Kill the Flu with this Common Backyard Tree

[@PatriciaTurner-u6b]

When I was a child about 3 or 4, my grandmother would put sweetgum bark in a jar and have my dad buy some good whiskey which she poured in the jar and let it sit for several weeks...the alcohol drew out the medicinal properties and she would mix a little of it with lemon juice and a little sugar and give it to me when I had chest colds, which I did each winter...she was part Cherokee and knew so many ways to heal..

[@annwithaplan9766]

That's interesting. I'll bet before they were introduced to whiskey, they just boiled it in water.

[@bonsummers2657]

chest colds are due to diet, mainly caused by: cooked dairy and starches

[@Thankful305]

@@bonsummers2657 Prove---Viruses are caused by dairy and starches. Links, citing Scientific data please --- instead of a blanket statement! What planet are you from ?

[@FreshwaterSouL]

@@bonsummers2657yep

[@randythomas3478]

​@@bonsummers2657show proof. There is no proof.

[@DreadPiratePapa]

I immediately went outside an chewed a green gumball when I felt a cold coming on and was cleared by morning. Lived next to this tree the last 16 years and fought those prickly little bastards every fall and now have a whole new respect for it. Crazy enough I live in Upstate New York but my city neighborhood has trees from all over the world planted in it.

[@melaniemiller4567]

😂 I feel the same way! Lived in south Texas my entire life & recently swore on my next property I was chopping down every dam Sweet gum tree on the place... now I can't lol

[@carolyn9444]

1. Gumballs placed/piled around the base of hostas discourage slugs from climbing up and eating holes in the plant. 2. Dry, brown gumballs can be used in a campfire or even indoor fireplace..they flame up, then remain for a long time as small coals. 3. As a child, we would spray with paint and sprinkle glitter on gumballs to make pretty little ornaments for our indoor and our outdoor Christmas trees.

[@stacystepp7914]

Cool things to know! I think I'll paint some for Christmas!

[@nancyengle4656]

Cool !...Thanks...

[@primesspct2]

I make wreaths out of the gumballs after they are dry. I am in Ohio so you have to know where to find these trees. Beautiful for crafts!

[@carolyn9444]

@@stacystepp7914 great ! we used a chopstick inserted into the gumball to hold them while spray painting. Brown ones sprayed with clear acrylic make gorgeous wreaths.. have fun 🌷

[@carolyn9444]

@@primesspct2 yes 😊

[@souledout3791]

I am a great grandmother . As a child my father would notch the sweet gum trees I our woods . As the sap oozed and started to firm up he’d cut it off the tree and give it to us ( his children) as a treat.

[@e.t.preppin7084]

Ditto on basically every comment!!! I’m 60 and all my life I thought they were a nuisance tree and dreaded cleaning them up. Why are we not taught stuff like this in school as kids. I’ve also learned about Mimosa trees medicinal properties too and now am learning about Mullein and stinging Nettles. I’m hooked on learning these age old uses for our ailments seeing how I’ve lost all faith in the pharmaceutical industry after 2020. Especially after Rockefeller destroyed our earthly natural medicines were scrubbed for dangerous petroleum products to replace them with synthetic drugs that keep us sick.

[@louiscolborn6715]

@e.t. prepping 7084 public schools are poison. The pharmaceutical industry like EVERYTHING that touches Washington DC is poisoned.

[@hazelkagey6739]

I can vouch for Stinging Nettle. It dries up a head cold in two whole plant capsules. I gave up on pharma meds also. We are not taught this in school because they want us dumbed down.

[@sayusayme7729]

Wonderful, I want to learn too. Indigenous Canadian.

[@ForTLoveofDogs]

Well you are way ahead of me because I just gave up on the medical industry in 2019. Because honestly they tried to kill me when I was in the hospital for the umpteenth time (after a major seizure). I had been going for an issue for 10 years. They couldn't ever find anything prior to that, then told me I was an epileptic put me on dangerous pharmakia and said "it's all in your head" and sent me to a shrink. I thank the Lord for letting me finally see the truth and kick them to the curb!

[@2Hearts3]

Amen! and ditto.

[@teripage5787]

I have been an Herbalist for over 24 years and when I make my tinctures I always try to put them in on a full moon and take them off on the following full moon. I have always found doing this always produces a stronger tincture. Thank you for this info on the uses of sweetgum!

[@kakea8403]

This makes so much sense! Thank you for the tip! ❤ from SE Texas ❤

[@TheElysianPath]

@@kakea8403 yes thank you… the moon is powerful as is the sun and all of the planets❤ I moved to ETX 7 years ago..had no idea I was moving into a big medicine cabinet….😂😂😂

[@barbarawest985]

What about using this while having to take warfarin?

[@teripage5787]

@barbarawest985 with drugs like thinners and heart meds always consult a professional to make sure it won't interact or further thin your blood. If possible, find a doctor who will work with you, there are a few. Research every herb before combining with your meds. Herbs like Cayenne pepper will increase the strength of other herbs and some meds for instance.

[@gemcanyonproductions5660]

How does the moon affect the strength of your tincture? Wouldn't that depend on the amount of bark?

[@melaniemiller4567]

Dude this vid probably just saved the lives of hundreds of SweetGums....😊 reading theu comments i learn even more and read some particularly interesting stories❤

[@yuppystick]

You're one of the few people I'd hang out with and never get tired of. Thanks for helping the world. 💚

[@tonysweany]

I've always seen the gum tree as a pain, you have opened up my understanding that it just may relieve the pain of my ills, at 70 you can teach an old dog a new formula for natural health 😊

[@SarahBearah2023]

A m e n

[@margaretlocke7938]

With me living in a sweet gum forest on 5 acres this was really informative

[@zzbudzz]

Same here, I have two of the biggest gum trees I have ever seen in my yard ( i don't think two big grown men could get their arms around the trunk) gladly they are not close toy house. They seem to always have broken limbs falling out the tree and those damn gun balls get stuck in the pulley of my lawnmower and pops the belt off.

[@don2deliver]

​@@zzbudzzThose gum balls kill the grass and once the ground gets wet walking across them on a hill is dangerous. I refuse to service a yard with them unless the owner pays for a clean up first.

[@jwoltremari]

I found your site a few weeks ago. I'm a 70 year retired and a field biologist educated at Delta State University. I like your presentation and the information is great. Thanks

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@fusion9619]

Field biologist sounds really interesting. What did you do? I kinda hate my current profession and if entry isn't too onerous, I might just switch over. Very interested in working outdoors.

[@lessummers5738]

@@LegacyWildernessAcademy Does this tree grow in Ohio woods?Thanks

[@rosehobbs6051]

@@lessummers5738 Yes it does. At least it does on my property.

[@michellesmithunroe2463]

​@@lessummers5738you can check the iNaturalist map for the species.

[@bobbythornton2510]

My mother, born in 1918, used sweet gum for toothbrushes as a child. Native Americans taught the early settlers how to use them for treating the flu.

[@randythomas3478]

Absolutely! This was the case in Anson county North Carolina in the 1700s 1800s and thru to the 1960s.

[@scarlettg6136]

I'm rewatching your videos. I love the natural medicinal remedies as options for pharmaceuticals. You're right, the ivory bill is definitely here, somewhere. Maybe we'll see them, one day.❤❤❤❤

[@218hollywoodify]

When I was a kid my dad taught me to gather up sweet gum balls in a pile and burn them and create really hot coals then we would catch fish pack them in gumbo mud and place them in the hot coals when the gumbo turned almost white we would take it out of the fire and score along the edge of the gumbo cracking open the inside of the gumbo and the fish would be steamed cooked and usually the scales or the skin would protect the meat from the dirt and you could pull the bones right out add salt and pepper and eat it. It was great for survival and another tool to throw in your survival bag

[@melaniemiller4567]

😮 how cool was your dad!!👍🏻

[@lyndaniel3369]

Oh, how, I wish I had had somebody around who knew such things! You were so lucky to have a father like that! Thanks for sharing that wonderful story!

[@0psec_not_good]

My brother, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the work you do, and for this channel! There is nothing more valuable than knowledge; especially so when it comes to our health. I showed my father this video and he couldn’t believe that gum trees were so useful. We just assumed it was a junk tree as well! You can clearly see that you’re only in this business of spreading knowledge for one reason: to proliferate that knowledge of medicinal plants. No needless profiteering of the material, no courses being sold for the in depth info, no hokey-pokey BS, just concise, clear, and consequential learning! The world needs more people like you, so thank you again for all the hard work and dedication to spreading awareness of the majesty and utility of nature.

[@2Hearts3]

Very well said. Thank you 🏆

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

Knowledge (epistemae) is valuable, but wisdom (Sophia) is priceless. You can only take 1 of them with you when you go. ;)

[@JS-tr7oo]

My people perish for lack of Knowledge Hosea 4:6 Bible Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

[@crabbinmoose8583]

God said, look, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed;..... God is good!❤

[@0psec_not_good]

@@crabbinmoose8583 this is somewhat unrelated, but I always love pulling this quote out when other Christian’s have issues with narcotic plants like marijuana, even opium poppies. If God’s word is absolute, which it is according to the doctrine, then why would any plants be an exception to his word? He didn’t say “I gave you all plants except X, Y, and Z; those are bad”. He said *all* plants bearing seeds.

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

Shalom ❤️‍🔥

[@crabbinmoose8583]

@0psec_not_good the problem is not with the plant but with the type of people who exploit its addictive properties. That is evil.

[@Matthew-Anthony]

​@@0psec_not_goodThose plants are for animals and are just another part of the food chain.

[@speaker9694]

when you cut into any tree, once you are done using it as a resource you can cover its wound with mud to help it stay protected while it heals! I learned this from Dave Canterbury, but as he says there's not much new in the world of bushcraft, so this method has probably been used for a very long time!

[@manbunmyname5866]

6:20 Just a disclaimer here folks, this might kill your tree... 🤦‍♂

[@peachsncream5808]

I’m a gardener ,when I am brush cutting …on the rare occasion I might skim the bark at the base of a plant / small tree’s ….it’s always been my reflexive response to rub dirt onto the wound and apologise to the plant 🤷 . Sure , I might just be another crazy person talking to a plant , yet I’ve never killed a plant on a clients yard . 👣🦘

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

Yup, and it helps camouflage your presence. White is eye catching in nature. Hope Dave is doing ok.

[@Ersatzdude]

I had a friend's wife ask me "why does trees have bark?". Well...

[@peachsncream5808]

@ same reason you have skin …to protect what’s underneath it.👣🦘👍

[@anyascelticcreations]

I think they're antiparasitic too. One of my former dogs had a resistant case of intestinal parasites. She couldn't get enough of chewing on the gumballs. They also make excellent cat toys. Lol. Mine love them.

[@angieturner1661]

I made my first sweet gum tincture from my own tree a few months ago. I've twice taken it when I've felt the onset of a cold, and both times symptoms were gone within 24 hrs. I've also put sweet gum tincture in my first batch of elderberry syrup this season. I'm super excited!

[@MyForestNymph]

I am from deep southern Louisiana and have a ton of these on my place - in the dryer areas and near the swamp too - I found a injured tree yesterday with beautiful healthy delicious smelling sap flowing out . Just from the smell I knew it must be something edible or medicinal. Thank you so much for your style of videos - extremely good for ID , education , history AND uses. When I am done my regular school classes I’m gonna take yours in your website to really help my homestead skills.

[@cdcox]

Same up here in NE La.

[@MadelineHarris88]

I live in west central Alabama literally in the middle of nowhere way back in the woods... I've lived here all my life and I can promise you that the ivory-billed woodpecker is most definitely absolutely not extinct lol they're literally everywhere at least in west central Alabama. and no I'm not a dummy I'm not confusing the pileated woodpecker for the ivory-billed. I'm seriously like the literal definition of a country girl lol I grew up in these woods playing, hunting & fishing since I was old enough to walk.

[@zuzuspetals9281]

NC too, we have plenty of Sweet Gum trees for them.

[@Peachy08]

I call it the Lego tree! Stepping on those gumballs is as bad as stepping on a lego!😮

[@happy_times01]

Lol... right!

[@debralynnpaxton5238]

Lol 😂😂😂😂😂For REAL ! 😂😂😂😂❤

[@aussieauntynette6892]

😅😂🤣 Yep! Been there! Grew up with a couple of huge ones around the house . 🇭🇲🦘🦘🇭🇲

[@Blinkerd00d]

Yeah, but my cat LOVES to play with them. We will hear him chasing one around in the living room early in the mornings.

[@CotyBlair]

Stay away from Chinese chestnut trees there way worse

[@DebraofSENC]

Thank you so much for educating us on the Sweet Gum Tree. I have spent many years raking up the sweet gum balls from our yard (several wheel barrow loads each winter) and had no idea they are part of God's healing gift to us. We had to cut down two humongous Sweet Gum Trees because they were dropping limbs and we were afraid the trees were going to fall on the house in a hurricane. We still have plenty around the perimeter of our yard and in the forest that surrounds our home. We have so many of the plants and trees that you have talked about in your videos. I truly appreciate you and the work you have put into these videos and your book.

[@lyndaniel3369]

The Sweet Gum Tree likes more sweet gum trees----if you cut one down, you will find little sprouts all around the area for a long time afterwards!

[@hkvp9tactical418]

I got divorced at the beginning of the pandemic. I moved from an upscale home with trees that were aesthetic to arguably the worst house in town because it was literally the only place I could buy and fix that wasn’t termite infested and the foundation was sound. I called State Farm to get it insured and they said, “not until the large trees overhanging the house are removed.” So I called a “local tree guy” and paid him $4,500 to remove the trees (in my absence). However, aside from the insurance issue, there were three trees I wanted removed for personal reasons, that State Farm didn’t care about. One in the front yard particularly because it was this insane tree (I closed the day before Thanksgiving, so Fall) that dropped these incredibly spiked balls the size of golf balls. Honestly, I don’t think man has ever designed a needle as sharp as the spines on these pods! This tree single handedly made the front yard impassable! In the back yard were two of what I’d always called, “the incredible shitting trees”, or Sweetgums. The tree remover called me and asked if I really wanted the “spike pod” tree removed!? “Oh yeah! Especially that one!”, I replied. He somberly replied, “I’m not sure, but I think it’s an American Chestnut tree.” “So-cut that sucker down!” “But the American Chestnut tree is technically considered to be extinct.” WTH!? Sooo I held off until I could learn more. I sent the leaves, twigs, and pods off to place designated by the U.S. Forestry Service and sure as day, it was a true American Chestnut! Damn…. Upon my return, I noticed the two “incredible shitting trees” were still there! Now I’m hacked. I called the guy and he said that the power utility would remove those two for free and he was gonna arrange that for me. “Okay”, I sighed. I’ve lived here for going on my fifth fall. I’ve learned to “live” with the only three trees I still have. Besides making the best dang Thanksgiving Dressing with the Chestnuts anyone’s ever tasted, now I know this about the other two trees that are a “pain” in the fall. Sometimes life just has a greater plan… 😉👍👍

[@zachcarney3910]

That is an amazing story. I know where there's a decent American chestnut tree but that's a species that needs a different tree for pollination. Spiky parts are always empty or extremely undeveloped.

[@CurieFong]

And they say IGNORANCE IS BLISS. You got lucky with good people around you. I would never chop down my beautiful trees. Prune and lop, yes! but not wholesale removal!!! That's what you engage a Gardner to clean up in Fall or you yourself. You sure could do with the exercise! In an ever increasing globally heated environment, I'm keeping my trees. And there you are, more worried about the spiked balls. Well you put your darn glasses on when you step outside. Also trees are a habitat for birds, essential environment creatures!!! IGNORANCE IS BLISS. Nothing more ugly than a bare yard with zero trees 💩😡💩😡

[@kimberlyjohnson1371]

🙂🤞 Iike your optimism 🕊️

[@melaniemiller4567]

😂 that's a funny tale! thank you for giving me a smile today😊

[@SherryONeill]

Lol Great Story!!

[@sinner7272]

Absolutely love the etymology aspect of this educational project. Nice work, Keep it up!

[@kp76333]

Just the way every part of this tree smells tells me it has medicinal properties!

[@debradieckman3846]

You saved our tree! I was wanting to cut it down but my husband was hesitant and now I don't want to cut it down! I SO appreciate you showing how to use locally grown plants. It is a NEEDED subject. We always think the plants from elsewhere or bought from a well know herb supplier is the best. I learned alot from your free guide, thank you! Will you be doing more classes?

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

That's the goal, thank you for watching!

[@connierodenburg129]

​@@LegacyWildernessAcademyI just found your page and have Subscribed and Sharing your site!!! Thank You!

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

And it will dull the heck out of a chainsaw. No wonder he was hesitant.

[@ashadowawhisper]

Maaaaaaan, that makes so much sense now why I would always see sweet gum trees that were missing an oval of bark growing up.

[@dankeener3307]

When our neighbor had her sweet gum tree removed we got a truck load of the wood chips and used it as mulch and freshen trails through our native plants area. Quite a few seedlings appeared and neighbors told me not to let them grow because of the balls being a nuisance, so I dug up a few and planted them in a local park that was overrun with many invasive plants. I kept one near our mail box and keep it small and as a trellis for a native honeysuckle vine. After seeing this video I’m glad I have a use for the leaves each time I cut it back. Thx.

[@kotyeo]

Wonderful video. You have become my favorite to watch when it comes to herbalist type content. One because we live in the same state but also because your not like all the others that want to charge you an arm and a leg to teach you about the ways to break things down into tinctures and teas. Yes it's ok to teach paid for classes that get really in depth but it's great just to be able to learn the basics for free. Thank you so much for letting me learn something new on a daily.

[@stacystepp7914]

So true! And what I really like is that he's not a show off acting like he's the only one who knows everything. He tells people when he doesn't know.

[@wuznotbornyesterda]

Learn Your Land is Adam Haridan's channel in Pennsylvania. He's really informative also on the identification of the forest trees, plants and mushrooms.

[@denisereynolds64]

beautiful, thank you Matthew 🦋

[@Lindalu0422]

Thank you for such an informative video ! I’m so grateful to have had family teach me about living off the land as a little girl. My grandfather, a Jack of all trades, harvested pine sap into clay cups to sell for turpentine production. Fortunately, I have saved and use many of those beautiful old cups to line a garden path. My mother, a Great Depression survivor, said she and her friends substituted sweet gum sap for chewing gum when they could afford none. I don’t think they knew about the medicinal uses however. And we must not overlook the ruby red beauty of this tree in the fall, good for the soul!

[@helpisontheway8332]

Did he use the turpentine medicinally?

[@lyndaniel3369]

The color must have to do with the soil, as the ones in town are incredible, but ours only had green and yellow leaves in the fall. Only one time did it have orange and red. You are lucky to be able to see such a beautiful Red in Autumn.

[@PJTN826]

Had this tree In our yard as a kid. Dad gave us a quarter per bucket of the Sweetgum balls. I also made small Christmas trees by putting toothpicks in the holes of the balls, stacking like a tree and spray painting. Good table decoration.

[@williannelson555]

Just wanted you to know I appreciate you. I'm an old country boy born in 65 raised in the Carolina swamps. I'm grateful for the history. Now you grabbed my attention with the ivory billed woodpecker? Please, elaborate in a video your knowledge of this bird. Because, as a boy growing up like where the red fern grows, I believe I saw one. But, that would have been in like 1979.

[@williannelson555]

And it wasn't a Pileated woodpecker. There is a visible difference in size.

[@gardeneroflight]

Yep, the size is a dead give away. Saw one in the mid 70s at my grandparents home on the central Gulf coast of Florida. AMAZING bird!

[@Peachy08]

I live in Georgia in a wooded area and we have several pilleated woodpeckers living in our area. The ivory billed which looked very similar is extinct.You can hear the pilleated more than see them. They make a hammering sound in the woods, very loud. They are very large woodpeckers.

[@CyndiParadis]

This is also used in Tamiflu

[@moonstone8792]

A Country boy can survive 😉

[@tulafre3261]

Thank you Matthew for all your teachings

[@TeasLouise]

We have 4 of these on our property that are all 30-100 years of age. Tons of these gumballs in the yard. We have been making a tincture for flu prevention, using them in garden areas for slug repellents, etc.

[@peteacher52]

In Australia and New Zealand, gum tree always refers to one of a number of Australian eucalypts. The gum tree you are talking about is called a liquid ambar, fast growing and best kept away from housing because its invasive roots quickly take over drainage systems!

[@lyndaniel3369]

Too late! The roots had to be removed from the outdoor drainage pipes. My husband at the time loved trees and let nearly every "free" plant have a home on 1/4 acre. There were three Sweet Gum trees when we married; two had to be cut, but every year there are many, many sprouts! The oldest in the front yard is nice looking but has some internal disease that weakens or dries the limbs---had two limbs fall during big wind and they were 7" in diameter but so light weight I could move them easily.

[@ticktock2383]

Our sweetgum tree is a different tree.

[@gregorywellssr7857]

The town I'm from is called Gum Branch,it's named for the trees.

[@JC-il4or]

Like several other comments, I have grumbled my way thru fall and the annoying gumballs in my back yard. Never had a clue as to why anyone would plant them in a suburban neighborhood! I will look with more favor on this gift of nature, and thank you for a very educational video.

[@abbie5212]

This was a wonderful lesson. Thank you. You have absolutley improved my opinion of the Sweet Gum.

[@johniewade2704]

I have seen Ivory Bill wood peckers a few times at my place here in deep East Texas.

[@mgw9562]

Finally some good news about these prolific "spiky ball" trees!❤

[@2manyroberts]

Thanks Matthew, it is great that you site the importance of this tree for wildlife, strangely enough so many other trees that are considered "trash trees" are very important for migrating flocks. Like the Cherry Laurel.

[@lisaslayton3880]

Thankyou for your videos. I remember as a little girl my Grand Daddy using the gumballs and leaves for medicine. Also he would sell the gumballs to Florist along with his beautiful glads

[@Trisha_B_done]

All my neighbors have cut down their sweet gums bc they find them annoying. My yard didn't have any but I will be keeping an eye out for one to transplant. I prefer trees and birds over a pristine mowed yard. 😊 Love that I can educate them on it's medicinal powers now. Thank you..I subscribed immediately.

[@WilliamHunterII]

Thanks for an informative lesson, Matthew. My undergraduate degree is in Botany, so I do enjoy your video posts. I particularly like that you explain the meaning and origins of the binomial nomenclature. As to the medicinal uses of the sweet gum, I had no idea. I should have gone to graduate school. Previous to this information, the only thing that came to mind with mention of this tree is that it is a bear to split for firewood. For those that don't know, the grain of the wood is not straight, which makes it extremely difficult to split with an axe. You are going to want a hydraulic log splitter.

[@moragmacgregor6792]

Beautiful grain tho ❤

[@joancarr6484]

I had a cluster of sweet gums in my back yard. Always, figured God had to have a purpose for it, just never knew what. Thank you for sharing..now to find some in my new area to make the tinture.

[@shannonstacey2593]

Thanks for sharing all this knowledge! I’ve made the tincture from tulip tree bark for my arthritis. Praise the Lord, it works!!!! Next I’ll make the sweet gum medicine next. God bless you sir!

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching!!

[@DannieRaye1386]

I have those woodpeckers here in my yard they always hang out on my Gumtree!! Honestly, I hate the gumball trees because I love walking around barefoot, now, I think I fell in love with my Gumball tree!! Thanks Hunter!!

[@chriswalton4153]

You sir are a gem, thank you for sharing your knowledge and research.

[@markgelinas8114]

As a kid, we used to call it a gumball or sycamore tree. Every year we would rake the dried balls and use it as a filler in our parking space on the property. Never knew it was medicinal. I think my grandmother would have appreciated it even more than she did.

[@Snedesk]

That could have been sycamore, which looks a bit similar and also medicinal. The bark on sycamore falls off on it's own and is helpful for poison ivy itching.

[@oldluke7653]

​@@SnedeskHow so?

[@WayneTheSeine]

The sycamore is a completely different tree.

[@nancyengle4656]

@@Snedesk Whoa...Thanks!... very helpful info !

[@rfnew]

The sycamore balls are not spiky like the sweet gum balls!

[@cathywco]

So glad I found your channel and hearing you talk about Tommie Bass and Daryl Patton. I have heard Daryl speak many times and always learn something. His book is invaluable. Looking forward to seeing your other videos.

[@snakejumper3277]

My granddaddy, born in 1911 in South Alabama, told me that when he was young the old folks used sweet gum twigs both to clean teeth & to roll in a tin of snuff, then keep that in their mouths. His grandma had lost most of her teeth & he used to chew a twig for her to dip in snuff.

[@lindymae5874]

That was very sweet of him to do that for her

[@jayclyde6045]

My mother grew up very poor post Depression era, they said they would chew up the ends of the twigs into brushes to brush their teeth with it.

[@nancyengle4656]

😵

[@lilliekinder2250]

Grandmother used willow twigs to brush her snuff. She used red seal. When she sent me to the store, she would tell me to look for the red dove on the lid. She had all her teeth when she died.

[@marionjohnson2211]

Black gum makes better "toothbrushes".

[@SIMPLESUNSET28]

Thank you for this info! I never understood why my neighbors hated sweet gum trees so much. I sensed something was special about them and I was fascinated with the star shape of their seed pods. I'm so happy to now know what I must have been sensing...they are profound healers and my two in the front yard are almost 100 years old!

[@hollykitchens2381]

My family lives an hour southwest of Augusta, GA, and we have many large sweet gum trees on our property, one of which has had a wood pecker feeding from it for the entire twenty years that we've lived on the property; I'm not sure of the species, but it's fairly large, looks black and white from ground level when it's in flight, and it also feeds from a large black gum tupelo tree that's also on our property.

[@1959jimbob]

Do you know Carrollton Ga?

[@hollykitchens2381]

I know of it, and have been near it going into Alabama on the interstate, but have never been there.

[@seercyful]

I’ve seen this type of Woodpecker in and around our yard also. We live in the Martinez Ga. That’s a huge Woodpecker!

[@singingwindrider9881]

​@@hollykitchens2381.. are you in harris, troup or meriwether county? I have sweetgum all over my property as well. Same general location.

[@michellesmithunroe2463]

Cornell Ornithology Lab's website and Merlin app are great for bird identification.

[@Pegasus209]

I live in East Central MS, and I've never encountered any Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. I do have a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that I frequently see and/or hear around my place. I worry for them because there has been a good bit of clearcutting around the area I believe they call home.

[@lyndaniel3369]

I hope they find a woods somewhere. I got to see one---one time in my 79 years----it never came back, but I remember how big it was! It also is the only bird I know of that pecks SQUARE holes!

[@omaeve]

Lol, don’t go barefoot. I used to have one in my backyard. It was a twin tree and my kids love to play with them, but they are sharp little stickers. I can remember helping my grandma collect the sap, but she never injured a tree to collect it. She just collected whatever naturally leaked out and she started a little can in her medicine box.

[@micheleyates3625]

I have several on my property, but I never see any sap leaking.

[@thedirtprincess3293]

I wouldnt collect the way he did in this video. Thats a big wound.

[@wuznotbornyesterda]

My mom had several of these in a corner of her backyard. A twin one broke off at the base in a storm and fell completely thru the middle of her house. Took an extremely long time to repair and the house was only a couple of years old.

[@φυλακή13]

yeah, 100% do not replicate this harvesting method. that was hard to watch and a huge sign of inexperience.

[@russelbrown6275]

@@φυλακή13yeah the inexperience is your lack of knowledge of these practices that have existed longer than current humanity

[@ryanmac3134]

Great video Matthew! Also learn so much from these!

[@johnpick8336]

Those seeds are the Doctrine of Signature for sure. Thank you for posting.

[@Damselfly54315]

That woodpecker IS alive and well, have several in the area of my home in Pa! See them frequently!

[@judykoudssi9850]

They supposedly have been spotted here in Louisiana, I don’t know if it’s the Ivory Bill they have seen or if it’s the Pileated Woodpecker. We have several patches of old growth trees which they prefer. Thank you for this great information!

[@richardharp4398]

I have a brand new appreciation for this tree. Thank you! I watched the whole thing! Have LOVED your content

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Awesome, glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for watching!

[@brendavalentine-bates7737]

Greetings from Mobile County Alabama and sweet gum trees are everywhere on our property. Only bad thing about the tree, they snap easily in storms

[@mommar4858]

Thank you! I grew up with these trees, gumballs, they were a thousand different props in our make believe fun.

[@gailsegal6843]

Phenomenal video, thank you. We moved to SC and have several Sweetgum trees. Also, I've seen the Pilated woodpeckers, not sure if that is the Ivory Billed??? They have a very loud call, sounds like a call a Native Indian may have used years ago. You have an incredible wealth of knowledge and would love to meet up with you if you're anywhere around my neck of the woods. We're way out in the country NW of Walterboro in a small town. Originally, my husband and I lived up North, however, we decided to make our home out here since April of 2022, where the climate is more suitable to our liking. Unfortunately, one year after we moved here my husband became very sick with a rare leukemia and sadly he is now on home hospice....I've been diligently, and lovingly, caring for him during his final stages, so needless to say have very little time to put into myself and my great love for nature and all it's goodness. I had previously started a couple of large gardens and managed to make one tincture but had to let everything go.....Sadly, he as nearing the final stage and my focus is caring for him, it is all consuming now but eventually I will have time to invest in my life. I've always been fascinated with GOD'S nature and all the incredible uses for plants, trees, flowers, herbs, and even weeds. I will be searching for like minded friends that share the same interests as I, GOD willing!

[@Mike-ox3bv]

Great information on the medicinal properties of this tree as I have about 17 -18 on my property!

[@milescoleman3150]

Its Used in TCM- BAI JIAO XIANG its used as a a Blood moving herb aka emmenagogue, though it is used for things you listed ( expect colds flu aka wind evils) STYRAX or SU HE XIANG is also used in TCM. My Teacher Taught that STYRAX is made with a different Resin. The fruit or LU LU TONG is used as well. It's a POWERFUL Blood and QI mover and disperses wind cold damp- all these contribute to PAIN in TCM. It can induce TACHYCARDIA or palpitations in some ( Chinese Genus) Love what your doing here! Great to see local herbs that can be used in a TCM model.

[@Ichinen220]

TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine?

[@breesechick]

Thank you for sharing! That's great information ❤

[@breesechick]

​@@Ichinen220I'm not the person you're asking ,but yes.

[@roberts.1050]

In Alabama and Tennessee we call them Screaming Eagle Eggs.

[@scott-c1d]

Ok, that .hit is funny right there. It's five in the morning and I'm reading these posts and I just bust out laughing reading this till I have tears rolling out. Yes, screaming eagle eggs, got it. Love your post. North Louisiana here.

[@MaryBrashier-mc3xc]

I live in Southeastern Mississippi. We actually have about three pairs of these woodpeckers on our property. we call them Indian Hens I don't know where that otiginated. We hear them often, see them rarely. We see them most when the popcorn tree is blooming. They love them!! I really enjoy your videos. Educational and you are easy to listen to.

[@leostarfire79]

Thank you! I always learn from and ENJOY your videos!

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!

[@berlimarkle778]

This is awesome!! I have been looking for herbal information for plants in southeastern Texas and yes, this grows here. I am so happy to have found you, because I know my northern European herbs but not much here in Texas. I am subscribing to your channel!!❤❤

[@michellesmithunroe2463]

I am not in Texas but have found a lot of good info on the Foraging Texas website.

[@tammyhoushour8070]

Enjoyed learning about all about the gun ball tree and how to use it as medicine. I've always loved their balls/cones.

[@sharksport01]

My grandmother called those trees Mohawk, and my neighbor who was born in the 1800's called them Apollo Trees. I heard a 4th name for them but I cant remember it. My neighbors had a fantastic 1930s International Style house and all the interior walls were gum wood, they glowed like honey held up in the sun. I sure wish the Ivory Bill was still around but if you see the videos of them they were very friendly to humans, too friendly. So I dont know why they would suddenly be evasive for 80 years.

[@michellesmithunroe2463]

I've not heard of those names. What region was your grandmother and neighbor in?

[@debbieandmarc]

Can't thank you enough. I'm new to the Southeast.

[@billchildress9756]

I was the same as viewing this tree as a nuisance but not anymore! Thank you for opening my eyes to this.

[@harrietr9500]

As a child we used small sweet gum branches to brush teeth/ as my grandma showed us/. Love, love your video. Thank you much!!

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it

[@ShaneMclane-PrivateEye]

Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge on this sacred subject.

[@cindinesler6605]

I was gathering sweet gum yesterday to make a tincture. I love that there a couple other uses from this tree. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I enjoy all your videos.

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching!

[@terrilegg1]

Thanks for a very informative and thorough video. I love that you mentioned Tommie Bass and Darryl Patton. I have wayyyy too many sweetgum trees so I will be trying these methods as well. ❤

[@lisabrown7327]

Im on a large parcel of woods in eastern sc and i have had a heart for reasons trees, plants,flowers are needed. And with this video here , i thank you for the exceptional information on the sweet gum. Now i know what i am to do. Thank you and will be patiently waiting for more wonderful information you have to teach to us. Your very blessed.

[@LawrenceLarson-ln8yy]

Finally a channel that knows the Medicinal value of Everclear...

[@darlenebradley6756]

I live in Kentucky and sweet gum trees pop up like weeds and are very fast growing. The fragrance is wonderful.

[@stacybacigalupo1376]

We used to Throw them at each other like snow balls ...when we were children...So glad to know We can use them as meds....Thank You Again

[@cynthiaheatly5562]

WOW! Thank you so much!!! I am moving to my daughter’s prop which has lots of old and new Sweetgum trees and I am ALL about Mother Earth’s remedies so I intend to try all of these! I take wildlife photos, especially birds, so I am excited about finding finches! AND my daughter just told me about a giant woodpecker on her prop. Oh my goodness that will be exciting to get a photo of that one!!!!! Thank you again.

[@preppintrucker]

Saw an ivory billed on my property in NE Texas

[@brianlucas7604]

Pictures?

[@WayneTheSeine]

Pileated Woodpecker most likely. They are very common here in Louisiana and look nearly identical to the Ivorybill.

[@preppintrucker]

@@WayneTheSeine probably then. Just caught my eye because it was so big actually tried to follow it but have bad eyes and didn't have my binocs.

[@sturmurp962]

Saw a pair of ivory billed , definitely not the pleated which I still see from time to time, maybe 15 to 20 years ago back when a lot of us still had flip phones which I don't think they had a built in camera. Watched them from my truck for a long time, they were going crazy after grubs in a dead hollowed out standing tree they were so strikingly beautiful. This was in Conroe Texas believe it or not right when you come through a bunch of woods into Lowe's and Sam's parking lot. Wish I would have had my camera phone then that I have today.

[@metalandwood4u]

If you knew the real history of the "extinction" of the ivory billed wood peckers and the search for remaining populations then you wouldnt cauually claim seeing one. And unless youve got some deep old growth cypress property with the right volume of dead trees then you wouldnt have any. Youve got a better chance of being visited by two flying saucers from another solsr system rather than seeing ivory billed wood peckers.

[@lighthouse6120]

There is a big Sweet Gum Tree in the back yard here in NE Ohio. So, it does grow in a northern climate as well. Thanks for your video.

[@jennadabomb]

I had no idea these had so many uses! I've grown up around them my whole life. Thank you for sharing!

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching, glad you learned something!

[@Kathleentaylormusic1]

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful video! I had No idea sweet gum was a medicinal :) I always loved how it smelled - I am so excited to learn this! Thanks!!

[@EveryBlossomMatters]

I wanted to comment the day this aired but you know...life . My Mamaw also called this the toothbrush tree because as a girl they used the sweet gum tree for teeth cleaning. She showed me how. And she would chew the "gum" just for fun😊. I'm enjoying your videos

[@sherri1523]

That was the first ingredient in gum. Kids loved to scrape it and.. it was gum! Before there was gum!

[@piggypizza34]

I was just wondering yesterday what uses the gum tree had. Thank you for filling my curiosity and the helpful knowledge. Keep up the good work!

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching and commenting, glad the video helped!

[@Kindamaybe-c9t]

Great information. I have hundreds of sweet gum trees on my property. There are also lots of woodpeckers , and fletchers.

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

Now you know when the birds are done with them that you can collect and sell them.

[@someguyinflorida]

I have two sweetgum trees in my yard. I curse the mess they make but now I'm motivated to try to make use of them. Will give your recipes a try. Thanks!

[@CranesandCrows]

The bark and trunks of Sweet Gum and Maple trees are very different. It is just as easy to identify a tree by its trunk and canopy as from the leaves. I was taught as a young girl how to do so by my father.

[@billwhite9701]

When cov -19 came to visit, so did the sweet gum trees medicinal values, it was a very eye opening/spiritual experience. Also when the small side branches are chewed lightly at the end creating a bristle/brush it makes a great toothbrush. Thank you for great work

[@markbrandli]

Thank you , wonderful video . I don 't remember if you mentioned that the reason most people ( at least East Texas ) keep the tree is it is a wonderful fast growing shade tree . I always liked it's scent.

[@moragmacgregor6792]

East Texas _in da house!_

[@karonchambers2219]

Hi Matthew, I love to watch your videos. Very professional and informative. You mentioned the ivory billed woodpecker. I live in northeast Mississippi and just this week saw this woodpecker in my front yard checking out a dead pine tree. We hear their calls just about every day. Here we call them Indian Hens. They are fairly large and beautiful birds.

[@HillbillyHippyOG]

Unless there’s another red-headed woodpecker that looks like the endangered one… we have two of them that hang around our yard on a near-daily basis here in central AR. And they come back year after year. If you can’t find them where you are, you’re welcome to come see ours. ✌🏼

[@5x535]

The key way to identify your birds is their ivory bill. The much more common Pileated Woodpecker has a darker, almost black bill. The other thing is size, but that is relative. I sure hope you have the Ivory-Billed in your yard. Many people would love to share "a peek."

[@HillbillyHippyOG]

@@5x535 Thanks! They rarely get so close I can see the bill, but I’ll keep an eye out. The ones that come around here are maybe 20% larger than a pigeon.

[@tammytamz3046]

I just found you! I’ve been working on making everything in my yard either medicinal or edible! You are a treasure!

[@Syl-Vee]

What a glorious plant! My friend used to have a scientific print picture of an ivory billed woodpecker on his living room wall.

[@dava1581]

Awesome video! I’ve grown up around the sweet gum , but never knew about its medicinal properties. Scraping the bark to harvest, the sap will definitely not hurt the tree. I’ve seen some sweet gums that have been cut down to the stump and still keep growing. It is A very resilient tree

[@MistressOnyaCox]

❤❤❤ can't wait to harvest my own perfume and medicine THANK YOU 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@LegacyWildernessAcademy]

Thank you for watching!

[@byronrichards3001]

Thank you for this very informative upload. Your knowledge and experience is very much appreciated. Keep informing the people...

[@loriekaczmarek9788]

I'm in ohio and we have sweet gum all over the place. Thanks