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Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Chinese sumac, Ailanto

Simaroubaceae – Simarouba family

Description

Tree of heaven is a small to moderately sized tree occasionally reaching 80 feet in height.  If not regularly pruned the tree is colony-forming – if manicured it resembles a small walnut tree.  Its dark green leaves are composed of 6-12 pinnately arranged, pointed leaflets.  Although some flowers are perfect, male and female flowers generally occur on separate trees with the male flowers being the strongest smelling.  The seeds are encased in oblong samaras.

Distribution

Tree of heaven’s range is sporadic owing to the fact that it once was planted as an ornamental throughout the southwest and potentially wider.  It is extensively naturalized among old mining towns throughout California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Chemistry

Quassinoids: ailantinol, ailanthone, shinjulactone, shinjudilactone, amaloride, and others; triterpenoids and tannins

Medicinal Uses

We owe Tree of heaven’s presence here in the southwest to Chinese immigrants of the mid-nineteenth century.  Tree of heaven served the Chinese as a transportable medicine that easily transplants and remedies illnesses of travel.  It contains a group of compounds called quassinoids, which are also found in Quassia and in a lesser-known southwestern shrub that could easily succumb to over-harvesting pressures if widely used, namely Castela emoryi. 

Tree of heaven is best suited to quell diarrhea and dysentery caused from protozoal infections.  Like most Simarouba family plants, Tree of heaven is active against an array of gastrointestinal tact pathogens, particularly Entamoeba histolytica, the cause of traveler’s diarrhea, and Giardia.  Tree of heaven is doubly beneficial because the plant is also tonic and rebuilding to weakened or damaged intestinal wall mucosa, which can easily result from these types of intestinal infections.  Use Tree of heaven when diarrhea has become chronic and has caused a general state of weakness.

In times of emotional strife when the nervous system is hypersensitive and small insults are interpreted as greater dangers, Tree of heaven can prove soothing.  The plant quiets extraneous muscular contractions and is useful in reducing mild seizure activity, tremors and shakiness, particularly from shock and trauma.

Indications

Diarrhea and dysentery with accompanying blood and intestinal wall injury

Amebic, protozoal infections

Nervous system excitability/tremors/mild seizure activity

Collection and Preparations

Ideally, gather the trunk and branch bark in the spring, but it can be collected year round if necessary.  Tree of heaven lends itself well to most preparations.  A cold infusion extracts both quassinoids and tannins.  If the tea is found nauseating use alcoholic preparations as they are more easily handled by the stomach.

Dosage

Cold infusion/decoction: 2-4 ounces 2-3 times daily

FPT/DPT (50% alcohol): 20-30 drops 2-3 times daily

Fluidextract: 10-20 drops 2-3 times daily

Cautions

Too much Tree of heaven, particularly the tea, can cause nausea, weakness, and a cold-sweaty parasympathetic-like state.  Use of this plant it is not recommended during pregnancy.

Copyright © 2006 by Charles W. Kane

This and additional profiles are found in Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest