Mountain Warrior Kung Fu Academy

Understanding Kung Fu for life, health and self defense

A Journey To The Cottonwoods

In Search of the Great Cottonwoods.

This journey starts in January and goes to the middle of February. The Black Cottonwood's bring joy to my heart. A big part of that joy is the journey that we take every year in search of the Cottonwoods. It is magical and beautiful. The places that we go, looking for this beautiful tree medicine, feed my spirit, my body, my heart and my soul. When I find clues that there are Cottonwoods around and it is time to go harvest I get a bit obsessed

I also get obsessed with cuttings, so I can have my own trees. By starting my own, I have been able to watch their growth, which in turn helps me understand its herbal medicine. For those of you who have young ones (or older playful adults), this is really a fun project to do inside. Just find a few Cottonwood branches, a pretty vase and water. Place them in the vase with water in a sunny spot and watch them grow. In the later part of spring when the weather warms up a bit, find a special spot and go plant your little saplings and remember they like water.

The Cottonwoods mark the beginning of my harvest season and it shows spring is on its way.

Cottonwoods love moisture, they love water and these places make great tea spots. Great tea spots pull life's stress right out of your body. A great cuppa tea, some deep breathing and beautiful scenery will have you ready for your week.

The things that I have done, when I see cottonwood branches that have fallen... Yep I will find a way to put them in a car or truck.

Cottonwood honey tastes delightful, Cottonwood liniment helps with muscle strains or sprains, Cottonwood Tincture can be used internally for pain and as an expectorant. I also use the tincture for first aid. For more information on Cottonwoods healing click on link below:

http://mountainwarrior.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cottonwood-populus-n...

Pictured Below, left hand finger swollen. It felt like it was going to pop. Then I applied Cottonwood Tincture and the pain and swelling stopped immediately.

I even found the oldest Cottonwood around. A place where eagles fly, Beavers live and maybe some day I will see a cougar.

As you can see, not only does the Cottonwood give us wonderful medicine, it also gives the gift of beautiful places, that pull out stress and nurture us inside and out.

Picture Below, February 11th, 2018