I'm growing my own "headache cure." What do we usually do when we have a headache? Most people take an aspirin and lie down to relieve stress. American Indians did something very similar, only they would just lie down in an Aspen grove and be lulled into a sweet reverie by the gentle rustling of the Aspen leaves from a soft breeze on a summer day.
My daughter and I used to hike in the woods and find an Aspen grove for a brief rest. We were soon refreshed and on our way. The family of trees is
salicaceae including Aspen, Willow, and Poplar, giving salicylic acid. This eases pain. Do you see any similarity in the words aspirin and Aspen?
I'm definitely an aspen kinda gal, too. I've been looking at similar word associations and noticing many similarities as you've mentioned here. Isn't it interesting, to see almost a mirror idea between the man-made and the natural, or more spiritual? Interesting post. Thank You.
ReplyDeleteI can't comment today because I have a headache. I think I'll go lie down. I live in Los Angeles--could you direct me to the nearest aspen grove, please? I can just hear my doctor saying, "Take 2 aspens & call me in the morning." Natural remedies are (almost) always better!
ReplyDeleteTeresa ; Thank you. That was really sweet. Like Fishducky said, "Take 2 Aspen and call me in the morning" I'll take the Aspens.
ReplyDeleteFishducky : Well that made me LOL. I'm now going out and work in my Aspen back yard and I'll call you in the morning. Tee Hee.
Hmmm, I kid the mama that we should grow aspens in the front yard because they are lucky trees. I noticed that people tend to grow them in groves of three, which to me is a lucky number. I read once that headaches can sometimes be the cause of being dehydrated. So, I try that first--drink lots of water and wait a while. If I can't shake the headache, then I reach for aspirin.
ReplyDeleteIs that your granddaughter and her band up there in your banner?
What a lovely natural way to cure a headache and to just de-stress!!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
Now all I have to do is be able to identify an Aspen when I see it. Headache-be-gone.
ReplyDeleteneat! i'd love an aspen grove! a bit too hot here, i think...
ReplyDeleteNo aspen here either and my cottonwood died last year. It rustled nicely too, but I don't know if it had all the necessary pain relieving ingredients. My friend fishducky's comment just cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteIf I had the choice which I don't, I would go for the aspen also. Wonder if any other trees work.
ReplyDeleteIt is excellent advice, and pine trees work very well also.
ReplyDeleteI've always heard of willow bark as an analgesic, interesting to read your essay on aspen.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they both start with an A, but I'm willing to wager that Aspens are easier on your stomach.
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea that aspirin contained ingredients from the aspen family. I love how we learn new things from blogs everyday. I wish we had aspen groves in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI bought some aspens a few years ago for my husband. They all ended up dying. :( But, I do have a willow that is growing by leaps and bounds every year.
ReplyDeleteI love willows.
What a unique connection. I knew about willow bark tea, but aspen? Did you know that a grove of aspens are really just one tree? They propagate by extending runners underground, and another tree grows.
ReplyDeleteSu-sieee : I just found out why they Aspens grow in groves. There is one central root. They are all connected.
ReplyDeleteKitty : I'm beginning to love my little Aspen groves. Have one in the front and one in back. :)
Mybabyjohn : You can tell them by the rustle or hustle. :)
Texwisgirl : Poor little things spend half the season without their leaves to rustle.
Inger : Poor little cottonwood. They are in the same genus as Aspen. Fishducky cracked me up too. I was laughing out loud.
Patti : Aspen's probably don't grow in Arkansas either, huh?
JJ : Pine trees too, huh? We have plenty of those, too.
Anthony : Yes, Willow and Asens are in the same genus. Thanks for stopping, Anthony.
Angela : My house is now surrounded by Aspens. In the summer, I open the windows and listen to them.
Kay : It is amazing how much new information we learn in blogs. I just learned the difference between may and might.
Ruth : I'm sorry your aspen's died. I found out when there is a grove, they are all on one root. They sent up new ones. My little grove is increasing every year. Soon, I'll have to start pulling them in place of adding new trees.
You are lucky you have a natural remedy for headaches. However, what do you do when there is snow on the ground and you are freezing? lol
ReplyDeleteSu-sieee : I forgot to answer a question you asked. Yes, that's my granddaughter's band.... not all of it. They were playing in the court yard of an old building where there is a restaurant of Ted Turners, another restaurant and a bar. The steps behind them lead up to a ballroom with a really neat old floating floor. It's a fun old building that has been renovated and kept spiffed up always.
ReplyDeleteI knew about the aspirin/tree connection. I've been drinking willow bark teas for pain relief for years. I've found it doesn't work quickly enough or well enough for sudden strong pain such as when I wrench my back,(again), but for minor muscle aches a willow bark tea and a hot shower followed by sleep is quite effective.
ReplyDeleteThe aspen grove has my vote. Sounds lovely. Forget the aspirin, but a rejuvenating nap in a big ol' hammock stretched between a couple of those trees would be mighty nice. (if the temperature falls about twenty degrees, that is ...)
ReplyDeleteI'll need to give this a try, next time I have a headache. Any excuse to spend time resting near trees is good enough for me. :-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I didn't know that aspen produced salicylic acid. I do know they are soothing. We don't have them here, but they're beautiful. Especially in autumn against a deep blue sky.
ReplyDeleteNo Aspens in my yard...but lots of ferns! They don't make much noise, but watching them quiver in the breeze is delightful!
ReplyDeletelove the blog mmmm
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of the pine trees at my cabin. If I'm home, I like the sight and sound of the bamboo in the back yard. Nice word connection!
ReplyDeleteYep...the Aspen will do it for you everytime! Life is Good laying under a Aspen on a sunny breezy day! Also love the post about change....I am with you...not a good changer! It is amazing how old the stuff is in my house! But it still works and I know how to use it! Bought a new 3D TV and I can't even turn it on! The TV is for sure smarter than me! Have a fun & safe weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi there, and thanks for the follow! I'm glad you stopped by and visited, because that way I wound up finding your blog, which I'm enjoying exploring!
ReplyDeleteSince you found me through a blog hop, I wanted to let you know that I have a page on my site that lists more than 250 hops, memes, and photo challenges… some for each day of the week. Check under the header for the link to that page. I’ve also just started a BlogFrog community that focuses on hops, carnivals, memes, and photo challenges. Go to http://theblogfrog.com/1504201 to visit & participate.
I hope you’ll visit me soon. And tell your friends: I follow back!
NCSue
I love aspen trees. I didn't know they were used to cure headaches.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium
Very interesting! I never knew this!
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower from the hop and I love your blog! So glad I hopped by!
Hope you can hop by and visit my blog too!
Have a great weekend!
nancy
http://stylendecordeals.blogspot.com/
I love American Indian 'cures'! I have a good friend who gives me wonderful advice like that about the Aspen. Love it & Love your blog post! Following you back and so glad! ~ Coreen
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Hmmm have you noticed when visiting the hospitals you hardly ever see an American Indian, or Indian as a patient. I'm sure there is alot more we could learn.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never made the connection between Aspen-Aspirin. I caught on to the salicylic acid being part of aspirin. Sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeletegigi ; And there would be no leaves to rustle. A bad winter idea :)
ReplyDeleteRiver : Willow tea is wonderful for relieving pain. Willow, Aspen and poplar are in the same genus family
Susan : Don't you love the big hammocks stretched from 2 trees and snoozing on a summer day.
K.C. :It's so easy to fall asleep outdoors in the summer this is if there are no mosquitoes. :)
Carol : You may not have aspens but you have that fragrant orange blossom scent. Yummm.
Clare : And there nothing prettier than a group of lacy ferns in some shaded part of your yard.
Galen : Lucky duck you to have bamboo in your back yard.
Betty : Thank you for visiting and commenting.
De Da Studios : How nice of you to visit ad comment. Electronics offer so many gadgets that it makes us want to tear our hair out. LOL
Sue : Thanks for visiting and the shout out on the blog hops. I will look into them.
N.R. Perhaps it's the reverie produced by the rustling leaves.
Nancy : It's a pleasure to meet you and I think you for the nice comment.
Coreen : Thank you for following and the nice comment. My pleasure to meet you.
Mindingmymarriage : I never thought about it but now that you mention it, I have never seen Indians in the hospital either. Most of them probably still use their traditional native cures. It's a pleasure to meet you.
I think everyone and my new bloggy friends for visiting and sharing comments. I love you all. Manzanita
Interesting! I wish I had some Aspen trees around me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for following. this blogging thing is quite fun. I'll follow you too. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm longing for an aspen tree. I didn't know the asprin connection - love how blogging coneects. Pine trees are everywhere in Southeast Louisiana - we call them 'scrub pine' because they're tall and skinny. Taken together, they have the most restful scent. Could snooze on the porch now just thinking about that scent.
ReplyDeleteOoo. Thanks for the natural science lesson. It would be lovely to rest in the aspens.
ReplyDeleteamazing....
ReplyDeleteI love Everything about our Native Americans.
I am a nut when it comes to their history and knowledge.
truly amazing
I think I said "amazing" already
As a sufferer of migraines I can say that the idea of laying in an Aspen grove sounds delightful. Much more enticing than taking a pill.
ReplyDeleteLovely and informative as always.
Growing up, we had aspen trees all over the place. We used to call them money trees because of the sound they made when the wind would rustle them.
ReplyDeleteManzanita, stop over and check out this post. I linked to your blog, and I want you to read it.
http://myjourneywithcandida.blogspot.com/2011/06/tropical-apron-giveaway-thank-you-to-my.html
So is the word 'aspirin' derived from 'aspen'? Or is that just a little too simplistic??!!
ReplyDeleteI just love trees and the idea of lying underneath an aspen is lush - perfect cure for a headache!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
I just love trees and the idea of lying underneath an aspen is lush - perfect cure for a headache!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
Jeffifer : they are easy to grow if you live in a colder climate.
ReplyDeletedcresider : It's my pleasure to meet you.
Kittie : I love the southern pines too. They are so bendable and lacey.
Mary : You might enjoy resting in an aspen grove:)
Wendy : I agree. I like the word amazing too. It's sooo amazing :)
Cinamoncoated candy : I know, almost anything is better than taking a pill.
Terry : wheee, money trees. I never heard that expression but I can see how they are called that.
Red : I've read somewhere that it does, but never read any proof.
Anna : A swaying hammock under trees is a nicer image that taking a pill...... at least to my mind.
Thanks everyone for the lovely comments. Manzanita