Yes!
Indeed the ash tree is all edible. It is quite ash-tounding that this knowledge has been buried for so long within most countries. We can only assume it was something that Vikings knew about given the ash tree was the tree of life Yggdrasil.
We here at Öskuhús stumbled upon this one evening when researching how to make the clearest alcohol with Beech tree leaves. We were searching for ideas whilst enjoying a cold öl (beer) finding fun ideas on trees.
There it was. Ash tree otherwise known as Fraxinus in Latin, has been on the market in our neighbouring countries for more than 30 years, thus they may be considered as traditional herbal medicinal products according to the criteria of 2004/24/EC Directive.
Even better – it is related to the Olive tree as well!
After even further research and talking to various foraging friends we discovered that the Fraxinus plant has been accounted for its wide spectrum of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, anticytotoxic, antiaging, antimicrobial, and antihypertensive.
We have read several technical reports and they all agree the following about the Ash tree:
Given the ash is related the Olive tree it as for many plant-derived polyphenols, it has been largely assumed that EVOO-derived complex phenols such as lignans, flavonoids and secoiridoids 127-130 provide health benefits, primarily due to their antioxidant activity
Secoiridoids
From the point of view of isolation, these are the most exhaustively targeted compounds reported from this species: ligstroside and oleuropein
Oleuropein and its metabolite, hydroxytyrosol, have powerful antioxidant activity, which might be responsible for some of olive oil’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease-fighting activities. Oleuropein is best known for its blood pressure-lowering effect
Oleuropein and Health. Oleuropein has several pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, antimicrobial, and antiviral, and for these reasons, it is commercially available as food supplement in Mediterranean countries
The level of potassium was measured to be 1.7% by Carnat
And there you have it. The ash tree is safe for consumption and has been for several years with Spain, Portugal and Belgium already selling it in medicinal format.
With Ash dieback not being harmful to humans at all!
As mentioned above – totally Ash-stounding!
I know I am bleating on… but even sheep lap it up! I am used to them just wanting to head butt me or run away, but show up with a branch of ash tree and et voila! They are like putty in my hand!
Goes to show that the animal instinct didn’t forget this natural delicacy! Go Ash-tree!
