ABSTRACT
Hydrangea, or seven barks, consists of the underground portions (rhizome and roots) of the plant Hydrangea arborescens L. (family Saxifragaceae), an erect shrub growing in the eastern part of the United States from New York to Florida and west to Oklahoma.1 It was originally used by the Cherokee Indians, who introduced it to the early settlers as a remedy for kidney stones. During the first few decades of this century, the drug saw some action for this and also as a diuretic in conventional medicine, but it lapsed into disuse until the recent revival of herbal remedies. Advocates of herbal medicine still recommend it for these conditions.2
