Medicinal properties of Spruce & Poplar buds
I am considering using fresh spruce needles in some medicinal blends. Then started to wonder what the medicinal properties are like in the dead winter here in our far north climate. Maybe someone has some experience in this field?
Admin edit: Discussion title edited to include further discussion of medicinal poplar buds
Comments
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@soeasytocraft You can use spruce at any time of the year. Spruce is antibacterial (against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria), anti-mycobacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-scorbutic. The needles in the winter actually have more vitamin C than at any other time (except for new bud growth in the spring). I use the new spring buds to make spruce tip honey which is awesome for sore throats and respiratory ailments. They can also be dried and used in teas for similar purposes. I have also had pickled spruce tips (from a commercial supplier of wild foods). Similar properties for the pitch. I make a salve with the pitch that is very good on minor wounds. abrasions. rashes, etc. Studies have been done showing spruce to have more of the above properties than any of the other conifer species.
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@torey I very much appreciate your knowledge. It is good.
@soeasytocraft Roughly where are you located?
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I'm in Alberta Canada. It's been a lovely cold winter. I'm out the door to gather some needles right now! I've used the buds in the spring too. Thanks for the feed back!
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I've got a broken finger that will be pinned up. Almost 2 weeks after the fact! Thought extra natural Vitamin C might be a good thing and the other properties will be bonus! Thanks again torey!
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@soeasytocraft Once you have your finger pinned be sure to use some comfrey on it to help with the healing process. And if you can get some homeopathic Arnica, that is recommended, one dose just before and one does just after surgery to assist with swelling and bruising.
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I've been wondering about that. I collected comfrey leaves last fall but i think I'll be in some type of cast so might not have access. I'll have to see about finding homeopathic arnica. Is that different then the arnica plant?
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@soeasytocraft Homeopathic Arnica is made from the plant but due to the way homeopathic remedies are made (in infinitesimal doses), homeopathically is the only way to take Arnica internally. You can always use the comfrey after the cast comes off, or maybe you will have something removable (to help with washing). You can get comfrey homeopathically as well, so you could take a dose or two, a couple of days after surgery. Homeopathic comfrey is called Symphytum and you should be able to find it anywhere that sells homeopathic remedies. Are you nearer to Calgary or Edmonton?
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I'm pretty close to Edmonton. I am not familiar with homeopathy and would really like to know where to get if you have suggestions.
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Planet Organic for sure. The pharmacy at the Calgary Co-op carries remedies so maybe Edmonton does as well. If you would like to learn more about homeopathy this is a good site: http://extraordinarymedicine.org/ or this site where you can click on the sidebar to learn more: https://abchomeopathy.com/_homeopathy/
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@torey thank you for sharing Spruce wisdom. Spruce needles are Higher in vitamin C in the winter months. :)
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@torey Thanks for your help! So appreciate you sharing your wisdom. I take it you live in the Calgary area. Nice to hear from a fellow Albertan!😃
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@soeasytocraft Actually, I am in Central BC, but have friends in Calgary. So just a day's drive away.
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I came across this article last year but I have not done anything with it yet. I mainly harvest Pine but hope to get some Spruce this, try more Eastern Red Cedar berries (a type of Juniper and not Cedar). I also found a recipe last week for making a Pine Needle Cough Syrup and presumably something similar could be done with Spruce.
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@Obiora E Spruce is one of the most medicinal of all the conifers. Makes a great syrup. But you could always use fir. It is very good for respiratory issues as well.
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@torey Thank you for letting me know! I will definitely have to try and find some in my neck of the woods.
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@soeasytocraft I'm so amazed by your knowledge about spruce!! How do you know all this? They certainly didn't cover it in my high school biology class... Is there a book you recommend? Thanks!
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@torey I had my finger pinning surgery and have taken both the Arnica and Symphytum. How long do you suggest I take them? I've had no pain and from what i can tell swelling is minimum. Thanks.
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@Megan Venturella Thank torey for the knowledge. I know nothing but looking forward to learning thats for sure!
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@soeasytocraft You can stop taking them now. If you have any future pain, I would suggest one does of symphytum. Once the surgery has healed, you could try a pain relieving oil such as cottonwood bud for any additional aches and pains.
So glad that you have had a pain free recovery so far! Isn't it amazing the difference a few tiny white sugar pellets can make?
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@torey Thanks for your help. One more question if I may? We have wild black poplar in our backyard. As a subspecies of cottonwood will it make the same oil?
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@soeasytocraft You can use the buds from any Populus species. Usually cottonwood is used over aspen because of the size of the buds. Not familiar with black poplar. Are the buds a good size?
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@torey yes the buds are a good size. Much bigger then aspen and very sticky.
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I just received this blog link in my e-mail. It is all about the benefits of poplar buds and the different medicines made from the buds, leaves and inner bark. I have never made the honey but it will be on the list to do this year. It will be harvest time for some of you right now. Not for me. Its -32°C at the moment so it might be awhile before the buds are ready.
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@torey -32? .. I remember those temps..and -62 once in a while ...brrrr
I was told that -20 was t shirt wx and I thought they were bat nuts crazy until I lived in the deep North for my first season and in early spring at -22 I found myself wearing a t shirt out side when I suddenly realized they were right in that it was quite comfy after going through my first winter there of -40 normal.. and dark making it worse..
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Bumping up. It's that time of year.
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I'll be watching the trees. I have a wonderful supply of honey for spruce honey.
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I do have a lot of aspen on the land. I will have to check the buds out
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@Denise Grant The top branch is Cottonwood buds. The others are Aspen. Size difference is why I harvest Cottonwood buds as opposed to Aspen. So much less picking to get a jar full. :)
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@torey If I can find cottonwood this year I will harvest some.
Yes, that is a lot less picking. I might try using some of the bark. I hear its not as strong but it would give me a chance to play if I cannot find cottonwood.
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@Torey Just tried your links. The one for extraordinarymedicine.org ends up at a casino website.
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