Ailante, Ailante Glanduleux, Ailanthus altissima, Ailanthus cacodendron, Ailanthus giraldii, Ailanthus glandulosa, Ailanthus vilmoriniana, Ailanto, A-Lan-Thus, Árbol del Cielo, Chinese Sumach, Chuen Gen Pi, Chun Pi, Copal Tree, Frêne Puant, Faux-Vernis du Japon, Heaven Tree, Indian Tree of Heaven, Paradise Tree, Rhus cacodendron, Stinktree, Toxicodendron altissimum, Varnish Tree, Vernis de Chine, Vernis de Japon.
Tree of heaven is a plant. The dried bark from the trunk and root are used for medicine. Until recently, tree of heaven was used only in folk medicine. But now, it is being investigated as a potential drug.
Tree of heaven is used for diarrhea, asthma, cramps, epilepsy, fast heart rate, gonorrhea, malaria, and tapeworms. It has also been used as a bitter and a tonic.
Some women use tree of heaven for vaginal infections and menstrual pain.
In foods, the young leaves of the tree of heaven are eaten.
In manufacturing, tree of heaven is used as insecticide.
How does work?
Some researchers think that chemicals in the bark of tree of heaven may have drying effects, decrease fever, and decrease spasms. Other chemicals found in tree of heaven might kill worms and parasites and have some effects against cancer cells.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...
- Diarrhea.
- Menstrual pain.
- Asthma.
- Cramps.
- Epilepsy.
- Fast heart rate.
- Gonorrhea.
- Malaria.
- Tapeworms.
- Use as a tonic.
- Other conditions.
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowIt is not known if tree of heaven is safe. But when taken in large amounts, tree of heaven bark can cause queasiness, dizziness, headache, limb tingling, and diarrhea.
In research, some animals died after being given tree of heaven.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of tree of heaven during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.The appropriate dose of tree of heaven depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for tree of heaven. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.