magical properties of sweet gum balls

In Appalachia, a concoction of the resin mixed with whiskey was chewed to clean teeth, heal gums and mouth lesions, or to relieve toothache. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The Witchs Burrs or Gum Balls of this particular tree were enormous in size, I dont think I have ever seen another Sweet Gum Tree in my lifetime that has been this size. Historically, the hardened sap was chewed like gum for pleasure as well as for medicinal purposes. Sweet gum is popular for landscaping, prized for its beautiful fall color. Pozzobon RG, Rutckeviski R, Carlotto J, Schneider VS, Cordeiro LMC, Mancarz GFF, Souza LM, Mello RG, Smiderle FR. In the video, a TikTok witch explains how to use sweetgum balls, which are also known as witches burrs due to their supposed spiritual properties. It was a beautiful place where shoes were optional in the summer and most of the tree seed pods that fell in our yard were fun things you could turn into helicopters or pull apart and stick to your nose. I can say that I am somewhat a fan of sweet gums. Liquidambar styraciflua Sweetgum. Sycamore. No dead cats were swung around here to support my hypothesis of the prolificacy of sweet gum trees! In Kentucky, the tree is found throughout the state, but is scarce in the Bluegrass and on alkaline soils generally. The star anise pod is about 7% shikimic acid, the pine needles 3% and the Sweet Gum 1.7% to 3%. The leaves also have a camphor odor when crushed. How To Use Sweetgum Balls for medicinal purposes. Disclaimer. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Found something you love but want to make it even more uniquely you? I have the misfortune of having a sweet gum ball tree just on the other side of my property line and it is dropping hundreds and hundreds of gum balls Sweet Gum Tree balls and dog eating them (property, attorney, state) - Real Estate -Brokers, appraisals, development, lease, investing, relocation, apartments, houses, condos, values, mortgages . Technical Coordinators. But, apparently in some circles, there is a demand for sweet gum balls. South Carolina Civil War surgeon and botanist writes that sweetgum incense was used in Mexico as an excitant of the mucous system and antimicrobial for infections of lungs, intestines and urinary tract. Introducing such a chemical alters sweet gum's natural hormone levels, prompting the tree to abort its fruits. In sachets. Always seek theadviceof your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding amedicalcondition or use of herbs or plant materials for medicinal use. It is a potent anti-fungal and an effective natural pesticide. This listing is for either 1, 3, 5, or 7 witch's burrs. They are typically about 11.5 inches (2538 mm) in diameter and are covered with rusty hairs. When the seed pods turn brown they will fall from the trees and make a rather bothersome mess on your lawn, hence why they are considered a nuisance tree to those who prefer pristine lawns. As an ornamental tree, the species has a drawbackthe branches may have ridges or wings that cause more surface area, increasing weight of snow and ice accumulation on the tree. (Do not try to give these people a holiday wreath made out of glitter-covered sweet gum balls.). Removing the tree permanently by cutting it down is the most effective solution for removing the sweetgum ball problem from your lawn, then following up by replacing it with a . Your email address will not be published. [Last accessed on 2014 Feb 11]. Storax has medicinal uses dating back to the Aztec Empire during the Paleo-Indian Period (ca. As with the resins of pine and the milky latexes of dandelions and ficus plants, sweet gum's sticky sap rapidly seals over bark wounds, drying and forming a protective "scab," and the flow of the sticky, aromatic stuff can deter burrowing insects and herbivores. Sweetgum salves have a minor antiseptic value, but work well as an anti-inflammatory. With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Though they can be murder on bare feet if they fall before softening, these brown spiky balls are popular in arts in crafts and also, apparently, in magic. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. I never thought picking up those darn gum balls would be so much FUN!. Habitat Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Resin I have 4 HEALTHY sweet gum trees in my yard, and I get some good exercise (walking) using it, saving my back, shoulders, hands, and time by NOT using a rake. The flowers typically appear in March to May and persist into Autumn, sometimes persisting into the Winter. sweet gum, (genus Liquidambar), sometimes spelled sweetgum, genus of 15 species of deciduous trees, the only genus of the family Altingiaceae. Thanks for sharing Your experiences! Ancestral and Earth Wisdom, Land Alignment. Bag-A-Nut plucks the sweet gum balls out of the grass like magic. The latter is the storax tree, the Balm of Gilead, a medicinal perfume and salve important in the Middle East and mentioned in the Bible. In addition to the potential medicinal uses of sweetgum extracts, the extracts of the sap possess antifungal activity against various phytopathogenic fungi and have been effective treatments for reducing nematodes and the yellow mosquito, Aedes aegypti, populations thus highlighting the potential of these extracts as environment-friendly pesticides and antifungal agents. Modern chewing gum is composed of gum base, sweeteners, softeners/plasticizers, flavors, colors, and, typically, a hard or powdered polyol coating. available for orders over $1.00. Hung as ornaments on the yule tree. Finally, I had all my components for creating chive blossoms from the sweet gum tree balls! While this is a simple overview, in my book The Magic of Trees: . Bark is brown to gray, very rough with deep grooves and narrow, slightly scaly ridges. In fact, I had never seen, felt, or heard of sweet gums until well into my thirties when we bought our current property here in southeast Virginia. Sweet gum wood is a favorite for furniture, and the sap is added to tincture of benzoin and found often in incense. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. The leaves also contain many of the medicinally active compounds. Another use they find in magick, is that they are believed to focus and augment spiritual power of the spells and rituals. I hope you will take the time to appreciate this tree in the future the next time you notice one. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. ACS Omega. Yes! Sweetgum tree balls: Gum tree balls on the American sweetgum are coppery-brown rounded spiky capsules. Hot glue sticks. Add to Favorites . Where you earn points on every order, redeem points for free products, coupons & discounts. The sticky or gummy sap of sweet gums serves a purpose for the tree. Witch's Balls, Sweetgum Balls for Crafts or Magick 5 out of 5 stars (310) $ 0.45. from $0.85. Original Price $11.00 Spanish explorers of the American South also noted the resemblance and recorded the tree as they trudged through southern swamps. The prickly fruits are called gumballs, goblin balls, monkey balls and a number of other colorful names. In the European timber markets it is known for some unknown reason as satin walnut. Sweet Gum trees prefer deep, moist, bottomland soils and grow best in full sun, although some will thrive in partial shade. p.s. The leaves are 5- to 7- lobed, 4 to 8 long and wide and margins are serrate. The magical association with protection seems to have a basis in science. Emptying the basket is a breeze as well. It had knarly roots protruding from the ground that I use to sit on like a bench. Sweet gum sap has caught the attention of medical researchers, and we know that much of its folkloric uses are now backed with scientific reasoning. $9.35, $11.00 This is because the infertile seeds contain ~6.5% w/w shikimic acid: the chemical used as the starting material for the synthesis of the antiviral drug Tamiflu, which has been used to treat the early stages of Influenza A and B [2 . A close relative of this species that occurs in Turkey and Greece, Oriental sweet gum, provides a sap and oil that has been highly valued as an incense, fragrance, and medicine since ancient times. Air and water easily pass through their hollow structure, and their spikey surface can even help deter slugs and other animals. A journal from a conquistador accompanying Cortez recorded observing the Aztec emperor himself enjoying a resinous stick from the tree. Now, don't get me wrong. Gum Tree. In fall, sweet gum leaves turn a variety of colors, contributing greatly to fall color in communities. And you dont even have to count on the magic spells to take advantage of the burrs. 2. Liquidambar, Sweet Gum. Flowers AprilMay, with male and female flowers on the same twig; male flowers greenish-yellow, on an upright stalk in several tight, rounded clusters; female flowers in a single, drooping, round cluster about inch in diameter. edward w. berry, the geological history of the sweet gum and witch hazel, the plant world, vol. Enter here! From April 2005 to October 2006, gynecology and obstetrics, in the 92th Hospital of Peoples Liberation Army, used sweet gum ball to treat 44 cases of postpartum breast distension and the curative effect was quite satisfactory. October 14, 2022 by jai. Subscribe for $1/mo. Native Americans used an infusion of the bark medicinally for diarrhea and dysentery and also in poultices for cuts, sores, and bruises. Then, the flowers drop, preventing the balls from ever forming. Its power and energy lost forever. Weve had just enough rain and moderately warm days that the leaves are easing slowly into the final drop. As a matter of fact, I'd go so far as to say way, way, way too prolific. I believe Mastiff and Snipper are injection. Leaves are alternate, simple, star-shaped, with 5 (sometimes 7) lobes, 36 inches wide, deeply lobed; margin toothed, tips long-pointed; leaves slightly aromatic when bruised. The genus name refers to the viscous resin, literally liquid amber- liquidus and ambar. Many people prize sweet gum as a landscaping tree because of its beautiful fall color. The seeds of the sweet gum tree are eaten by small mammals like squirrels and chipmunks as well as a number of birds including finches, ducks, quail, chickadees, sparrows, towhees, and Carolina wrens. About the only good thing is that they grow fast and make nice shade, but you can't even lay on the lawn under them to enjoy the shade because of all the spike balls. Expressing a love of nature in everything we create is a top priority. Fallen, opened fruits are often abundant beneath the trees; these have been popularly nicknamed "burr balls" or "gum balls". For this it was taken as an infusion (tea). The "gum balls," as described above, develop from female flower when they dry up and fall to the ground. The American Sweet Gum branches and branchlets may have distinctive corky ridges. Sidebar Navigation. And its medicinal properties called on in medicines like Tamiflu. The other uses of the American sweetgum include lumber, veneer, and plywood, as well as fuel and pulpwood. Using the burs in an alternative way. (15% off). Sweet Gum Balls. Sweet gum balls or witches burrs or witches balls are the sharp, thorny protective casings that house hide the seeds of the sweet gum tree. Although sweetgums are prolific and long-lived, they are sensitive to urban sprawl and drought. Many kinds of trees share this growth pattern, and they are typically fast-growing trees that often "invade" open areas (elms and willows, for example). The resin is produced by stripping, boiling, and pressing the trees bark. Embark may be foliar also. The perfect piece of witchcraft art for any Kitchen Witch 's, sacred space.. the kitchen ! Fill to the top with alcohol such as Vodka or Pure Grain Alcohol and let it steep for 6 weeks. It is a widely held belief that the infertile seeds of Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) can be tinctured in alcohol to make an at-home Tamiflu substitute [1].. Propagation of Sweet Gum: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. There are four species of sweetgum including Liquidambar orientalis L. (L. orientalis), Liquidambar formosana Hance (L. formosana), Liquidambar styraciflua L. (L. styraciflua), and Liquidambar acalycina (L. acalycina) worldwide. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal 20. I'm sitting on a crafters gold mine here people! Sweet gum balls are great for protection and banishing and they add great power to any spell or intention. I was gifted these three balls the other day and I know what Im going to do with them. Sweet gum balls or witches burrs or witches balls are the sharp, thorny protective casings that house hide the seeds of the sweet gum tree. Sweetgum Tree Seed Balls Foraging Texas: Sweet Gum. More on Sweet Gum: Eat the Weeds with Green Deane: Sweet Gum Tree. Sweet gum resin infused in whiskey "eased consumption". For magic, people use stuff like black cat bones, graveyard dust, fingernail clippings. The bark is a light brown tinged with red and sometimes gray with dark streaks. We have loads of color, and Ive been enjoying some of my favorite trees as I drive around the community. Wood is a type of tissue made of cellulose and lignin that many plants develop as they mature whether they are woody or not. Continue adding Sweetgum balls with hot glue until you fill the interior of the wreath. The mildly astringent inner bark is used in the treatment of diarrhea and childhood cholera. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Sweetgums are notably absent from magical and herbal tree lore, which derives largely from Europe. sweet-gum, American sweet-gum, sweet gum, sweetgum All pictures (5) Share; All pictures. Sweet gum is a deciduous, forest-dwelling tree, growing as high as 150 feet, the tree is covered with rough, gray bark; but the branchlets are reddish-brown and often have corky ridges. It can be an excellent shade tree in the right location, away . It has beautiful finely toothed leaves which colour to shades of red, orange and purple during Autumn putting on a spectacular show. Twigs are reddish- or yellowish-brown becoming gray, aromatic, often with corky wings on second-years growth; pores raised, dark. This sign is a list of magic herbs and their magical associations and has been designed to look like a page from a Kitchen Witch's Book of Shadows The sign is 17 inches long by 8 inches wide. I was very distressed a few years later when I learned that they had cut the massive tree down to build a parking lot in its place. Altingiaceae (sweet gums) (formerly Hamamelidaceae). If you look at it long enough, you can start to see it's evil eyes, it's crooked nose, and it's open mouth and fangs. Sweet gum balls ("Witches Burrs" or "Witches Balls") are apparently a traditional American Hoodoo magical item. The long-persisting fallen spiked fruits can be unpleasant to walk on; sweet gum is banned in some places for this reason. Available from: Gilman EF, Watson DG. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! The American sweetgum is often planted as a street tree in suburban areas, but it also can tend to form thickets within forests. The witch advises placing them around the perimeter of your house as a ward or using them in protection spells, wreaths, jars, or amulets. Original Price $21.00 Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. $2.24, $2.99 Original Price $2.99 From it they pried off, then popped into . Shikimic acid is not Tamiflu any more than . Love those things :)Reply, Never miss an update! In traditional North American Indian medicine, the resin and inner bark were used to treat diarrhea, and, topically, as a salve for wounds and skin irritations. Was this a voodoo ritual? In addition, another ingenious use of gum balls is for a low breast milk supply. The name Eucalyptus, being derived from Greek EU - well - kaluptos - covered, a clear reference to its unique flowers. In nature, sweet gum occurs in rich, moist bottomland soils in valleys and along streams. There are no sharp dividing lines between trees, shrubs, and woody vines, or even between woody and nonwoody plants. Once you have a fruiting tree, an entirely new variety of benefits is available to you. Applying the balsam to the skin might help with chigger and other insect bites. I'm planning on digging out the topsoil in the low spot (and use it for gardening elsewhere on my property), and I'll rake my plethora of sweet gum balls to fill the hole. Personally, I am surrounded by Sweet Gum Trees and I am looking forward to working with them medicinally in the near future. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your green witch journey. sweet gum ball | 83.5K views. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. Its too late in the season to harvest sweet gum for its flu fighting abilities, but look for the immature pods next year. 8600 Rockville Pike In Magical and Spiritual circles the spiney seed pods or fruits of the Sweet Gum are known as Witchs Burrs or witch balls a traditional American Hoodoo magical item. Divine theme by Restored 316, Divine Resonance Magic Certification Course. The Magic of Trees: A Guide to Their Sacred Wisdom & Metaphysical Properties. Sweetgum is known as Liquidambar styraciflua to botanists. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, Looks like you already have an account! Binder-Free Modification of a Glassy Carbon Electrode by Using Porous Carbon for Voltammetric Determination of Nitro Isomers. Good news! ), but they are ok. And they can be rather pretty in the fall when their leaves turn yellow and then into nice purple-red colors. But even more fascinating than the fact that crafters are willing to actually pay money for "gum balls" is their apparent use in Hoodoo.   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). But, when some of these people referred to sweet gum balls as "Witches Balls" or "Witches Burrs", I figured it would be interesting to look into further it is almost Halloween after all! Sweet Gum Healing. At least that's what I see but maybe I've stepped on one too many of these gum balls in my bare feet (OUCH!!) You can make all kinds of things like crafts, tea, and Tamiflu! All Rights Reserved. Share Tweet. Sweet gum balls ("Witches Burrs" or "Witches Balls") are apparently a traditional American Hoodoo magical item. Sweet gum balls or witches burrs or witches balls are the sharp, thorny protective casings that house hide the seeds of the sweet gum tree. If, only if, I were a craft person (I'm not), I'd be in heaven! Sweet gum trees have very shallow root systems and often times on older, larger trees their root systems will protrude from the top soil. 3 Fizzing Whizzbees Make People Levitate. Its texture is reminiscent of rubber because of the physical-chemical properties of its polymer, plasticizer, and resin components, which contribute to its . Other extracts derived from sweet gum trees have shown potential as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and chemopreventive agents. Sweet Gum trees typically grow to be 60 to 80 tall and 40 to 60 wide and some can easily exceed 100 tall depending on their habitat environment. Chewing gum is a soft, cohesive substance designed to be chewed without being swallowed. They are considered a powerful protection amulet. Sweet gum wood is commercially used for electronic . Dawn Combs lives in Ohio with her family and is the co-owner of the herbal health farm Mockingbird Meadows, chief soda jerk at her familys unique storefront apothecary called Soda Pharm and the master formulator of their herb- and honey-based products. I have nothing other than disdain for them. Harvest the seed capsules at the end of October or November, dry in a warm place and extract the seed by shaking the capsule. The sweetgum tree is a common sight throughout the southeast United States. The compounds found in the extracts derived from sweetgum sap suppress hypertension in mice. Its alternate, serrate, palmately lobed (star-shaped with 5-7 toothed lobes) leaves are dark green and . American Sweetgum This will differ depending on what options are available for the item.

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