Everything you need to know about cramp bark: identification, harvest and tincture making

[@naomilee9866]

Hoping to meet a local cramp bark tree friend some day soon- maybe this weekend when I make a trek out into the woods I grew up in. I see the Hildegard shirt!!

[@BackcountryHerbalist]

good eye! Gotta represent. Hope you find a nice big patch that need tending. Some of them can get so tangled!

[@Arboreal_Fungi]

Great tutorial and thanks! I'm curious which species was formulated in this way first. Judging from early colonial accounts of indigenous cultures in Canada, it's very likely the American (V. trilobum). I think because V. trilobum was formerly lumped in with V. opulus in older floras and herbals, many now assume the European was the original cramp bark and even sell it as such. It may also be the case that both are since they do share much in common. There's also 2 Asian relatives in the Opulus section: V. koreanum and V. sargentii. Perhaps those are worked with in similar ways, but the sources are hard to find in English.

[@BackcountryHerbalist]

Interesting question- I am assuming they both came to use separately. I’d be curious to compare their uses on both continents (and the Asian species too) to see what the differences are. Any sources you recommend? Always more research to do!

[@BackcountryHerbalist]

Also which source do you mean when you say opulus section. I would like to take a look 👀

[@Arboreal_Fungi]

@@BackcountryHerbalist I'm referencing genetic studies that subdivide a diverse and complex genus into sections which group species more closely related. Quercus and Pinus, for example, are divided into several sections with more familiar common names like the white oak group and red oak group. Here's a link for Viburnum: donoghuelab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/150_winkworth_ajb05.pdf

[@BackcountryHerbalist]

Awesome thanks!