Sweetgums (liquidamber)
Synopsis of sweetgums
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a deciduous hardwood tree native to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. Known for its star-shaped leaves and spiky seed pods, sweetgum produces a fragrant resin or balsam (called storax or liquidambar), which has been historically valued for its aromatic, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties. The bark, resin, and inner wood have all been used in folk and herbal medicine.
The resin, obtained by wounding the bark, contains cinnamic acid, styrene, vanillin, benzyl compounds, and essential oils, which give it antiseptic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial qualities. In herbal practice, sweetgum resin has been used to treat coughs, sore throats, chest congestion, and wounds, often applied topically as a salve or inhaled as a vapor. It was also chewed like gum for oral infections or sore gums—a practice dating back to Indigenous American traditions.
Modern research has also shown that the resin contains shikimic acid, a key precursor in the synthesis of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), the antiviral drug used to treat influenza. While not used directly as an antiviral medicine in clinical practice, this biochemical connection has sparked renewed interest in sweetgum as a potential supportive botanical for respiratory health.
Historical Use:
Sweetgum resin was used extensively by Native American tribes, particularly the Cherokee, who used it as a wound dressing, chewing gum, and respiratory remedy. Early European settlers adopted these uses, valuing sweetgum as both a fragrant incense-like balsam and a medicinal salve. The resin was often infused into oils or applied to boils, cuts, and rashes, and was also burned or inhaled to treat lung and throat infections.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the resin became a popular export to Europe, where it was used in perfumes, soaps, and medicinal plasters. Apothecaries listed “liquid storax” as a remedy for cough, catarrh, and digestive complaints. The bark and inner wood were also used in decoctions to reduce fever and diarrhea, and were sometimes included in tonics and bitters.
In traditional Central American medicine, parts of the sweetgum tree were used to treat inflammation, infections, and even snake bites, often in poultice or decoction form. Chewing the resin was also considered helpful for digestion, breath, and oral hygiene.
Sweetgums is used for these health conditions
Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Arthritis (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Cuts (Traditional)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Dyspepsia (Traditional)
Ear Infection or Earache (Traditional)
Eczema (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Traditional)
Indigestion (Traditional)
Inflammation (Traditional)
Itching (Traditional)
Jaundice (adults) (Traditional)
Nausea and Vomiting (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Traditional)
Rashes and Hives (Traditional)
Sinus Infection (Traditional)
Skin (infections) (Traditional)
Sore Throat (Traditional)
Sunburn (Traditional)
Wounds and Sores (Traditional)
sweetgums is used to support these body systems
Digestive System (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
