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HEALING HIGHLIGHTS OF 12 WELL-KNOWN TREES
Apple
The proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” has a lot of truth to it. Apples contain fiber, vitamin C, loads of antioxidants, and potassium, all of which can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating apples regularly can also lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Using apple cider vinegar to detox the body has been a health practice for thousands of years. With anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, apple cider vinegar is said to relieve sinus infections, acid reflux, sore throats, acne, high cholesterol, arthritis, sunburn, eczema, warts, and gout. The leaves and bark of the apple tree possess cooling, astringent properties. The inner bark has been used as a folk medicine to treat hyperacidity and heartburn. For an emotional uplift, crab apple flower essence can help you accept your imperfections and recognize your positive potential.
ASH
Ash tree leaves can be used to make medicinal wine and herbal tea and the leaves can be applied externally to treat rheumatism. Ash bark is edible and white ash bark can be used to treat skin sores, bee stings, kidney stones, menstrual and uterus issues, constipation, and, more. In folklore, ash was claimed to treat snake bites and newborn babies were popularly given a teaspoon of ash sap. Children suffering from rupture or weak limbs would be passed naked through a cleft in an ash tree or ash sapling to cure them. Ash tree flower essence can help boost a sense of harmony and attunement to the self and nature. Mountain Ash essence can help relieve the fear of death and the stress of heavy emotional burdens.
BIRCH
Tea made from the inner bark, twigs, catkins (birch flowers that look like caterpillars), and leaves of birch trees has powerful analgesic painkiller properties and can also assist the body in reducing fever. The tea can further serve as a laxative and can also help heal mouth sores and kidney and bladder issues. The outer bark of white-barked birch trees contains a high level of betulinic acid which has been shown to halt cancer cell growth with many types of cancer, including cervical cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and more. Birch water, a slightly sweet, thin syrup-like drink is packed with vitamins, proteins, amino acids, and minerals. The Chaga mushroom is found on birch trees and has been used as a folk remedy for cancer, digestive system diseases, and various ailments in Asia, North America, and Europe. Paper birch flower essence can help banish uncertainty and worry, stimulate clarity and strengthen inner guidance. Do be cautious with any application involving birch as some people have strong allergies to birch.
CEDAR
Tea made from the leaves and twigs of cedar trees is very high in Vitamin C and can be used to treat rheumatism, colds, and flu. Taking a cedar bath is said to be particularly helpful for soothing a cold. In many cultures, cedar is believed to be spiritually purifying and protective. Native peoples have long used cedar in sweat lodge ceremonies as a form of protection by spreading branches across the floor and encircling the lodge. Today, cedar is a popular choice for smudging home and office environments. For emotional support, cedar flower essence can help boost your sense of security and stability and aid you in accessing your inner strength.
ELDER
Elder has been used for over two thousand years for medicinal purposes. Hippocrates called the tree his “medicine chest”. Modern herbalists agree and credit elderflowers and elderberries with the power to heal a wide range of ailments including auto-immune disorders, headaches and stress, lung infections, sinusitis, colds, allergies, skin problems, and more. Do be aware that other parts of the tree are toxic if ingested. Even the berries and flowers can cause problems if they are not cooked before consuming them. There are a number of topical applications that are said to be safe, including applying the leaves to break down bruises and to relieve pain. For emotional balancing, elderflower essence aids with rejuvenation, reinvigoration, and renewal of both the physical and emotional bodies. The mystical properties of the elder tree feature prominently in the folklore of many cultures. In Ireland, the Celts considered the elder to be a sacred tree and it was forbidden to cut one down. The tree was believed to protect against evil spirits. Cradles were built from the wood to protect babies and elder bushes were often planted around cattle to keep them healthy.
ELM
Making tea from slippery elm bark can help speed the healing of bones and burns, heal a sore throat, stop diarrhea, and soothe bowel issues. Native Americans used slippery elm to treat numerous conditions and the slimy inner bark was used by American soldiers to heal gunshot wounds in the American Revolution. The inner bark of elm trees is filled with antioxidants and can be consumed by grinding it and eating it like porridge. For emotional support, elm flower essence can help reduce a sense of overwhelm and stimulate a positive perspective when one is facing difficult challenges.
HOLLY
Native Americans chewed holly berries to treat colic and indigestion. A decoction made from buds and twigs can be used to reduce fever, stop diarrhea, and treat ulcers. A scientific study published in 2017 confirmed the potent anti-inflammatory effects of Chinese Holly, which has been used for centuries to treat rheumatoid arthritis, toothaches, cardiovascular disease, headaches, and more. For spiritual wellness, holly flower essence was regarded by Dr. Edward Bach as the most universally applicable of essences to heal the inner being and to stimulate the basic loving nature of the human soul. Note that the berries of many varieties of holly are mildly poisonous and should not be given to children.
LINDEN
The flowers, leaves, and other parts of the linden tree have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Native Americans used the roots and bark to treat burns and for pain relief. Linden flower tea is a potent antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to relieve headaches, treat colds and flu, improve digestion, calm the nerves, reduce heart palpitations, and relieve the pain of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. In folklore, the linden tree was a protective being in the environment and could ward off evil spirits. In many cultures, the linden was recognized as a holy tree. In the early European world, it was a capital sin to cut this tree because the linden tree was a symbol of friendship and fidelity. Under the crown of the linden tree, sick people hoped to obtain healing. For emotional support, linden flower essence can be used to help calm emotional turmoil and high anxiety.
OAK
Many traditions consider oak to be a sacred tree and the tree has a long history of being used for medicinal purposes. Native Americans used oak bark to treat swelling, tumors, bleeding, and dysentery. Modern herbalists still use it as a diuretic and as an antidote to poisoning. Oak bark tea is effective for treating diarrhea, ulcers, and sore throats. A paste can be made by grinding the bark and applying it to the skin to treat burns, wounds, or poison ivy. The fine powder can be taken as a snuff to stop nosebleeds. Bruised oak leaves can be applied to wounds and hemorrhoids to reduce inflammation. Oak flower essence can be used to treat despair, nervous breakdown, discontent with the self, and feeling limited or irritated by illness. It helps stimulate perseverance when there are setbacks and is calming in conflict situations.
Pine
Pine needles and twigs are packed with vitamins C and can be simmered in water to make a medicinal tea for sore throats, coughs, and colds. Pine needles from the Ponderosa Pine, Blackjack Pine, and Western Yellow Pine, as well as the Yew and the Norfolk Island Pine, are poisonous, so don’t use those. Pine bark has antiseptic properties and can be boiled to make a wound wash. Pine baths aid kidney ailments, improve circulation and are relaxing to sore muscles and feet. The aroma of pine is soothing to the nerves and lungs. The bark and needles also contain a high level of vitamin A and a variety of carotenoids that can help prevent cataracts, improve vision strength, and even slow the onset of macular degeneration. All varieties of pine nuts are edible and filled with antioxidants and healthy fats, although they are very high in soluble oxalates, so avoid pine nuts if you have kidney stone issues. For emotional support, pine tree essence can help boost your self-esteem and can assist you in overcoming feelings of shame or guilt.
WALNUT
Walnuts are loaded with health benefits. They are powerful antioxidants and produce anti-inflammatory action in the body, They are loaded with Omega 3s, can lower blood pressure, protect your nervous system, promote gut health, and more. Tea made from walnut tree leaves increases circulation, digestion, and energy. The fresh bark of the tree can be applied to the temples for headaches or to teeth to relieve pain. The dried and powdered bark, or pounded fresh bark, can be applied to wounds to stop swelling. For emotional and spiritual purposes, walnut flower essence can help to improve one’s ability to adapt to change and to better cope with life transitions. Walnut is also a powerful essence for boosting psychic protection.
WILLOW
Willow barks have been used for thousands of years across cultures to alleviate pain. Considered a natural aspirin, flavonoids, and polyphenols in the bark contribute to the potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect with no adverse side effects. Willow bark tea treats muscle pain and inflammation, diarrhea, fever, arthritic pain, and headache. Used externally it makes a wash for cuts, ulcers, and poison ivy. The ancient Greeks would soak their arthritic joints in willow oil. Willow bark tea was used by the Cherokee as an anti-diarrhea. For emotional imbalances, willow flower essence can be used to balance discontent with the self or with others, unhappiness, self-pity, fault-finding, and jealousy. The essence is also soothing during the grieving process.
BEFORE YOU START MAKING TREE REMEDIES
Before you start clipping twigs, collecting bark, or taking fluids or sap from a tree, remember that these are conscious beings who have thoughts and emotional feelings, and they can be easily harmed if you are not mindful of how you harvest the bits of the tree that you want to use for medicinal purposes.
Start by getting permission from the tree to do whatever it is you are about to do. Remove bark from fallen trees and branches and never from the trunk of the tree because this can introduce pests and disease. Clipping small branches and twigs from the tree is usually fine provided you have the tree’s permission, you make a clean cut, and you do not take more than you really need and will use. When tapping trees to collect sap, adhere to the sustainable practice of one-tap-per-tree and do not plug the holes at the end of the harvest as it has been shown to impede the natural healing of the tree.
When purchasing commercially produced products like birch water and various remedies made from trees, do some research to verify that you are buying from a company that adheres to sustainable harvesting practices.
Check with your doctor before ingesting tree teas, birch water, and other forms of tree remedies. One study of people with birch-pollen allergies found that 39% of the participants were also allergic to birch sap.