The sap, known as storax, has been used for centuries to treat common ailments such as skin problems, coughs, and ulcers. More recently, storax has proven to be a strong antimicrobial agent even against multidrug resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
The Cherokee and other tribes used the resin to calm nervousness. For this it was taken as an infusion (tea). The Cherokee and Choctaw also combined the resin with strawberrybush to make a beverage of unknown appeal, and the resin, when hardened and sticky, was chewed as a gum.
Sweetgum wood is used to make veneer, plywood, cabinets and furniture. The gum from these trees has been used as chewing gum and even employed to concoct medicines and salves to cure a variety of ailments, treat wounds and serve as an important ingredient in adhesives.
If you're up for some experimenting, sweet gum balls can be used to make a tea from boiling the young green seeds. The resulting decoction is known for its antiviral properties and can be used as a preventative measure against sickness, or as a remedy for the flu (consult your doctor if symptoms persist).
A salve was made by mixing the plant with animal tallow for application to wounds, cuts, sores, bruises, and ulcers. The plant was boiled until a scum rose to the top. This scum was then mixed with the roots of Obolaria virginica and used as a dressing for cuts and bruises.
That's right, green sweet gum balls can be made into a tincture that can help kill viruses in your body. Its right up there with Elderberry Tincture and Oregano Tincture . Be sure you pick the green balls, the brown ones are finished for the year and won't make a tincture. They're cute for using in crafts though.
American Indians of the Southwest have long employed pine pitch as a surface coating for basketry. Various trees of the Pinus genus exude a thick resin that can be heated and applied hot as a coating to baskets to make them water tight (fig.
In addition to the sap, the leaves, bark, and seeds of sweetgum also possess beneficial compounds such as shikimic acid, a precursor to the production of oseltamivir phosphate, the active ingredient in Tamiflu®-an antiviral drug effective against several influenza viruses.
In late fall when the bright green seed pods have dried, birds including purple finches, chickadees, Carolina wrens, towhees, titmice, dove and juncos consume the seeds; as do, squirrels and chipmunks. Lastly, if you are not a fan of the Sweetgum balls that litter the ground, consider using them as mulch.
Sweetgum balls can be run through a chipper for mulch, but should not be composted as they take years to decompose.
The sweet gum balls need to be used when they are still green and not brown. The first step is to pick the sweet gum balls from the tree. Gather green balls to fill whatever container you will be using. The green balls need to be broke open with a hammer, mallet or axe.
Witches Burrs, also known as sweet gum balls, are used in magick and witchcraft as a folk curio for protection, to remove negativity, and to banish evil or unwanted spirits. My vision for these to become an autumn wreath has begun, but what's next???
Liquidambar styraciflua L. Ethnobotanic: The sweetgum tree was used by the Cherokee, Choctaw, Koasati, Rappahannock and other Native American tribes for various purposes. The hardened gum, or rosin from the tree was used as chewing gum.
Not only does the tree produce massive amounts of the gum balls, but they are notorious for being impossible to compost, mulch, or even rake up in their large quantities. Ridding your property of Sweetgum balls with a lawn vacuum or mower is a challenge.
The Aztecs also used chicle and even had rules about its social acceptability. Only kids and single women were allowed to chew it in public, notes Mathews. Married women and widows could chew it privately to freshen their breath, while men could chew it in secret to clean their teeth.
Get to know your tree:
Twigs often have corky wings. Flowers are clustered in small greenish-yellow or reddish balls. Fruits are woody balls consisting of pointed capsules, hang on long stalks, and often persist through winter.
Despite their tough exterior, Sweetgum trees are not inherently toxic to dogs. The tree's components, including the bark, leaves, and seeds, do not contain substances that are known to be lethal to canines.
Other extracts derived from sweetgum trees have shown potential as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and chemopreventive agents. The compounds found in the extracts derived from sweetgum sap suppress hypertension in mice.
Prices vary, but you can get as much as $20 for 100 sweet gum balls. Hopefully, this has given you some ideas on how to make a little extra money, easily maintain a clean yard, and put those sweet gum balls to good use.
TAMIFLU is a prescription medicine used to treat the flu (influenza) in people 2 weeks of age and older who have had flu symptoms for no more than 2 days. TAMIFLU can also reduce the chance of getting the flu in people 1 year and older. TAMIFLU does not prevent bacterial infections that may happen with the flu.
There are so many great uses for the Sweetgum Balls! You can make all kinds of things like crafts, tea, and Tamiflu! Learn about the many ways to use these spikey balls. DO NOT CUT DOWN YOUR SWEET GUM BALL TREE!
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum has been used as a street / urban tree for a number of years. It has dark green foliage that can turn yellow, orange, and red in the fall. The seed pods can sometimes be a problem. There are several really good cultivars.
Paper birch has been inextricably woven into the lore and legend of the Northwoods for millennia. It's wood, sap, and bark have been utilized for canoe and snowshoe crafting, birch beer and syrup, a waterproof wigwam covering, moose-calling horns, a life-saving fire starter, and numerous natural remedies.
In a pot, heat the amount of water that you need until it approaches boiling but does not fully boil. Technically you can let the water boil, but this could destroy some of the nutrients you're extracting from the needles. Add the needles and let them simmer for about ten minutes.
Location / Purchased
3 can be purchased from the Shrine Handmaid after giving her Mortician's Ashes. An infinite amount can also be bought from Unbreakable Patches. Both cost 1,500 souls.