More than 1300 different types of acacia have been identified, and from ancient times, many of those species have proven extremely useful. Today, acacia products are used in pharmaceuticals and perfumes, and as both a food and a food additive. Hardwood lumber sawed from acacia trees is beautiful and durable, and the pulp can be used to make fine quality paper.

The acacia is not a large tree, seldom growing to more than 15 feet, and many species are actually bushes. They are most commonly found in tropical areas ranging from Egypt, Arabia, and the Sudan as far east as India and other parts of southern Asia. Many species, are also found in tropical South America, Australia, and even in southern France. They thrive in dry, sandy soil and have proven to be resistant to all but the worst drought conditions. They are somewhat scraggly in appearance, and most species have thorns, some of which can be quite formidable.

How Acacias Are Used

All the parts of acacia trees, from their roots to their flowers, are useful in some important way. Hardwoods from various species are used in furniture making. Acacia lumber is sold under various names and some, like the so-called “blackwood” cut from acacia trees in Australia, are highly valued and can be very expensive.

Leather workers use the pods and bark in tanning and drying their leather. The pods are used to treat dysentery, conjunctivitis, rheumatism, and various types of skin eruptions. Teas or powders made from acacia bark, roots, and leaves have astringent qualities and are used to treat sore throat, ulcers, diarrhea, leucorrhea, and even uterine hemorrhage.

Acacia flowers are used in several different ways. Flowers made into poultices for treatment of skin sores and ulcers such as bedsores, and headaches. The flowers of the sweet acacia (A farnesiana) are used throughout Europe and India in perfumes. In folklore, acacia flowers can be used to treat a wide variety of ailments including diarrhea and fever as well as rheumatism and certain sexual disorders.

Gum Arabic

Perhaps the best known, and widely used, acacia product is gum arabic, which has a multitude of uses. During a drought, the bark of the acacia tree splits. Sap oozes through the cracks and dries into small, gummy drops commonly called ‘tears’. These droplets were used in ancient Egypt as a base for various pain relieving compounds, and also as a glue. Arabian physicians made such great use of the gum that it was commonly referred to as gum arabic. The pharmaceutical industry makes use of gum arabic as a demulcent and to stabilize emulsions.

Traditional uses for gum arabic include treatment for numerous conditions such as urinary system problems, diarrhea, catarrh, hoarseness and coughs. It is also said that gum arabic may be used to sooth irritated mucous membranes by coating the mucous membranes, and that it acts as a laxative. It has even been claimed that gum arabic is useful to kill periodontic bacteria and present plaque growth in the mouth.

Gum arabic is also a valuable food source. It is easy to digest and is now widely used as an additive in many types of food to provide body and texture. In times of drought, it has been claimed that desert dwellers lived almost entirely on gum arabic, which has caused some scholars to speculate that the manna eaten by the Biblical Israelite may in fact have been gum arabic. Folk tales indicate that less than half a pound of acacia gum can support a man for up to twenty-four hours.

Other Uses

Paper made with acacia fibers is smooth and readily absorbs ink, making it an excellent choice for use by the commercial printing industry. Fibers taken from the bark of acacia trees is used to make cordage and thin rope. And with its formidable, spiky thorns, acacia trees and bushes are often planted near windows and other entryways in order to prevent break-ins and deter intruders.

The humble, unassuming acacia family of trees and bushes proves to be an invaluable source of dozens if not hundreds of useful products. They serve as a pharmacy, a perfumery, a source of food and wood products, and they even protect their owners from unwelcome intrusions. The world would be a much poorer place if anything ever happened to these ancient trees.

Selected Sources:

http://www.drugs.com/npp/acacia-gum.html

http://www.e-info-natural.com/Acacia.html

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/Canada/HealthInformation/Encyclopedias/AcaciaFlowers.htm