Page 218 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

plants. It has large 8 to 12 inch (20 cm to 30 cm) dark
green opposite pinnately compound leaves that each
have 5 to 11 oval-shaped leaflets. The leaflets are 2 to 5
inches (5 cm to 12.5 cm) long, stalked, and shiny green
on top and pale green below. Margins may be slightly
toothed. The fruit is a tan winged achene, called a sa-
mara, one to two inches (5 cm) long. Each fruit con-
tains a single seed.

Medicinal Use: Leaves, seeds, inner bark, and sap
are used for medicine.
Childbirth, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids: Ash Leaf
Extract is used as a tonic after childbirth. It is used ho- Warning: Ash can cause vomiting when taken inter-
meopathically for PCOS and uterine fibroids. nally. Use caution. Ash is very potent and should not
be combined with other medicines without the advice
Fevers, Stomach Cramps, Laxative: Ash tree
inner bark has tonic and astringent properties. It can of a doctor or qualified health professional. Do not give
ash to pregnant women, nursing mothers, or young
be taken as a tea to treat fevers and stomach cramps.
Ash Leaf Tea is a diuretic and useful for flushing excess children. Do not use ash for people with kidney or liver
problems.
water and toxins from the body. The inner bark is a lax-
ative. Ash Tree Bark Tonic: 1 teaspoon dried inner bark
of the ash tree, 1 cup boiling water. Add the inner bark
Harvesting: Gather the leaves during the summer to the boiling water and turn off the heat. Allow the
when the leaves are fully open, but before they begin to tonic to brew for 15 minutes. Strain out the bark.
change color. Gather the bark in the spring.

Balsam Fir,

Abies balsamea

The balsam fir is popular as a Christmas tree. It is also
known as the Canada balsam, fir pine, silver fir, or sil-
ver pine. It is easily recognized by its cone-shape, short
needle-like leaves, and its fir fragrance. It is in the Pi-
naceae.
Identification: Most balsam firs grow 45 to 65 feet
(13.7m to 19.8m) tall when mature. The Christmas
trees sold for indoor use are only a few years old and
still immature. The tree grows in the classic Christmas
tree shape, although trees grown for sale are shaped.
In nature, the tree forms a narrow crown that is more
rounded than the single point that most commercial
trees have.
Leaves are short dark green, flat needles, each approx-
imately an inch (2.5 cm) long and silver-blue on the
underside. The bark is smooth and grey with resin-
filled blisters that form a rough, scaly appearance on
older trees.

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