Alum Root/ Cranesbill Tea

🌿 Alum Root (Heuchera americana)

Also known as: Wild Geranium • Cranesbill • American Alumroot
Family: Saxifragaceae (not related to the ragweed family)
Origin: Native to North America — thriving in shaded woodlands and rocky hillsides
Parts used: Dried root and rhizome
Primary use: Internal & External

✨ Description

Hidden beneath the forest floor, Alum Root carries the deep, grounding energy of ancient earth. Its russet-brown roots, when dried, release a mild mineral scent and produce a powerfully toning, almost bark-like flavor. Revered by Indigenous and early Appalachian herbalists, this herb earned its name from its similarity in effect — not composition — to the mineral Alum, prized for tightening and cleansing.

Where Alum Crystals purify the skin, Alum Root purifies the blood and tissues, drawing together what is weak or inflamed. Its energetic signature is firm, stabilizing, and restorative — ideal for times when the body or spirit feels scattered or depleted.

🍵 Dried Herb Uses

As a tea or internal tonic:
Alum Root’s strength lies in its astringent tannins, which gently constrict tissue and reduce excess flow.

• Internal Bleeding & Excessive Flow: Traditionally used to support the body during episodes of internal bleeding, such as bleeding gums, ulcers, or excessive menstrual flow. Herbalists have long relied on cranesbill for its natural hemostatic and toning effects.
• Digestive & Intestinal Health: Helps soothe mild diarrhea, leaky gut symptoms, or intestinal irritation by tightening and healing inflamed mucous membranes.
• Oral & Throat Support: Used as a gargle for bleeding gums, sore throats, or post-dental recovery to promote healing and reduce swelling.

Directions (Internal Use):
Simmer 1 teaspoon of dried root per 8 oz of water for 10–15 minutes.
Strain and sip up to twice daily as needed for toning or recovery support.
For a mouth rinse or gargle, use the same decoction cooled to room temperature.

💧 External Uses

• Apply as a compress or wash for minor wounds, scrapes, or cuts to help slow bleeding and encourage healing.
• Add to a sitz bath or postpartum rinse to tone and soothe delicate tissue.
• Mix powdered alum root with kaolin clay or aloe gel for a firming facial mask or spot treatment for acne and inflammation.
• A cooled decoction can be used as a toner to tighten pores and refresh oily or irritated skin.

Topical Ratio:
Use 1 tablespoon dried root per cup of water; simmer 15–20 minutes and allow to cool before application.

🌼 Harvest & Sourcing

Our Alum Root is wildcrafted in the late fall, when the plant’s energy returns to its roots and the tannins are at their peak. Harvested from shaded North American forests, each root is hand-dug, washed, and slowly shade-dried to maintain potency and purity.

⚖️ Energetics & Taste

• Taste: Strongly astringent, earthy, and bitter-mineral.
• Energetic profile: Cooling, drying, grounding; encourages stability and closure, both physically and emotionally.
• Pairs well with: Yarrow (for bleeding), Marshmallow Root (to balance dryness), or Calendula (for tissue repair).

⚠️ Warnings

• Use moderately; Alum Root’s strong tannins mean small doses are highly effective.
• Not for long-term internal use; may irritate sensitive stomachs if taken in excess.
• Avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Those with iron-deficiency anemia, chronic constipation, or very dry constitutions should use with caution.
• Always consult your healthcare professional before using for active bleeding or if symptoms persist.

🌻 A Note from the Herbalist

Where Alum Crystals bring mineral purity, Alum Root embodies the grounding power of plants.
Both tighten, cleanse, and protect — yet their essence differs:

• Alum Crystals are mineral salts used externally for odor control, aftershave care, and spiritual cleansing.
• Alum Root is a botanical healer used internally and externally to tone tissues, reduce bleeding, and strengthen the body’s integrity from within.

In essence, Alum Root is the forest’s version of the crystal — gentler, earthier, and deeply connected to restoration and resilience.