Thuja is an evergreen tree native to eastern North America. Since ancient times, its healing aboveground parts have been used by Indian tribes in order to treat colds, as well as to increase immunity and strengthen the human body as a whole. Detailed information on what is the use and harm of thuja, and how to be treated with its help, read further in the material.

What substances does thuja contain

Freshly cut thuja branches contain:

To obtain essential oils, it is advisable to use trees older than 15 years of age. Oils obtained from them are considered the most useful.

The oil extract is obtained from crushed branches with needles and bark fragments that have gone through the distillation process. It contains 65% thujone, 8% isotujone, 8% fenhona, 5% sabin and 2% α-pinene. It has a camphor smell, lacks astringency and resembles cedar oil or tansy.

Medical sources provide many studies of the effectiveness of the effects of substances contained in thuja on the human body.

In most of these scientific works, the therapeutic efficacy of plant materials used in medicine for the treatment of acute respiratory infections and colds has been proven. In addition, there was a significant increase in immunity in patients who were prescribed drugs from thuja.

Useful properties for humans

Biologically active substances contained in the plant affect the vascular, skin and mucous tissues. They stimulate their normal activity, contribute to the restoration of cells, inhibit the development of growths and warts.

Important! The neurotropic venom thujone contained in the oil is very toxic and poisonous. Therefore, it is forbidden to take thuja products in an uncontrolled amount.

Used in a variety of painful conditions, including:

• bronchitis;
• cough;
• joint and muscle diseases;
• bacterial and viral infections (e.g., acute pharyngitis, herpes simplex virus);
• muscle pain;
• osteoarthritis and trigeminal neuralgia (chronic and severe pain affecting the big nerve in the head).

It can also be used as a folk diuretic to enhance urination, as well as to terminate pregnancy.

Thuja has a huge effect in treating addiction to alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs (especially cannabis), as well as excessive consumption of tea, coffee, sweets and salt.

It is also effective in the treatment of neurosis, depression and other mental disorders.. The plant can regulate abnormal menstrual cycles. Relieves the pain that women feel during this period. There is evidence that thuja-based medicines can be used to treat ovarian cysts.

• Among the useful and proven properties of the plant:
• diuretics;
• antiseptic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antiviral;
• antibacterial;
• regenerative;
• immuno-strengthening;
• tonic;
• hemostatic;
• general strengthening;
• soothing.

Did you know? Thuja wood contains a chemical called thuyaplicin. It acts as a fungicide and bactericide. And this is the main reason why thuja boards are resistant to rot.

Methods of preparation and use

Thuja can be taken orally (orally) or applied topically to the skin. Medicines from it are available in the form of a dry powder, infusion, alcohol tincture. All of them are sold at the pharmacy without prescriptions.

When taken orally, the recommended amount of dry matter is from 1 to 2 g. Take it 3 times a day.

For topical use on the skin, the usual dosage ranges from 0.1 g to 2 g of dry matter. It is applied to affected areas of the skin in the form of applications or ointments.

• The main types of medicinal substance and its use:
• Oil has an irritating effect on the intestines and its mucous membranes. This property is used to expel intestinal parasites.
• A decoction can be used to relieve swelling, reduce pain with rheumatism.
• Tea is brewed to treat cough and upper respiratory tract diseases.
• An ointment based on needles is used topically in the treatment of bruises, cuts.

Ointment

Thuja-based ointment can be bought at a pharmacy or prepared on your own. It will nourish the skin, relieve inflammation, improve the structure, restoring cells. Ointments and creams can vary in texture from thick to liquid. It depends on the amount of moisture that is present in the resulting drug.

Ointment preparation technology:

1. You will need dry powder from needles or finely chopped arborvitae branches. Volume - 100 g.
2. Thuja is mixed with oil in a jar. Volume - 200 g. Almond or olive oil can act as a carrier.
3. Mix gently until smooth.
4. Close the container with a lid and place in a water bath. Heat slowly and then simmer, maintaining a constant temperature of about + 110 ° C during the day.
5. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly so that the mass is warm.
6. Strain to remove dried herbs from the mixture.
7. Store in an airtight jar in a dark and cool place. Shelf life is 1 year.
8. Before applying, be sure to apply a small portion of the substance to the skin to check for the presence or absence of an allergic reaction.
9. The ointment is used to treat scratches, cuts, burns.

Important! To make the ointment thicker, you can add beeswax to it during cooking. It is also allowed to add to your warm product the essential oils of your choice for flavoring.

Tincture

Tincture is a concentrated extract from needles and young shoots, in which alcohol is used as a solvent. Alcohol can also be vodka and other alcoholic beverages.

Any other solvents such as glycerin, water or vinegar allow the preparation of the extract, but are not suitable for tincture. Use the drug with water or adding to tea. The frequency of admission depends on the purpose of use, general health, age of the patient and other factors.

Preparation of tincture:

1. Fold the chopped needles into a jar of dark glass with a sealed lid, filling 3/4.
2. Pour alcohol to the top.
3. Close the cover.
4. Put in a dark place to insist for 6-8 weeks. Shake the mixture every other day.
5. Then open the jar, filter the tincture through cheesecloth.
6. Apply 15 drops half an hour before meals. You can do this 3 times a day.

If the alcohol has evaporated a little and the grass is not completely submerged, be sure to add. Otherwise, air in the jar can cause mold.

Video: Tui tincture in hot water

Decoction

Infusions are prepared if the raw materials are soft, grassy. The needles and cones of thuja belong to solid raw materials. Therefore, they need not be insisted, but boiled. A broth is created by boiling the chopped needles in water. Drink a drink only freshly prepared.

In other cases, the essential oils will have time to evaporate, and the active components will have time to react with the air or the container in which they are prepared, thereby reducing their usefulness.

Important! Be sure to grind vegetable raw materials. This increases the area that can react with the liquid and nourish it with useful biologically active components.

Cooking broth:

1. Pour 1 liter of cold water into the pan.
2. Put in it 50 g of chopped arborvitae. In fresh raw materials, the percentage of liquid is higher. Therefore, using dry raw materials, increase the amount of water in which it is boiled.
3. Bring to a boil and boil for 25-30 minutes.
4. Then remove from heat. Cool.
5. Strain the broth through cheesecloth.
6. Refrigerate and consume for 48 hours.

Oils

Healing oil is obtained by immersing plant materials in a carrier oil. Such a product can be stored up to 1 year. It will be used externally to treat wounds, cuts, relieve inflammation and stimulate skin cells.

For cooking you will need:

• distilled water: 200 ml;
• almond oil: 150 ml;
• thuja essential oil: 2-3 drops;
• beeswax: 30 g.

Instruction:

1. Mix the oil and beeswax in a double boiler and gently heat until the latter is completely dissolved.
2. Cool to room temperature.
3. Beat the cooled mixture slowly with a blender, adding water to the composition.
4. Please note that during whipping, the mass should not soften and melt. Re-liquefaction will not contribute to creating the right texture.
5. The whipped mixture should acquire a white tint.
6. Add 2-3 drops of arborvitae essential oil.
7. Place the cooked product in a glass container and store in the refrigerator or in a dry and cool place. Shelf life - 1 month.

Apply to treat burns, cuts and scratches.

Harm and contraindications

Thuja is safe to use in small amounts recommended for a particular dosage form. But its use in amounts exceeding the norm can be dangerous due to the toxic substances contained in it.

Did you know? Translated from Latin, "thuja" means «sacrifice». By the smoke from its branches, ancient people thanked the gods in their rites.

An overdose causes the following side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bowel irritation, and bleeding. There is also information about the occurrence of asthma attacks, damage to the liver and kidneys, seizures, and even death.

• Contraindications:
• Do not use medications based on thuja in the presence of gastrointestinal diseases: ulcers, inflammation of the stomach.
• Do not use during pregnancy and lactation.
• If the symptoms for which you use thuja are worse, stop taking it and consult a doctor.
• See your doctor if you have diabetes or poor blood circulation before applying the ointment to your skin.
• The pancreatic acid in thuja can cause contact dermatitis.
• Do not take medications from thuja at the same time as taking medications that increase the risk of seizures: antidepressants, antibiotics, anesthetics, antipsychotropic, strong painkillers, immunosuppressants, stimulants.

Thuja leaves contain a substance called thujone. When taken orally, it can cause seizures, liver and kidney damage, muscle cramps and hallucinations. Therefore, if you take other herbs, which also contain thujone, be sure to consult your doctor.

Herbs that may contain this substance include:

• juniper;
• sagebrush;
• eastern thuja;
• sage;
• tansy;
• wood moss;
• bitter wormwood.

Before taking any new medicines, including natural health products, consult your doctor. Tuya is one of the most powerful homeopathic remedies. Herbal infusions and decoctions of it are able to restore health in the shortest possible time. And cooking them is very simple. The main thing is to observe the correct dosage of therapeutic agents.