On Poplar bark: A popular cureall

[Guest guest]

In the north there is a common tree called the poplar which is

very nice to have available. A lot of people consider it a junk or

nuisance tree, not as commercially valuable as some other types. It is

one of the first trees to move into an ecological disturbed area, they

grow fast and are eventually replaced by other species in a mature

forest. This makes it a good candidate for sustainable home harvesting

for medicinal uses.

What are those uses? Here is a clue. The neihbor remembered

how his dad use to throw chunks of poplar log to his work horses now

and then. The horses would eagerly strip off the bark munching it down

and the dad said it kept them healthy. In a nutshell, that's what it

does, keeps us healthy. Dr. writes of white poplar and

says, " This herb has long been considered a universal tonic, and may be

given freely where a tonic is needed. " He lists it's therapeutic

actions as: Tonic, febrifuge, antiperiodic, antipyretic, antiseptic,

antiferment, diuretic, stimulant, astringent (slight), vermifuge,

vulnerary. He compares it as a superior substitute for Peruvian Bark

(quinine) stating that it's so common is available to nearly everyone

unlike the imported Peruvian stuff. Right there is a remarkable piece

of wisdom, how even in the alternative health care industry there is a

lot more money to be made importing exotic herbs and medicinals than

there is teaching people how to utilize something growing in their

backyard.

In my practice I use more often as a digestive bitter. Much as

I love Swedish Bitters to improve digestion and liver functions and

frequently recommend it to others, I like to focus on local plants for

local needs. A tincture of poplar innerbark works very good taken with

a meal or just before it (20 minutes beforehand is ideal) to stimulate

the digestive functions. This is especially good for people still

eating a conventional diet who aren't yet willing to learn new ways to

cook (or not cook) and eat. I think of it during cases of

Thanksgivingitis, when the whole family loads up with so much varied

food stuffs that the digestion system shuts down and they go comatose

for 4 hours and then complain of a headache and an upset stomach (the

oldtimers called that bilousness).

It also has a laxative effect. Not having cascara sagrada growing

here I've experimented with using poplar bark in an intestinal cleanse

formula. For myself it seemed to work well but I found in some others

it could cause griping cramps (add more ginger) and one person it had a

carthatic response, just a little bit and 5 minutes later she went

running to the toilet with an explosive purge. The last was especially

curious as I had her profiled as the perfect candidate for poplar,

perhaps a homeopathic dose would have been more suited but I lack

experience in that. I am concerned about possible habit forming

laxative effect with poplar and haven't come to a good understanding of

whether that's an issue or not.

Poplar is in the willow family of trees and also has salicyn in

it's bark, meaning it has painrelieving properties similiar to willow.

I think it's weaker than willow for that but to compensate just make

the decoction thicker (more bark, simmer longer). Willow and poplar

both have a long history of use for fevers but I don't have personal

experience with that, unlike Dr. . I'll take his word on

that aspect.

Gathering the leaf buds in late winter enables you to make the

Balm of Gilead, either as a tincture or as an oil. This stuff rocks

for short term treatment of arthritis symptons. Note that's sympton

treatment, not curing. Curing arthritis usually involves dietary and

lifestyle changes. That makes poplar a doorway to get people involved

in herbs and a natural health lifestyle. " Hey, you got anything I can

use on my sore hands? " and later " That stuff worked pretty good, got

any more? " " Yes, and here are some ideas to experiment with that will

enable you to not need it. "

There are different varieties of poplar, one of them down back

has large buds easy to gather. The other 2 species on our property

have tiny buds that take forever to gather. Not sure how much the

medicinal properties vary from species to species but here's another

Dr. quote on Balsam Poplar:

Bark: Carthatic (laxative to simple purgative), tonic, stimulant,

diuretic, antiscorbutic, stomachic, resolvent (anyone have any idea

what that is?), discutient (huh?), alterative, expectorant

Buds: stimuluant, tonic, diuretic, expectoric, nephritic, demulcent,

emollient, vulnerary, counterirritant, antirheumatic, antiscorbutic,

carthatic, perstaltic, nutritive.

So there is a start. This tree continues to unlock many uses

and properties. In survival outings poplar provides an easy wood to

carve for projects and bow drill fire by friction sets. Wildlife,

especially rabbits, seem to love the buds making it a good winter trap

bait. It's wellworthwhile to cultivate a partnership with this plant.

I have found it to be of special value as in the winter time it is

still available, unlike many of the herbacious herbs.