Written by Krista Poulton, Medical Herbalist, RHT

To view entire article including photos, please visit: http://kristadawnpoulton.com/2017/04/monograph-cottonwood/

Populus balsamifera/ trichocarpa (local variety) ~ Black Cottonwood

Popular Buds are budding right now on Vancouver Island!  And did you know that these little leaf buds are such a versatile medicine!

It is easy to harvest this plant as all you have to do is follow your nose to the delightful spring smell.  I have Populars on my farm back in Saskatchewan and for me the smell reminds me so much of home.

Cottonwood medicine whether a tincture or in salve is one of the fundamentals in my herbal first aid kit because this medicine is both anti-septic and anti-inflammatory!

Description: A medium to large deciduous tree to 100′ in height. Leaves alternate, simple, oval or broadly lanceolate, 2¼”-4½” long and 1½”-3″ wide, with finely toothed edges and sharply pointed tip; shiny green above and pale green below. Trunk straight and cylindrical. Bark smooth and light grey to grey brown, growing thick, dark, and furrowed with long, scaly ridges with age.

Habitat: The native range of P. trichocarpa covers large sections of western North America. It extends northeast from Kodiak Island along Cook Inlet, then southeast in southeast Alaska and British Columbia to the forested areas of Washington and Oregon, to the mountains in southern California and northern Baja California. It is also found inland, generally on the west side of the Rocky Mountains, in British Columbia, western Alberta, western Montana, and northern Idaho.

Parts Used: Buds – Balm of Gilead is a balm (healing compound) made from the resinous gum of this species

Constituents: glucosids, populin and salicin, acid resin of a hop-like odor

Medicinal Actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-septic/ Anti-bacterial
• Antioxidant
• Diuretic

Therapeutics:

• Resp: This remedy was used in colds, coughs, chronic bronchitis, and in all chronic bronchial affections. Great for sore throats!

• Like all poplars, the tree contains compounds similar to aspirin, which explains why it relieves pain and fever! 

• Skin: Externally, macerated in oil or lard, they form an excellent liniment or ointment in the treatment of wounds, bruises, tumors, and in local rheumatism.

Preparations: Oil, Tincture 75% alcohol (Resins)

Dosage:

Tincture – take 1-5 dropper full as needed.

Salve – apply to wound as necessary

Gathering / Harvesting: Harvest in the very early spring before the resin is to sticky to harvest and before the bud opens to the leaf. In Victoria, this is February and March. Other parts of BC, harvest when there is still snow on the ground.

Contraindications / Cautions: Safe but caution with pregnancy or small children. Always apply a small amount on skin to test for rash.

 

To view entire article including photos, please visit: http://kristadawnpoulton.com/2017/04/monograph-cottonwood/