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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Black haw''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| phylum = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicot|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Dipsacales]]
| familia = [[Adoxaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Viburnum]]''
| species = '''''V. prunifolium'''''
| binomial = ''Viburnum prunifolium''
| binomial_authority = [[L.]]
}}
'''Black haw''', also spelled '''blackhaw''' (''Viburnum prunifolium''), is a small [[tree]] native to southern [[North America]]. It has both value in the pleasure garden, providing good fall color and early winter provender for birds, and medicinal properties.
==Biology and taxonomy==
Black haw has the scientific name ''Viburnum prunifolium''. It was originally classified in the family [[Caprifoliaceae]]. After genetic testing by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]], the genus [[Viburnum]] was moved to the family [[Adoxaceae]].
Black haw is a small [[deciduous]] [[tree]] or [[shrub]].<ref name=encyclopedia>{{cite book|pages=279|title=The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants: A practical reference guide to more than 550 key medicinal plants and their uses|author=Andrew Chevallier|year=1996|publisher=Reader's Digest|id=ISBN 0-88850-546-9}}</ref> Like many species of ''[[Prunus]]'', it has oval [[leaf|leaves]] with serrated edges—<ref name=encyclopedia/> thus "''prunifolium''"— showy pale-colored [[flower]]s,<ref name=Castleman>{{cite book|title=The Healing Herbs|author=Michael Castleman|pages=79-81|publisher=Rodale Press|year=1991|id=ISBN 0-87858-934-6}}</ref> and dark blue-black [[berry|berries]]<ref name=encyclopedia/> that are eaten by birds. The [[bark]] is reddish-brown in color.<ref name=Castleman/> In the northern parts of its range, ''V. prunifolium'' is a shrub, becoming a small tree in the southern parts of its [[range (biology)|range]]. Wherever it lives, black haw prefers sunny [[woodland]] with well-drained soil and adequate water.<ref name=Castleman/> The tree is [[deciduous]]; its leaves turn red in fall.<ref name=Castleman/>
==Herbalism==
For centuries, black haw has been used for medical purposes, mainly for [[gynecology|gynecological]] conditions. The bark is the part of the plant used in treatments.<ref name=encyclopedia/>
===Pharmacology===
The active components include [[scopoletin]], [[aesculetin]], [[salicin]], [[1-methyl-2,3 clibutyl hemimellitate]], and [[viburnin]]. [[Tannin]] is another chemical component of black haw.<ref name=encyclopedia/>
===Medicinal uses===
[[Native Americans]] used a [[decoction]] of black haw to treat gynecological conditions, including menstrual cramps, aiding recovery after [[childbirth]], and in treating the effects of menopause.<ref name=Castleman/> As a folk remedy, black haw has been used to treat menstrual pain, and [[morning sickness]]. Due to its antispasmodic properties, the plant may also be of use in treating cramps of the digestive tract or the bile ducts.<ref name=encyclopedia/>
Black haw's primary use was to prevent [[miscarriage]]s.<ref name=encyclopedia/> [[Slavery in the United States|American slaveholders]] also used the plant to prevent [[abortion]]s. [[Slave]]s were a valuable asset, and their owner also owned their offspring, so ensuring that female slaves gave birth was of paramount importance. In defiance, some slave women would attempt to use [[cotton]] seeds to cause a miscarriage. The slaveowners would therefore force pregnant slaves to drink an infusion of black haw to prevent that.<ref name=Castleman/>
The primary use of black haw today is to prevent menstrual cramps. The salicin in black haw may also be of use in pain relief.<ref name=Castleman/>
===Safety issues===
As black haw contains [[salicin]], a chemical relative of [[aspirin]], people who are [[allergy|allergic]] to that substance should not use black haw.<ref name=encyclopedia/> In addition, due to the connection between aspirin and [[Reye's syndrome]], young people or people afflicted with a [[virus (biology)|viral disease]] should not use black haw.
The chemicals in black haw do relax the uterus and therefore probably pr
event miscarriage; however, the salicin may be [[teratogenic]]. Consequently, pregnant women should not use black haw.<ref name=Castleman/> Furthermore, anyone using herbs for medical reasons should only use them under the supervision of a qualified medical professional.
Black haw is not on the [[FDA]]'s "generally recognized as safe list".<ref name=FDA>{{cite web|title=SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE|publisher=[[Food and Drug Administration]]|work=Code of Federal Regulations - Title 21, Volume 6|date=2006-04-01|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=582&showFR=1|accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Dipsacales]]
[[Category:Trees of North America]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Black haw''
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| phylum = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicot|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Dipsacales]]
| familia = [[Adoxaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Viburnum]]''
| species = '''''V. prunifolium'''''
| binomial = ''Viburnum prunifolium''
| binomial_authority = [[L.]]
}}
'''Black haw''', also spelled '''blackhaw''' (''Viburnum prunifolium''), is a small [[tree]] native to southern [[North America]]. It has both value in the pleasure garden, providing good fall color and early winter provender for birds, and medicinal properties.
==Biology and taxonomy==
Black haw has the scientific name ''Viburnum prunifolium''. It was originally classified in the family [[Caprifoliaceae]]. After genetic testing by the [[Angiosperm Phylogeny Group]], the genus [[Viburnum]] was moved to the family [[Adoxaceae]].
Black haw is a small [[deciduous]] [[tree]] or [[shrub]].<ref name=encyclopedia>{{cite book|pages=279|title=The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants: A practical reference guide to more than 550 key medicinal plants and their uses|author=Andrew Chevallier|year=1996|publisher=Reader's Digest|id=ISBN 0-88850-546-9}}</ref> Like many species of ''[[Prunus]]'', it has oval [[leaf|leaves]] with serrated edges—<ref name=encyclopedia/> thus "''prunifolium''"— showy pale-colored [[flower]]s,<ref name=Castleman>{{cite book|title=The Healing Herbs|author=Michael Castleman|pages=79-81|publisher=Rodale Press|year=1991|id=ISBN 0-87858-934-6}}</ref> and dark blue-black [[berry|berries]]<ref name=encyclopedia/> that are eaten by birds. The [[bark]] is reddish-brown in color.<ref name=Castleman/> In the northern parts of its range, ''V. prunifolium'' is a shrub, becoming a small tree in the southern parts of its [[range (biology)|range]]. Wherever it lives, black haw prefers sunny [[woodland]] with well-drained soil and adequate water.<ref name=Castleman/> The tree is [[deciduous]]; its leaves turn red in fall.<ref name=Castleman/>
==Herbalism==
For centuries, black haw has been used for medical purposes, mainly for [[gynecology|gynecological]] conditions. The bark is the part of the plant used in treatments.<ref name=encyclopedia/>
===Pharmacology===
The active components include [[scopoletin]], [[aesculetin]], [[salicin]], [[1-methyl-2,3 clibutyl hemimellitate]], and [[viburnin]]. [[Tannin]] is another chemical component of black haw.<ref name=encyclopedia/>
===Medicinal uses===
[[Native Americans]] used a [[decoction]] of black haw to treat gynecological conditions, including menstrual cramps, aiding recovery after [[childbirth]], and in treating the effects of menopause.<ref name=Castleman/> As a folk remedy, black haw has been used to treat menstrual pain, and [[morning sickness]]. Due to its antispasmodic properties, the plant may also be of use in treating cramps of the digestive tract or the bile ducts.<ref name=encyclopedia/>
Black haw's primary use was to prevent [[miscarriage]]s.<ref name=encyclopedia/> [[Slavery in the United States|American slaveholders]] also used the plant to prevent [[abortion]]s. [[Slave]]s were a valuable asset, and their owner also owned their offspring, so ensuring that female slaves gave birth was of paramount importance. In defiance, some slave women would attempt to use [[cotton]] seeds to cause a miscarriage. The slaveowners would therefore force pregnant slaves to drink an infusion of black haw to prevent that.<ref name=Castleman/>
The primary use of black haw today is to prevent menstrual cramps. The salicin in black haw may also be of use in pain relief.<ref name=Castleman/>
===Safety issues===
As black haw contains [[salicin]], a chemical relative of [[aspirin]], people who are [[allergy|allergic]] to that substance should not use black haw.<ref name=encyclopedia/> In addition, due to the connection between aspirin and [[Reye's syndrome]], young people or people afflicted with a [[virus (biology)|viral disease]] should not use black haw.
The chemicals in black haw do relax the uterus and therefore probably pr
event miscarriage; however, the salicin may be [[teratogenic]]. Consequently, pregnant women should not use black haw.<ref name=Castleman/> Furthermore, anyone using herbs for medical reasons should only use them under the supervision of a qualified medical professional.
Black haw is not on the [[FDA]]'s "generally recognized as safe list".<ref name=FDA>{{cite web|title=SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE|publisher=[[Food and Drug Administration]]|work=Code of Federal Regulations - Title 21, Volume 6|date=2006-04-01|url=http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=582&showFR=1|accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Dipsacales]]
[[Category:Trees of North America]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]