Herbal Ally Of The Week- Cottonwood Trees

Cottonwoods!

These majestic tress have dark grey/brown bark with deep furrows, heart shaped leaves, and often grow close to water. Buds can be harvested in late winter before they open up. The resin from the buds is where the potent medicine lies.

It brings great relief to the muscular skeletal system, is anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial. Infused in an oil, it can help with arthritic joints, sprains, muscle aches, swelling, inflammation and makes a great massage/sore muscle rub!

Did you know? Bees actually use the Cottonwood resin as an antimicrobial glue to line their hives? Propolis!

Michael Moore also said that a picture of the buds is “an excellent expectorant for thick mucus from bronchitis”

Beware though! I made my first infused oil and it seems to have fermented which can very easily mean it is no longer safe to use. Make sure to dry out the buds fully or heat the oil with buds in a double boiler style! The buds are also yummy in honey :)