The Medicinal Uses of Chokecherry

Among my husband's family, the chokecherry is almost as revered as sagebrush.  (Other than this little bit of quirkiness, the family really is pretty normal.)  I could understand if it was blackberries or raspberries, but chokecherries?  Those little chokecherries come by their name honestly.  While the color is beautiful, the flavor leaves something to be desired, in my opinion.  As a food, it doesn't make it into my top 10 list.  Not even the top 100.  Probably not the top 1000, either.

But as medicine?  Well, now we can talk.

Chokecherries are found in the mountains, most often near streams, but they can be cultivated as well.  In addition to using chokecherries for food, Native Americans used the bark medicinally for treating a number of conditions. 

All preparations of the medicine begin with gathering the chokecherry bark.  Collect young secondary branches without any older, fissured bark.  Remove and discard the smaller twigs and leaves.  Also remove the outer bark.  Use a vegetable peeler to peel off strips of the inner bark.  It should have an aroma of cherries or almonds.  If it doesn't it has no medicinal value.  The bark needs to be dried immediately.  The shelf life of the dried bark is about one year.

The bark is prepared into medicine in a few ways.

Cold infusion:  This is one of the few herbs that are prepared without hot water.  Put one teaspoon of dried chokecherry bark in a tea ball and let it soak for one hour.

Tincture:  Tincture dried chokecherry bark in vodka and glycerin.  Use 30-60 drops 2-3 times per day.

Syrup:  Make a syrup.  Take 1-2 teaspoons, 2-3 times per day.

These chokecherry preparations are most commonly used for treating coughs, especially dry, irritated coughs associated with bronchitis, influenza, or asthma, and particularly when associated with rapid respiration, rapid pulse, and/or fever.  It's also excellent for treating pneumonia accompanied by sweating.  And it safe for children to use.

These preparations are also used for treating gastrointestinal issues including gastritis, ulcers, colitis, diarrhea, and dysentery.

Native Americans employed chokecherry to relieve the pain of labor and delivery associated with childbirth.  It has also been used with some success to reduce prostate inflammation.

Chokecherry preparations work well with other herbs such as mullein, mallow, and licorice to suppress coughs even better.

Toxicity:  Myths abound regarding the toxicity of chokecherry.  While occasionally fatal in livestock that consume enormous quantities of the leaves, people don't eat the leaves or large quantities of the seeds.  Eating too much raw fruit can cause nausea and vomiting.  Cooking the fruit into jams, syrups, or puddings or drying the fruit in the sun denatures the toxins.  

References:
Charles Kane, Western Medicinal Plants
https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/native-american-student-proves-traditional-chokecherry-pudding-is-medicine-EJhvQ6QQLU6k_vs6AssnrQ