Texas kidneywood
StarEysenhardtia texana
Synonyms: Eysenhardtia drummondii, Eysenhardtia angustifolia
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In the folk medicine of southwestern Texas and northern Mexico, the wood and bark of Texas kidneywood, like the related palo azul (Eysenhardtia polystachya), are decocted into a tea taken as a diuretic and remedy for kidney and bladder complaints, a use recorded as far back as the writings of Juan de Esteyneffer in the early eighteenth century (UTEP Herbal Safety; Esteyneffer, 1719).
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Botanical Description
Eysenhardtia texana, commonly called Texas kidneywood, bee-brush or vara dulce, is a small deciduous shrub or small tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), reaching about 1 to 3 metres in height. It is native to south-central and southern Texas and adjacent northeastern Mexico, ranging into the eastern Chihuahuan Desert, where it grows on limestone soils, brushlands and rocky slopes. The plant has slender, much-branched stems and pinnately compound leaves bearing many small leaflets dotted with aromatic glands that release a citrus-like fragrance when crushed. The small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers are borne in dense, slender, spike-like racemes in summer and are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators. The fruit is a small, curved, one- to two-seeded pod. The heartwood is notable for producing an intense blue fluorescence when steeped in water, a trait shared with the related Mexican palo azul (Eysenhardtia polystachya). It is valued as a drought-tolerant ornamental and pollinator plant.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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