Hello to you all n Happy New Year,

I have been offered a lot of Cedar resin but have never done anything with resins really -so what can I do???

Loads of love
K x

Hi Karen

If you have loads of time, trawl through the archives of Henriette's herblist as the use and preservation of ceder resin is discussed from time to time, usually during the winter months.

I would also check through the books and sites of Scandinavian and Canadian herbalists who have large stands of cedar to call upon. There was something in Ray Mear's latest series on bushcraft across Canada which had to do with the use of cedar.

A couple of things I remember from discussions is that cedar resin doesn't dissolve in alcohol so you can't make a tincture from it. (Several years ago, someone in Nova Scotia sent me some resin and the first thing I did was cover it with vodka and wondered why nothing happened!) It's also fantastic for burns - you can slather if over a new burn and it forms a seal which keeps out the air and other nasties. New skin can then form without any scarring.

I'm sure Katrina has posted something about cedar on her blog http://herbalmatters.blogspot.com/) - she has family in Scandinavia so it's a normal part of their herbal retinue. She hasn't posted there for ages, so I'm guessing her new job at Kew is keeping her very busy.

Hope this gives you some ideas! Let us know how you get on with the resin.

Sarah

Thanks Sarah

I'll check out those web leads when I get the time -I am thinking to make an oil though -how exciting.....

Gonna go do some work with the nearest Cedar tree asap

loads of love
K X

Hi Karen

I was "managing" my bulging email inbox on Tuesday night because it was threatening to corrupt and came across an email I'd sent to Katrina where she was talking about using cedar resin for knee aches and pains. It sounds like your idea for a resin oil would be on the right track.

On a completley different but similar vein, there's been a fascinating discussion on Henriette's herblist recently about using motherwort infused oil for pain, the action due to the influence on smooth muscle both internally and externally. I've never made a motherwort infused oil, but shall be doing so this summer. Kiva Rose also has a new article up about white pine which is really good.

Sarah

I understand cedar resin was used during the First World War to help heal wounds.It was probably made into a balsam or ointment with other oils. So, this indicates it's antibacterial qualities.