Blueberries and Labrador Tea – both good medicinesFlorence picking new spruce buds with George watching along with others around her.Boiling Labrador Tea: medicinal uses: build up immune system (reduces cold occurrences), inhaling steam good to clear nasal passages, a relaxant, and high in vitamin C.New spruce buds – boiling them for the liquid. Medicinal uses: relieves colds, sore throats and coughing and chest ailments. The longer it boils the more potent it is.Sorting spruce gum. Medicinal uses: the clear gum is chewed, made into a tea, applied on wounds. The rest can be mixed in olive oil (extra virgin) and left in a jar in the sun for three weeks to allow the oil to extract the medicine. Then heat it up, filter, add melted bees wax and cool to produce a salve. The salve can be used on any skin problems including open wounds.Spruce gum on a tree offering it to the medicine picker.Doris and others picking new spruce buds.Purple spruce buds ready for the picking.Elders and younger women learning how to make spruce gum candles.
