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January 12, 2024

Happy Scentsational Sunday, Reader!

If you have a willow tree (Salix spp), especially if it happens to be Salix alba (white willow), then you have one of many herbalists' favorite medicinal herbs!

It's nearly time for us to get ready for spring herbal harvests, and willow is one of the plants that we harvest bark from in the early spring, when you're pruning branches.

It's a good idea to harvest the pruned branches and NOT directly from the tree. This provides good use for the pruned parts while not hurting the trunk or other areas of the tree, which isn't necessary. Find out about harvesting, identifying, benefits, and the phytochemistry of willow bark HERE.

That article link above is pretty interesting, as I explain how the willow chemical is metabolized in the body versus how aspirin works.

One big myth about willow bark is that it's the same as aspirin, and this is pretty much the only way to use it...as an aspirin substitute.

Willow is often one of the first herbs people will learn about when they begin their herbal studies. And they'll learn a basic fact along the lines that "Willow is an aspirin substitute and is a great analgesic (pain reliever)."

It IS true that willow bark has analgesic properties...but it's NOT exactly an aspirin substitute, although close.

It's BETTER!

Many new herbalists and lay-people try to "substitute" medications they're familiar with with medicinal plants. Proper herbalism just doesn't work this way at all.

That's one problem about learning herbalism without a community (a real one that's OFF Facebook on a dedicated platform with REAL herbalists to help).

It's very easy to obtain fake, untrue, or dangerous information online; and it's VERY hard to learn what you need to in order to advance your herbalism practice as speedily and efficiently (and accurately) as possible.

That's one of the reasons I'm passionate about writing this newsletter to you! It's a FREE way for you to gather information and learn. That makes my day.

Let's find out more about Willow (Salix spp):

WILLOW BARK AS AN ANALGESIC:

Traditionally, willow bark has been heralded through the ages to be an exceptional pain-soothing plant. In fact, its most active constituent in this regard, salicin, was isolated (roughly mid-1800's) then synthesized in a lab setting, and finally sold as aspirin. That's the short story. There's a longer path of facts....and they're not pretty.

When herbalists work with willow bark as an analgesic, one of the things an experienced herbalist will consider are ALL the other active constituents of the plant, which work together for our benefit (and relative lack of side effects).

Over the counter aspirin does NOT have this benefit, and that's why the pills are coated to somewhat protect the stomach lining, and many DO have side-effects.

WILLOW BARK AS AN ANTISEPTIC:

Willow makes a terrific first aid antiseptic! You can use the tincture or a strong tea. Early colonists learned this from native peoples throughout North America, and willow bark became the herb of choice for washing wounds, treating ulcers on the skin, and for skin infections.

Willow bark can still be useful for us in these ways today, but most of us don't realize this....

WILLOW BARK AS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:

Inflammation has become quite a buzz-word these days... It's mysterious, and many people will make the remark, "I have inflammation in my body. What do I do?"

I hate to break it to you, but if you're over the age of 40, it's probably 100% likely you have inflammation of some sort going on in your body. It's part of the natural aging process.

Can inflammation be reduced with herbs?

YES!

Herbs can definitely be very helpful...not as a "cure," but as a consistently useful "support" while we help our body get back on track in whatever way we need. This is a HUGE topic, and it's likely I'll create a full-on course on this subject at some point.

Here's one way willow bark can be useful as an anti-inflammatory agent specifically for arthritis: A lovely willow bark salve powered up with other anti-inflammatory essential oils such as German chamomile, copaiba, ginger, peppermint, and others.

In fact the ancient Greeks infused willow bark in olive oil and stored this mixture in large clay pots. People suffering from types of arthritis would submerge their hands in these pots in order to gain relief from the pain.

Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) is one of my favorite anti-inflammatory herbs to combine with willow bark in tea, tincture, or salve form for reducing inflammation of joints. If your joints are cold and stiff, consider adding some ginger to this mixture!

WILLOW BARK AS AN ANTIOXIDANT:

Willow bark contains polyphenols and flavonoids, and these are likely what gives willow its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help the body scavenge free radicals, which cause damage to our cells.

In fact, willow bark is a wonderful skincare ingredient and you'll often see it in the ingredients list of higher end products. I personally love adding just a touch of the tincture to my rose hydrosols as a facial spritz. This mixture tones and tightens mature skin and is also helpful for those with acne or over-oily skin.

You may enjoy this video on a very special salve I formulated for a client last year... Please be sure to "like," comment, and share with others! And if you're not subscribed to our channel, I would love if you'd join us there! I'm planning to do consistent live chats this year on YouTube!

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Willow is one of the MANY deeply researched herbal masterclasses inside the Confident Herbalist Tribe. Learn all there is to know about over 60 plants (and more added monthly) plus other herbal topics such as energetics and protocols.

All of our short courses are also included inside the Tribe!

Enjoy hundreds of videos, detailed texts, ongoing live lessons and chats, the replays of all of these (all searchable), and many formulations to work with for each masterclass.

If you're interested in joining a REAL herbal community, consider joining us in the Confident Herbalist Tribe! ​

It's the only community I'm aware of where you have several herbal and aromatic study paths, a TON of support in a joyous and vibrant community, and where herbalism is taught alongside aromatherapy to make your practice as effective as possible!

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THE DANGERS OF USING ESSENTIAL OILS WITHOUT PROPER KNOWLEDGE....

There are definitely safety concerns with essential oil use, and this was again brought strongly home to me last night when I was talking with a young mom.

IT MAKES ME CRAZY.

This sweet young woman is one of my favorite people in our small town, and when when she told me she was applying peppermint essential oil undiluted behind the ears of her baby (AND unknown essential oil company--and that's scary in and of itself), I gasped inwardly!

I've learned, though, that it doesn't do any good to blast someone about what they believe to be a good thing. It just makes everyone feel bad. So, I gently did my best to educate her about the dangers of peppermint essential oil use with children under the age of five, especially neat and near the face.

Nobody wants to accidentally harm someone, especially not an infant or toddler. And especially NOT their own child.

Here's why peppermint essential oil is NOT for babies:

1) It's SUPER powerful. It contains high levels of menthol and menthone and is a potential skin sensitizer. In fact, for those with sensitive skin, it can actually cause severe pain and irritation.

With little ones who are still nonverbal...they can't talk and share about what they're feeling, it's up to us to be as safe as we possible can be and to know FOR SURE that your choices are good.

Although peppermint is a "cool" oil, for many it feels "hot" because the cooling sensation can literally be too intense. It can burn some people's skin when not diluted appropriately, and this especially goes for little ones who have such fragile skin.

2) Used near the face of young children, it may cause respiratory distress for little ones. Yes, this wonderful essential oil that so many of us just love for supporting respiratory ease (I sure do), can have the opposite effect on little ones or those with asthma or breathing difficulties if used too close to the nose.

Peppermint hydrosol, which is very gentle, used on little ones would be MUCH better. Or peppermint diluted down to a 1% ratio. 2% max for children 10 years and older. And NOT used near the face.

Diffusion is an ok option, especially if combined with a gentler essential oil like some lavender and orange or tangerine.

I told her I would formulate a nice safe blend for her baby and bring it by, and I'm going to share this formulation with you here, right now:

LESS COUGH, BETTER SLEEP FOR BABY OIL

This is a one ounce massage blend for a pump bottle and for use on older toddlers around three years. I decided on a 1.5% dilution to start, as the child is nearing three.

NOTE: I do not recommend using essential oils at all with children under 12 months.

I happened to have peppermint (herbal) infused oil on hand, and decided to work with this for the carrier base. If I didn't have this, I would have just gone ahead with jojoba oil.

Ingredients:

1 ounce jojoba oil (or peppermint leaf infused herbal oil)

4 drops black spruce (Picea mariana) essential oil

3 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii) essential oil

2 drops thyme ct. linalool (Thymus vulgaris ct. linalool) or hyssop ct linalool (Hyssopus officinalis ct linalool) essential oil

3 drops lavender (Lavandula angistofolia) essential oil

2 drops mandarin/tangerine (Citrus reticulata) or orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil

Directions:

Add the essential oils to the 1 ounce pump bottle. Shake well for a couple of minutes to mix the oils. Then add the carrier oil to the shoulder of the bottle. Shake once again very well to thoroughly disperse the essential oils.

To Use:

Apply this blend to the chest, back, and neck area of the toddler. For babies between age 12 months and two years, remove one drop from each of the essential oils for a 1% dilution.

Why This Blend Works for Babies:

Black spruce is high in bornyl acetate, an ester constituent that is calming. It's also high in both alpha- and beta-pinene, both of which support better breathing and the respiratory system.

Frankincense is a grounding and opening woods resin essential oil and is relatively high in b-pinene.

For both thyme and hyssop with a chemotype of linalool, this will be both a calming essential oil due to the linalool, while still supporting the respiratory system and the immune system.

NOTE: It's important to pay attention to chemotypes for plants that have them because if I had chosen regular old hyssop, it would probably have been a chemotype with 1,8-cineole---not to be used with little ones under ten years near the face.

Quality essential oil companies WILL have chemotypes on the label and also a GC/MS report available for you to inspect for chemical constituents.

Lavender is calming while also being very gently supportive of the respiratory system.

The citrus essential oil is there for immune system support and also to help with mood and better sleep.

If you try this blend and enjoy it, and you're an adult or are working with a child older than five or six, then you can increase the amount of essential oil to a 2% to 5% dilution.

For those over the age of 10 years, using essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, cardamom, ravintsara, camphor, etc. in safe amounts may be indicated, as these are quite powerful respiratory supports.

Regarding the popular over-the-counter remedy, Vick's Vapor Rub.... Please do not use this with children under the age of two years and NEVER directly under the nose. Vicks VapoRub May Lead to Respiratory Distress in Babies and Toddlers (Article)

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I NEVER PLANNED TO BECOME AN AROMATHERAPIST

But...I'm SO glad I did.

I've been studying medicinal plants for at least a couple of decades when I first became aware of them, and I consider myself first and foremost an herbalist.

However, with the popularity of essential oils as aromatic therapies, like many, I became intrigued with them. Before I began my official studies, I learned some very unsafe practices and blindly trusted sources I shouldn't have.

This is sadly SO common, just like the young mom I told you about above.

Thankfully, I finally reached the point where I KNEW I needed to learn more about essential oils from reputable teachers or just give them up all together.

Too late though....I had fallen love with the scents, with the effectiveness, and with the creativity of the beautiful volatile oils.

So, I started my journey into aromatherapy education! And now I'm teaching both herbalism and aromatherapy to anyone and everyone who will listen.

I want you to know how glad and grateful I am that you're here.

I hope you enjoy learning the things I wished I'd had access to back then, and that you enjoy your herbs and essential oils safely!

WHEW!

This note has gotten VERY long, so I'll sign off now and go make that sweet baby girl her breathing and sleep formula. Then we're off to church! I hope to make soap later today...it's been so long!

Hugs, Health, and Herbs,

Heidi

P.S. Did you get your FREE Herbal Medicine Dosing Guide yet? Just click the link above, and I'll send yours along.

Be sure to use the same email address you're using to get these notes so you don't get doubles.

P.P.S. Sharing is caring...I would LOVE if you might forward this along to anyone who you think would be interested or who may enjoy the free training.

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This note is proudly sponsored by the School of Botanical Arts & Sciences (SOBAS) by Healing Harvest Homestead!​

Check out our school because if you're here reading this, you're probably interested in learning about medicinal herbs and/or essential oils!

​Join us in a course and begin or continue your herbal and aromatic studies with us!