White Oak Bark

(Quercus alba)

Quercus alba — White Oak — is one of the most ecologically and historically significant hardwood trees of eastern North America, a long-lived deciduous oak of the family Fagaceae native to the eastern United States and southern Canada, where it grows in well-drained upland forests from Maine to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. Quercus alba is among the most majestic and long-lived trees of the North American forest — individual specimens regularly live 500 to 600 years, with some documented at over 800 years of age. The bark of Quercus alba has one of the longest and most well-documented histories of use in North American botanical tradition of any native tree — it was used extensively by numerous Indigenous nations including the Cherokee, Iroquois, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Mohegan, and it was adopted into early American and European herbal practice by the 17th century. White oak bark was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) from 1820 through 1916 and in the National Formulary through 1936, reflecting its long-standing recognition as a botanical material of significance. The bark is harvested from young branches and the outer trunk, then dried and milled. Its defining characteristic is an exceptionally high concentration of tannins — particularly quercitannic acid — which give the bark its strongly astringent taste and its characteristic interaction with proteins and mucous membranes. Our White Oak Bark is available in cut & sifted and powder forms, sourced from Quercus alba bark.

Quercus alba bark contains a well-documented phytochemical profile dominated by tannins (primarily quercitannic acid / oak tannin, typically 10–20% of dry weight — among the highest tannin concentrations of any North American botanical), ellagitannins (including pedunculagin, castalin, and vescalagin), gallic acid, ellagic acid, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, quercitrin, catechins (including catechin and epicatechin), leucoanthocyanidins, beta-sitosterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, chromium, selenium, and dietary fiber. Available in Cut & Sifted and Powder forms.

Product Highlights

• Bark of Quercus alba — White Oak, one of the most long-lived hardwood trees of eastern North America (specimens documented at 500–800+ years)
• Among the most historically significant North American botanicals — used by Cherokee, Iroquois, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Mohegan peoples; listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820–1916
• Exceptionally high tannin content (10–20% dry weight) — among the highest of any North American botanical; primary tannin is quercitannic acid
• Rich in ellagitannins (pedunculagin, castalin, vescalagin) and ellagic acid — also found in pomegranate, raspberries, and walnuts
• Contains quercetin and quercitrin — flavonoids named directly for the Quercus genus
• One of the defining astringent botanicals in North American herbal tradition
• Available in Cut & Sifted and Powder forms (2 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz)

How to Use

Decoction (Tea): Simmer 1 teaspoon of cut & sifted bark in 2 cups of water for 20–30 minutes; strain and cool. White oak bark requires longer simmering than leaf herbs due to its dense bark structure. The flavor is strongly astringent and bitter. Powder: Use ½–1 teaspoon of powder in decoctions or incorporate into herbal blends. Herbal Blends: Combine with complementary botanicals such as marshmallow root, slippery elm, or meadowsweet in custom herbal formulations. Topical Preparations: Traditionally used in poultices and washes — prepare a strong decoction, cool completely, and apply externally as desired. Tincture Base: White oak bark is a traditional tincture ingredient; steep in food-grade alcohol per standard tincture ratios.

Available in Cut & Sifted and Powder (2 oz, 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz).

Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.