Western Red Cedar the most generous man

​Love the little pollen cones on this magnificent western red Cedar or Thuja plicata, Thujas are also called arborvitae, which means tree of life in Latin 🌲

These evergreen trees belong to the family of cedars. They are most common to western North America.

Their hight ranges between 60-70 meters and their stem can have a diameter of 3-4 meters.

They can reach ages over 1000 years.

Isn’t it red tinted bark just beautiful!

​The First Nation living in the area now known as Oregon were very connected to this tree, they used the bark, roots and branches for making tools, rods, totem poles, canoes, clothing, ropes, instruments, boxes, ceremonial objects, masks and for cooking fish over an open fire, due to its pineapple like scent. Woodworking tools were found, dating back to 8000 years ago.

A legend amongst the Coast Salish peoples describes the origins of the western redcedar. In this legend, there was a generous man who gave the people whatever they needed. When the Great Spirit saw this, he declared that when the generous man died, a great redcedar tree will grow where he is buried, and that the cedar will be useful to all the people, providing its roots for baskets, bark for clothing, and wood for shelter.

I’m astonished about its medicinal properties!

An infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of stomach pains and diarrhoea. A decoction of the leaves has been used in the treatment of colds; externally to treat various internal pains, including rheumatism.

The leaf buds have been chewed in the treatment of toothaches and sore lungs. A decoction of the buds has been used as a gargle.

A decoction of the small branches has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds and tuberculosis. A weak infusion has been drunk in the treatment of painful joints caused by rheumatism or arthritis.

A poultice of the crushed bough tips and oil has been applied to the back and chest in the treatment of bronchitis, rheumatism, stomach pains and swollen neck. An infusion of the twigs has been used as a wash in the treatment of venereal disease sores. A decoction of the boughs has been used as an antidandruff shampoo.

A decoction of the stem tips and the roots has been used in the treatment of colds.

An infusion of the bark and twigs has been used in the treatment of kidney complaints.

An infusion of the seeds and twigs has been used in the treatment of fevers.

The chewed bark, or a decoction of the bark, has been drunk to induce menstruation. A moxa of the inner bark has been used as a counter-irritant for the skin.

A poultice of the inner bark has been applied to carbuncles.

The bark has been pounded until it is as soft as cotton and then used to rub the face.

The very soft bark has been used to bind wounds and cover dressings.

The shredded bark has been used to cauterize sores and swellings.
Info taken from:
http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/t/thuja-plicata=western-red-cedar.php