bah.soo (Subalpine Fir & Englemann Spruce)

Names

Shoshone: bah.soo

English: Subalpine Fir & Englemann Spruce

Scientific: Abies bifolia & Picea engelmannii

Zone

Subalpine

Harvest Time

  • Anytime
  • Branch tips – June

Primary Uses

  • Tea from fir needles, for sickness prevention

Secondary Uses

  • Use Sap for bandage sealant

Cautions

  • None Listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Pro Antho Cyanidins in tips
  • Complete protein in nuts

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Process Prep

  • Boil branches – 20 minutes

General Notes

  • Wintertime tea for general health

Medicinal Uses

  • Anti-inflammatory – tea of needles
  • Chest Cold – Inner bark boiled for tea
  • Congestion – pitch swallowed as an expectorant
  • Fever – tea of boiled branches and needles
  • Immune system – pitch (topical)
  • Infection – pitch w/ animal fat makes an antimicrobial bandage
  • Lungs- tea of needles
  • Old People’s Medicine- Pitch salve for rheumatic joints
  • Pain-pitch salve used on achy joints
  • Rash-pitch salve
  • Vitamin C-needle tea
  • Wounds- bondage made of pitch
Posted in Traditional Plant.