Thuja occidentalis
Northern whitecedar
Thuja occidentalis, commonly known as Eastern White Cedar, is a versatile evergreen native to North America. Renowned for its aromatic foliage, this medicinal plant has long been utilized in traditional herbalism to support respiratory health, promote skin healing, and provide antiseptic properties, making it a cornerstone of botanical wellness.
- Scientific name: Thuja occidentalis
- Family: Cupressaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Pinidae and the order Pinales, falling into the family Cupressaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Thuja.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Pinidae | WCVP |
| Order | Pinales | WCVP |
| Family | Cupressaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Thuja | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Thuja occidentalis, is recognized by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is referred to as 北美香柏 in Simplified Chinese (zh-hans), zh-cn, and zh-sg, as well as in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant) and the Cantonese usage of zh-hk.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 北美香柏 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 北美香柏 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 北美香柏 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 北美香柏 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 北美香柏 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 北美香柏 | Wikidata |
| pl | Żywotnik zachodni | Wikidata |
| fr | Thuya occidental | Wikidata |
| hu | nyugati tuja | Wikidata |
| de | Abendländischer Lebensbaum | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a distinct geographical presence across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its distribution extends westward to include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is also established within the landscapes of Norway. Finally, the plant completes its regional range by inhabiting the territories of Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Eastern White Cedar, offers various components that are utilized in traditional medicinal practices. The scale-like leaves are frequently harvested to create aromatic infusions, while the fragrant wood is often used in topical applications due to its resinous properties. Medicinal extracts derived from the entire organism are sometimes employed for their antimicrobial qualities. Additionally, the tough outer bark and the viscous plant sap are noted for their concentrated chemical compounds, which have historically been used in various folk remedies.- Total parts
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 6
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wood | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Plant sap | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Thuja occidentalis has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-4-carene, Alpha-pinene, D-Limonene, IL-2, IL-6.
- Total chemicals
- 19
- Scientific sources
- 19
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| (+)-4-carene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alpha-pinene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| D-Limonene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| IL-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| IL-6 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| TNF-alpha | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Thujone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alpha-cedrol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-myrcene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-pinene | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Thuja occidentalis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Immunomodulator.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Immunomodulator | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Thuja occidentalis has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, cancer, AIDS, Rhabdomyosarcoma, common cold.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| breast cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AIDS | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Rhabdomyosarcoma | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| common cold | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| respiratory tract infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |