Tincture of benzoin is also derived from the sweetgum. Leaves are 3-6” in length and width on a petiole roughly the same length, and star-shaped. 3 min read. Most people want to know how to get rid of the tree, keep it from fruiting, or if you can compost sweetgum balls. It is theoretically possible to eliminate the balls … As a monoecious plant, a sweet gum bears male and female flowers. Now, knowing all this please consider keeping that beautiful tree. It is the one of the main chemicals in Tamiflu. December 30, 2017. Posts: 89. Portable Heaters Parts So, at heart, it’s an herbal based medication! Propagation of Sweet Gum: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. The first Westerners to describe the plant were Spanish conquistadors who recorded its uses by Montezuma and the formidable Aztec empire in the 16th century. Getting back to Ashley’s question, using injections on your sweetgum tree is tricky because the timing has to be just right. It’s a primary tree, growing to heights of 60-100’. This video is about Make Money With Sweet Gum BallsE-mail: curmudgeoncalls@gmail.com I did not know about the connection with tamiflu ($125.00 for a treatment). Anything, just get rid of the darn things! The presence of shikimic acid in sweet gum is interesting, but more research is needed in order to find out whether it's important. Another of the very best bonsai trees for beginners, the Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a member of the family Altingiaceae. Sow it as early in the year as possible. Post your puzzlers and he Sweetgum. August 27, 2018. The sweetgum wood has many uses, particularly veneer, furniture, flooring, interior trim, woodenware, paper pulp and to make baskets. Sweetgum balls are anything but sweet but the prickly fruit of sweetgum trees. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Chinese Herbs 100 Sweetgum Pods, Balls, Witches Burr, Shikimic Acid at the best online prices at eBay! Sweetgum Trees are hardwood trees, and take 20-30 years to mature enough to produce the Sweetgum balls. I store them in a small metal tin; and don't leave home without it. Sweet Gum Healing. … High Frequency Hearing Loss. Using my hands, I make balls the size of hazelnut or bigger, and roll them in more powdered slippery elm so they don’t stick to each other. Chief among them, the sweet gum’s fragrant resin was used to flavor a pipe full of an unfamiliar plant called tobacco. The concentration of the chemical in sweet gum is lower than that found in some other plants. For the best chance of stopping the sweetgum balls, hire a certified arborist. ... Gum on Bark. Read on for information about composting gumballs. sweet gum balls tamiflu; Mesh networking is transforming the stadium experience 29th November 2019. Tamiflu, the drug of choice for Influenza, is made from the Star Anise plant and contains the chemical Shikimik acid. Tamiflu, or chemically said, oseltamivir phosphate, is made from the star anise tree, Illicium verum, a native of China. So would the sweetgum seed help with the flu? Come to find out, the seeds inside that sweetgum balls contain shikimic acid, which is what is needed to make the flu-fighting drug Tamiflu®. Home; Heater Parts & Accessories . They are a source of shikimic acid, which is the active ingredient in pharmaceuticals like Tamiflu®. ¿Quiénes Somos? It’s debatable, but personally, I would think probably not by itself. (she-KEE-mick or SHE-kah-mick.) Only 1 available and it's in 1 person's cart. For a New World tree, it is interesting to note its Old World connections. All rights reserved. Conócenos; Tecnología Avanzada; Staff Médico; Alta Especialización As Tamiflu® became more and more popular, the main source of shikimic acid, the star anise tree (a native of China) became scarcer and … It is a widely held belief within many Southeastern herbal communities that the infertile seeds of Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) can be tinctured in alcohol to make an at-home Tamiflu® … Among these, Wolfe’s Pond and Blue Heron parks on Staten Island are among the best. Where conditions suit it, the tree can grow to mighty dimensions: nearly 75 feet tall with a spreading canopy. While you wait, the tree has much to offer. Great Gum Balls of Acid, Batman!!! 0. sweet gum balls tamiflu. This eudicot grows mostly in woodland areas in warm temperate zones. You can read more about the specifics in Green… They can often be found in great numbers at the bases of the trees’ trunks, as well as along walking paths where they amuse or annoy dogs and their walkers, runners, picnickers and bike riders alike. “I’ll tell you what I’ve recently learned: the medication Tamiflu is made from shikimic acid, which is a derivative from star anise. Tamiflu contains other ingredients that cause it to fight off the flu. Not only are the seeds medicinal, but there are also claims that the black sap in the tree, though bitter and sour has antiseptic qualities. Shikimic acid is not a real common plant chemical, but our own sweet gum trees (balls, bark, etc.) Follow Walter. Shikimic acid. Swipe. The witches burr (also called witch balls, spike balls, and sweet gum balls) has been a very important part of American Folk magic and Hoodoo for centuries. Another of the very best bonsai trees for beginners, the Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a member of the family Altingiaceae. When cut, it exudes a sticky, resinous gum or balsam. Come to find out, the seeds inside that sweetgum balls contain shikimic acid, which is what is needed to make the flu-fighting drug Tamiflu®. So from a practical standpoint in these times, having some of this tincture around may be VERY USEFUL. Phone: 814-626-1900 Email: info@dynagloreplacementparts.com 0. [5] Germination rates are often poor. Its the fruits that I am interested in because they are a source of shikimic acid which is the active ingredient in medicines like Tamiflu®. Homeowners have had a love/hate relationship with the sweet gum tree for ages. Conócenos; Tecnología Avanzada; Staff Médico; Alta Especialización The internet is full of homegrown techniques to extract this valuable chemical from the tree’s seeds. February calendar. Liquidambar styraciflua is a large tree that is valued for its pretty leaves and hard spiky fruits. It is one source of shikimic acid from which tamiflu is made. It is the one of the main chemicals in Tamiflu. I now envy what I once had and took for granted: the explosion of color that is spring in Glen Ridge. The sweet gum grows in a long list of states, thinning to a more patchy distribution as it spreads southward into Mexico and Central America. This same acid is also found in Sweetgum tree seeds and explains why Sweetgum has always worked so well as an anti-viral. Harvest the seed capsules at the end of October or November, dry in a warm place and extract the seed by shaking the capsule. It contains shikimic acid in its infertile seeds; the same ingredient found in the Star Anise tree (which was used to create Tamiflu). Just watch where you walk. A: The spiky seed pods of the sweetgum tree are a nuisance to many gardeners. Sweet gum's indeterminate growth pattern means that even after the spring buds open, the tree grows continuously all season long, lengthening branches and adding progressively deeper-lobed leaves until cool weather slows, shrinks, and stops leaf production. I picked it up and walked around the park several times as I rolled it around in my hand, switched it to the other hand, rolled it around, and switched again. They get all over the ground, your pets can damage their paws by walking on them, you can’t walk barefoot in your plush green grass – they are just a nuisance! Leaves are 3-6” in length and width on a petiole roughly the same length, and star-shaped. name that plant. Sweet Gum is becoming well loved in the herbal community because it is known as an amazing ingredient in cold and flu formulas. It is a large tree that is dispised for its hard spiky balls. Categories . This is the starting chemical in the multi-step process used to make Tamiflu®, a drug that fights flu viruses. 10601 Theresa Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32246. Get yourself a Bag-A-Nut Sweetgum Ball machine to get those pesky gum balls off your lawn. Quite a few people have posted different methods to use/extract this acid for taking advantage of the shikimic acid. At full growth, it can reach up to 40 meters tall. © Instituto del Corazón San Pablo. Slippery elm is so safe that you can dissolve a ball in your mouth as often as you want, any time you feel any distress. The infertile seeds found in each of the sweet gum’s compound seed capsules have been found to be a good alternate source of shikimic acid, one of the main ingredients in Tamiflu. Liquidambar styraciflua is a large tree that is valued for its pretty leaves and hard spiky fruits. Well…..there are some benefits to those pesky gumballs. Chemically, it’s known as oseltamivir phosphate, and is made from the seed pods of the Chinese Star Anise tree… which happens to be a close relative of Sweetgum. A medium growth rate indicates a tree that has a vertical growth of between 13 to 24" per year. General characteristics of the Sweet Gum Tree . The drug is also known as oseltamivir. It’s a primary tree, growing to heights of 60-100’. I have four stunted (on purpose) sweetgum trees on my farm, I harvest the green stickerballs and chop them in halves. Show all. Sweet Gum tree seeds contain an important ingredient for the medicine, Tamiflu; Native Range of the Sweet Gum tree is from Texas to NY, and all areas South East of that border. © Instituto del Corazón San Pablo. Specifically it is made from the seed pods. Here in the southern US there is a tree called the Sweet Gum Tree. The active ingredient is known as shikimic acid. What makes Sweetgum balls so valuable medicinally? We left when the cherry tree in our front yard was in full bloom, trading for a factory-turned-loft building in a failing downtown, but with a fabulous roof deck and other amenities. Here in southern Alabama and really all over the southern US is a tree called the Sweet Gum Tree. The tree itself is also an important lumber crop in the American South, but because its wood is not strong, it is generally used in combination with other woods as a veneer or in the making of plywood. Humans have transplanted this species extensively, so it can now be found growing as a street tree or even in any number of botanic gardens well outside its original range. 2 thoughts on “ Great Gum Balls of Acid, Batman!!! In fact, sweetgum balls are anything but sweet. This resin is still in use today, occasionally flavoring tobacco, but it is also used as a mild antiseptic and as a treatment for sores. Come to find out, the seeds inside that sweetgum balls contain shikimic acid, which is what is needed to make the flu-fighting drug Tamiflu®. Pat from Lubbock, TX Answer: Pat, Sweet Gum trees are considered to have a medium to fast growth rate. Sweet gum seeds are eaten by many species of birds, including goldfinch, purple finch, sparrows, mourning doves, wild turkey, northern bobwhite, and wood duck, as well as by squirrels and chipmunks. Generally considered a southern tree, the sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) reaches the northernmost limits of its natural range along the coast not far north of New York City. Tamiflu is one of the only proven treatments for preventing, and slowing down the flu virus. Bark is gray and deeply furrowed, developing about 10 years […] I would love your opinion on a foundation planting tree that I could use in front of a tall and hot front window facing south in Conway. Propagation of Sweet Gum: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Sweetgum Balls. This is just the frame of the Tamiflu drug though. Sweet gum is a deciduous, forest-dwelling tree, growing as high as 150 feet, the tree is covered with rough, gray bark; but the branchlets are reddish-brown and often have corky ridges. Most people want to know how to get rid of the tree from which they come, how to prevent it from fruiting, or if you can compost sweetgum balls. This means that only one tree is needed for the flowers to be pollinated, and a single tree can produce the spiky fruits even when another sweet gum tree is not in sight. Harvest the seed capsules at the end of October or November, dry in a warm place and extract the seed by shaking the capsule. You can enjoy the blooms of your Lenten rose,... Get The Checklist. A vertical growth rate of 25" or more a year is considered fast. Tamiflu is distilled from shikimic acid, which is present in the Sweet Gum tree. The tree’s dark grayish brown twigs bear unusual, corky ridges that lend the tree a peculiar angularity. As Tamiflu® became more and more popular, the main source of shikimic acid, the star anise tree (a native of China) became scarcer and … They are an extremely prickly fruit– inedible by the way. Currently there is a low growing Japanese maple but I would love some shade and relief from the sun.The tree would actually be in the front flower bed, but the bed is deep so there is room for a medium sized tree. December 27, 2020 how to make tamiflu from sweet gum balls. Click HERE, http://sfrc.ufl.edu/extension/4h/trees/Sweetgum/index.html, http://www.eattheweeds.com/sweet-gum-tree/http://www.eattheweeds.com/sweet-gum-tree/, http://www.eattheweeds.com/sweet-gum-tree/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4441155/. © 2021. Tamiflu is a universally known flu medication that is proven to shorten the duration and severity of flu symptoms. Bag-A-Nut, LLC. In a year when an aggressive strain of influenza has gripped the nation, the sweet gum holds out its fruit-laden limbs with its own humble contribution to humanity. Newsletter; Podcast; Advertisement. I'll let you know how the "sweet gum ball hugelkultur" works out. Receive product updates, specials and more. Tamiflu is a universally known flu medication that is proven to shorten the duration and severity of flu symptoms. Shikimic acid was discovered to be in pine needles and infertile Sweet Gum seed. Ornamental Trees Bradford Pear – Pruning. Its the fruits that I am interested in because they are a source of shikimic acid which is the active ingredient in medicines like Tamiflu®. I make sweetgum tincture with the unripe fruits like my ancestors did. ¿Quiénes Somos? – Tamiflu This being one of the worst Flu seasons on record, has created such pandemonia (with good reason) that currently, people that are not familiar with herbal remedies are desperately seeking alternative ways to prevent and fight the flu. They are used as the base for amulets, charms, as alter icons, and for spellwork. "Sweetgum tree could help lessen shortage of bird flu drug ATLANTA, March 29 - The sweetgum tree grows widely throughout the country and is known for its mace-like green fruit, which are sometimes called "gumballs." The infertile seeds found in the sweetgum’s compound seed capsules are a source of shikimic acid, also known as oseltamivir phosphate, which is one of the main ingredients in the over-the-counter drug, Tamiflu… They are long lived, with ages reaching 100-150 years old. We all know that sweet gum balls are a pesky part of the sweetgum ball tree (also know as Liquidambar). It is known for its beautiful red and yellow color and grows best in moist soils. But in New York City, the sweet gum is a fairly common sight, growing best where there is rich, loamy soil with good moisture. Shikimic acid. What makes Sweetgum balls so valuable medicinally? The sweetgum produces a resin that can harden and be used for chewing gum as well as medicinal purposes. ... and I'll rake my plethora of sweet gum balls to fill the hole. How to Get a Sweetgum Tree to Stop Producing Balls. A shortage led folks to look elsewhere for shikimic acid, and they found it: In pine needles, and infertile Sweet Gum seeds. I had the bad flu that was going around and ended up at the hospital. Sweet gum Balls, Witch Burrs, Craft Wreath, Natural Decor, 200 Seed Pods, Brown Wreath Supply, Natures Craft Supply fall craft supply RayMels 5 out of 5 stars (1,551) $ 12.00. It makes sense to find the Formosa Sweet Gum in the moist regions of Washington and California, as well as Texas and Florida. Within the past few years it has been discovered that those unsightly, hazardous (if you slip on it) sweet gum balls actually contain within the seeds that come out of it shikimic acid, which is a hard to find compound, used to produce Tamiflu, a drug that helps prevent influenza infections. That’s right, green sweet gum balls can be made into a tincture that can help kill viruses in your body. Sweetgum Balls . The trees’ spike ball fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves. This video is a day late, but it's here. Free shipping for many products! These compound seed capsules are often confused with the seed heads of the American sycamore, or its London plane-tree hybrid, but the two are only superficially similar. Uncategorized by by The most interesting compound that comes from this tree is shikimic acid which is a main ingredient in the commercial manufacture of the drug, Tamiflu®. The gumball seeds have a high concentration of 6.5% w/w shikimic acid, the active ingredient in Tamiflu. I called these gum balls porcupine eggs to suggest that porcupines grew in the forests of Oklahoma and Arkansas. The infertile seeds found in each of the sweet gum’s compound seed capsules are a naturally occurring source of shikimic acid, one of the main ingredients in the manufacture of Tamiflu. It takes the sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature enough to produce its fruit. – Tamiflu ” Storehouse Herbs says: February 9, 2018 at 11:51 am I almost forgot I had a WordPress blog lol..need to write some more. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. … The sweetgum is a member of the witch-hazel family, and has a history of much medicinal use by Indians, settlers and Civil War soldiers. The Sweet Gum grows very well in moist clay soil, specifically. If you’re up for some experimenting, Sweet Gum Balls can been used to make a tea from boiling the young green seeds. [4] The bark of the Sweetgum tree contains about 1.7 mg/g of shikimic acid. In 1953, when I attended the Boy Scout Jamboree in California, I took several sweet gum balls to trade with other scouts for different items of equal value. Bark is gray and deeply furrowed, developing about 10 years […] Use your Sweetgum balls for some amazing crafts! I noticed this sweetgum ball in the middle of the trail where I walked last week because it was green and extra spiky. February 9, 2018 by Patchouli Girl Uncategorized Flu Buster, Natural Tamiflu, Shikimic Acid, Sweet Gum Balls Post navigation ← YES, I CAN hear you now!! Perhaps it is time for some rehabilitation. Is there something we can do to eliminate the production of the sweetgum balls other than removing the tree? At this time of year, sweet gums stand out. I need advice on how to grow sweet gum trees. Ronnie Ugulano. Sweet Gum trees are large deciduous trees with beautiful ovular/oval shape. The round fruit balls are produced from fertilized flowers. Find out about composting gumballs here. … These are for protection magick. They even rolled the sap into balls and placed it in their dog's noses as a treatment for distemper. The Formosa Sweet Gum tree is a deciduous tree native to Asia and North America. Older gum trees are not uncommon in the thick, rich-soiled woodlands of several parks in New York City. Sweet Gum. Watercolor by Debbie Galant April 2020. It is only in winter, after the tree’s greenery has been shed, that the sweet gum’s finer points can truly be appreciated. Here isare some additional responses and questions from readers: I would suggest one other attribute of the sweet gum. The infertile seeds of the sweet gum ball contain shikimic acid, which is also contained in the same tree used to make Tamiflu. Chemically, it’s known as oseltamivir phosphate, and is made from the seed pods of the Chinese Star Anise tree… which happens to be a close relative of Sweetgum. Published by at 27th December 2020. Stored seed requires 1 - 3 months stratification and sometimes takes 2 years to germinate. Then, the flowers drop, preventing the balls from ever forming. The sweet gum got its name for … The seed heads of the sycamore disintegrate as their seeds are dispersed; the sweet gum seed capsule, on the other hand, has a woody structure, and the gum balls are quite persistent. The sticky or gummy sap of sweet gums serves a purpose for the tree. You painfully find them with your feet. Infertile seeds of the Sweet Gum tree contain shikimic acid at 2.4-3.7%. The prime ingredient is shikimic acid. Sweet gum is a larval host plant for the beautiful luna moth. It is called sweetgum to distinguish it from the black gum (or sour gum) tree, which is extremely sour and bitter. As Tamiflu® became more and more popular, the main source of shikimic acid, the star anise tree (a native of China) became scarcer and the search was on for other sources. Keep the tree producing the balls! So from a practical standpoint in these times, having some … The vicious seed pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to ruin the Sweet Gums reputation. The infertile seeds found in each of the sweet gum’s compound seed capsules are a naturally occurring source of shikimic acid, one of the main ingredients in the manufacture of Tamiflu… Sweet gum has some surprising uses and it is beautiful in the fall. 18. What are Sweetgum Balls? The Sweetgum Ball’s wood is second only to the Oak. Do they grow fast? The tree needs the injections right before it flowers in spring. Location: Zone 9, CA. Tamiflu is one of the only proven treatments for preventing, and slowing down the flu virus. Additionally, the sweet gum’s spiky “gum balls” hang conspicuously from the tree’s smaller branches, sometimes all winter. Stored seed requires 1 - 3 months stratification and sometimes takes 2 years to germinate. Sweet Gum Tree Advice. Don’t cut it down! The Sweet Gum tree is the sand spur of the forest. February brings a few warm sunny days. Interestingly, the Sweetgum tree has many medicinal applications. The tree is beautiful and offers lots of shade so I wouldn’t mind keeping it, but we absolutely detest the spiny little balls that are covering our back yard. One look at the rows of sharp spikes says all you need to know. Hardiness Zone: 7a. These balls are what we are interested in! Within the past few years it has been discovered that those unsightly, hazardous (if you slip on it) sweet gum balls actually contain within the seeds that come out of it shikimic acid, which is a hard to find compound, used to produce Tamiflu, a drug that helps prevent influenza infections.