Aromatherapy Share: Essence of the Week: Tamarack (Larix Laricina) ...

Tamarack, or Eastern Larch, is one of the more distinctive conifer trees of North America. She is deciduous, so she turns colors in the Fall season and sheds her needles in the winter time. This is a sign of her ability to transform and rebirth into something completely new. It is said that Tamarack first appeared on the Earth after the great continental glaciers retreated about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Not only were Tamarack trees used for making snowshoes, canoes, railroad ties, telephone poles, and shelters for many different animals, she has always been a medicine for coughs, a fever, wound healing, and preventing scurvy by the Indigenous tribes.

Tamarack is a powerful tree healer that helps with the common cold, flu, sore throats, and overall immune system boosting. She helps the lungs, the gut, and sore muscles. Tamarack is a wonderful tool for stiff joints and arthritic conditions. She addresses inflammation, skin irritations, and sinus issues.

Energetically, Tamarack is a tool to help us let go of the past, shed unhealthy emotional patterns, and clear mental confusion. She addresses nervous tension, confidence issues, and the weight of emotional baggage. When we are ready for a major transition, a new beginning, the changing of the seasons, or a complete rebirth, Tamarack helps us welcome in the new and clear out the old. She is grounding, elevating, uplifting, and releasing.

Anoint 5-10 drops of Tamarack "neat" onto the skin 2-3 times a day for 120 days to start. Journal your experience and evaluate the results to decide whether or not to continue usage.