Cramp Ease: Hello Cramp Bark—Learn to Harvest, Prep & Use This Gift Of a Shrub

🌱Wild Food Health Boosters & Herbal Remedies🌿 - explore this powerful online course here: ► http://www.WildFoodHealthBoosters.com/ 🌲White Pine Love🌲 - my free online mini-course. It’s waiting for you—go harvest it here: ► https://www.inthewild.kitchen/get-whi... 🌱If you'd like to receive my weekly foraging newsletter here is the link: ► https://www.inthewild.kitchen/newsletter 🌿 🔔 Never Miss a Live Show; Subscribe & Hit the 🔔 👍 Thank You For Liking And Sharing! ❤️ Cramp Ease: Hello Cramp Bark—Learn to Harvest, Prep & Use This Gift Of a Shrub Now in early spring—as sap rises and before buds open—is a perfect time to gather bark for food and medicine. That makes today ideal for harvesting cramp bark. This gift of a shrub offers some of the best herbal cramp relief in town. Cramp Bark Gifts Use for muscular support as a relaxant; for reducing tension, cramps; especially for smooth muscles (uterine, digestive, bladder, etc). It’s an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent and hypotensive. Names Cramp bark, also called highbush cranberry, is scientifically called Viburnum opulus. The names get a bit complicated with the subspecies; see below. Where To Find Look for cramp bark in full sun to part shade, in USDA Hardiness zone 2-8. Also found in many parts of Europe, and a bit in the Middle East and Asia. It prefers moist rich soil, yet tolerates many. It is often planted in gardens, and hedgerows, so look there too. Or plant some if you don’t have any. World Range: Many parts of Europe, and a bit in Asia and the Middle East https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326268-2 USDA Range: found in many parts of the North America US https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=VIOP Subspecies (what?!): Viburnum opulus subspecies opulus is native to Europe / Eurasia. While Viburnum opulus subspecies trilobum is native to the USA. Both are used interchangeably in herbal medicine (so don’t worry). In this video, we feature the subspecies opulus. Cramp Bark Berry Cramp bark berries are also eaten as food. The subspecies trilobum is more doable / palatable (and relates to its highbush cranberry name); the subspecies opulus is not so tasty (to put it mildly). Key Identifying Features: Shrub size: up to 16’ tall Opposite leaf arrangement Leaves are simple and palmately lobed with three lobes Flower is a white flat topped cluster (cyme) Young bark: tan and pretty smooth Older bark: tan to darker gray and pretty smooth Fruit grows in umbel-like clusters Fruit color when ripe is bright red Fruit contains 1 flattened seed Bud: 2 scales (not powdery or hairy) Smell the bark, it’s a bit funky, footy, valeric acid is talking, like in valerian. This information is not meant to replace medical advice. With any new food or herb, go slowly, research it, and discuss using it with your healthcare provider. #HIghbushCranberry #Crampbark #ViburnumOpulus #HerbalAntispasmodic #WildFood #Foraging #WildMedicine #HerbalRemedy #ForagingandFeasting #InTheWildKitchen #WildFoodHealthBoosters #DinaFalconi #OnlineForagingCourse #OnlineCourse #Botanizing #PlantIdentification #HerbalMedicineMaking

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