| From the Herbalist | |
Cottonwood
Buds: A Soothing Folk Remedy
by Lori Harger Witt, from the March 2002 newsletter
There is nothing that smells more purely of springtime to me than the oozing
resin of cottonwood buds. Before the last snow melts or the first crocuses peek
out of the earth, the scent of sap rising up the trunk, down the branches, and
out to each small, future leaf is my favorite annual reminder that spring will
indeed come again.
Perhaps you've noticed these sticky, reddish brown buds as they mature and fall to the ground, making what some folks consider a mess worse than chewing gum stuck to the pavement. But before they pop open and fall from the tree, cottonwood buds are one of our most useful native plant medicines.
Populus balsamifera, also known as balsam poplar, Balm of Gilead, or black cottonwood, has a long history of use in a variety of folk medicines. As an infused oil, cottonwood buds make a top-notch massage oil. The buds contain salicylates, aspirin-like compounds which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Their aromatic resins are anti-microbial and vasodilating, and stimulate new skin growth. These combined effects make the oil a soothing rub for achy or injured areas as well as balm for minor cuts and abrasions. And the smell will bring the freshness of spring back to you year-round.
If you should venture out to pick some of these sticky buds, remember to do so in an a remote area where you can be reasonably sure others won't be coming to pick after you. Pick sparingly, and leave the buds on the end tips of the branches untouched; the tip buds draw the sap out the length of the branch and removing them can stop the flow for the whole branch. Remember, each bud you remove means one less leaf on the tree come summer.
To make an infused oil, place the buds in a canning jar and pour in enough olive oil to thoroughly cover. You can also use almond or other high-quality vegetable oil. Place the jar in a pot of water or double boiler and heat just below simmering for about an hour. Some people strain the oil off the buds at this point. I like to let mine steep for a few weeks after the initial heating, then gently reheat again before straining. Cottonwood buds contain antioxidants, so the oil should keep from going rancid without adding vitamin E or other preservatives.
This oil is useful to have in the house; use it after a hard workout at the gym, on the kid who's always falling and cutting himself, and anytime you've got a kind soul willing to give you a backrub.
Lori Harger Witt is an herbalist living in Genesee, Idaho.
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