Most people spend their fall weekends cursing sweet gum trees. Those spiky brown balls underfoot, in the yard, in the gutters. What almost nobody knows is that the same tree they're trying to get rid of contains one of the most studied antiviral compounds in modern medicine.

We harvest ours by hand — from our land and our neighbors' land here in Opp, Alabama — while the balls are still green and at peak potency. Then we tincture them slowly in alcohol to draw out the full spectrum of compounds. That's it. No shortcuts, no additives, no manufacturing facility. Just a Southern tree and people who know how to use it.

What It Is

Sweet gum ball extract is a tincture made from the green seed pods of the Liquidambar styraciflua tree — a native Southern hardwood that grows abundantly across Alabama and the rest of the Southeast.

The pods are rich in shikimic acid, a naturally occurring plant compound that has been the subject of significant published research for its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Sweet gum has also been studied for its ability to inhibit certain respiratory viruses.

Beyond antiviral properties, sweet gum has been used by Southern and Native American herbalists for generations to support respiratory health, ease inflammation, and aid digestion. The sap of the tree was used medicinally for more than 10,000 years before modern medicine gave it a scientific name.

What Is Shikimic Acid?

Shikimic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound found in several plants, with sweet gum trees being one of the most abundant sources in North America. It plays a key role in plant defense systems and has been studied extensively for its potential benefits in human health, including immune support, anti-inflammatory activity, and antioxidant protection.

Unlike synthetic versions, our shikimic acid comes directly from whole sweet gum ball extract — meaning you get the full spectrum of the plant's natural compounds, not an isolated chemical. Sweet gum trees grow wild across southern Alabama, making them one of the most locally abundant and sustainably harvestable sources of this compound anywhere in the United States.

Why Ours Is Different

How to Use

Take a few drops directly under the tongue, or add to water, tea, or juice. Most people use it during cold and flu season as a daily immune support or at the first sign of illness.

Available in 1oz and 2oz tincture bottles — the 2oz is our best value for anyone using it regularly through cold and flu season.

Start with a small amount to see how your body responds. As with any herbal supplement, consult your healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sweet gum ball tincture used for?
Sweet gum ball tincture is used as a natural herbal supplement. The green sweet gum balls are one of the richest natural sources of shikimic acid available in North America. Many people use it as part of a natural wellness and immune support routine, particularly during cold and flu season.

What is shikimic acid and where does it come from naturally?
Shikimic acid is a naturally occurring plant compound found in sweet gum trees, star anise, and several other plants. Sweet gum trees are one of the most abundant and accessible natural sources of shikimic acid in the United States, particularly in the American South where they grow wild in large numbers.

When should sweet gum balls be harvested for highest potency?
Sweet gum balls should be harvested while still green — before they dry out and turn brown. The green stage is when shikimic acid and other beneficial compounds are at their peak concentration. At Mayim Farm we hand-harvest at exactly this stage every season.

Is your sweet gum tincture wild harvested?
Yes — we use a combination of sweet gum balls harvested from trees on our Mayim Farm property and wild trees from the surrounding Opp, Alabama area. All harvesting is done by hand. We never use pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals of any kind on our land or on the land we wild harvest from.

How is this tincture made?
We process small batches right here on the farm using slow alcohol extraction, which draws out the full spectrum of beneficial compounds including shikimic acid, terpenes, and flavonoids. There are no synthetic additives, fillers, or preservatives — just pure sweet gum ball extract in liquid tincture form, made by hand in Opp, Alabama.

Can I use sweet gum ball extract every day?
Many customers use it daily during cold and flu season as a preventive immune support supplement. As with any herbal product, we recommend starting with a small amount to see how your body responds, and consulting your healthcare provider if you have any medical conditions or take medications.

From Our Farm to You

Greg and Carole Lolley have farmed this land in Opp, Alabama since 2011. We don't use pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals of any kind — on our crops or on the land we wild harvest from. When you order from Mayim Farm you're getting something that was growing wild in Southern Alabama soil a few weeks ago, processed by hand, and shipped from our farm usually the next day.

Questions about this product or how to use it? Email us at info@mayimfarm.com — we read every message personally.