Acacia

This small tree or shrub can reach the height of 40 ft. The trees bark produces a thick gum~like sap which turns into small tear shaped globuls. The bark of this tree contains a large amount of the chemical compound tannin. It has small pale yellow flowers with a multitude of petals radiating from the center and a very small group of 6 stamens and pistils. The leaves of this plant radiate singularly from the stem and reach approximately 6 cm. in lenth they are narrow and sharp and slightly pointed. The flowers grow in clusters of 6 to 8 flowers per cluster and are closely grouped.


A very large genus of 800 to 1,000 species of shrubs and trees, found throughout the subtropical and tropical regions, particularly of Africa and Australia (where they are known as wattles). They are mainly shubs, but several species reach tree size. The leaves are often bipinnate. The flowers are usually yellow and appear in small, rounded heads, mostly in winter or spring. The fruits are ovate to linear legumes.
The common acacia (A. raddiana) grows 16-26ft (5-8m) high, and its leaves divide bipinnately into small oblong to elliptical leaves. The main flowering season is in spring, with many seeds, which, after falling from the tree, are eaten by various animals. A. abssinica is native to Ethiopia and has 3-5in (7.5-12.5cm) long fruits.
The locust tree or false acacia (Robinia pseudocacia) is not a species of this genus, but, like the true acacias, a member of the pea family (Leguminosae).

Common Name:
Acacia
Folk Names:
Cape Gum, Gum Arabic Tree, Egyptian Thorn
Family:
Mimosaceae (Leguminosae)
Botanical Names:
Acacia senegal, Acacia arabica, Acacia vera, Acacia decurrens, Acacia spp.
Other Names:
Gum Arabic, Egyptian Thorn, Gum Acacia, Tamarisk, Catechu
Location:
North Africa, Egypt, Middle East, United States
Classification:
Tree
Habitat:
This plant is found primarily in Northern Africa, Egypt, and throughout the Middle East. It requires very little water and considerable sunshine, and is particularly abundant in the desert regions.
Throughout temperate regions worldwide, the Southern United States as far north as Kansas. California to Florida.
Parts Used:
Gum Sap from the Bark of the Tree, Twigs, Wood
.All parts of the plant; flowers, resin, bark, leaf, pods, stems, fruit, spines, root, and root bark.
Collection:
The parts of the plant may be gathered at any suitable time of the year; the pods when green, the flowers when in bloom. The roots should be chopped into smally sections before drying. The gum may be gathered by breaking off several lower limbs and returning in a few days (or more traditionally, a line may be cut into the lower part of the bark with a sharp hatchet and the gum collected after formation). The collected plant will last quite a long time if well dried, double plastic bagged, and stored in a dark place, off the floor.
Practical Uses:
The Acacia was of great importance in ancient Egypt, both practically and spiritually. Of the native trees, it was the most widespread and also the most useful.
  • Roof timbers up to 12 cubits (17ft 9in/5.4m) long could be cut from low hanging branches.
  • The wood was strong enough to form the main timbers of the hulls and ribs of small ships.
  • Shorter pieces of wood were used to make the common Nile Cargo Barch, which was constructed from pieces 2ft (6cm) long, fitted together like bricks.
  • It was also used to make furniture, chests, coffins, and bows.
  • In Hawaii, the wood of the koa (A. koa) was used to make canoes.
Culture, Myth and Symbol:
To the mind of the ancient Egyptian, a boat was not only a physical object but also a mirror image of the barge of consciousness on which the soul floated through life. Viewed in this way, boats and coffins have something in common, and many cultures developed ship or boat burials. In the five boat burials discovered near the pyramid of Cheops (c.2590BCE) the boats were made from acacia and cedar.
Most importantly, the original sacred barge of Osiris at the temple of Thebes was made of acacia. This ancient nature god "died" every year when the plants withered, only to be "reborn" in spring. By overcoming death and achieving eternal life, Osiris personified the promise of redemption in the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians' spiritual goal was to transcend the boundaries of personality and merge with Osiris. The acacia was the guardian of this promise, for it protected Osiris' mummy while his soul embraced the universe. Inscriptions call him "the solitary one of the acacia", and inscribed images show the god as a mummy sheltered by the tree.
The tribes of Israel made the Ark of Covenant, the Tabernacle, the table and altar from common acacia wood (A. raddiana). This tree has no other sacred history in Jewish tradition and it was probably used for the Ark simply because Moses was familiar with it having lived in Egypt. Of the three acacia species that survive the harsh conditions of the Sinai, only the common acacia would have been suitable for construction timber.
In Arabia, the acacia tree is still revered, and anyone who even breaks a twig is expected to die within a year.
Elsewhere, in ancient China, the great earth god was said to live in a pine tree, while the other earth deities resided at the four points of the compass in other species of trees. The homes of the gods of the north were acacia trees.
Symbolism:
Sensitivity and protection
Divine Association:
Osiris (ancient Egyptian)
Astrological Association:
Sun, Pluto
Historical Spotlight:
When traveling through Patagonia (southern Chile and Argentina) in 1833, Charles Darwin came upon a sacred tree between the Rio Negro and the Rio Colorado. The native peoples referred to this solitary acacia aas the Altar of Walleechu, and visited it to hang votive offerings in its branches. Poor people just added colored threads, while richer people poured alcohol and Maté into a hole in the tree. The visitors made smoke offerings that carried their gratitude to the spirit world.
Actions:
Antimalarial, astringent, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anticatarrhal, hemostatic, anthelmintic, antifungal, mucilaginous (roots and gum), anti-inflammatory, sedative (flowers and leaves).
Active Against:
Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Samonella spp., malaria, Shigella dysentariae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Medicinal Uses:
The gum sap from this plant has a soothing and softening effect upon skin and other mucuous membranes when applied to them. It also acts as an astringent, and a nourishing agent. This lends to each of the various medicinal purposes that will be listed below.
  • Burns: Due to it's high tannic acid concept it is widely used for treatment when applied to burned areas. It has a soothing effect and also prevents air from contacting the burned area thus preventing blistering and healing the tissue more effectively.
  • Ulcers: due to the saps astringent effects, which causes tissue to contract and to arrest discharge of puss. Acacia is an excellent treatment for ulcerations of tissue in the mouth, gums, or other areas. Simply applying this gum to the area aids in the contraction of ulcerous tissue and allow it to close preventing affection.
  • Loose Teeth: Placing the gum from this root into boiling water creates a highly adhesive mucilage, and the astringent affect as well as the adhesive effect of the acacia sap is an excellent way to fasten loose teeth, as well as to heal the gum tissue surrounding the tooth or teeth.
  • Diarrhea:Again because of the ability of the gum sap of this tree to constrict open wounds as well as ulcerations drinking a small amount of water mixed with acacia it can be used to control extreme cases of dysentary which is often caused by ulceric eruptions of the bowel and intenstinal tract, and it will tend to heal the intenstinal wall as well. It's also used in conjunction with an enema with a small amount of acacia in it.
  • Coughs: Acacia is often used in cough medicines for the treatment of cough and inflammation of the throat because of it's ability to sooth the mucus membranes and reduce inflammation.
  • Parasitic Infections: Worms, malaria, amoebic dysentary.
Specific Uses:
Burn with Sandalwood during meditation to seek illumination, and to develop psychic powers. Carry the wood as a protective amulet.
Culinary Uses:
In Southwestern USA, the Cahuilla and the Pima tribes eat the pods or seeds of Catclaw Acacia (A. greggii) either raw, or ground and cooked in cakes.
Natural Healing:
Hawaiians apply koa ashes to the insides of infant's mouths to give them physical strength. They also place the leaves on a person's sickbed to encourage perspiration.
Magickal Representation:
The acacia has ancient roots in magick as a representative of the vernal equinox, purity and innocence, immortality and regeneration, and as an emblem of ancient knowlege and mysteries.
Basic Powers:
Protection, Clairvoyance
Energy:
Hot
Planet:
Sun
Element:
Air
Direction:
East
Deities:
Diana, Ishtar, Osiris, Astarte
Preparation and Dosage:
1 tbsp. of gumsap for every one 1oz of water. taken orally 2 times a day for most ailments.
1 tsp. of sap applied directly to the burn site or burns as astringent and sauve.
Acacia is generally used as a tea, wash or powder.
  • Tea: For a strong decoction, use 1 ounce (28 g) of plant material in 16 ounces (475 ml) water, boil for 15 to 30 minutes, let stand overnight, strain.
    Use leaves, stems, pods all powdered. Drink 3 to 12 cups a day for shigella, malaria, dysentery, diarrhea. This decoction is both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.
    Use flowers and leaves as a tea for gastrointestinal tract inflammation. Flower tea is sedative.
    Use roots to make mucilaginous tea that is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Helpful for soothing gastrointestinal tract infections (including mouth and throat), as is coats and soothes, reduces inflammation and attacks microbial infection.
  • Wash:
    Use tea of leaves, stems and pods to wash recent or infected wounds.
    Use Pods to make wash to treat eyes for conjunctivitis. Add five or six cleaned pods, slightly crushed, to 1 pint (475 ml) water, bring to boil, remove from heat, let steep until it reaches temperature of body heat.
  • Powder:
    Leaves, stem, pods, bark, thorns powdered may be applied to fungal infections and infected wounds, and to stop bleeding of wounds and prevent subsequent infections.
  • Gum Preparation:
    Combine 1 part by weight of acacia gum with 3 parts by volume of distilled water. Place in well-stoppered bottle, shake occasionally, let dissolve, keep refrigerated. (It becomes a slimy goo.)
    Dosage: 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) as often as needed for sore inflammations in the gastrointestional tract from mouth to anus. Especially useful during acute throat infections, ulcerations of the mouth, painful gastrointestinal tract from dysenteric disease. The mucilage will coat and soothe and provie antimicrobial action.
Alternatives:
Mesquite (Prosopis julifera, P. pubescens), a relative and similar-appearing plant with a much broader range in the southwest, may be used intentically: same preparation, same dosage, same results.
Bibliography:
Encyclopedia of Medicinal Herbs ~ Joseph Kadans, N.D. Ph. D. © 1975 Arco Publishing Co.Inc. pps 17-19
The Secret Teachings of All Ages ~ Manly P Hall. © 2003 Philosophical Research Society. pp 298.
Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham Copyright © 1982 Llewellyn Publications pp 130-131
Herbal Antibiotics ~ Stephen Harrod Buhner. Copyright © 1999 Stephen Harrod Buhner. Pps. 23-23
The Meaning of Trees by Fred Hageneder Copyright©2005 Duncan Baird Publishers. Pp. 16-19