Tragacanth Gum (ASTRAGALUS GUMMIFER)

Description:
Tragacanth Gum, also known as Gum Tragacanth, is a dried gummy exudate obtained from several species of Middle Eastern Astragalus trees, that are members of the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family. The trees are a small branching thorny shrubs, which exudes a sap, which is usually obtained by deliberate vertical slits of its gray trunk and branches. Tragacanth is an odorless, tasteless, water soluble, natural gum obtained from dried sap. It will swell in water to give a stiff mucilage with an extremely high viscosity, and provides a useful suspending and binding agent.

Origin:
Morocco

Other Names:
Goat’s Thorn, Gum Dragon, Gum Tragacanth, Syrian Tragacanth

Part Used:
Gum

Other Uses:
Gum Tragacanth glue or mucilage is the basic ingredient of all molded incenses. To make tragacanth glue, place a teaspoon of the ground herb in a glass of warm water. Mix thoroughly until all particles are dispersed. Gum tragacanth has enormous absorption qualities and an ounce will absorb up to one gallon of water in a week.

Medicinal Uses:
Tragacanth has a laxative effect, primarily due to stimulating stretching of the intestinal wall, which results in increased peristalis.

Magickal Powers and Correspondences:
Powers:
Planet Rulership: Mercury
Element Rulership: Air
Gender:
Sign:

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