Family of Fagaceae
Fagus sylvatica beech (beuk)
Quercus robur oak (eik)
Quercus glandium spiritus acorns (eikel)
Castanea vesca chestnut (kastanje)
The family of the Fagacea are characterised by their richness of polyfenols and especially different types of tannins. These can be found in the leaves, fruit, wood and bark of the trees. They protect the trees. When animals eat tannins their digestion is slowed down (constipation, decreased appetite, dullness). In intoxications irritation and even damage of the bowel can occur. Laesions in liver and kidneys are described. Tannins are attached to proteins and can for example inhibit the hydrolysis of caseine by trypsine. But it can also interfere with the uptake of iron. The most important ecological function of tannins is the protection of the trees (plants) against bacterial and fungi. This preservation is the reason we humans use tannins to tan hides.
In phytotherapy the tannins are said to be diuretic, desinfectant and coagulating (blood). Barks of trees are used in diarrhoea and intoxications. Rinsing the mouth with decoctions is helpful for bleeding gums and inflammations of the mouth-cavity. Washing in the vagina improves leucorroe. Tannins bind with iron and thereby inhibit the activity of micoorganisms needing this element as for example E.Coli and Candida albicans. Tannins also bind to the proteins of certain micro-organisms and can for example antidote the oversensitive reaction to Giardia lamblia or Blastocystis hominis. This connection with proteins also explains the adstringent (antidiarrhoeic) effect of tannins.