Linden Tree and Decoctions

Monek Marie

I have a few beautiful Linden trees down by the creek. What made me notice it at first is for some reason the leaves catch the sun and glow a golden color on the creek. Watching the ripples in the creeks gives a great feeling of calm to my soul.

I also noticed the pretty flowers in the spring. My friend told me it makes a lovely tea and honey. I also read ther ther bark will make a nice decoction. I have not made a decoction before so had to look it up. I think tomorrow I will have to harvest some bark from the tree and give this a try.

I found a link on decoctions.

https://www.homsted.com/blogs/homsted/how-to-make-an-herbal-tea-infusion-decoction/

Tave

Wonderful. I use linden tea when I'm stressed.

Monek Marie

It's such a beautiful tree. I plan to try it for stress

Torey

Linden is an excellent relaxing nervine. Very good for stress and anxiety and may help with hypertension. The German Commission E monograph says linden is good for "upper respiratory catarrh, common colds, irritable coughs, hypertension, and restlessness". Generally the flowers and their bracts (two leaves attached to the flowers) are used to make an infusion or a nourishing herbal infusion. Linden is one of the herbs that Susun Weed recommends for her program of nourishing herbal infusions.

As it says in the article you have posted, decoctions are more for use with roots, barks, resins and other harder materials. Flowers and leaves generally are done as infusions, though some are decocted.

I have never heard of using linden bark medicinally or for tea. I see the flowers sold in health food stores but have never seen the bark for sale. I know the inner cambium can be eaten but not sure about a beverage. @Denise Grant Could you send me a link about using Linden bark? Now is not an optimal time to harvest bark. Spring is better as that is when the sap is running and more plant constituents are available. Also gives the plant time to recover before winter.

Monek Marie

https://practicalselfreliance.com/foraging-for-linden/

@torey Its hard finding a lot of ifoprmatiojn for using the bark. It often seems to be combined with the flower and leaf. This link does have some information.

I also found it interesting it can be used like a chocolate or coffee substitute. Its a much more amazing tree than I knew!

LaurieLovesLearning

A reminder to all when you harvest bark to only take a small portion from each tree.

Don't girdle the tree by taking bark from right around the tree. This will certainly kill it. A bit here & there it can recover from, but from right around the trunk...it won't.

Monek Marie

Great comment! Its always best to harvest lightly ans wisely.

Quite a few of the articles on bark I have read suggest using a small branch instread of the truck

Voodoo Flóra

@Denise Grant I am the proud owner of a tilia henryana. It is a favorite tree of the bees, hence, the beekeeper. The flowers are honey-like and medicinal. The flowers can be made into an herbal remedy as an infused tea.

Monek Marie

@aprilbbrinkman Cool tree. I had to look it up

Voodoo Flóra

@Denise Grant YES. The plant is a native of China and named by an Irishman who brought it west. Yesterday, I was reminded by this discussion to gather seeds from the plant where it has flourished on our land we are leaving. I'm bringing a hoped-for seedling to our new yet-to-be found place. We will see if the fairies want it to come with us!

Monek Marie

@aprilbbrinkman If you could would you share a seed with me. I love the unusual. It sounds like such a nice addition to a property

And good luck with your soon to be found place