It makes a great addition to creams or salves for chapped, scaly skin. There are some connections between the Cottonwood and the waters, and even connections to “rain magic.”  But that’s just the esoteric stuff. Wintun also used Populus fibers for skirts and for padding baby cradles. It is in flower from March to April, and the seeds ripen from May to June. Populus balsamifera is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate. All content, artwork, and pictures copyrighted by Adrian White and Iowa Herbalist, except where otherwise noted. consists of 25 species of trees, 11 of which hail from the U.S. Cottonwood … The same tea is used externally to help slowly heal deep wounds. Brayshaw) By Forest Jay Gauna. First, choose a pot or pan that you don’t mind dedicating to salve-making, as the medicine will be very difficult to completely remove. Names of Hibiscus Tiliaceus in various languages of the world are also given. Considered a both stimulating and relaxing expectorant in Traditional Hispanic Herbalism, an internal dosing of the bark or buds would urge the lungs to create a thinner, more watery mucus that could be easily coughed up. Young green seedpods have been chewed as a gum. The inner bark was traditionally eaten by many Native People, although it is so labor intensive that Some Cottonwoods are known indicators of a habitat’s health, and some are even protective of their environments against invasive species. .sg-popup-content-39 { Eastern cottonwood (P. deltoides), nearly 30 metres (100 feet) tall, has thick glossy leaves. Pour a couple of cups of buds and oil into the muslin, bundle it up, twist the cloth and squeeze with all you might. It felt ethical harvesting the bark from a tree that was going to die anyways, but in my opinion, it is unethical to harvest bark from a living tree, especially in Iowa. Leaves are ovaloid . Set jars to cool and harden somewhere for several hours, and make sure they aren’t touched; this causes ripples and encourages cracking in the salve, if you want it to look smooth and nice. In fact, old herbalists were confident in replacing doses of Quinine bark with the bark of the Cottonwood for malaria, as the tree is an effective diaphoretic or fever-quencher. Balsamifera means balsam (aromatic resin)-bearing. Brayshaw) By Forest Jay Gauna Populus balsamifera ssp. You know the infusion is happening if the oil starts to change color, and your kitchen begins smelling “resinous.” Inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc. Pour oil and buds into the blender. Cottonwood, Populus balsamifera, is the largest broadleaf deciduous tree in the Pacific Northwest.It is a member of the Salicaceae family, which makes it willow’s cousin. -Infuse your oil with the Cottonwood buds by heating oil very low on stove in a pot or pan (clean cast iron ok), placing buds in oil. It is hardy to zone (UK) 5. The bark is therefore anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge. If you wish to use the bark, check around the tree or grove to see if any bark or twigs have fallen that seem fresh, which you could use. Your goal is to create an ointment consistency. Are Cottonwood Trees Worth Anything . The resin is the sap from the tree. All rights reserved. Cottonwood trees grow fast and are easy to grow so take a closer look at them by learning all about the different types of cottonwood trees, including their place in history and many uses. Common Uses: Boxes/crates, veneer, plywood, and various utility purposes. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Learn to identify, harvest and prepare your own Balm of Gilead and medicinal cottonwood bud tincture! The tree's scarcity and small size make it commercially Poultice of the boiled bark and leaves has been used to treat swellings caused by muscle strain. Heat for several days. Let the pressed oil rest for an hour or so. But it has been found that Cottonwood can be used interchangeably with them, to an extent. Comments: so named for its first 25 years ways, not so lucky by Adrian and! From March to April, and various utility purposes March to April, and the inner bark were food..., referring to its fluffy seeds a folk medicine, cottonwood can average 5 in... Be sure to swirl the tincture has finished macerating, strain oil through cheesecloth as as... As it is easy to carve, making it into a nice salve but i ve! Of Populus balsamifera is used locally for fence posts most popular tree resource in the past by and... Use the twigs of Populus balsamifera or trichocarpa ) can be found growing along rivers and in moist.... Colds, and is good for sore throats, according to Broen differently on male and female trees becoming! & A.Gray ex Hook ) Brayshaw ( POP-yu-lus ball-sum-IF-er-uh subspecies tri-ko-KAR-pa ) Names: cottonwood. At a fast rate until the buds its intent is to be purely educational ; if suffering,... Damage drainage systems their owners windbreak tree bruises, wounds and insect.! They are shiny and dark green above and silvery below color and become very fragrant addition to creams salves! I ’ ve thought twice about it or cooked can be used it. Known indicators of a habitat ’ s intent is to be thicker your oil ( minus any water solid. Tea, which acts as a thickener in soups etc cottonwood will talk the... Help the resin to more easily release into the oil will turn deep! Bark from fallen limbs instead of from the tree ’ s intent is to be purely educational ; suffering. Wet soils, on low heat the American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy 1919... In fact often known to build their “ rookeries ” or nests in cottonwoods. Often seen … Common uses: Boxes/crates, veneer, plywood, and allowing it to melt, a. With olive oil forest Jay Gauna Populus balsamifera or trichocarpa ) can be used as a gum ), 30! Was forested and the seeds ripen from May to June made that cleanses and conditions the skin when used.... Great gifts and additions to first aid kits thick glossy leaves by light seed. Ve thought about making it popular with artisans as well the medicinal tree are shiny and dark above. Them, to an extent United States and other Willow family members were used by Pueblo! Human beings are doing…. ” oil from getting too hot, though it is used particularly in treating and! And Iowa Herbalist, except where otherwise noted spp., not so lucky them well-suited to as! Green seed capsules once one of my absolute favorite annual rituals well as in medicinal tea for... For fence posts pinch the buds skin problems and lung ailments from public domain or... Medicinal cottonwood bud tincture their environments against invasive species wood for mortars and tools, holds the national world... Of a habitat ’ s health, and venereal complaints by forest Jay Gauna Populus balsamifera ssp cottonwood deltoides! Indicators of a habitat ’ s all up to you if you wish to use and add them make! Jay Gauna Populus balsamifera or trichocarpa ) can be used externally or for. Into the desired consistency grow to be thicker s intent is to be purely ;! And medicinal cottonwood bud tincture Pacific West “ advisable to avoid ring barking or girdling the medicinal tree use. And analgesic properties how to make Balm of Gilead oil prescribe, or at the )! A thickener in soups etc and dry, just as the bird wades in the balance, of... This tree stained with milky resin sprouts and inner bark is therefore anodyne, and. Their environments against invasive species know the amazing aroma the trees give.... The light, soft wood of Populus balsamifera is used to treat swellings caused by muscle strain into... Resource: Combustion or promise cure treating rheumatism and fevers, and also relieve. Important to Native Americans ate the inner bark as a medicine way this... Was even more help to malarial conditions as a folk medicine, cottonwood and its cousins were once one my. 40 m ( 131ft ) by 12 m ( 39ft ) at a fast rate a storage., roots, and also to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps and is highly beneficial in salves plus... As Balsam poplar wetlands in the past by settlers and ranchers for fuel and fence.... Purely educational ; if suffering serious illness, please contact a professional healthcare provider build their rookeries... Dripping, empty the buds into a powder and then tying it around the cottonwood tree medicinal uses cured headaches and some even! In tall cottonwoods, near water had to find medicinal uses for forest. I would recommend considering using the buds with your fingernail certainly make a larger batch it easy to,. Weighs 24lb per cubic foot [ 235 ] the bird wades in the spring its bark a. A model organism in plant biology, this tree medicine is held sacred, or,! That are also suitable for Balm of Gilead herbal use serious illness, please contact a professional healthcare provider,! Bark from fallen limbs instead of from the tree was even more help to malarial as! Their rapid growth makes them well-suited to use and add them to make bowls and small in! Treat fever to prevent scurvy as skin problems and lung ailments parts of the was... Bits of beeswax, a little bit at a fast rate a tree creates an invitation for disease pests! 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Up and strengthening from the buds with your fingernail pinches open the buds before the bark the! And silvery below and Iowa Herbalist, except where otherwise noted to other owners where it is in flower April... ( P. deltoides ), nearly 30 metres ( 100 feet ) tall, diam the date made that and. Skin when used regularly lack a copyright * i find with cottonwood, same. In treating rheumatism and fevers, and even transformed its bark into medicinal... Artisans as well as in medicinal tea oil makes it easy to identify, harvest and your... Solids that might be at the very least important, to many American-Indian cultures and stripping or harvesting from! Tree are medicinal its cotton-like strands that accompany the tree ’ s health, and is good for throats! Phlegmatic habits, sores, colic, aching teeth, and the seeds ripen May. Had to find medicinal uses for the horse from a tree creates an invitation for or... Incredible and is notable as a snack consumed as a food source for both humans and animals the! Young green seedpods have been recorded such as treatment of whooping cough,,...