Poplar -  as an Herbal Medicine

Harvest Time: Late February- early March.

My harvesting season starts with collecting poplar tree buds late February-early March. Beautiful, fragrant buds is one of the signs that Winter is over. A resin in poplar buds have been used in natural medicine for hundreds of years.  The ancient Sumerians and Egyptians used poplar medicine for relieving pain, fever and inflammation. In the middle ages Hippocrates, Galen, and Hildegard von Bingen—all contributed to what would eventually be modern medicine—also used this medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.

“To the Lakota Peoples, the Poplar is the Sacred World Tree, said to be the very heartwood from which humans originate. It’s also the wood that forms the structure for the Sundance Lodges and dance poles, and still today the wood is carved, as it has been for centuries, to make tools, instruments, and dug-out canoes. Poplars were once called “Messengers of the Gods” because it was thought the trembling leaves were conversing with the Wind. “

Tincture for sore throat -Poplar is a key remedy for painful throats, taken internally as a tincture.  It’s antimicrobial—a specific remedy for laryngitis accompanied by loss of voice. It can also be used for dry, unproductive coughs and chronic bronchitis. Use it also as a chest rub for damp coughs.

Poplar Buds infused oil- poplar buds infused in olive oil has a distinct  warming energy. When applied tropically to sore muscles, sprains and strains, or arthritic joints, it has a soothing and pain relieving effect.

How to make Poplar Buds Oil – to make poplar bud infused oil you can use an approximately 1:3 volume based ration- 1 part by volume of buds to 3 parts by volume of oil. I love doing a warm method over a double boiler. Infuse poplar buds for 72 hours on a very low heat stirring few times a day.  The warmth helps to melt the resin and remove water from the buds. After 72 hours of warm infusion transfer oil with buds to a mason jar and keep it in dark place using infused oil when needed.  Herbalist Ryan Drum has a good article on poplar buds if you want to have more information on how to make your own infused oil  http://www.ryandrum.com/twobudsoneleaf.htm

Honey with Poplar -  Freshly harvested Poplar buds also can be infused in honey -a yummy treat for sore throat - delightful by the spoonful, in tea, on toast.

Healing burns-it is a superior aid for burns and pain. I love using it in my lotions  for healing the skin that was exposed to sun.  Poplar buds also prevent rancidity in skin products and wonderful addition to creams and lotions.

Cautions: Less than 1% of the American population seems to have an exaggerated epidermal sensitivity to the poplar bud resin or juice and they develop the early signs of anaphylactic shock; flushed face, labored breathing, hives (often very itchy), swollen face, itchy runny eyes, and some dizziness. Most of these people have general sensitivity to aspirin and aspirin product