Dana Vacca's Blog: Freedom Calling A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea - Posts Tagged "nature"

Freedom Calling - Book Highlights - ENAPAY
Native American Medicine - Willow Tree

While they traveled together, the book character, Enapay, a Native American Sioux, taught Celia a great deal about Nature's bounty and the amazing medicine she provides to those who know how to it. One remedy Celia learned about was using the stems and bark of the white willow tree as a natural pain reliever.

Enapay was troubled by chronic arthritis, and traveling by horse and wagon, it often flared up. In a tin box in the wagon he kept a supply of the tender stems, leaves and bark from the white willow. He chewed on the twigs while they rode to ease his pain, and made tea with woody bark each evening.

The white willow contains salicin which is the main ingredient of aspirin and is a strong anti-inflammatory for relieving muscular pain and arthritis. The weeping willow is nature's aspirin, but it is absorbed more slowly so its effects last longer, and does not produce some of the side effects that synthetic aspirin causes.

The willow also contains populin which reduces swelling and is a fever reducer. The leaves are so higher in vitamin C than an orange! Willow can also be used topically as a poultice. It is astringent and cooling and beneficial to apply to insect stings and painful swellings.

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Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea