NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2004

The weather sure has turned, hasn't it? Gone are the long hot days to be replaced by floods and thick frost on the pumpkins seemingly overnight. And what long nights they've become!

A couple of weeks ago, I told Roderick that we needed to go over the pass to harvest Ponderosa Pine resin for our Ponderosa Pine Salve before the pass closed. The very next day, we packed extra clothes, food and raingear, and headed over Washington Pass in the driving rain on Hwy 20. There was snow on the pass (as well as on the road!). Very beautiful but treacherous.

It took us only 1/2 hour to get the resin we needed and went back over the pass only to find out the road was washed out on the other side! We headed BACK over, dodging falling rocks the whole way and had a pleasant night in Eastern Washington. Highway 2 was open, we stopped to watch spawning salmon and noticed the blue elder berries were ripe and ready for the picking. What an adventure! We later learned that ours was one of the last vehicles over Hwy 20 before it closed and just after we got over Hwy 2, it was closed down to one lane because of a rock slide!

Think of Blue, (also called Black) Elder, Sambucus nigra, as one of your first defenses against colds and flu. The dried flowers and leaves are made into a standard infusion (strong tea) along with peppermint or yarrow to increase perspiration in order to bring down fevers, also as an effective antiviral, diuretic and help to reduce bronchial and upper respiratory discomfort. 1 to 2 fluid ounces up to 4 times a day.

Elderflowers are used in salves to treat minor skin ailments, burns, and rashes. A wash made with elderflowers is an excellent remedy for acne and wrinkles. Use elderberry juice as a gargle for soothing tonsillitis. The berries are a good blood purifier, and have been used as a treatment for arthritic and rheumatic complaints. A source of vitamin C complex, the elderberries make a superb wine! Hey, it makes drinking the wine a good excuse!

Stay away from the Red Elder, Sambucus racemosa, as it is toxic. The Red Elder is more common to our side of the mountains, although I've noticed more Blue Elders here in the past few years. As a general rule, the Red Elder flowers in May, the Blue in late June. And, of course, Red Elder's berries are red, and Blue Elder's are dark blue with a dusky bloom.

It's said that Pan's pipes were made from the hollow elder branches. If you're thinking of making pipes or whistles yourself, please dry the branches before you put your mouth on them to be safe from the toxicity in the branches.

Our Wild Rose Moisturizing Cream is made with Elderflowers. See our online store page for ingredients and pricing.

You can learn more about the plants we discuss seasonally by signing up for a class with Cedar Mountain Herb School!