American Dogwood

BotanicalBest taken away from food

What is it

American dogwood (Cornus florida) is a flowering tree whose bark and root were historically used in folk medicine, including by Indigenous peoples and 19th-century American physicians as a quinine substitute.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Traditional fever and digestive use

Mixed Evidence

Historical use as a quinine substitute for malaria has no modern clinical support. Antipyretic and digestive uses are based on tradition rather than controlled trials.

How it works

Dogwood bark contains tannins, the iridoid glycoside cornin, and other plant compounds. Traditional preparations were used as bitter tonics for fever and digestion. Modern research has not established a defined mechanism for any specific health outcome. Asiatic dogwood (Cornus officinalis), sometimes confused or grouped with American dogwood on labels, has separate traditional Chinese medicine uses for kidney and liver support and contains loganin and morroniside, distinct from the American species.

Dosage

There is no established dose. Tincture-style preparations in traditional use ranged from 1 to 4 mL up to three times daily. Modern label doses vary widely and are not based on standardized clinical evidence.

When and how to take it

If used, traditional preparations are typically taken between meals as a bitter tonic.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Bark extract or tincture

Available as dried bark powder, alcohol tincture, or low-concentration extract in tonic blends.

No standardized bioavailability data.

Safety

Generally considered safe in small traditional amounts, but data are sparse. Bark may cause GI upset. Long-term high-dose safety is unknown.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and lactation due to lack of data. Caution in people with significant GI disease or on iron supplements.

Interactions

No well-characterized interactions. Tannin content could theoretically reduce absorption of iron and some alkaloid medications if taken at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

Is American dogwood the same as Asiatic dogwood?⌄

No. Cornus florida (American) and Cornus officinalis (Asiatic) are different species with different traditional uses and chemistry.

Does dogwood treat fever?⌄

Historical use does not equal modern efficacy. There is no clinical evidence supporting it for fever today.

References

American Dogwood on Wikidata — Wikidata link

American Dogwood on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on American Dogwood (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.