Tree of life more occidental

Thuja occidentalis is a 6 to 20 m tall evergreen conifer from the cypress family.

Arborvitae are considered poisonous and contain essential oils and thujones, especially diterpenes such as dehydroabietan, neothujic acid III and IV, lignans, thujaplicatin methyl ester, epipinoresinol and monotherpenes such as alpha-thujone, beta-thujone, fenchone, sabinene and pinene, mainly in the tips of the branches.

Thuja occidentalis is the parent plant of the phytotherapeutically used Thujae summitates, the tree of life tips.

Historically: In the past, arborvitae preparations were used as an anthelmintic. External liniments were used to treat gout and rheumatism. Poisoning was not uncommon due to improper dosing. Essences, tinctures and solutions prepared from the tips of the twigs are used in naturopathy (see phytotherapy below) and homeopathy. Indications are: gout and rheumatism, stomach catarrh, certain neuralgias, as well as eye and ear infections.

Due to its antiviral effectiveness, thja extracts can be used in the treatment of warts, mollusca contgiosa and condylomata acuminata.

Cosmetically used are:

• Oleum Thujae, the essential thuja oil obtained by steam distillation
• Thuja occidentalis leaf/stem extract the extract from the leaves and wood of the plant
• Thujaoccidentalis root extract, the root extract
• Thujaoccidentalis leaf extract, the extract from the leaves (needles) of the tree.

Even repeated contact with the plant can lead to severe inflammatory skin reactions.

Consuming or swallowing parts of the plant can lead to severe inflammation of the stomach and intestines, cramps and damage to the kidneys and liver.

Deaths caused by thujone (especially after it has been added as a flavouring to alcoholic drinks, e.g. absith) have been described.

Poisoning can occur in animals, with horses being particularly sensitive.

The tree of life is the parent plant of Thujae summitates the tops of the tree of life.

1. Chang LC et al (2000) Bioactive constituents of Thuja occidentalis. J Nat Prod 63: 1235-1238
2. Iwamoto M et al (2003) Potential antitumor promoting diterpenoids from the stem bark of Thuja standishii. Planta Med 69: 69-72
3. Nickavar B et al (2003) Volatile constituents of the fruit and leaf oils of Thuja orientalis L. grown in Iran. Z Natural history 58: 171-172

4. Roth L et al (1994) Poisonous plants and plant toxins. Nikol Publishing Company, Hamburg S 941-942