Trees of Trembling Discomforts

Trees of Trembling Discomforts

The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides; P. tremula), are tall slender trees up to around 80 feet tall with characteristic smooth white or pale bark with black scarring. 

The almost round leaves are green and glossy and change color with the autumn season, becoming yellow, golden and sometimes red before falling. 

Populus tremuloides, also called the American Aspen, is widely distributed in North America and has a shared root system, through which it propagates itself. 

As the wind blows, the leaves shake and “quake” making a characteristic sound—leading to the common and specific epithet. Even in winter, when the leaves are long gone, the knocking of the stems and trunks make a quaking sound. 

A number of forest animals and birds rely on Aspen for a food source, such as quail and grouse that eat the winter buds, and rabbits and beavers that eat several plant parts. The wood is useful for its light weight quality, especially thin panels and waferboard. 

The inner bark has been consumed raw or cooked, and has been used as a flour to thicken soups. The sap has also been used as a drink, and the catkins consumed raw or cooked (but with a bitter quality). 

The bark and leaves of the American Aspen tree have a long tradition of use in herbal medicine. The Native Americans used it widely for a number of complaints due to its antiseptic and analgesic qualities. 

Containing salicin, which is known to reduce swelling and inflammation, it is often used for painful conditions, such as joint pain, prostate discomfort, sciatica, neuropathic pain and bladder pain. 

It has also been used as a febrifuge, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, and diuretic. A tea of the inner bark is used for coughs, fever, stomach pains and colds. 

The leaf buds have been used for making a salve for colds, coughs and irritated nostrils. 

A Bach Flower Essence is made with Aspen, indicated for unknown fears and feelings that “something awful is going to happen.” 

The German Commission E Monographs of Germany approve the American Aspen for hemorrhoids, wounds and burns. 

The European Aspen (P. tremula), also commonly referred to as the Quaking Aspen, has some similar medicinal uses. Indeed, nearly all Aspen species contain salicylates, derivative compounds of Asprin, and this is attributed to their medicinal uses.

#Biodiversity #MedicinalPlants #Ethnopharm #Ethnobotany #germancommissionE #bachflower #populus #pain 

*This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. 

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