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Bayberry Myrica cerifera AKA Southern Wax Myrtle
It used to amaze me at how people would go to a nursery and pay money to buy a wax myrtle for their landscaping, never realizing that there was a whole stand of them growing in the ditch right up the road from them. But then I remembered that I too used to not recognize this plant. Man oh man, does the study of medicinal and edible herbs open your eyes to the world around you!
Not all bayberry’s will put on berries. That’s because only the female plants will bear berries. They are pollinated by wind however, so both male and female are normally found pretty near each other. The male and female of the species are used identically, except for the berry uses. The berries are small and clustered against the stem of the tree. As they mature, the berries will go from green to a pale blueish/grayish/ purplish color. I know, but, you have to see them to understand. At least part of this color change is due to a waxy buildup on the skin of the berries. This wax buildup can be an extremely valuable asset.
The berries can be simmered, melting the wax, and, once cooled, the wax can be skimmed off and turned into a candle that will burn with very little smoke and a clear white flame. Because it is so brittle it is usually, but not necessarily, mixed with another wax, like beeswax before being dried into a fragrant candle.
I’ve heard that some people turn the berries into jelly, but, have never tried this and have no idea how to do it, nor how it tastes.
The wax can also been used as a base for soap, as a hardener for plasters, or as a setting agent for a salve. It’s mildly astringent properties make it, in some cases, a valuable addition to a healing salve.
The mature berries can hang onto a bush for a couple of years before falling, and may be harvested any time you find them still hanging onto the plant.
The leaf of a bayberry, male or female, makes a very satisfactory substitute for the commercial bay leaf in cooking. You’ll not be able to tell the difference. These leafs, and small stems may be collected and dried in the summer to early fall to be used as medicine, but the bark, specifically the root bark, makes a much, much stronger medicine.
The root bark is harvested in the late fall once the plant's growth has stopped for the winter. Process while fresh, or you will regret it later! Even when processed fresh, it normally takes a sledge hammer to make the bark lessen it’s grip on the woody root. Make sure you dry this bark completely before you store it! This root bark is where you find the real medicine!
I prefer my bayberry root bark in tincture form, but it may also be consumed as a tea or in capsule form. Should you decide to tincture it, most information will tell you that it has to be dried first. It doesn’t. Both fresh and dry bark tincture will work. I do MUCH prefer the dry bark tincture, however, and would definitely recommend it over the fresh, but if you get in a hurry and have already started a tincture out of the fresh root bark, don’t panic, it will still work.
Bayberry is a strong astringent that is mildly stimulating as well. It has a real affinity for the mucous membranes in the body. In other words, it tightens and tones the membranes lining your nose, throat, mouth, gut, bowels, kidneys, etc. while helping to expel things that shouldn’t be there, like excess mucous.
To aide in mouth issues, like sores or wounds, gum disease or infections, either make it into a strong tea or dilute the tincture in a small amount of water and swish around in your mouth for a minute or two before spitting out if a tea, or you may swallow if using a diluted tincture. It will help speed healing and reduce inflammation in the mouth and gums. It has even been shown by experience to be highly effective in cases of thrush or other yeast infections in these tissues as well, often working in cases where pharmaceuticals have had no real effect.
Gargling with these will also help in conditions with a sore throat due to sinus drainage, strain, tonsillitis or just general irritation.
Taking it internally in whichever form you prefer will aide in cases of gastric inflammation or leaky gut, or even many cases of nausea. It will also help in cases of diarrhea, or stools that feature excess mucous in them. And will help to dry and clear up stuffy, runny sinuses.
One of the areas that bayberry really shines is in the area of preventative medicine.
Have you ever played the childhood game Red Rover? You know, “Red Rover, Red Rover, Let Mary come over”
You and your friends form a barrier across from the friends on the other side waiting for their turn to break through the line. In the line, each of you is tightly clasping hands and spreading out trying to stop the running person from breaking through. Can you imagine how much harder it would be for the person trying to break through if, instead of spreading out and holding hands, you all moved closer together and put your arms around your neighbors shoulders or waists? It would increase the difficulty of a person trying to push their way through significantly!
Now suppose you and your friends in the line were cells and part of the mucous lining of your nose, throat and mouth. And suppose the friends on the other side weren’t friends at all, but rather viruses, germs and allergens. Spread out and sort of loose, though connected, your lining is at least semi permeable and it’s not too difficult for these invaders to bust through. But, if the line is tighter and closer knit, the invaders job gets much more difficult. That’s what bayberry does to this lining in the major entry points for the invaders. It’s astringent and toning properties on these tissues that line some of the major entry points for invaders make it a whole lot harder for them to attach, pierce through and infect the body. This helps lessen allergic reactions, as well as lessening the load on the body of viruses and germs. The lower the load, the easier it is for the body to fight these off, maybe even before you know you have been infected! Just think of it as the airborne invaders worst nightmare!
As an astringent it also has the ability to slow or stop bleeding. Has some antibiotic properties of it’s own, will help control a fever, is somewhat antispasmodic, and can act as a digestive bitter (helps the body’s digestive process work better.
Tea: 1-2 tsp. simmered about 10 minutes in a cup of water. Sip 2-3 times daily.
Powder: About 2 rounded tsp. mixed into juice or water. 2-3 times a day
Tincture: About 1/2-3/4 tsp 2 or 3 times a day.
Mouthwash: 1 heaping TBSP simmered in 1 cup of water for around 15 minutes. Used 3 times daily. Preferably spit out when done.
Warning: Use internally with extreme caution, if at all, during pregnancy, and not at all during lactation.
Now, go out and make a great smelling candle or increase your resistance to airborne invaders!
Happy herbing!
C. Shaw
The author(s) assume no liability for this information, so use it with caution, at your own risk.
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