Yew leaves and seeds are highly poisonous and deadly. However, the tree is famous for protecting the dead and being a gateway between this world and the next. As an incense, yew is often used in ceremonies to assist with astral travel, inner transformations and raising the dead. The isolated chemical, paclitaxel, found in the trees bark, is considered highly effective for treating breast and late stage ovarian cancers. Yew can also be an effective homeopathic remedy.

Discover Yew (Hong Dou Shan) and other herbs by visiting our Herb Directory.