Western Cedar - Thuja Plicata/Occidentalis

Western Cedar - Thuja plicata or occidentalis in the Pinaceae or Pine family

Part used: Scales.

Taste/smell: Aromatic, slight bitterness.

Tendencies: Drying.

Dosage: 1:0.9 fresh strength liquid extract: 10-30 drops 1-4 times per day in a little water.

Mental picture and specific indications: The person is sensitive, fixed ideas, insomnia, muscular twitching, weakness, lack of appetite and feels as if soul and body are separated. Symptoms are worse at night, with ingestion of fat and coffee and from cold damp air. There is a tendency to warty or other viral-related conditions. It is indicated for lymphatic congestion due to systemic infections. Moist skin eruptions and discharges are common. There is often a history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Use: (a) Antiviral, (b) Antifungal, (c) Antibacterial.

In small doses it stimulates the kidneys and lungs. In large doses, it becomes irritating to these organs as well as the digestive system. Cedar is commonly used externally and in small doses internally for warts, including HPV. It is useful for urinary incontinence, nocturnal enuresis in children and respiratory and urinary tract infections.

Contraindications: The constituent, of Cedar called thujone, can cause vomiting, stomach and intestinal cramps, retention of urine, and in serious cases, renal damage, vertigo, tremors, and convulsions. Beta-thujone has been shown to be a neurotoxin in animals, but has not been studied in humans. It may lend Cedar to being toxic, especially in larger doses or chronic use. Short term use of herbs containing thujone are generally considered to be safe. Thujone is alcohol soluble, so water extracts contain less of it. Cedar is contraindicated in pregnancy.

If you are looking for directions on making teas or tinctures, please see our "Making Herbal Products" page.

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Copyright 1999 by Sharol Tilgner, N.D. (ISBN 1-881517-02-0) - all rights reserved.