p.s. Other folks dislike the tree because it doesn't make good firewood, since it is difficult to split and rots quickly. As a matter of fact, I'd go so far as to say way, way, way too prolific. I'm sitting on a crafters gold mine here people! National Library of Medicine Ann Transl Med. 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. Some people actually want these things! The Impact of Selected Essential Oils Applied to Non-Woven Viscose on Bacteria That Cause Lower Urinary Tract Infections-Preliminary Studies. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Sweet gums 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. The American Sweet Gum non-showy, monoecious, yellow-green flowers appear in spherical clusters in April-May. | Manifest Abundance. Shrubs are less than 13 feet tall, with multiple stems. You find its magickal properties called on most commonly in american folk magick and african american hoodoo. And its medicinal properties called on in medicines like Tamiflu. Sweet gum balls. The clusters of bristly tree balls persist on the tree until mid-winter or early spring. The compounds found in the extracts derived from sweetgum sap suppress hypertension in mice. Hot glue sticks. In addition to the sap, the leaves, bark, and seeds of sweet gum also possess beneficial compounds such as shikimic acid, a precursor to the production of oseltamivir phosphate, the active ingredient in Tamifluan antiviral drug effective against several influenza viruses. Externally, it is applied to sores, wounds, piles, ringworm, scabies etc. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. The city of St. James is called the sweet gum capital of Missouri for its many streets lined with the tree. The earliest leaves in spring have very shallow lobes and tend to be rather small, while leaves that develop in midsummer have deeper lobes and are much larger, while late-season leaves are small again but have the deepest lobes of all. Sweet gum balls ("Witches Burrs" or "Witches Balls") are apparently a traditional American Hoodoo magical item. We often played beneath it and I always wondered how old it was and what it must have looked like there years before the neighborhood even existed. Directly to your inbox. Captcha failed to load. Extracts derived from sweetgum trees have shown potential as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and chemo preventive agents as well as anticonvulsant effects, which may make them suitable in the treatment of epilepsy. A journal from a conquistador accompanying Cortez recorded observing the Aztec emperor himself enjoying a resinous stick from the tree. My name is Angela Dalton Burke and I have been a blog writer for numerous history, science and spiritual/paranormal research blogs over the past 10 yrs. ACS Omega. 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. Emptying the basket is a breeze as well. The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. They are native to Eastern United States, from Southwestern Connecticut to Florida and are also found in the Mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. The 18" Sweet Gum Ball Harvester is worth every penny! The gum has long been harvested and used for chewing gum, but it is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. I grew up in a land without sweet gum trees. Fill to the top with alcohol such as Vodka or Pure Grain Alcohol and let it steep for 6 weeks. The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. I use these in my potted plants to ward off naughty cats, says another, which sounds like a really good idea to me. Green Witch Living is an official reforestation partner with OneTreePlanted.org. It is not, however, sweet. Sweetgums are notably absent from magical and herbal tree lore, which derives largely from Europe. 20. The woody capsules are mostly filled with abortive seeds resembling sawdust. Roots Your timing must be perfect. Also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum. $31.96, $39.95 Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. 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. The Magic of Trees: A Guide to Their Sacred Wisdom & Metaphysical Properties. The others species of Sweet Gum are found only in Asia. 12 (december, 1919), pp. The leaves of the sweetgum alternate and have maple-like star shaped leaves. By Rob Paratley. Subscribe for $1/mo. Now, I'll admit I had no idea what 'Hoodoo' was when I read about it along with sweet gum balls. So after their early, dramatic leafing-out in spring, that's it; after that, only buds to overwinter for next year are produced. Green or unripe seed pods are high in a substance called shikimic acid, which is used as an antiviral both in herbal medicine and in commercial drugs like Tamiflu. Sweet gum's indeterminate growth pattern means that even after the spring buds open, the tree grows continuously all season long, lengthening branches and adding progressively deeper-lobed leaves until cool weather slows, shrinks, and stops leaf production. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. Other extracts derived from sweet gum trees have shown potential as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and chemopreventive agents. Propagation of Sweet Gum: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 6. You find it's magickal properties called on most commonly in american folk magick and african american hoodoo. More on Sweet Gum: Eat the Weeds with Green Deane: Sweet Gum Tree. ~from Herbal Medicine Past and Present, Volume 2. It easily takes on staining, painting and is moderately easy to shape and bore. 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. The sweetgum, which also provides the material for hardwood, is one of the most important trees for timber in the country. Hung as ornaments on the yule tree. There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. She is the author of, The Importance Of Livestock Newborn Umbilical Care, Raise & Market Specialty Poultry For Meat & Profit, Start Collecting & Using The Water On Your Farm, Successful Strategies For Profitable U-Pick Farms, Get to Know the Medicinal Uses of Sweet Gum Sap & Fruit. Naturally occurring populations are limited to southeastern Missouri, but sweet gum is widely planted statewide. I remember when I was in grade school there was a very large and magnificent Sweet Gum Tree on our playground. Resin Would you like email updates of new search results? Fallen, opened fruits are often abundant beneath the trees; these have been popularly nicknamed "burr balls" or "gum balls". The seedpods from Your childhood probably some of the Acer ( Maple ) species, right? Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. After all, the sweet gum is born from earth. Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly called sweet gum, is a low-maintenance deciduous shade tree that is native from Connecticut to Florida and Missouri further south to Texas, Mexico and Central America.In Missouri, it typically occurs in moist low woods and along streams only in the far southeastern corner of the state (Steyermark). The perfect piece of witchcraft art for any Kitchen Witch 's, sacred space.. the kitchen ! Learn about the many ways to use these s. Indeed, the Sweet Gum tree's seedpods are used in magick, and spiritual work for protection, but also more than just for that! Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. Bark is brown to gray, very rough with deep grooves and narrow, slightly scaly ridges. For magic, people use stuff like black cat bones, graveyard dust, fingernail clippings. Many of the medicinal properties of sweetgum come from storax as well as essential oils extracted from the leaves. Once you have a fruiting tree, an entirely new variety of benefits is available to you. While this is a simple overview, in my book The Magic of Trees: . 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. 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. Fuel for Fire. I have never treated sweet gums so I cant help with more details. It is also used internally for sore throats, coughs, colds, asthma, bronchitis, cystitis, vaginal discharge, strokes, and is it indicated to have an effect on some cancers. Extracts from sweet gum seeds have anticonvulsant effects, which may make them suitable in the treatment of epilepsy. The sweet gum tree was to pioneer youth the rustic equivalent of a gum-ball machine. My mother bought it for me as a birthday presentI cant remember which birthday, and that probably means it was quite some time ago. The resin is produced by stripping, boiling, and pressing the trees bark. It may be clear, reddish, or yellow, with a pleasant smell like ambergris. US Forest Service Fact Sheet ST-358. And you definitely can't walk around near our little piece of "woods" barefoot if you do, you'll be sorry. If a sweet gum is flowering when the chemical induces ethylene production, it responds by aborting the flowers. 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. In Magical and Spiritual circles the spiney seed pods or fruits of the Sweet Gum are known as Witch's Burrs or witch balls a traditional American Hoodoo magical item. Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. from $0.85. 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. With a slow decomposition rate, sweet gum balls provide long-lasting ground cover, blocking out sun and preventing weed germination. As an infused oil (leaves, stems, inner bark) can be used in making salves for mild aches and pains such as sore muscles. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted No dead cats were swung around here to support my hypothesis of the prolificacy of sweet gum trees! The sprouting of sweetgum in relation to season of cutting and carbohydrate content. The seller might still be able to personalize your item. A decoction from the inner bark is traditionally (Cherokee) used to calm the nerves. Learn about the many ways to use these spikey balls. My mother told me that "crafters" just love sweet gum balls and buy them to use in all kinds of craft projects. They are also believed to hold power to break hexes, or deflect them back to the source, much like a mirror would, when appropriately used. Mind you, it tastes rather bitter. Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. Shikimic acid is not Tamiflu any more than . It has beautiful finely toothed leaves which colour to shades of red, orange and purple during Autumn putting on a spectacular show. Other websites I visited, stated in a nutshell that Sweet gum tree medicinal uses when made into a balsam or salve, it is used for skin conditions, hemorrhoids, ringworm scabies and frostbite. Sweetgum trees are important resources for medicinal and other beneficial compounds. Growing Azaleas & Missing our Northern Virginia Yard a Bit . Help me fight spammers! From it they pried off, then popped into . The list of value-added products derived from sweetgum trees can be increased by continued research of this abundantly occurring tree. 8600 Rockville Pike 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 . $3.99, $4.99 The .gov means its official. To tincture sweet gum, simply gather green (unripe) sweet gum balls, cut them up or smash them with a small hammer and place them in a quart jar. Keywords: There was no mention however as to how well it thrives there. $18.90, $21.00 Only time will tell. The Cherokee and other tribes used the resin to calm nervousness. This listing is for either 1, 3, 5, or 7 witch's burrs. Sweet Gum Trees are cold hardy to zone 5. Bark I have no problem with the trees themselves. 4005. WATCH VIDEO HERE 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. Absolutely! However according to Wikipedia, The species was introduced into Europe in 1681 by John Banister, the missionary collector sent out by Bishop Compton, who planted it in the palace gardens at Fulham in London, England. I love gardens, herbs, plants and all things nature and so I have decided to focus my writing on it, since so many of my friends and family on social media have expressed an interest. Ashes, hickories, oaks, and walnuts, for example, have all of the entire next season's leaves and shoots pre-formed the year before. Thanks for sharing Your experiences! Sweet gum balls are great for protection and banishing and they add great power to any spell or intention. DO NOT CUT DOWN YOUR SWEET GUM BALL TREE! To do this, place a dollop of glue on each ball and firmly but gently press it on the wreath to ensure it adheres. The tree has been busy growing for so many years that it hasnt really shown us much in the fall. The leaves are dark to medium glossy green and turn bright shades of red, burgandy, purple and sometimes orange or yellow in autumn. Original Price $4.99 Creativity, Father/Daughter Relationships, Personal Power, Tarot. The Aztecs combined the resin of the Sweet Gum with tobacco and used it for smoking in the court of the Emperor. Sweet Gum Balls. or stepped on too many of them just to have them roll under my feet and propel my body in ways and directions it wasn't meant to go until I fell (hard) to the ground, landing on more of the spiny little buggers. An amazingly iconic and dominate specimen of Australian flora is the Eucalyptus tree or more commonly known as the Gum tree. $7.22, $8.50 Its too late in the season to harvest sweet gum for its flu fighting abilities, but look for the immature pods next year. They tend to be about 1.5 inches in diameter and are yellow/green while still on the tree and dark brown in color once they fall, usually dropping in late winter/early spring. Sycamore. The branches carry layers of cork. Available from. Reply. Sweet gum trees have very shallow root systems and often times on older, larger trees their root systems will protrude from the top soil. Sweet gums are native to North America and Asia and are valued as a source of resin and timber. 2021 Nov 13;26(22):6854. doi: 10.3390/molecules26226854. Required fields are marked *. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. In addition to storax, the sap of the sweetgum tree was burnt as incense or mixed with tobacco leaves as a sedative, as well as used in the making of soaps, cosmetics, fixatives in perfumes, adhesives, and lacquers. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device. Added to a witches bottle. $9.35, $11.00   United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). A new bigger version of my popular Kitchen witchery sign. Enter here! Storax, also referred to as styrax, is produced by damaging the outer bark of sweetgum trees. Yes, there are people selling sweet gum balls on eBay and etsy, and I would have to assume that there are people buying them there too. Although sweetgums are prolific and long-lived, they are sensitive to urban sprawl and drought. At Davey, our arborists pinpoint the best application time each year using Nature Clock, a patent . [Last accessed on 2014 Feb 11]. Skype-calypso7776_2Check out Jenn the Taxidermy Witch a https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAFybVuL8WeOwGwXCoEO7w t 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. server | 760 views, 30 likes, 119 loves, 97 comments, 63 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Densu: Free Rank Up in Khmer Server ABA: 004570720 ID:1443589 They are considered a powerful protection amulet and are used for protection on altars, in witch bottles and in spirit bags. Plant Physiol. We have a sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) in the front yard. I can say that I am somewhat a fan of sweet gums. Chewing gum is a soft, cohesive substance designed to be chewed without being swallowed. I actually only recently learned that the sweet gum balls had magickal attributes to them, and I feel I shouldn't be surprised since just about every single plant has it's medical and/or magickal properties. I have nothing other than disdain for them. The University of Arkansas on Sweet Gum extraction. Wenger KF. The sap, known as storax, has been used for centuries to treat common ailments such as skin problems, coughs, and ulcers. Yes! 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. Spring Flowers of the Sweet Gum Tree - Liquidambar . Its texture is reminiscent of rubber because of the physical-chemical properties of its polymer, plasticizer, and resin components, which contribute to its . Noteworthy Characteristics. Sweetgum salves have a minor antiseptic value, but work well as an anti-inflammatory. Was this a voodoo ritual? The first historical reference to the Sweet Gum tree comes from the author and soldier, Don Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who accompanied Cortez in 1519 and was a witness to ceremonies between Cortez and Montezuma, who both partook of a liquid amber extracted from a sweetgum tree. Finally, I had all my components for creating chive blossoms from the sweet gum tree balls! For injection you may be looking at 150 to 250.00 for large trees. Choose the options youd like for the order. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. Use them in the bottom of planters as the drainage filler instead of stones. It is chewed in the treatment of sore throats, coughs, asthma, cystitis, dysentery etc. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The genus name refers to the viscous resin, literally liquid amber- liquidus and ambar. In the same family as witch hazel, the sweet gum tree is uniquely american. For this it was taken as an infusion (tea). We are dedicated to planting trees all over the world! Accessibility The Euroamerican settlers adopted many of the Indian uses for sweetgum, either through observation of native practices or discovered independently. Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. (15% off). While the Muggle version of this candy only makes the consumer feel a constant popping in their mouth, the magical version makes them float a few inches from the ground. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy, and learn about these resources. The tree needs the injections right before it flowers in spring. With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Itsleaves haverounded lobes. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. This shallow root system can sometimes be a problem with older trees that grow in areas of the country that experience high winds or flooding problems and I have seen these trees ripped from the ground during tornado season and during storms that contain straight line winds. They are considered a powerful protection amulet. All Rights Reserved. Henriette's Herbal Homepage on Liquidambar. DISCLAIMER. Magical Properties of Sweet Basil | Basil Materia Magicka. Sweet Gum. The American Sweet Gum branches and branchlets may have distinctive corky ridges. 22, no. While I don't go around sporting a pointed hat and flying on brooms, I do have a passion for alternative healing and learning about the medicinal and magical properties of plants. 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. Weve had just enough rain and moderately warm days that the leaves are easing slowly into the final drop. It is a large deciduous tree that has a beautiful leaf pattern. 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. Sweet gum balls ("Witches Burrs" or "Witches Balls") are apparently a traditional American Hoodoo magical item.