Page 235 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

including rashes, irritations, chapped lips, cracked should be able to smell the resinous odor and the oil
skin, sunburn, and other burns. It helps the skin heal should change color. I like to do this step in a small
and prevents infection. For boils, sores, and infected crockpot or double boiler that I use for this purpose or
skin, make a poultice from crushed leaves. Washing in a mason jar placed in water. Note that the resin will
the skin with cottonwood decoction is also effective. stick to the pot or jar and will be forever resinous (you
Cottonwood buds also helps regenerate cells for heal- can actually clean it with alcohol). I often kick-start my
ing and I use it along with Calendula Oil as an anti-ag- buds with heat and then cold-infuse them in a cup-
ing face and neck cream. board for another 6 to 8 weeks. You can also keep it on
low for a few days.
Pneumonia, Flu, and Other Respiratory
Ailments: Cottonwood Bark Infusion or Tincture is When the oil is infused, let it cool and strain out the
useful in the treatment of whooping cough, tuberculo-
sis, colds, flu and Pneumonia. It kills and inhibits both
bacteria and the influenza virus when used early in the
disease and helps alleviate pain, reduce fever, and
works as an expectorant.

Sore Throats: An infusion of cottonwood inner
bark is used as a gargle for sore throats and mouth
sores.

Intestinal Worms: Cottonwood Bark Decoction is
effective in ridding the body of intestinal worms.

Harvesting: Harvest cottonwood leaf buds in late
winter to early spring. The buds are ready to harvest
when you can pinch the bud and see resin inside. The
largest buds are at the top of the tree and difficult to buds. Heat the oil again and add your beeswax. It will
harvest but after a windstorm you can easily find newly take approximately one-half to one cup of beeswax to
downed branches on the ground. Like willow they root reach the desired stiffness (ratio of 4:1 oil to beeswax).
easily, so I plant back small limbs when I gather so that Once the beeswax is melted, test the salve by placing a
new trees can grow. It’s always a good idea to tend the spoonful in the freezer for a minute. It will thicken and
wild when you harvest! Snap the buds off the branches indicate the consistency of the salve. If you want it
(I leave the terminal buds on the tree) and place them thicker, add more beeswax. If you want it thinner, add
in a container. Sticky resin will adhere to your hands more oil. How thick or thin you make it is up to you
and the container. You can wear gloves for this, coat and how you plan to use it. A good rule-of thumb is 4
your hands with salve or oil before harvesting, or re- parts oil to1 part beeswax for a salve. Place the salve in
move the resin with rubbing alcohol. a shallow glass jar or a tin with a wide mouth. Tighten
Warning: Some people may be allergic to cotton- the lid and leave it to cool and harden.
wood sap. Cottonwood should not be used by people Cottonwood Decoction. Ingredients: ¾ ounce of
allergic to aspirin or bees. cottonwood leaf buds and/or bark, 2 cups water. Bring
the leaf buds and water to a boil and turn the heat
Recipes. Cottonwood Bud Oil and Salve:
Use this salve externally to treat skin ailments and to down to a simmer. Simmer the decoction for 10 to 15
minutes. Strain out the herbs and allow the decoction
relieve inflammation and pain in arthritic joints. In-
gredients: 1 cup cottonwood buds, 3 cups carrier oil: to cool. Make a compress by soaking a washcloth in
the decoction, wring it out and place on the affected
organic olive oil, coconut oil, or other skin friendly oil,
beeswax. Infuse the oil with cottonwood buds. Place skin. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes, repeating as neces-
sary to relieve the pain and inflammation. You can also
the oil in an old double-boiler over very low heat. Add
the cottonwood buds and allow the oil to infuse. You use the decoction directly on the skin.

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