Sumach

Sumach

 Latin: Rhus aromatica/glabra

 TCM:  Wu Bei Zi is Rhus Chinensis

“Sumac (Rhus glabra) … is important as a healing agent due to its ability to cause local inflammation by contact with it, thus drawing blood to the area.”

 (Robert Thomson, in “The Grosset Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine” (1980))

It is a “stimulating and tonic diuretic” (Menzies-Trull in "The Herbalist's Prescriber")

“Sweet Sumach is a useful astringent that is especially indicated in the treatment of urinary incontinence … [it] has a reputation for being able to reduce blood sugar …[but this is] open to debate.” (David Hoffman in “The New Holistic Herbal”).

“Wu Bei Zi (Rhus Chinensis) … gallnut of Chinese sumac … sour, salty, cold … contains … binds up … preserves … restrains … absorbs.” Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, in “Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica”