Red Root (New Jersey Tea)

Alleviate Respiratory complaints

New Jersey Tea (Red Root) has strong expectorant properties and has been traditionally used by the Native Americans to cure respiratory disorders like whooping cough, asthma, cough and bronchitis. When taken as a tea Red Root helps to thins mucus that allows it to be expelled more easily from the respiratory tracts.

As an antispasmodic it can calm the muscle spasms involved in chronic coughs. While a cough is part of the body’s healing response allowing irritants and mucus to be removed from the body, it may become long-lasting and non-productive.

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Cleanse Oily Skin and Combat Acne

Red Root is astringent and antibacterial in nature which makes it supportive to use on oily skin susceptible to spots or acne.

Brew a Red root tea and allow it to cool, then dip a cotton ball into the tea and wipe the astringent over your skin. Since you need a small amount of this astringent each day, you could brew tea to drink and then leave a small amount in the bottom of your cup to use as a skin cleanser. In this way Red Root can help to support your body on the inside and on the outside.

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Ease Headache

Red Root has relaxant, nervine and sedative properties, which help to comfort painful headaches. Its relaxant properties helps to relieve the tension and its nervine qualities calm the nerves that are firing off pain signals.  Strong dose of Red Root tincture can help you to relax and fall asleep, and sleep often offers a cure to a headache as it allows a tense body and mind to relax.

When headaches are caused due to cold or sinus infection, Red Root will offer extra help because it can relieve the congestion causing the pain and also work directly on the pain in the meantime. If you suffer from frequent headaches, a daily serving of Red Root Tea, tincture or capsules may prove very helpful in reducing the amount of headaches that you suffer from.

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Digestive health

New Jersey Tea has a long history as a digestive aid and is used to treat several digestive disorders. Taken as a tea or a tincture it can relieve diarrhea, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, gas and bloating. Its antispasmodic properties allow the muscles of the digestive tract to function efficiently, and that smooth function helps to eliminate many common digestive complaints. Its astringent and antibacterial properties are helpful when facing diarrhea.

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Treat a Sore Throat

New Jersey Tea helps to combat the bacteria that are responsible for a sore throat or tonsillitis and helps to reduce the painful inflammation present.

In addition to drinking several cups of tea each day or using the tincture or capsules for overall immune system support, you may also gargle with New Jersey Tea to put its healing properties directly in contact with the area that needs to be healed.

Gargle can be made with cooled tea, or with a tablespoon of decoction added to a small glass of water. Strong tincture dilution would be effective remedy for a sore throat. Gargle several times a day until the infection has cleared.

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Lymphatic System Support

Red Root is essential to support the spleen and the rest of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a major part of the immune system, and its smooth functioning is important to good health and to guarantee fast recovery from infections.

Lymph nodes store infection killing white blood cells and route them to where they are required. If the lymphatic system is slow or inflamed these white blood cells can’t do their job correctly.

When you are sick, you will be confronted with swollen lymph nodes which are tender and painful. This accumulation of lymph fluid is a sign that your lymph system is under pressure and could use some support. But the best thing to do is to take an active approach and support your lymphatic system every day, before illness manifests.

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Potential Antibacterial property

Many homeopathic practitioners believe that red root has antibacterial abilities. This claim relates to its organic compound content including high concentrations of tannins, lignins and ceanithene which are supposed to be antibacterial phytochemicals.

These phytochemicals are supposed to have been observed effectively treating sexually transmitted disease like syphilis. It can also be used as an effective mouth wash to treat a number of oral complaints such as canker sores, gum disease and tooth decay.

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General Detoxification Purposes

You can use Red Root as a regular detoxification aid. Modern lifestyles and diets expose us to many pollutants and chemicals that have an adverse effect on the body. The lymphatic system can become overloaded trying to remove these elements from the body, so supporting this system is crucial. When the lymphatic system is struggling to function well, you are more prone to succumb to infections.

Another important organ that is essential for detoxification is the liver, and Red Root is able to support the healthy functioning of the liver. Use Red Root Tea for a mild detox and use the decoction or tincture when you need more help.

Shrink Hemorrhoids

Herbs with astringent properties are an effective treatment for hemorrhoids. As we have mentioned before red root has astringent properties. Thus Red Root can be used to calm and heal both internal and external hemorrhoids.

Drink Red Root tea each day or use the decoction, tincture or capsules, for internal healing, and use the cooled tea to apply to external hemorrhoids several times a day, to stop bleeding and reduce pain and swelling. Just soak a cotton ball in the astringent liquid and gently press against the hemorrhoids.

-Healthbenefitstimes.com

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Beneficial for Thalassemia Patients

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body produces abnormal haemoglobin. It destroys the red blood cells, leading to anaemia. People suffering from this disorder often require blood transfusion and are at risk of enlarged spleen. 

According to research, using red root with standard medication improved the blood test results. In addition, it ensures a long time between blood transfusion and a reduction in spleen size

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Reduces the Risk of Genetic Mutation

Processed foods, pesticides and fertilizers have increased the risk of genetic mutation. Genetic mutations may change the protein synthesis and protein functioning in the body, causing ailments. 

Tannins can have specific inhibitory effects on these mutagens in the human body. According to a study, natural plant extracts like tannins show antimutagenic potency and maintain human metabolic homeostasis because of their antioxidant properties.

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Traditional and Medicinal Uses of New Jersey Tea



The roots and root bark of New Jersey tea was used extensively by the North American Indians to treat fevers and problems of the mucous membranes such as catarrh and sore throats.


Roots and root-bark are antispasmodic, anti-syphilitic, strongly astringent, expectorant, haemostatic and sedative.


Roots are used in the treatment of complaints such as asthma, bronchitis and coughs.


They have a stimulatory effect on the lymphatic system, whilst an alkaloid in the roots is mildly hypotensive.


Plant is used internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints including asthma and whooping cough, dysentery, sore throats, tonsillitis, hemorrhoids etc.


Decoction of the bark is used as a skin wash for cancer and venereal sores.


Powdered bark has been used to dust the sores.


Roots and root bark of New Jersey tea were commonly used by North American Indians for infections of the upper respiratory tract.


Roots have been used medicinally as a blood thinner.


Native Americans used root tea for colds, fevers, snakebites, stomachaches, lung ailments, laxative, and blood tonics.


Root bark tea has been suggested for various chest problems, including chronic bronchitis, nervous asthma, whooping cough, despondency and melancholy, lymphatic congestion, and consumption.


It can be used as a gargle for inflammation of the throat, fever, and irritations of the mouth, particularly tonsillitis.


Native Americans used a tea made from the whole plant for skin problems, skin cancer, and venereal sores.


Good for dysentery, piles, is effective in syphilis and gonorrhea.


Combined with fringe tree and goldenseal, it is good for sick headache, acute indigestion, and nausea due to poor activity of the liver.


Choctaws in Louisiana made an extract taken to treat lung hemorrhages.


Cherokee used a lotion made from the root to treat skin cancer.


Seminole used redroot as a hallucinogen to influence speech and awareness.


Root has a long history of effectiveness against stubborn or fetid ulcerations of the skin and mucous membranes, strep throat, general throat, and upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, asthma, coughs, malaria and diphtheria, as well as diarrhea and dysentery.


It is also considered to be a mild sedative and is used to lower blood pressure.


Syrup made from the leaves and flowers was used to treat sore throats, even to the extent of ulcerated sore throats.



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