MAPLE TREE

Maple is anthelmintic, emmenagogue, opthalmicum & vulnerary.

It can be used to treat shortness of breath & as a pulmonary & expectorant cough medicine, purify the blood, or externally to treat sore eyes & blindness.
Can also be used for bleeding, constipation, eye infection, inflammation, internal injuries, liver tonic, nerve problems, poor appetite, relaxant, sickness prevention from being around dead bodies, snakebites, spleen problems, stimulates milk flow, tonic & worms.

Decoction of maple leaves & bark can be used to strengthen the liver, open obstructions of the liver & spleen, as an astringent & as an emetic or expectorant.

The medicinal properties of the maple leaf is sedative & tonic.
The bark of the tree are also very good to treat nervous conditions.

Maple syrup is high in calcium, magnesium & phosphorous.
Maple syrup is considered a liver tonic & kidney cleanser; it also is used as a base for medicinal herb syrups.

PRECAUTIONS:

Some maple seeds have been reported as poisonous.
Eating wilted maple leaves can break down red blood cells & cause acute anemia.

Red maple leaves are toxic to horses.

RECIPES:

The taste of maple blossoms is subtle: slightly nutty with a hint of sweetness.
The most common use is for fritters.
Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.
They are sweet & delicate.

Maple Herbal Tea:

Put 1 tsp of the powdered leaves or the bark to 1 cup of boiling water.
Take up to 3 cups of tea per day for ailments & it is more effective when maple leaves tea is taken on empty stomach.

Fruit should be collected while its green.
Shell off the wings & boil in water for several minutes.
Drain off the water & add butter & salt.

Eat the seed pod as a trail snack..

Roast maple tree seeds & eat them as a snack or toss onto a salad or as a garnish on soup.
You can roast them by placing the seeds on a baking sheet & sprinkle with spices you like.
Bake at 170 C for about 8 - 10 min.

The inner bark can be soaked in water & then boiled.
Maple wood is useful for smoking & curing meat.

Various Indian tribes gathered the inner bark of maple trees, dried the strips, then pounded it into a flour to be used in making bread.
The leaves were put into steaming pits to flavor food.
Small amounts of inner bark were eaten with oil (because it is constipating).

The sap of the sugar maple can be boiled down to make maple syrup, maple sugar & maple candy.
The sap can be obtained by slicing a v-shaped mark into the tree to allow it to run out.
It is full of protein.
Boil the sap for a few hours to make syrup or sugar.
Along with the inner bark, it can also be fermented to make wine or vinegar.

Pickled Maple Blossoms:

2 cups maple blossoms
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
3 tbsp sugar
2 whole star anise (optional)
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
1 tsp coriander seeds
Pinch of salt
Place maple blossoms in a glass pint jar & pack them down.
In a medium saucepan, heat the vinegar, sugar, star anise, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, & salt over medium heat until simmering.
When the liquid is near boiling, pour it over the blossoms.
Leave the mixture until cool, stirring gently on occasion.
Store pickled maple blossoms in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to several weeks.

Elderflower Fritters with Maple Syrup:

Bunches of Elderflowers
oil for deep frying
500 ml of milk
3 eggs
3-4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
Stir milk & eggs into dry ingredients.
Dip Elderflower heads into the batter & deep fry until crisp.
Serve with maple syrup & lemon juice.

BEAUTY:

A sticky gum obtained from the buds in spring can be mixed with oil & used as a hair tonic.


MAGIC:

Maple leaves are used in love spells & money rituals.
Magical uses include prosperity, sweetening up someone, children's magic & love spells.

Maple is excellent for wands, staffs & maypoles.

Maple is useful in moon magic & in spells related to travel, learning & decision-making, especially in matters related bringing about or dealing with change.
Maple is also useful for spiritual healing.

Maple syrup may be used for love spells & spiritual healing, soothing the psyche.

A child passed through the branches of a maple tree will have a long life.