The Luck of the Forest
The Luck of the Forest
»The tri-border region is not only an ideal hiking area but also holds all kinds of treasures from nature. Author Klaudia Soczomska sets out on a journey.«
The people of Upper Lusatia are really lucky - their region is rich in forests, that's why you don't have to travel long distances to enjoy forest baths. By "Forest baths", I don't mean splashing in ice-cold streams, but a metaphorical deep dive into the forest; a walk where we can lose all our worries and unite with nature. In Japan, where the term "forest bath" (shinkrin yoku) has a long tradition, it has been scientifically proven that a walk in the forest reduces cortisol levels and with them, stress hormones. It also harmonizes brain activity, which promotes relaxation, lowers blood pressure and has an antidepressant effect. But what to do if you are surrounded by a concrete jungle in your everyday life and you don't have time to go to the countryside? You can collect some spruce, pine, fir or larch resin on your next walk and lock the forest in a jar to always have it with you. The elixir also has antibacterial effects, regenerates the skin, clears the breath and helps to fall asleep. If you use it in a stressful situation, it calms and gives a fee
Soothing Salve
To make the resin salve you need: a knife, a jar with a wide opening, a pan, 50 g of resin
200 g of coconut oil (deodorized) OR 150 g of shea butter & 50 g of an odorless oil (e.g. almond oil), optional essential oils can be used. It is important not to damage the trees when collecting the resin. The salve is suitable for rubbing or inhalation. Especially when you have the feeling of losing the ground under your feet or you want to be in contact with nature. The pure salve, without essential oils, can be used on wounds. In this case, an allergy test should always be made on a small area of skin beforehand....
Location Tri-Border Region
Where can you collect resin? The potential places you can see from afar. These are old coniferous forests, which can be found, among others, near Hejnice, Świeradów or Zittau. The principle is - the wilder the place, the more precious the flora. Resin collecting can be an ideal reason to explore Upper Lusatia.
With this article we begin a monthly series "Plants of Upper Lusatia", in which we will present natural treasures that are easy to find in the Euro - Neisse region and also give valuable examples of use.
For 250 g of the salve you need 50g of resin (handful):
1. Carefully pour the resin into the jar.2. Before preparing the salve, spray the resin with alcohol. Wait 15 minutes.
3. Melt with the selected oil (or oils) on the stove, over low heat, stirring regularly.
Leave to cool for half an hour. If the resin was contaminated, strain it before it cools down.
5. Now you can add essential oils. Our advice: to enhance the antidepressant effect: pine, cypress, juniper, orange. For freeing the breath: thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary, oregano. We have mixed all these oils with the resin and a liquid oil, enclosing the forest in the bottle.
Klaudia Soczomska: www.pachamamma.org
