Plant of the Week: Cottonwood

Over the winter months, we explored the value and depth of the evergreen medicines that are a part of our life.  As we are moving into spring, before we delve into the wonders of young spring greens, I feel it is appropriate to honor one more tree.  This time a deciduous tree is our focus: Black Cottonwood, also known as Balsam Poplar.  In many part of the country (or world) it is still possible to harvest the swelling buds of this tree which possess potent medicines.

Black Cottonwood
Populus Balsamfirus
The poplar species are used around the world for their medicinal properties.  While I am speaking specifically about Black Cottonwood which is prolific through out the Western United States, other varieties can be used similarly.


Description: A deciduous tree found almost always near water.  Waxy green leaves that are spade-shaped. White to gray smooth bark when young, turning into deeply furrowed bark in mature trees.  Leaves will move quite a bit in a strong breeze similar to Aspen species.

Collection: The main part used for medicine are the resinous leaf buds.  These aromatic medicinal treasures can be collected from late fall all the way until early spring.  They are best in the early spring/later winter before they leaf out.  It is often possible to collect buds after a windstorm from branches on the ground.  The buds can be dried and then stored in a brown paper bag or jar, but be sure to dry them first.

Uses:
1) Medicinal Oil: The salves can be soaked in Olive Oil (or another oil though olive oil works best) for anywhere from 2 weeks to a year.   After being strained, this oil is a powerful antiseptic for cuts, scrapes, burns, or minor wound.  It also has strong pain-killing properties especially for trauma and bruising.

2)Salve-The above oil can be made into a salve by gently heating it on a stove (or using a double-boiler) and then add 1/3 beeswax to 2/3 oil.  After the beeswax has been melted, pour into glass or metal containers.  When it cools it will re-solidify, so go easy with the beeswax.  This salves can be used the same as above, but will store easily, perhaps indefinitely and is more portable.  Great for a first aid kit.

3)Tea/Decoction-Both the buds and the inner bark of the tree can be made into a very foul-tasting bitter decoction.  Simply boil a handful or two in water for 20-30 minutes.  This intense tea can then be taken internally for coughs and colds, especially those that linger in the chest for weeks with yellow or green phlegm.  This tea will also lower fevers and treat body aches.

4)Other Uses- Buds can be used directly on wounds in the field as a messy first aid plant.  Buds, leaves, and barks can be used in medicinal baths for aches and pains.  Inner bark and cambium can actually be scraped and eaten in the spring time.  And, being able to recognize cottonwoods from some distance can be a valuable sign of water in an arid landscape.

The window for collecting cottonwood buds is rapidly closing!   Go get some now!