Prickly ash is a species of tree in the rue family that is found throughout the southeastern US. Also known as Sichuan pepper, Hercules’s club and toothache tree, prickly ash is unusual in its appearance due to alternate, oval-shaped, leathery leaves and bark that features half-inch spines. The bark, a source of more than 140 active compounds, has been historically used by Native Americans for generations.
Prickly ash bark powder may be applied directly to the skin as a poultice or infused in oil or tinctured. The powder may also be used in tea blends and encapsulated as a dietary supplement.