Cottonwood Bud

Cottonwood Bud Superpowers

Cottonwood buds are major magic. They smell like spring by the creek and are full of the salicylates that make aspirin do its pain-relieving/anti-inflammatory thing, so they’re a good place to turn when you feel achy and sore. Letting them soak and ooze their goodness into oil over the course of a few weeks or months, you end up with a cottonwood bud balm—also known as “The Balm of Gilead”—that’s perfect for massaging into sore muscles, aching joints, or a menstrual-crampy low belly and back. It’s also just a delightful-smelling moisturizer.

As you can see from the picture, cottonwood buds and their stems resemble gnarled, arthritic fingers. Coincidentally, cottonwood buds are anti-inflammatory and are especially helpful for joint pain.

Not only are they pain-relieving, cottonwood buds are anti-microbial and anti-fungal, so an oil infused with them makes an excellent foot rub and first aid salve. Cottonwood bud resin also helps to resolve cold sores and can be applied topically as a tincture or oil.

Finally, Cottonwood Buds can be quite drying. Because of this, they have traditionally been used to relieve congestion and as an expectorant and can be helpful during allergy season or other stuffed-up times.

Harvest your own Cottonwood Buds

In late winter and early spring, explore the river bottoms near you. Look for cottonwood branches tossed onto the ground from strong winds. If there are buds on them, give them a squeeze. If your fingers get sticky, they’re ready! Fill up a small bucket or basket with their goodness and bring them on home.

Make your own Cottonwood Bud Honey

Cover those beautiful sticky buds with honey, let them sit for a couple weeks somewhere warm, and you’ve got a tasty treat to stir into hot water any time you have a sore throat, a non-viral lung infection, or a cough asking for mucus to be expelled. Or you could just sweeten your tea with it because it’s like drinking Spring.

Make your own Cottonwood Bud Tincture

Fill 3/4 of a jar with cottonwood buds, then cover them in vodka or any other 80-proof alcohol. Shake well, then store in a dark, cool cupboard for four weeks, shaking regularly. After four weeks, strain your tincture and label your jar well. Take 1-3 droppersful in a dash of water any time you need a decongestant, an expectorant, or general immune support. You can also use the tincture topically on cold sores or as a pain-relieving liniment on bruises.

Make your own Cottonwood Bud Oil

Make your own massage or first-aid oil by filling a jar halfway with cottonwood buds and covering it with olive or any other oil of your choice. Herbal oils require heat, so put your jar in a paper bag in a warm, sunny window or somewhere else reliably warm. Let it sit for 1-6 months, shaking regularly.

When you’ve decided it’s ready, strain the oil and label your jar. You can use it immediately as a first-aid oil that helps skin cells regenerate quickly, reduces swelling, prevents infection, and helps with cold sores. It’s also great for burns and chapped lips. You can also rub it all over you before getting into the sauna or bathtub… the heat will drive its healing properties deeper into your skin AND immediately transport you to a creek bottom in Spring, ANY time of year!

And if you want to make it into a salve, just add a bit of melted beeswax and, wallah!

Buy it in Bulk

If you’re not up for harvesting the buds but want to make salve or incorporate this oil into your own herbal preparations, please contact us to purchase some cottonwood bud oil!!

Precautions

The salicylates found in cottonwood are also in aspirin, so if you are allergic to aspirin, we do not recommend that you take this oil internally. Our Sweet Relief Tincture is a great alternative.

For external use, start with a small amount and observe your body’s response. As an alternative, our Sweet Relief Salve provides similar healing properties with a CBD kick! Likewise, if you are allergic to cottonwood, start small.

Disclaimer

For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.