Foraging Poplar Buds & Making Balm of Gilead, a Soothing Salve for Muscles and Joints

[@lynnamandernacht2211]

Thank you Heidi 💞 I just recently became interested in Poplar trees when I heard that Morel mushrooms grow underneath. I didn't find any mushrooms but I noticed a variety of birds seemingly eating the buds 💚🌳🌳🌳

[@HeidiVillegas]

They are just wonderful trees, aren't they? :-)

[@ledacedar6253]

Prevented Stretch Marks despite 3 pregnancies & no diaper rash . And the scent sends me to heaven every time I smell it. News the time in the south Okanagan, but it’s often a chilling time of spring. Yesterday I needed a hot bathtub soak I was so chilled!

[@HeidiVillegas]

How did it go, Cecilia?

[@rebeccahenkins1697]

Yes - love to include in salves but also as its own salve for skinned knees etc and scars from surgery,

[@04Ratpack]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I’m just beginning to delve deeper into herbalism after doing the basics for years and I love watching you.

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thank you so much! I hope you'll sign up for my newsletter...I'm creating a new course right now you may be interested in! It's called Ditch the Drugstore, and I'm doing free trainings next week!

[@04Ratpack]

@@HeidiVillegas absolutely!! I can’t wait. I’ll have my mom and 12 year old daughter watching with me as well.

[@DebraSears-k8y]

Thank you our Nextdoor neighbor has two very large cottonwood trees and always drove me crazy when all the buds fell cuz it lines up with our property and they stick to everything and anything lol. My hubby and I just watched this cuz I wanted him to hear the benefits. Not me standing at the window looking at all the buds on it the last couple days lol. Guess what I will be doing tomorrow thanks again ❤

[@HeidiVillegas]

LOL! This is GREAT!

[@lolo60026]

great info Heidi i must check more to see if the poplars grow anywhere near me here in Ireland

[@HeidiVillegas]

I'd think you would definitely have certain species there, Dolores!

[@jamiemboley827]

Thank you so much Heidi!!

[@HeidiVillegas]

You are so welcome!

[@cindyrobinson2618]

Hi Heidi. I live in Florida and have a cabin in western NC. I believe I found some type of poplar buds in NC, but I’m just not sure. They were planted in a parking lot and still young so I definitely would not pick them. I was just trying to identify them, but they had no leaves yet. Are poplars the only trees that grow buds like that or do many trees have buds? I’m very new to herbalism…there is so much to learn and remember! I bring books with me every time we go out hiking, but even with the books (and my smart phone), it’s still hard to identify plants and trees that I am not too familiar with. Hopefully someday I will be able to positively and confidently identify some plants! Thank you for all you do!

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thank you so much, Cindy! Just keep referring to those books! :-) You'll learn over time. It does take time. I would be sure you know what you're picking because yes, trees' leaves do "bud" similar to poplars.

[@cindyrobinson2618]

@@HeidiVillegas thank you!

[@pcfisher981]

Have you ever had an issue with fermentation? I had a huge jar of Cottonwood Oil infusing an when I finally opened it, it fizzed and bubbled like a carbonated beverage and smelled like it had fermented. I was so upset....and to make matters worse, the next year, my mom had picked me a jar of buds and left it at my house (unbeknown to me) so when I finally found them like 2 months later, and opened the jar, it also sounded like opening a can of pop. Regardless, I composted both 'experiments'...is this common?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, P&C! No, I've never experienced this with cottonwood buds. But now I'm curious.... I'm wondering if perhaps you're in a humid area and maybe the buds contain more moisture in the resin than ours do? This is worthy of some research!

[@pcfisher981]

@@HeidiVillegas I think we are in the driest province in Canada...but I can say for sure that the buds were HUGE and super resinous. (another reason I was so disappointed). I did read somewhere that this can happen...but of course that was after the fact. I will try again in the spring.

[@debhuddleston3450]

Another great video. I have no clue what kind of Poplar we have here in Wyoming. I have some gigantic old trees across the road and the buds definitely look like the ones you showed in the video. So they most likely will still be useful in making a pain salve etc.? Thank you for your time!! Your awesome and such a blessing!

[@HeidiVillegas]

Thanks, Deb! It's likely they're the same type we have here growing wild. Is it growing near water?

[@debhuddleston3450]

@@HeidiVillegas yes, there by the irrigation ditch.

[@jcmustian]

Down here in Colorado, we pretty much only have Cottonwood. I would assume it's the same up there.

[@chris1638]

Thanks

[@HeidiVillegas]

You're so very welcome!

[@suziereinhart7975]

Once we’ve picked the buds, should we let them dry in order to infuse in oil, as moisture ( water ) and oil don’t mix? Or do you infuse them as soon as they are picked to get full benefit of the resin.

[@HeidiVillegas]

I infuse these right away---The leaves aren't out yet, and it's a LOT of resin.

[@eaglechortles]

Hello Heidi, On the same day, I harvested and placed into EVOO cottonwood buds. I didn't dry them but they had no moisture save the resin. When I went to shake the jar today I heard a release of air so I gently unscrewed the lid and much air came out, also there are bubbles. It's as if they are fermenting. The smell is normal. Can you tell me what I did wrong or is this expected?

[@HeidiVillegas]

There was too much moisture, and they started the fermentation process, it sounds like. This is NOT a good thing in oil, as you may have botulism. If it were me, I'd compost it. I'm sorry to say this---I know it's frustrating when some things don't work out. Moisture is a tricky thing to deal with, and I usually let my buds sit in the fridge with no lid for a couple of days so any moisture can further evaporate. We're in a "dryish" climate, too.

[@nicholas7266]

Hello 💋💐💋everyone, very interesting 👍videos you have thank you very much, good and🔥 prosperous to you and your channel💋💐💋😍

[@jessicabatson8135]

Great video - working on making the Balm of Gilead. What would you recommend for someone who is allergic to Asprinin (Willow Bark)?

[@HeidiVillegas]

People who have sensitivities to aspirin should do a patch test with the balm before using it. Any of the plants that contain high levels of salicin (willows), methyl salicylate (meadowsweet, wintergreen) etc. can cause reactions in some people....just like anything else. It's a good idea to test on the skin first.

[@righteousdiva1130]

I don't like picking all of them off because that's not really nice 😕whole branch breaks off lol

[@JaniceCrowell]

Is tulip poplar harvested the same way?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi, Janice! I'm not sure as I've not heard of tulip poplar. Do you have the Latin name by chance? That's how I always check on my plants. But if it's a species of poplar, it's likely you can harvest the buds. They may not have the same level of salicylic acid though....

[@jamiemboley827]

What is the exact name of this species?

[@HeidiVillegas]

It's a wild tree, but I'd guess it's Populus sect. Aigeiros. There are about 25 similar species of Populus, and they can be used fairly interchangeably.

[@pinkpoodlepaloma]

Hiya Heidi I haven't tuned into your show for ages. I've been down south of Spain where it is most glorious. I spend most my day sunbathing, gazing at the clouds and sea and walking the beach like a bum (I'm retired). I'm Irish and its always cold there. I remained here because Ireland has a very severe lockdown at present. Hey, I'm just wondering where you stand on this gene therapy injection, as a Herbalist and healthy living person. I won't be getting it, prefering to rely on my God given immune system. I also don't believe there's a pandemic. Its just the normal winter flu. Call me a conspiracy theorist. I've been studying doctors, professors, scientists and geo-politicists over the year and thats my conclusion. I understands Americans really passionately believe the opposite. I don't trust our Govs. Anyways its too long. Just where do you stand on the injection (thousands have died from it already and thousands, maybe millions will die)

[@HeidiVillegas]

Hi! Honestly, I can't answer here because what I say might "violate community standards."

[@pinkpoodlepaloma]

@@HeidiVillegas ok thanks

[@ledacedar6253]

Did you realize it was an Indigenous medicine for sore throats , wound healing, pain & liver clearing?

[@HeidiVillegas]

Yes, we are so blessed to have native medicinal plants growing all around us. The indigenous people have so much knowledge, and combined with knowledge brought from other countries all over the world, we collectively have so much information to learn in these modern times. I should say, "re-learn," as Big Pharma has educated the traditional skills out of modern and developed countries, sadly.