This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack.

Used as a decoction, extract, tincture, bath and poultice.

The White or Quebec Oak (Quercus alba) is closely related to the Common or British Oak (Quercus robur), the hard wood is equally valued, and the bark has always been used the same way.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Oak bark for 'External: Inflammatory skin diseases. Internal: Nonspecific, acute diarrhea, and local treatment of mild inflammation of the oral cavity and pharyngeal region, as well as genital and anal area.'

'Full baths should not be taken, regardless of the active ingredients in the bath, under the following conditions: weeping eczema and skin damage covering a large area; febrile and infectious diseases; cardiac insufficiency stages III and IV (NYHA); hypertonia state IV (WHO).'

'Daily dosage: 3 g of drug; equivalent preparations. For rinses, compresses and gargles: 20 g drug per 1 liter of water; equivalent preparations. For full and partial baths: 5 g drug per 1 liter of water; equivalent preparations. Mode of Administration: Comminuted herb for decoctions and other galenical preparations for internal and topical use. Actions: Astringent; Virustatic.'

Oak bark tannins bind liquids, absorb toxins, and soothe inflamed tissues. The oak tannin inhibits intestinal secretion, which helps resolve diarrhea.

The bark's saponin content is thought to possess expectorant activity in respiratory complaints. Oak bark can be used topically for its astringent properties in cases of dermatitis without risk of irritation.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'The astringent effects of the Oak were well known to the Ancients, by whom different parts of the tree were used, but it is the bark which is now employed in medicine. Its action is slightly tonic, strongly astringent and antiseptic. It has a strong astringent bitter taste, and its qualities are extracted both by water and spirit. The odour is slightly aromatic.'

'Like other astringents, it has been recommended in agues and haemorrhages, and is a good substitute for Quinine in intermittent fever, especially when given with Chamomile flowers.'

'It is useful in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, either alone or in conjunction with aromatics.'

'A decoction is made from 1 oz. of bark in a quart of water, boiled down to a pint and taken in wineglassful doses.'

'Externally, this decoction has been advantageously employed as a gargle in chronic sore throat with relaxed uvula, and also as a fomentation. It is also serviceable as an injection for leucorrhoea, and applied locally to bleeding gums and piles.'

'Preparation and Dosage: Fluid extract, ½ to 1 drachm.'

'Oak bark when finely powdered and inhaled freely, has proved very beneficial in consumption in its early stages. Working tanners are well known to be particularly exempt from this disease. A remedial snuff is made from the freshly collected oak bark, dried and reduced to a fine powder.'

'The older herbalists considered the thin skin that covers the acorn effectual in staying spitting of blood, and the powder of the acorn taken in wine was considered a good diuretic. A decoction of acorns and oak bark, made with milk, was considered an antidote to poisonous herbs and medicines.'

'The distilled water of the oak bud was also thought 'to be good used either inwardly or outwardly to assuage inflammation.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Oak bark is slightly tonic, powerfully astringent, and antiseptic. It is useful, internally in chronic diarrhoea, chronic mucous discharges, passive hemorrhages, and wherever an internal astringent is required.'

'In colliquative sweats, the decoction is usually combined with lime-water. It is, however, more generally used in decoction, as an external agent, which forms an excellent gargle for relaxed uvula and sore throat, a good stimulating astringent lotion for ulcers with spongy granulations, and an astringent injection for leucorrhoea, prolapsus ani, hemorrhoids, etc.'

'The ground bark, made into a poultice, has proved useful in gangrenous or mortified conditions. In sickly, debilitated children, and in severe diarrhoeas, especially when the result of fevers, the decoction, given internally, and used as a bath to the body and limbs, 2 or 3 times a day, will be found very efficient.'

'When given for diarrhoea or dysentery, it should be combined with aromatics, and sometimes with castor oil.'

'A bath is often advantageous in some cutaneous diseases. The green bark of elder and white oak bruised together, or in strong decoction, forms a very useful and valuable application to abrasions. Dose of the decoction, 1 to 2 fluid ounces; of the extract, from 5 to 20 grains. A coffee made from roasted acorns, has been highly recommended in the treatment of scrofula.'

American Materia Medica, 1919 (Ellingwood): 'The agent is of value in epidemic dysentery acute and chronic diarrhea, obstinate intermittents, pulmonary and laryngeal phthisis tabes mesenterica, great exhaustion of the vital powers from disease, profuse, exhausting night sweats, colliquative sweats in the advanced stages of adynamic fevers, and debility, and severe diarrhea in sickly children, scrofula, gangrene, ulcerated sore throat, fetid, ill-conditioned and gangrenous ulcers, relaxed mucous membranes with profuse discharges, bronchorrhea, passive hemorrhages, relaxed uvula and sore throat, spongy granulations, diabetes, prolapsus ani, bleeding hemorrhoids, leucorrhea, menorrhagia, hemoptysis.'

'Generally white oak bark is used locally, in decoction, for the general purpose of an astringent, but it is also tonic and antiseptic, and possesses specific powers.'

'In severe epidemic dysentery, a strong decoction of white oak bark, given internally, in doses of a wineglassful every hour or two, the bowels being first evacuated by a cathartic of castor oil and turpentine, has effected cures where other treatment had proved of little or no avail.'

'In marasmus, cholera infantum, scrofula, and diseases attended with great exhaustion, baths medicated with white oak bark, accompanied by brisk friction, have restored the waning powers of life.'

'When employed as a local application to ill-conditioned ulcers and gangrene, either a poultice of the ground bark, or cloths wet with the decoction may be applied.'

'In pulmonary and laryngeal phthisis a very fine powder of the bark may be inhaled.'

'I have depended upon a decoction of white oak bark one ounce to the pint of boiling water, to which I have added after straining, a dram of boric acid for all ulcerations of the mouth or throat, both in the early stages and in many chronic cases. It is surprising how many simple early throat troubles this will abort, and bow frequently it will prevent suppuration in tonsillitis. Combined with Yellow Dock, it has cured for me the severest cases of nursing sore mouth that I have had, after other lauded remedies had signally failed.'

'When the remedy is given internally in diarrhoea and dysentery, it should be combined with cinnamon or other astringent aromatic.'