what is staghorn sumac used for

Staghorn Sumac: Herbal Remedy for Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Colitis

• Stalking Sumac in Ontario. Staghorn sumac is very common throughout most of Ontario. ...
• Sumac Medicine. I use staghorn sumac exclusively because it is the most common species in our area. ...
• Preparation and Dosages (Sumac Sun Tea) The berries can be used fresh or dried and drank as a sun tea or a hot tea, or made into a tincture.
• Topical Uses of Sumac. ...

Full Answer

How do you use staghorn sumac fruit?

Staghorn sumac fruits can be used to prepare lemonade, all that has to be done is to prepare a decoction from the fruits. The tangy, acidic taste gave the tree its other common name: the vinegar tree. Its fruits contain high doses of vitamin C and tannin compounds. Is staghorn sumac poisonous?

What are the health benefits of staghorn sumac?

Aside from the ones previously mentioned, staghorn sumac can be useful in treating hemorrhaging, burns, loss of appetite, poison ivy, and overall good health. Since staghorn sumac is so high in antioxidants, it is a great thing to add to your diet. In many Mediterranean foods, they use sumac as a spice.

What is staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)?

Common to much of Michigan, the Great Lakes region and New England, Staghorn Sumac (rhus typhina) is easily identified by its fuzzy compound leaves and cone-shaped cluster of red berries. See our article on Staghorn sumac for more information. Rhus typhina, Staghorn Sumac fruit cluster (Photo By: Rasbak / Wikimedia Commons)

What are the medicinal uses of sumac?

Here are some of the medicinal uses for sumac: Make an infusion or tincture from bark, leaves, or fruit and use it as a wash to stop excessive bleeding after childbirth and during menstruation. An infusion or tincture from bark, leaves, or fruit can be applied externally as a wash for weeping sores or skin irritations.

What are the benefits of staghorn sumac?

Staghorn Sumac Health Benefits Native Americans used Sumac to treat colds, sore throats, fever, infections, diarrhea, dysentery and scurvy. Sumac has also been used to treat asthma and cold sores. It also lowers blood sugar, as it has hypoglycemic properties and can aid in diabetes management.

What can you do with staghorn sumac?

Cooking with Sumac These berries are also used as a salad topping, and you can include them in your favorite dressings. Middle Eastern chefs use sumac as a topping for fattoush salad, and are often sprinkled on hummus to add both color and a zesty flavor.

What are the health benefits of sumac?

Various scientific studies demonstrated that Sumac had a free oxygen radical-scavenging effect, a protective effect against liver damage, antihemolytic, leukopenia, and antifibrogenic effects, along with its antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

Is staghorn sumac poisonous?

Yes, there is poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix), which will definitely cause a rash that is worse than poison ivy (poison sumac is found only in swamps). But staghorn sumac is not poisonous. If fact, it is rich in its contributions to the environment.

Can you smoke staghorn sumac?

0:281:54Bushcraft smokable plant sumac - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo smooth sumac and staghorn sumac can be used for that as well it's a smokeable plan just waitMoreSo smooth sumac and staghorn sumac can be used for that as well it's a smokeable plan just wait until they turn red.

How do you make staghorn sumac tea?

Making sumac teaPick several clusters of berries for use. ... Soak the berry clusters in a pitcher of cold water over night or longer to enhance the flavor. ... Next, strain the tea through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to remove the berries and particles from the fruit so all you are left with is the tea.Enjoy!

Is sumac good for blood pressure?

Our clinical trial study suggests that sumac powder may be a suitable choice for reducing blood pressure, serum liver enzymes and steatosis in individuals with NAFLD. Also, it can improve lipid profile.

Is sumac a Superfood?

Meet Sumac, the Superfood Spice That'll Help You Fight Inflammation—and Bland Food—for Good.

Is sumac poisonous to humans?

All parts of a poison sumac plant are poisonous and the oils remain active even after the plant dies. Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Some people are more sensitive to the plants and will have harsher symptoms.

What is the difference between poison sumac and staghorn sumac?

The leaflets of poison sumac have smooth margins; those of staghorn sumac are toothed. A staghorn sumac leaf will have at least 9 leaflets on it (up to 31). A poison sumac leaf will have at most around 13 leaflets (usually fewer). The twigs on poison sumac are smooth; those on staghorn sumac are covered in tiny hairs.

Can you eat sumac raw?

Food Use. The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries. These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they're most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. Sumac-ade is best when sweetened with maple sugar and can be served hot or cold (Moerman 1998: 471-473).

Is sumac Wood OK to burn?

Watch out for any wood covered with vines. Burning poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or pretty much anything else with "poison" in the name releases the irritant oil urushiol into the smoke. Breathing it in can cause lung irritation and severe allergic respiratory problems, the Centers for Disease Control state.

What parts of staghorn sumac are edible?

Yes, you can eat both the young shoots and the berries of staghorn sumac. The young peeled, first-year shoots from old stumps, are best, but springtime tips of old branches are also good. Examine the ends of shoots to determine whether they're edible. If you see a pith, which is an off-white core, it's too old.

What does staghorn sumac taste like?

So now that you've harvested a few staghorn sumac “fruits,” how do you process them into food? What is this? It's actually the red velvet on the outside of the sumac berries that's the tasty part. It has a wonderful sweet/tart citrus taste, that some liken to strawberry lemonade.

How do you preserve staghorn sumac?

When you can't stand it any longer, harvest your sumac by cutting off whole cones where their stems join the branch. Cones can be dried by placing them in a paper bag and hanging them somewhere dark and dry for 2 – 4 weeks. Or, break apart the cones and dry them at 95F in your dehydrator.

Can you eat sumac raw?

Food Use. The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries. These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they're most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. Sumac-ade is best when sweetened with maple sugar and can be served hot or cold (Moerman 1998: 471-473).

Why is staghorn sumac so hard to find?

One of the reasons I had such a hard time finding staghorn sumac is that all the descriptions I read of the plant’s fruit and growth habit were absolutely useless. By some definition, it does have bright red “fruit” covered in fuzz, but more practically speaking the “fruits” are just clusters of seeds. Think of it more like the seedhead on millet or sorghum, but tightly packed and tapering to a point at the top.

What is sumac used for?

I’ve seen a few sources that claim sumac was used by Native Americans to make cough syrup, and that a sumac infusion was gargled for sore throats. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, which would support its use for coughs and other illness.

How tall is a staghorn sumac tree?

They’re usually somewhere between 8 and 20 feet tall.

Where does Staghorn Sumac grow?

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) grows just about anywhere and everywhere all across the eastern part of the United States.

When to harvest staghorn sumac?

The only time it’s tricky to harvest staghorn sumac is in the late spring, when the old pods have begun to degrade and the new ones are still too green to harvest. You’ll often see the last remnants of last years pods picked over by the early spring birds.

How tall are acorns?

They’re usually somewhere between 8 and 20 feet tall. The leaf stalks reaching out from the main branches are large, around 2 feet long, and individual leaves coming out in matched pairs all the way down the stalk. In botany speak, they’re pinnately compound, with each leaflet lanceolate and serrate.

Can you forage sumac in Vermont?

Nonetheless, they’re one of the wild edibles that can be foraged all winter long if you choose. Even when it’s -20 here in a Vermont January, there’s still sumac a plenty, much of it still bright and almost good as new.

What is staghorn sumac?

Staghorn Sumac Health Benefits. Sumac is an ancient medicinal plant with antioxidant properties, and significant levels of Vitamin C. Native Americans used Sumac to treat colds, sore throats, fever, infections, diarrhea, dysentery and scurvy. Sumac has also been used to treat asthma and cold sores.

Where is the Staghorn Sumac tree?

The Staghorn Sumac Tree. Wild sumac is a shrub or small tree native to North America. Common to much of Michigan, the Great Lakes region and New England, Staghorn Sumac (rhus typhina) is easily identified by its fuzzy compound leaves and cone-shaped cluster of red berries.

What are ground berries used for?

It also lowers blood sugar, as it has hypoglycemic properties and can aid in diabetes management. Ground berries mixed with clay created a salve used on open wounds, and Sumac berries are also used in smokers by beekeepers. Staghorn Sumac Cautions.

Is staghorn smac edible?

The Staghorn Sumac Fruit. Despite these berries having a fuzzy look and feel, the Suma c fruit cluster is technically edible. But it is only really enjoyable when prepared properly. Sumac is used to make a drink called Indian Lemonade, referring to indigenous or Native Americans.

Can staghorn sumac cause inflammation?

Staghorn Sumac Cautions. People who have very sensitive skin or severe allergies may have an allergic reaction to Staghorn Sumac . Other plants in this family, including mangoes and cashews, can also cause irritations and inflammation.

What color are staghorn sumac leaves?

Staghorn sumac leaves will gradually shift from spring green to carmine red, with shades of daffodil yellow and lush orange.

When does staghorn sumac bloom?

Learn more about staghorn sumac. A very beautiful shrub with a spectacular summer blooming, sumac is also remarkable in fall, when its foliage rolls over to flamboyant hues before falling off. It is definitely among the most beautiful ornamental shrubs from September to December.

What is a staghorn tree?

Staghorn tree – amazing in spring, fall and winter. Staghorn sumac, also called vinegar sumac, is a short tree that grows in a roundish shape.

Is staghorn sumac invasive?

Take note, though, that staghorn sumac can turn out to be rather invasive, both because its seeds sprout easily and because its underground roots send up shoots.

Do you need gloves before pruning a staghorn sumac?

Before pruning your staghorn sumac, done gloves , because the sap is a bit sticky.

Is staghorn sumac poisonous?

While very common, staghorn sumac isn’t dangerous to most people. Other species that share common ancestors, like poison sumac ( Toxicodendron vernix, formerly Rhus vernix) and the Chinese lacquer tree ( Toxicodendron vernicifluum, formerly Rhus vernicifera) are very poisonous for most humans and pets. For those two the entire plant is poisonous, as the sap is what contains the toxic compounds.

Why is sumac tea used?

Sumac tea has been used for thousands of years for health benefits and therapeutic reasons. Research studies confirm the use of sumac for ailments such as diabetes.

What Is Sumac Tea?

Sumac is a member of the plant family, Anacardiaceae. There are over 250 types of sumac within the Anacardiaceae family.

What is the best vitamin for staghorn berries?

For starters, staghorn berries are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. In addition, there are also other antioxidants in sumac berries.

What are staghorn berries?

For starters, staghorn berries are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. In addition, there are also other antioxidants in sumac berries. There’s a long history of medicinal usage of staghorn berries. Native Americans applied cut berries topically to heal wounds.

How to make sumac tea?

First, you’ll need to either pick or buy the berries. Next, you’ll need a pitcher of cold water. Add sumac berries to the pitcher. Afterwards, use a strainer to filter out any particles from the berries.

What is the difference between poisonous staghorn berries and edible staghorn berries?

The difference between edible staghorn berries and poisonous ones is easy to distinguish. Edible berries have red cones. By comparison, the poisonous kind are white. Keep that in mind if you’re foraging for staghorn berries. Again, red berries, good. White staghorn berries, bad.

What is the name of the staghorn deer?

Yet another name for sumac is staghorn. Or, more accurately, staghorn sumac. The name staghorn derives from the velvety antler horns on stags. Stags are adult male deers.

Where does Staghorn Sumac grow?

It grows across most of eastern North America (map below) and Indigenous peoples across those territories have used it in various ways. The fuzzy red drupes and their tangy tartness have been used to make a drink not dissimilar to lemonade and drank for medicinal purposes, as sumac is high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, as well as having antifungal, anti inflammatory, and antiviral properties. The leaves are used as part of a blend of botanicals that included tobacco and were often smoked for ceremonial uses, and the roots and bark have been used as a dye.

What is the family of sumac?

The sumac that is used in the spice blend is one member of the sumac family (genus, rhus ), rhus coriraria or more commonly called European Sumac. What most commonly grows across North America is a close cousin in the sumac family, rhus typhina or more commonly called Staghorn Sumac.

Is it easier to buy sumac from the grocery store?

From a time perspective, it’s much easier and efficient to just buy sumac from the grocery store, but what harvesting your own sumac does is force you to pay attention to the places you’re in, to pay attention to the rhythm of the seasons, and to appreciate the processes and labor behind our food. It’s a small taste of a different economy of food that doesn’t rely on quickness, ease, and cost.

Can you use staghorn sumac in place of sumac?

As I began to search around, I found a few good sources that had successfully used Staghorn Sumac in place of European Sumac as a spice and I knew I had to try it.

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