Latin: Alnus glutinosa
Also Known As: Aller, Howler, Black Alder, Common Alder, European Alder, Whistlewood, Irish Mahogany, Scottish Mahogany
Family: Betulaceae
Habitat and Description: The Alder is most often to be found growing alongside streams and rivers, as well as in damp meadows and boggy areas. The female flowers appear in the early spring, before the leaves break bud, and are pinkish in colour. The distinctive golden catkins are the male flowers, and appear in autumn. It is a deciduous tree, with fairly dark coloured, oval, toothed leaves. The fruits look slightly like a miniature fir cone – its not unusual to see the fruit on the branches alongside the catkins. The Alder can range in size from a shrub to a fairly large tree. The bark is furrowed and ranges in colour from brown to blackish-grey. The inner wood, when felled, is originally white but turns a reddish pink colour. Alder trees are often found growing side by side with Birch and Willow trees.
Parts Used: Bark, leaves
Constituents: The bark contains lignans, tannin, phenolic glycosides, while the leaf contains flavonoid glycosides, resin. The bark contains 10 – 20% tannins, emodin, and phenolic glycosides such as lyonoside, as well as miscellaneous triterpenes, anulin, protanulin, phlobaphene etc. The leaves contain the particular flavonoid glycoside named hyperoside. flavonoidA chemical that gives a substance its flavour
Planetary Influence: Venus, Pisces sign. Others associate it with the Moon and Mars. Either way, I think that the Alder tree is all about balance – water and fire, two sides of the same coin.
Rune: Isa
Ogham: Fearn
Associated Deities and Heroes: Arthur, Bran, Branwen, Guinevere, Orpheus, Rinda The Alder is sacred to Apollo, Arianrhod, Odin and Lugh, as well as Pan and Verthandi
Festival: Spring Equinox
Constitution: Cool and dry
Spiritual and Energetic Uses: The general concensus between authors seems to be that on a spiritual, energetic and magical level, the Alder is used as a shield, perhaps in a similar sort of way as Yarrow, although Alder tends to be used more for heart protection rather than psychic protection. Alder also provides a strong foundation, and inner confidence, with the ability to discriminate between good and bad. It is symbolic of royalty – no surprise there as it is associated with both Arthur and Bran, as well as the element of fire. It's possibly slightly akin to Oak in terms of energy. I think it could also be used to represent balance, as the tree itself is symbolic of fire, however is also associated with water. It can be used to bring the inner self, the male and female sides of the nature, into balance. It also represents enthusiasm for a fight, and was much loved by the ancient Celts, who were, after all, a warrior race. On a spiritual level Alder acts as a shield, enhancing courage and providing protection. The spiritual essence of the alder is the ability to respond to challenges with courage and boldness. It could perhaps be used together with Borage to bring courage to people facing up to hard challenges, although I think that they could be used in different ways – Borage to bring courage to people who feel they are lacking in it, and Alder to temper people who perhaps have too much strength and courage but who do not aim it appropriately and end up getting hurt as a result. The tree can be used to remind us of the need to balance strength and courage with generosity of spirit and compassion. Lastly, Alder provides the strong foundation needed by those who tend to become overwhelmed by watery emotions, allowing them to think clearly and objectively.
Actions and Indications: The leaves can be used to treat burns and inflammation, in particular inflammation of the breast. The bark can also be used for similar purposes, and that the whole plant can be used to get rid of fleas in the house. As with many of the trees used medicinally, Alder is astringent and possibly anti inflammatory, and can be used to treat sore throats, mouth ulcers, bruises and swellings. Traditionally, dried alder leaves are added to a bed to relieve rheumatism. Loosely filling a cushion or duvet with the dried leaves apparently works just as efficiently for those not wishing to sleep in a bed composed of leaves. Alder is astringent, tonic, antibacterial, antiviral (in particular to the herpes virus), as well as being anti haemorrhagic, emetic and anti diarrhoeal, vulnerary, lymphatic and febrifuge. It can be used as a blood and tissue cleanser, and to treat rhinitis, and the cones can be used as an astringent in the treatment of haematuria and haemorrhage. The tree is still used as a gargle to treat sore throats and skin conditions such as acne, eczema and impetigo
Folklore: There is a wide body of folklore surrounding the Alder tree. It has grown in Britain for thousands of years, and was well known and beloved by the Celts. According to Irish legend, the first human male was made out of Alder, and the first woman was made out of Rowan. The Alder is the totem tree of Bran, one of the much loved Gods of ancient Britain. The tree was also mentioned in the famous poem 'Cad Goddeau' or 'The Battle of the Trees', apparently written by the Welsh bard Taliesin. The tree was also used to provide many fine dyes, with the flowers producing a rich green dye, the bark producing bright red dye and the young shoots producing cinnamon brown. These could also be used to create other colours, such as combining copper with the young shoots to produce a pure yellow dye, and adding copper to the bark to produce black dye. As a result of these usages, the tree was also associated with Goddesses of spinning such as Arianrhod and perhaps Arachne.
Dose: 4mls per dose of the tincture, and 30mls per dose of the infused herb.
Contraindications:Horses should not eat the leaves of Alder as apparently they make them sick as well as turning their tongues black.