinations and tinctures and is a welcome addition to any herbal program that addresses cleansing, elimination or general conditioning. It is an outstanding herb for those concerned with kidney, bladder, prostate and general urinary tract health. This simple herb can be a major benefit to both your body and your garden.