Survival Skills: Four Survival Uses For Tannic Acid From Oak Bark
Though it seems like we’re brewing up a potion, the fresh inner bark from an oak tree and a pot of boiling water can provide us with a great remedy for inflamed tissues, irritated skin, toothaches - and it can even help you tan a deer hide. Start by positively identifying an oak species. Red oaks and black oaks contain more tannic acid. White oak contains less, but it’s still useful. So what is tannic acid?
A tannin (also known as vegetable tannin or tannic acid) is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenol compound. Tannins have been attributed with antiviral, antibacterial and anti-parasitic effects - and the crazy part is, you have them all the time. Tannins are in coffee, chocolate, wine and many other common foods and beverages. The term tannin (from tanna, an Old High German word for oak or fir tree, as in Tannenbaum) refers to the use of wood tannins from oak in tanning animal hides into leather; hence the words "tan" and "tanning" for the treatment of leather. Here’s how you can extract it. Carve the bark from an oak branch (this is less destructive than damaging a tree trunk). For a big batch your could collect several cups of bark, or you could do a small batch with less material. Place the bark in a pot and cover it completely with water. Bring it to a low boil. Keep watch over it for 30 minutes, adding small amounts of water as it evaporates away. This liquid should become browner as you go, looking very much like tea. Fun fact - the regular tea we drink is brown because of tannic acid. Once the 30 minutes has passed, kill the heat and let the liquid cool. Pour it through a strainer and bottle the liquid for use in healing and tanning (or you can use it right away, if needed).
Toothache For tooth troubles, simply swish the bitter water back and forth in your mouth – holding it in there as long as you can. Repeat as need, but do not swallow, as this bitter water will give you an upset stomach.
Ingrown Nails The easiest delivery methods that I have ever used is a cotton ball strapped to the offending toenail (or fingernail). Use a bit of gauze dressing or even a band-aid to hold the cotton ball in the right spot, and drip tannic acid water on the cotton until soaked. Leave it in place and keep moist for 12 to 24 hours. The problem should be gone in a day or two.
Rash Remedy Soak a clean cloth in this dark brown water, and apply the wet cloth to rashes and any other inflamed skin ailment. Leave the cloth in place, and repeat this treatment as needed.
Hide Tanning This use isn’t medicinal, but if you’re living off the land – it’s really helpful. Add tannic acid water to animal brains or egg yolks (no egg whites) if you’re doing traditional brain tanned buckskin. Brain tanning is a lengthy and laborious method of conditioning and softening the hide, but it can yield nice results.
Want to learn how to identify oaks and make your own tannic acid water? We’d love to have you join one of our Herbal Medicine Intensive classes or a Wild Medicinal Plant class. Check out the foraging class description to find out more.
Written by Tim MacWelch First draft published on outdoorlife.com