Thuja
has stimulant, astringent, vermifuge, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial,
anti-fungal, diuretic, emmenogogue, expectorant, anthelmintic, astringent,
anti-catarrhal, anti-pyretic and anti-irritant properties.
American Indians used Thuja leaf tea
for headaches, colds, chronic cough and in steam baths for fever,
rheumatism, arthritis, congestion and gout.
Applied externally, Thuja leaf tincture
is used on warts, fungoid growths, venereal warts, gonorrhoea, syphilis,
prostate problems, toothache, whooping cough, piles, ulcers, bed
sores, and other fungus infections. Experimentally, the leaf oil
is antiseptic, expectorant, counterirritant and extracts have shown
antiviral properties against herpes simplex. As a counterirritant,
it is also useful for relief of muscular aches and pains.
Thuja is also a folk medicine cancer
remedy and has historically been used as an internal treatment for
tumours and was injected directly. It is said to both slow the growth
of the cancer and to extend the lifespan of the patient.
Thuja extract can also be used internally
for bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary disease and enlarged prostate.
It is a uterine stimulant and is well known as a treatment for chronic
cystitis or functional nocturnal enuresis. It is useful not only
as an antiseptic, but also to increase the tone of the bladder sphincter
thus good for urinary incontinence.
Thuja can also be used to reduce the
catarrh associated with upper respiratory infection and to treat
chronic tonsillitis, reducing the size of the tonsils. It is used
to treat productive bronchitis and pneumonia.
Thuja is also used to treat chronic
skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis and externally as a wash
for swollen feet and burns. |
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