Myrica or bayberry is from the Myricaceae family, it is one of the 35 to 50 types of tiny trees and shrubs.
Bayberry is largely found in African lands, Asian countries, European lands and Northern parts of America.
Bayberry herb is also popularly known as bay-rum tree, sweet gale, wax myrtle and candle berry.
Bayberry species vary in size; some may be just 1 meter in height, whereas some may grow up to 20 meters tall. Most of the
bayberries are evergreen trees. The roots of bayberry contain bacteria that help them grow even in poor quality soil.
The leaves are spiral and the flowers are known as catkins. The fruit of this plant is a small shell like fruit with rubbery wax coats. This coating has a scent smell and is often used to make aromatic candles or related wax items. The wax may be removed from the
fruit berries by way of boiling, when the water cools down the wax if found floating at the top. This wax is also used in candle making. The fruits of
bayberry get ripe during the month of September and remains attached to the stem for a long time.
Bayberry has many curative properties; the bark itself is used as a tonic to arrest bleeding wounds. The antiseptic qualities of
bayberry encourage normal digestion processes. The herb is also known to salt retention and eliminating excess potassium from the body.
Bayberry is a popular herbal remedy for common colds and fevers. The powdered bark could be used as an effective decoction for sore throats.
