a.k.a. Western Balsam Popular
Populus balsamifera trichocarpa

This tree is a member of the Salicaceae or Willow family. Current day aspirin was originally made from tree bark in the Salicaceae family. Black Cottonwood is native to the Western United States and is found from the Alaskan coast all the way down to Mexico. This beneficial yet much maligned tree’s benefits have been touted for hundreds of years. Teas and remedies made from this trees parts can be used internally and externally. The inner bark, leaves, leaf buds, and resin are all parts used for our benefit. An ancient medicine called “Balm of Gilead” was created from leaf bud resin hundreds of years ago and has been used through the ages. 
The focus for Twin Mountain Botanicals has been on external use for our skin products. Black Cottonwood has antimicrobial, anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, and analgesic properties which targets it as a prime botanical for herbal healing remedies. We use the leaf buds collected in February then infused for a minimum of 12 months in either olive oil or sweet almond oil to ready it for use in creams and salves. This allows the thick resin to break down and infuse in the carrier oil of choice.

Twin Mountain Botanicals uses Black Cottonwood infused oil in the DEEP TISSUE SKIN SALVE, FRANKINCENSE FACE CREAM,  CASCADE BODY CREAM, REFRESH! FOOT & BODY CREAM, and HOLIDAY WARMTH HAND & BODY CREAM..