Red Alder (Alnus rubra)
by Lara Pacheco
Family- Betulaceae
Other Names- pʰil skin-stik
Description/Taxonomy:
A broadleaf tree that loses its leaves in the fall, native to the Northwestern pacific rim region of Turtle Island, “North America”, Red Alder is fast growing and the largest Alder in North America. The red alder typically grows to between 70 - 120 feet in height. The tallest recorded Red Alder (in western science) was identified in 1979 in Clatsop, Oregon. Red alder is monoecious, or having separate male and female flowers on the same individual. (The Latin and Greek roots of monoecious are one house, and in botany it means that the male and female reproductive organs grow on the same plant. To me it shows the continuity of possibilities that exist in nature, and the way that nature cannot be boxed in). Dangling male and female catkins (catkin being the flower cluster type common to the birch, or Betulaceae, family) sprout from the previous year’s growth right before leaves emerge in the Spring. Male catkins can reach up to 5 inches long while female catkins are smaller and grow up to ¾ inch and remain on the tree throughout the year. The seeds are food to many woodland creatures, and the bark is home to many mosses and lichens with splotches of white.
Lara Pacheco with Red Alder
Red alder is the scab that forms over the scars of the forest, repairing the land. Red Alder sprouts readily in disturbed soils; for example after a fire, landslide, or logging. The tree, although often maligned by the logging industry as a ‘weed’, is actually a vital early successional ecosystem partner. The roots have nodules that contain symbiotic bacteria which are able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. This nitrogen fixing action returns nitrogen to the soil and provides fertility to later successional forest types. The seeds are spread widely by wind. Red Alder is the healer of the land.
History, Ethnobotany, and Folklore:
pʰil skin-stik was second to Red Cedar in use of woodwork for the Indigenous people of the PNW. Wood was used for dishes, spoons, masks and most revered in its use for smoking Salmon. The pʰil, a Chinook Wawa (chinook jargon) word refers to red dye derived from the trees bark, and which was used for dying fishnets so that they were less noticed by fish. The bark was also decocted to make a wash for preventing infection in cuts.
Cultivation and Harvest:
Spring, the season of upward and outward movement is the ideal time to gather Red Alder. When the sap is running from the roots up through the inner bark, or cambium, to nourish the budding process the moistened bark can be easily peeled from the inner wood. The medicine is in the sap, and the bark is collected for extraction. There’s no reason to harvest from a standing tree. Since the tree is naturally short lived (usually between 60 - 70 years), in the Spring storms will have knocked down branches or occasionally entire trees, that can be harvested. Look for branches that still have live buds. As soon as the branch is stripped, you’ll see how the inner bark turns red and understand how many of the Indigenous ancestors of the PNW like the Chinook, Cowlitz, and Salish had referred to it for the coloring used in dyeing.
This tree has much to teach us in its role in tending disturbed land, giving back again and again through it’s nitrogen rich roots, and doing it in its short life span. pʰil skin-stik grows fast and lives shortly coming in after a disturbance in the forest preparing the earth for longer lived conifers. The roots also have a symbiotic relationship with rhizobacteria, a nitrogen fixing bacteria that captures, or fixes, nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available to the tree and surrounding organisms. The nitrogen-fixing bacteria also eats, in a way, at nutrients and minerals that are locked in bedrock. This process allows for a rock to slowly disintegrate while it releases more minerals and nutrients that feed the growth of surrounding life. In fact, the red sap from the bark is due to the nitrogen fixing bacteria. If you looked at the root nodules (you can do this with a legume plant that also has is symbiotic with rhizobacteria) they will appear red, this coloration is caused by leghemoglobin (similar to hemoglobin in blood) that controls oxygen flow to the bacteria. The Red Alder contains the blood of the forest.
Parts Used: Bark, Catkins, Leaves
Herbal Actions:
Bark, Catkins, Cones, Leaves- Astringent, bitter, stimulant, relaxant, diuretic, vulnerary, emetic,
Constituents: Salicin, terpenoids, flavonoids, diarylheptanoids, phenols, steroids, tannins
Energetics and Taste: Drying, Cooling, Stimulating, Bitter
Organs Affected:
Gastrointestinal- With its astringent properties that tonify tissue, Alnus is helpful in tightening, toning and soothing inflammation in the GI tract. Its bitter action also helps stimulate bile thereby supporting digestion especially fats and assimilating food properly. Also digestive system is supported through peristalsis and passing of stools in the case of person having constipation
Skin- Any type of skin irritation or inflammation is aided by the use of the inner bark to alleviate symptoms. Also in any concern of infection, the bark can also be utilized preventatively or proactively.
Lymphatic- This system supports immune cells that are within Lymph tissue as well as helping to expel and remove waste from lymph nodes especially when enlarged due to immune activity because of a perceived pathogen.
Hepatic- of altan (obtained on the basis of ellagitannines from the cones of black alder A. glutinosa) on the model of acute liver damage induced with tetrachloromethane.
Immune- There has been reductionistic, biochemical research on chemical compounds like betulin that have anti-tumor actions, and hirsutenone has inhibitory action on mast cell activity which affects any allergy outbreak say hayfever to dermatitis. Also platyphyllone, another chemical compound hard to pronounce has shown action against influenza from the bark of a Alnus japonica species. These tend to be what is derived into pharmaceuticals. What is lost, I believe, is the inherently wise energetics of a tree bark in collaboration with whatever mechanism the medicine is derived from the inherent complexity of our bodies that provide the immune system what it may need in a hyperactive state (allergies) or hypo (infection).
Medicinal Use:
Much is stirred up in me when I sit with the medicine of pʰil skin-stik. Water. Everything from that tree, to me, speaks and evokes the element of water. Most commonly you’ll find Red Alder wherever there is a river or stream. pʰil skin-stik even keeps durable as wood under water and thereby understanding its uses by our first nation siblings in canoes. On a historical analysis of forestry and Red Alder, a forrester had a counter narrative to the dominant belief by the settler mentality of determining a trees worth only in cash value, by noting Alder’s role in a complex ecosystem. He noted that trout preferred ‘pools in which the mineral waters have been cooled and “toned” by alder’s presence.” (Kellogg 1882). This observation captures Red Alder’s energetics, which we’ll explore in a bit.
I see Alnus rubra’s action by working with the inner waters of our body vis a vi the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system, although connected to the circulatory system, does not move by our heart’s pumping action, but rather it does this passively moving between our lymph nodes, ducts and vessels and assisting with the movement of immune cells, proteins, excess interstitial fluid and waste. The lymphatic system also absorbs fat and fat soluble vitamins from the digestive system and then back into our circulatory system. We can support movement within this system by actual physical movement, massage, and working with herbs that support that process. This is all to say that pʰil skin-stik acts like the lymphatic system for surrounding ecosystem just as it does inwardly in our bodies all through water. Even the color from the bark reminds us of this inner-connected system that resides deeply within us and provides vital function when we may easily forget.
Alder holds the two elemental worlds of water and earth, like the blood. The astringency from the tannins in the bark tighten and tone anything from skin to digestive and lymphatic tissue. Yet the stimulation from the Alder come from the bitter properties supporting bile and releasing necessary fluids within the body.
Specific Indication-
The person with a ruddy, red complexion of eczema or any type of skin inflammation. This person’s digestion would have bloating with IBS symptoms alternating between constipation and diarrhea with a poor digestion of fat indicated by sticky, floating stools.
Allies:
Oregon Grape- useful in approach to addressing digestive support especially in context of Liver and Bitter actions. Also helpful in cases of addressing infections. An alcohol tincture of these two combined was given in the case of someone having an oral, gum infection. Person used it as a gargle and also taken internally and infection went away within the next day.
Red Root- useful in approach to addressing the lymphatic system especially in the case where a person has swollen lymph nodes and is fighting a infection. Also useful for digestion of heavy fats and dairy rich food. Also these two are great for sore throat at the onset of a cold.
Calendula- These two topically support healing skin tissue and can also combat infections. Internally, the two of them can cooperatively support moving the action of the lymphatic system. If you can grow Calendula in your garden then allow it to self seed. Finally, Calendula can support the action of Red Alder through the digestive system as Calendula is a bitter and also as a liver alterative, thereby digesting fats and assisting the assimilation of nutrients from food into the body.
Chickweed- For a more gentle support of moving the Lymph, this is a nice combination since Chickweed is gentle and very nutrient dense. This method, I’d recommend having a tincture of Red Alder while also drinking a tea infusion of Chickweed 1x a day
Dosage and Method of Delivery:
Compress- This is where you can take dried bark, catkins and make a decoction and use a blend of the plant material with the tea to use topically on any type of redness, inflammation of the skin and/or skin present with infection.
Oil- Use of an oil made with dried bark or catkins to use on any redness, inflammation present on the skin that can be indicated in cases of psiorisis, eczema, rashes of unknown origin.
Tea- Decoction would be stronger and used as a gargle in cases of tonsilitis, sore throat, strep. Tea made from fresh bark can be emetic. Drink internally up to 4 ounces frequency depends on context of imbalance.
Tincture- 75% Alcohol, 25% distilled water from fresh bark, catkins and 50% alcohol and 50% Distilled Water for Dried bark, catkins. Up to 35 drops 2-4x a day.
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Lara Pacheco is a Taíno, Boricua Latinx mamita that believes that our collective liberation is accessed through decolonizing ourselves by weaving into the web of ancestral medicine. Lara directly works through this realm with plants, fungi, music and dance. When not caring for their family, land and all creatures, lara runs seed and thistle apothecary, an educational resource, and co runs the seasonal wellness clinic that works to provide access to herbal medicine and massage for marginalized communities and brown girl rise, a youth empowerment program for young femmes of color.
Resources:
All the Indigenous people of Turtle Island that worked with this different species of this tree intimately of which most of this information was taken.
Felter, H.W. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Eclectic Medical Publications. 1922.
Oregon State University. "Nitrogen-fixing trees 'eat' rocks, play pivotal role in forest health." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 February 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20>
Deal, Robert L.; Harrington, Constance A., eds. Red Alder: A State of Knowledge. 2006. GNW-GTR-669. https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr669.pdf
Kloos, Scott. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and use 120 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness. Timber Press Inc. 2017.
Sati, Nitin, et al. “Bioactive constituents and medicinal importance of genus Alnus,” Pharmacognosy Review, vol. 5, no. 10, 2011 Jul-Dec, pp. 174-183. NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263052/
“Red Alder.” Plants Database, USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_alru2.pdf
