Alder bark powder – Alnus glutinosa

A tree native to wetlands, alder is a plant associated with regeneration and purification. The finely ground bark is used in traditional herbal treatments to rebalance skin tissue or soothe sensitive throats.

Description

Fine, dark brown to reddish-brown powder with a fresh, woody odor. Disperses easily in water or cosmetic preparations. Use alone or in combination with other plant powders.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Black alder, glutinous alder
• Latin name: Alnus glutinosa
• Family: Betulaceae
• Part used: Bark
• Form: Powder
• Origin: Europe, humid environments
• English name: Alder bark powder
• Name in German: Schwarzerlenrindenpulver
• Name in Spanish: Polvo de corteza de aliso
• Name in Italian: Polvere di corteccia di ontano
• Name in Arabic: مسحوق لحاء الألدر (Mas'houq Lihāʾ al-Aldar)

Main virtues

Astringent, purifying, and a local tonic, powdered alder bark is particularly suitable for homemade skin care and soothing gargles. It promotes tissue tightening and is sometimes used in treatments for oily or sensitive skin.

Main constituents

Catechin tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, gallic acid.

Use and dosage

• Gargle: 1 teaspoon in 200 ml of hot water, let infuse for 10 minutes then filter.
• Mask or poultice: mix with water or clay to create a paste to be applied locally.
• Lotion: concentrated decoction to spray or apply with a cotton pad.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Recommended for external use only.
• Do not ingest without supervision from a healthcare professional.
• Do a skin test beforehand if you have sensitive or allergic skin.

History and origin

Alder has been used since ancient times in European cultures for its dyeing, medicinal, and protective properties. Its bark was one of the basic herbal remedies for minor local ailments, used particularly by rural herbalists.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: in an airtight container, away from humidity.
• Packaging: opaque kraft bag, tinted glass jar, metal box.
• Appearance: Fine dark brown to reddish powder.
• Smell: woody, earthy, fresh.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Corpus of European Plant Medicine
• Traditional herbalism from France and Central Europe
• Ethnobotanical texts of riverine trees

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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