The Hidden Power of the Honey Locust Tree (Gleditsia triacanthos): Health, Healing, and Everyday Uses

### Digestive & Respiratory Health

* Teas brewed from the pods were used to treat indigestion, dyspepsia (digestive discomfort), catarrh, and stomach disorders. ([naturalmedicinalherbs.net][7])
* The pod juice is described as antiseptic — this might explain its use as a home remedy for minor infections or throat ailments. ([naturewalk.yale.edu][8])
* The bark was used for coughs, whooping cough, colds, and other respiratory issues. Traditional treatments included infusions or washes made from bark or leaves. ([The Ethnobotanical Enthusiast][9])

### Skin & External Use

* According to some ethnobotanical sources, infusions (or washes) made from the tree were applied to skin conditions — for example, rashes, sores, or general skin problems. ([zdwords][10])

### Traditional Healing & “Panacea” Uses

* In various native traditions, Honey Locust played a role in treatments for measles, smallpox, fevers — and as a general “blood‑purifying” agent or tonic. ([The Ethnobotanical Enthusiast][9])
* As a sweetener, the pods were used to make unpalatable medicines more acceptable — for example, bitter anti‑parasitic or worm remedies.

### Modern Scientific Observations & Research

* Studies of extracts from the tree (pods, seeds, leaves, even flowers) have revealed bioactive compounds: alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, triterpenoids, galactomannans and more.
* Some extracts showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and even anti‑tumor (anticancer) activity in lab tests. For example, certain isolates inhibited lipid peroxidation and reduced proliferation in human cancer cell lines (gastric, prostate, colon, breast, lung) at certain concentrations.
* The leaves, in particular, are being researched for potential anticancer compounds. ([journals.lww.com][1])