Catalpastry (which is not really a word, fyi)

As I brewed a cup of delicious Red Flower Jasmine Tea this morning, I found a dried pod (seeds dried inside) on the counter top and I asked my mom what it was. Apparently my baby niece, Meadow, had been sucking/chewing on the pod, which my brother, Jed, assumed was from a Catalpa tree (and later found it to be otherwise).
Jed, concerned that his child may have been eating something harmful, was wondering whether it (the Catalpa tree seeds, pods... etc.) was safe/nontoxic.

This, therefore, inspired me to climb onto my handy-dandy Google search engine to do a bit of digging. The results are rather fascinating and exciting as well (since we have a Catalpa tree of our own in our yard... they happen to be quite common in this area).

Catalpa trees, originally known as Catawba trees (the spelling was accidentally changed in a translation error), can be found all over the United States. You may have also heard of it by the name of Indian Bean tree, Cigar tree or Fish Bait tree (fishers plant Catawba because it attracts caterpillars used for bait).

Catalpa trees were utilized by the Native Americans long before they were used pioneers (who, when they discovered them, spread them about the continent as they migrated across the frontier).
Today they are used in many medical remedies.

One website said this about the Catalpa tree:
"European settlers planted it to produce fence posts. The wood is lightweight, and the heartwood is resistant to deterioration when placed in the ground for several years. Railroad companies grew plantations of it for use as track ties and fuelwood. It was also used for making packing materials. Carpenters commonly used it for interior trim in houses. Craftsmen used it to make furniture. It has also been used as telephone or powerline poles.

Ethnobotany: In some of the older medical journals (19th century) there were speculations that catalpa gave off poisonous emanations. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove those speculations.

Pioneer doctors used the seed pods and seeds to make a decoction for chronic bronchial affections, spasmodic asthma, labored breathing and heart problems. The juice from either the leaves or roots was used to treat swelling of an eye or cutaneous affections. Green leaves were crushed and placed on swollen lymph glands. The bark was dried then ground up to powder and taken, or brewed in a tea and taken for swollen lymph glands."

Another site had this to say on it's medical properties:
"A tea made from the bark has been used as an antiseptic, antidote to snake bites, laxative, sedative and vermifuge[222]. As well as having a sedative effect, the plant also has a mild narcotic action, though it never causes a dazed condition[7]. It has therefore been used with advantage in preparations with other herbs for the treatment of whooping cough in children, it is also used to treat asthma and spasmodic coughs in children[7, 254]. The bark has been used as a substitute for quinine in treating malaria[254]. The leaves are used as a poultice on wounds and abrasions[222]. A tea made from the seeds is used in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis and is applied externally to wounds[222]. The pods are sedative and are thought to have cardioactive properties[222]. Distilled water made from the pods, mixed with eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) and rue (Ruta graveolens) is a valuable eye lotion in the treatment of trachoma and conjunctivitis[7]."

And another site said this:
"Though these ornamental trees are widely used for decorating the gardens and for shades, they do have many medicinal benefits too. The tea made from the barks of the Catalpa trees is a very effective antidote for snakebites. When combined with other medicinal herbs, the parts of the Catalpa trees are proven to be effective remedies for whooping cough. Different parts like the bark and leaves are also used in the treatment for asthma. The Catalpa seeds have medicinal benefits too. Drinking the tea made from the Catalpa seeds has proven to be the best, effective treatment to asthma and bronchitis. Moreover, the tea made from Catalpa seeds can be used for healing external wounds. This tea made from the Catalpa seeds can be applied directly to the wounds. Great cardio active properties are found in the Catalpa pods. The pure distilled water collected from the Catalpa pods are used for the treatment of many eye health problems."

I tried to find a website that would explain how to make tea from the seeds, but was unsuccessful. I did find a site with a short article that had to do with the prevention of cancer by drinking herbal teas. Although it does not mention tea made from Catalpa seeds, it is very interesting and I recommend that you read it.

Another interesting site is the Indiana Medical History Museum. They give a simple, clear definition of the Catalpa tree, along within many other recognizable and useful plants in their "Guide to the Medical Plant Garden".

My brother Jed summed up the information I'd told to him about the Catalpa tree:
"So if you get bitten by a snake, have asthma and are constipated you should pretty much eat Catalpa."