Cottonwood – Riparian Healer

I love this time of year, everything is beginning to bud and bloom. One of my favorite buds are those of the Cottonwood Tree. The Cottonwood (Populus spp.) is a deciduous tree native to North American, Europe and Asia and is related to the Willow, making it part of the Salicaceae family. It’s reported that both trees have anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing salicylates, which make them useful for relieving pain. It is also reported that balm made from the leaf buds (which are the most medicinal part of the plant) of the Cottonwood are analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, astringent, skin-healing, and pain-relieving.  It’s why Cottonwood infused oil is one of the main ingredients in our MM3 Balm.

WARNING: Salicin is found in the leaves, buds, and bark of the Cottonwood Tree.  Salicin is similar to aspirin.  Those with allergies to aspirin or bees should avoid using any preparation made from this tree or other trees in Salicaceae family.

Identification

There are several types of Cottonwood Trees:  Black Cottonwood (Populus Trichocarpa) found west of the Rockies, from Southern Alaska to Northern California, are the largest broadleaf tree in the Pacific Northwest; Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) found from California to Utah and down into New Mexico; and Eastern Cottonwood, also known as Plains Cottonwood (Populus deltoides).

It’s important to be 100% certain of your identification before foraging or harvesting any plant. Since there are several types of Cottonwood Trees, each having similar medicinal benefits, it’s a good idea to do you own research for proper identification and usage.

The gray/brown and deeply furrowed bark of a mature Cottonwood Tree.

Cottonwoods love moisture and are readily found near creeks, rivers, and other riparian areas.  Mature trees are easy to identify by their gray/brown and deeply furrowed bark. Younger stems are thin and gray/yellow in color.  Their leaves are heart-shaped with finely toothed edges which have silvery/white backsides that glisten in the sunlight.  In the late winter and early spring, squeeze the young unopened leaf buds and they will release a sticky orange/red resin that smells strong and medicinal.

On a warm day, the Cottonwood buds will drip resin. Once they begin to do this, the leaf opening isn’t too far behind.

Balm of Gilead

The sticky resin of the cottonwood is actually tree sap which lends itself beautifully to oil infusions that can be made into topical pain & inflammation relievers such as Balm of Gilead (not to be confused with the Biblical Balm of Gilead that was made from Mecca Balsam (Commiphora gileadensis) a small shrub used medicinally and for perfume in ancient times).  It can also be combined with other herbal medicinals such as St. John’s Wort, Arnica or Comfrey for added healing benefits.

Harvesting

Harvest the buds from late winter to early spring.  As the weather warms and the resin begins to flow, you may even catch its delightful fragrance wafting through the breeze. Once the bud leafs out, the harvest season is over. The buds are very sticky so it’s a good idea to wear gloves when harvesting. If you do get some of the resin on your hands, rub a bit of olive oil or rubbing alcohol to break it down and then wash it off with soap and water.

Cottonwood buds as they begin to leaf out.

Cottonwoods Trees are notoriously messy during windy days.  You can take advantage of this and gather windfalls as it does no additional damage to the tree. With windfalls, it’s safe to pick ALL the buds from the branches.  If you are picking straight from the tree, remember the buds will eventually be leaves that provide the tree with nourishment from the sun, so be thoughtful in your harvesting, and always leave the terminal bud, which grows at the tip of the branch and causes the branch to grow longer – so it’s pretty important to the health of the tree.

A few good general rules 

1. Leave the terminal bud on each branch.
2. Take only 1/3 of the buds and alternate along the branch.
3. Don’t harvest from sick, young or already harvest trees as this could further weaken and even kill the tree.
4. Make sure you have 100% identification.

Buds containing catkins are less suitable for making medicine. Catkin comes from the Dutch word Katteken, meaning Kitten as they resemble kitten tails. They are actually responsible for producing the fluffy, cotton-like material that causes allergy sufferers to sneeze. Kittens are cute. The cottony stuff, not so much!

Cottonwood buds containing catkins.

You can fill a plastic bag or container with buds just stay away from fabric as the resin will stain and is hard to remove.  I prefer to fill glass jars because I will be transferring the buds into the jars to infuse in oil and it’s one less step – work smarter, not harder!

Making an Oil Infusion

What you will need:

1. A jar.  Choose a jar that has little importance because the resin is VERY sticky and some will stay in the jar.
2. A coffee filter to cover the jar.  You can also use cheesecloth, a clean, dry t-shirt or dishrag.
3. Mason jar ring or a rubber band to secure the cover around the top of the jar.
4. Oil. Olive Oil is a nice all purpose oil. You can use other, light oils such as Avacado, Sunflower, Safflower or Canola.
5. A chopstick, skewer or even a stick to stir the oil daily.  Don’t use something you don’t want to be ruined, the resin will stick to it and is hard to remove.

There are two types of oil infusions: Cold & Hot

Directions for COLD oil infusion:

1. Fill jar half full of Cottonwood buds (they will expand once the oil is added)
2. Pour oil over the top of the buds, filling the jar to a couple of inches below the top.
3. The buds will not only be releasing resin but they will release moisture, so don’t seal the jar.  Place a coffee filter or rag over the top and if using a Mason type jar, fasten the ring over the covering.  If using an ordinary jar, use a rubber band to secure the cover.
4. Stir the buds once a day until they sink to the bottom of the jar; because of their moisture content, they may mold if you don’t stir them often enough.
5. Set the jar in a warm sunny window and allow to infuse for no less than 4-6 weeks, the longer the better.
6. After 4-6 weeks, strain the oil through cheesecloth or another clean, dry rag, making sure to squeeze all of the oil from the buds.  You will notice quite a bit of resin still at the bottom of the jar.  You can use bleach to clean it out or you can set it aside to use specifically for Cottonwood buds next year – that’s what we do.

The one of the left is several weeks old. Notice the rich color and the buds are no longer floating.

If you’re short on time, you can do a HOT infusion.  Doing so does not affect the efficacy, however, I have found it does alter the scent, which I personally find a little unpleasant. Try a small batch each way and see what you like best.

Directions for HOT oil infusion:

1. Use the same measurements as used for the cold infusion.
2. Add the cottonwood buds and oil to a glass bowl and place over a pan of gently boiling water (double boiler method) and heat for approximately 3 hours, stirring occasionally OR place the cottonwood buds and oil in an uncovered mason jar and place the jar in a crockpot (crockpot method) with a couple of inches of water and warm for 12-24 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. When cooled, strain the oil through cheesecloth or a clean, dry rag, making sure to squeeze all of the oil from the buds. You will notice quite a bit of resin still at the bottom of the jar. You can use bleach to clean it out or you can set it aside to use specifically for cottonwood buds next year.

With each of the above-mentioned methods, the longer you allow the buds to ruminate and infuse, the better your end product will be as it allows for more of the resin to be extracted from the buds.

Store your oil in a clean jar, preferably an amber colored one and place in a cool, dry cupboard.  It should last up to a year.  Add 1/2-1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil as a preservative and it may extend that by an additional year.  This is an amazing healer, so I doubt you’ll have it around that long!

The rich color of oil infused with Cottonwood buds.

Recipe for Balm of Gilead

• 1 cup cottonwood oil
• 2 tablespoons beeswax
• 1/4 teaspoon Vitamine E
• Essential Oils

On top of a double boiler stir the oil and wax together until the wax has melted.  Remove from heat and add vitamin E as a preservative and any essential oils you would like.  Pour into a clean dry container.  Use when cool.

To test the consistency of your balm, use the spoon trick.  If you make jams or jellies, you may already be familiar with this trick. Place a metal spoon in the freezer for 30-60 minutes.  Dip the frozen spoon into the warm liquid balm.  The balm will harden on the spoon.   If you find the balm is too loose, you can rewarm and add more beeswax. If you find it too hard for your liking, rewarm and add more oil.

Use your balm on sore muscles, stiff joints, scrapes, minor burns, bruises, diaper rash, etc.  Again, if you are allergic to aspirin or bee stings, you should avoid using this preparation.

If you’re someone who would rather purchase Balm of Gilead than make it, you can purchase it through our Etsy Store.  

To “Thank You” for being an amazing part of our WordPress family, we’d like to offer you a coupon code for 10% off orders $10 or More.  That code is: 2017APRWP – We’ll even include some samples of our AMAZING soaps with your package!!

Have you used Cottonwood bud oil or Balm of Gilead?  What is your favorite wild medicinal to harvest in spring?  Leave us a comment below!

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Content and Photos by Misty Meadows Homestead and S.Lago © All Rights Reserved

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a Physician nor am I Certified Herbalist. The information provided on this site has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent conditions, illnesses or diseases, it is purely anecdotal and stem from my own personal fascination with the natural world around me. I use the following for my research: Peterson Field Guides – Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, The Complete Medicinal Herbal by Penelope Ody, books and videos by Rosemary Gladstar and Susun Weed, as well as various internet posts. I encourage you to do your own research. Before trying any herbal remedy, consult a physician or certified medical professional to make sure it is safe for you to use.

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