Alnus rubra, Red Alder
/Alder speaks to the clearcut forest by rapidly covering the terrain with seedlings. These seedlings repair, restore and hold the banks from which the timber was cut. This ability of alder to hold space is not lost to me as I wander the alder woodlands near my cabin.
If you have ever pulled the weeds of an alder grove-to-be- you find that each of the seedlings has a nodule in its young roots. Each of these nodules contain nutrients to rebuild the soil after the assault of a clear cut. Alder grows fast to offer shade to the healing land from the now blazing sun and holds the hillside close to keep the land from slipping to the valley below.
When I sit in an alder grove; it is natural to feel as if I am surrounded by the Mother Alder and her offspring- each welcoming me and even showing off a bit like a mother hen and her chicks. This fast and weedy covering of disturbed soil gives the alder a reputation for being weedy. Some may even call the alder a nuisance.
I call her Medicine.
Gathering Alder
Gather alder twigs, leaf buds, leaves and catkins (both male and female)as they are all medicinal. When I have harvested the thick red, fragrant bark from the body of the tree; I find it has more astringency- similar to an oak bark. This tells me that it may be irritating to consume internally- I use it topically with great success. The young twigs are aromatic and less astringent, easy to access and an earlier harvest so this a favorite for early season harvest and I will use it to make tinctures and oils.
Other considerations for harvesting are- For twigs, catkins harvest just when they begin to flower, bark when the tree sap is rising and leaves in summer heat when they are a bit sticky.
Energetics
The energetics of alder is generally mildly cooling and moderately drying. As a plant that moves the lymph- you can expect to pee alot and if the fluids are not replenished- there will be significant drying to the body. Also consider the astringency of the medicine which tightens and tones but may also be drying the process. Allow alder to move the fluids and tighten/tone with it’s astringency by making the medicine as a tea or taking small doses of the extract along with plenty of water.
Actions
Alder is an alterative and lymphatic- which in herbal talk means that it will work through the lymphs to clear the way for more vitality in the blood and lymph. It’s anodyne action is offered through the salicin content (pain relieving salicin) and is a helpful vulnerary (wound healing) by the before mentioned astringency and clearing of waste.
Through the lymphatic movement, blood is cleared and moving which is supportive to kidney and liver unction. Alder combines well with our native Mahonia nervosa (Oregon Grape root) for supporting liver and digestive function. For kidney and adrenal support- alder can be combined with the nourishing nettle, Urtica dioica.
The renowned herbalist Tommie Bass said:
“If you got any kind of skin condition like eczema or scale, the [alder] tea will help your body heal itself. It cleanses the liver and you know, the liver controls everything else.”
Alder is known as a bear and river medicine. I have walked the south ridge of my land and found the markings of one of my resident bear on the tree trunk. They use the tree much like a cat on a scratching post to strengthen their nails and the markings are long and graceful along the white bark revealing the deep red, aromatic bark and blood of the tree below. The bear is a herbalist totem animal and I welcome the confirming message the tree and bear offer me.
As a river medicine, alder belongs to the water element which is evident in its action of the human (mammal) lymphatic system. Alder transforms water to the deep storing of life ~ where deep transformation occurs.