Bayberry is an evergreen shrub (or small tree) found growing along the eastern coast of the United States. It is perhaps best known for the thick waxy coating on its berries used for fragrances and candles— hence common names like candleberry, tallow shrub, and wax myrtle.
Medicinally, bayberry was used in the South by the native Choctaw tribe to treat fever. Bayberry root bark powder contains myricitrin, an antibiotic, and astringent tannins that may help in treating fever and diarrhea. To make an infusion, the powdered root bark is boiled in water and then strained. The taste is bitter and astringent.
Some contemporary herbalists also recommend bayberry root bark powder as a gargle for sore throats or as a topical paste to treat sores, ulcers, or varicose veins.
