Douglas-Fir Pitch

Throughout the year be on the lookout for pitch. The trees exude this resin, which varies in consistency from the thickness of honey when fresh to almost as solid as a rock when dried out, to protect and seal their wounds. Pry chunks off with a knife or scrap the ooze into a jar. Don’t take pitch directly from an active wound or you will hinder the tree’s natural mechanism of healing and protection. Instead take pitch that has flowed down below the damaged part of the trunk.

Drink the bark tea to stop intestinal tract bleeding and relieve diarrhea. Use an external wash of the of the tea to heal cuts, abrasion, or burns. Apply the pitch directly to wounds to speed healing and prevent infection. Rub the pitch-infused oil on sore muscles. Use the salve for healing wounds or as a chest rub for colds, flus, and chest and sinus infection. The spring tips, eaten fresh, brewed as a tea, made into syrup, are high in vitamin c.