Cottonwood balm

There is a thread going on trap talk about balm of gilliad made from cattonwood buds. I wanted to check to see if anybody on this forum has anything to add.
I would also like to hear of any other natural remedies, salves, ointments, ect that other make and use.

I'd love to see more traffic on this forum......and I'm still looking to buy fresh dug golden seal roots suitable for planting when the weather breaks this spring.

I made the balm with cottonwood buds this spring. I can't make up my mind about it probably because I am not consistent enough in its use. A friend of my wife is a believer though and asked for a second jar for her knees.

I made some this year using Coconut Oil as the base. I give it to lots of people and 90% of the love it. Works especially good on nephropathy and arthritis in the hands.

Does anyone know if it can be made for big tooth aspen buds? The arthritis in my hands is one of the things I want to make it for.

Thank you for the info, Owen.

How d you make the balm?

I looked through some old books no luck. maybe foxkidd44 will chime in .

Thanks, I looked in the Foxfire book but no luck.

If I can get the buds next spring, this is the recipe I'l use.

Cottonwood Infused Oil
Begin with this cottonwood infused oil and then turn the oil into your Balm of Gilead.

Course Household & Health
Author Erin VanderLugt
Ingredients
1 part cottonwood buds
2 parts extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Fill a glass jar half full with cottonwood buds.

Pour olive oil over the buds and to within 1 inch of the top of the jar.

Cover with a napkin or coffee filter and a rubber band.

Allow to sit and steep for 6 weeks or up to a year or more. The richer the better!

Make sure your buds are always covered with oil. This prevents them from molding.

The buds may float at first, but they will eventually sink.

Stir or shake the jar every few days for the first few weeks.

Use as an oil or make into a balm or salve (see below).

To use as an oil, decant through a cheesecloth and put oil in an easily-accessible bottle or jar.[b][/b]



Balm of Gilead (aka Poplar Salve)
So handy! Store in your purse, medicine cabinet, garage niche, coat pocket, tool box, gardening nook, glove compartment, junk drawer, bedside table, diaper bag, first aid kit... anywhere you'd like!

Course Household & Health
Author Erin VanderLugt
Ingredients
1 ounce beeswax pastilles 2 tablespoons
1 cup cottonwood infused oil see recipe above
1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil 2 capsules (optional)
Instructions
Slowly melt beeswax in pot.

Use more or less to obtain a harder or softer salve.

Add infused oil. Stir and allow beeswax to melt again if necessary.

Stir in vitamin E oil.

Pour into a clean glass jar or tin.

Cool completely.

Cover.

Thank You!

You're welcome.

I grind my buds up and infuse them in warm oil. Then strain through old tee shirt. Another thing I do for the wife is grind them up and infuse it with vitamin E oil. She puts it in a spray bottle. Filter through a coffee filter.

It's time to be picking your buds.

thanks

Thanks for the reminder, does anyone know if it can be made from members of the aspen family?

Your welcome. We make it by filling a crockpot with buds and covering them with olive oil. We then put it on low for several weeks. Strain the oil and add bees wax until you get the desired consistency. This is pretty oily so when I apply it at night to my hands and feet I wear a pair of light gloves and socks to bed.

Time to be getting your buds.