Silver nitrate is used as a hemostatic, antiseptic and astringent. Potassium alum is used in medicine mainly as an astringent (or styptic) and antiseptic. The herb is purported to be a diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic. Herbal teas contain soluble polyphenols which impart astringent effects thought to have medicinal properties. It is a topical emollient, antiphlogistic, astringent, antiscorbutic, hepatic and diuretic. Its taste has been described as acidic, acrid, or astringent. The fruit has a high tannin content, which makes the unripe fruit astringent and bitter. The toner contains glycolic acid, an exfoliant, and witch hazel, an astringent. Food is generally classified into six tastes&colon; sweet, sour, salt, bitter, pungent and astringent. In modern herbal medicine it is used as an astringent and diuretic. Other traditional uses include as an expectorant, astringent, and to treat bronchitis. The plant also contains tannins that can act as an astringent. They include hormone-mimicking phytoestrogens and astringent tannins. The red gum kino is known to be rich in astringent tannins. The solution is slightly acidic and is astringent to the taste.