The Benefits of Larch:

Larch Essential Oil

Immune Support: 

Larch is used to stimulate the immune system and may be used to support immune health.

Digestive Health: 

Larch may also have prebiotic properties, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and aiding in digestive health.

Antioxidant Effects: 

Larch wood and bark contain antioxidants, which can help combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Anti-Inflammatory: 

Some traditional remedies use larch extracts to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of conditions like arthritis.

Cough and Cold: 

Larch gum or resin has been used historically as an ingredient in cough syrups and lozenges to soothe sore throats and coughs.

Salt Baths

Calms and soothes an agitated body and mind 

Neat

Applied to the wrists it fortifies the immune system

Sprays 

As a spray it stimulates the protective qualities of the aura

Ointment

Applying Larch to the chest is incredibly helpful for respiratory conditions 

Sustained inhalation 

One of the best oils to regulate and elevate the instinctive responses. These responses can become very agitated by difficulties that we experience in life that eventually effect our mental processes (and the heart). This would manifests as negative and self critical inner dialogue.

IMMUNITY:

Colds, poor immunity, flu’s, melancholy due to illness

RESPIRATORY

bronchitis, coughs, bronchiole spasms, sinus issues, shallow breathing 

DIGESTIVE:

Imbalances of healthy bacteria in the gut

MUSCULAR

arthritis, deposits in the joints and tissues, tension

NERVOUS

debility, fatigue related conditions, psychosomatic imbalances, sleep issues related to pain syndromes, soothes the homeostasis mechanisms bringing balance in the body

TRIGGER POINTS

the intercostals (the small muscles between the ribs which are involved in breathing), anterior tibialis (muscle along the shins)

PSYCHOLOGICAL 

Regulates instinctive responses (especially when conditioning has made them hyper reactive), regenerating to the mind, may be helpful with negative inner dialogue 

ENERGETIC

Protection, improves circulation of energy throughout the body, balances chakras

SPIRITUAL:

Rebirth and Renewal: 

In some spiritual traditions, larch trees are seen as symbols of renewal and rebirth. This is due to their unique characteristic of shedding their needles in the fall and regrowing them in the spring. This cycle can be seen as a representation of the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Protection and Purification: 

Larch resin, which is often aromatic, has been used in some mystical practices for protection and purification rituals. Burning larch resin as incense or using it in smudging ceremonies is believed to cleanse and purify the energy of a space or an individual.

Connection to Nature Spirits: 

Some indigenous cultures and modern paganism associate larch trees with nature spirits or tree spirits. They may view larch trees as sacred and believe that they house or are inhabited by spirits that can be communicated with or honored in rituals.

Meditation and Grounding: 

Larch trees, with their deep roots and tall trunks, are sometimes seen as symbols of grounding and stability. Meditating near a larch tree or visualizing oneself as a larch tree can be used as a means of connecting with the earth’s energy and finding inner stability.

Divination and Symbolism: 

In some divination practices, particularly those related to Celtic traditions, specific trees, including larch, were assigned symbolic meanings and used in divinatory rituals.

Sacred Grove: 

In certain cultures and spiritual traditions, groves of larch trees have been considered sacred spaces for rituals, ceremonies, and gatherings. They are seen as places where individuals can connect with the natural world and the divine.

It’s important to note that the spiritual and mystical associations with larch can vary widely depending on cultural and individual beliefs. These interpretations are not universal and may differ among different spiritual traditions and practitioners.

HISTORICAL:

The larch tree thrives in elevated environments, seeking out open spaces where it can freely extend its branches, unobstructed by shade. As a denizen of high mountain regions, it exhibits remarkable resilience, enduring temperature extremes ranging from bone-chilling minus 40°C to scorching summer heat. Remarkably undemanding when it comes to soil and water requirements, its robust roots delve up to four meters deep into the earth, tapping into subterranean water reserves and securing stability during turbulent weather. The larch makes its home in high places, seeking light, and open spaces where it can spread its branches unhindered by shade.

The Romans encountered the larch approximately two millennia ago, dubbing it “larix,” a name passed down from the Gallic Alpine populace. Its scientific moniker, “decidua,” stems from the Latin “deciduus,” signifying “falling off,” alluding to the unique habit of the larch to shed its needles in autumn.

Despite its seemingly delicate needles, larch wood is notably weighty, highly resinous, and exceptionally resistant to the elements. In bygone eras, excavated larch trunks were repurposed as conduits for well water. Its hardy wood made for enduring and trustworthy roofing shingles, as well as various other uses like railway sleepers, fence posts, window frames, stairs, and floorboards. Notably, the city of Venice is supported by larch poles, and in Zermatt, Switzerland, a thousand-year-old house stands proudly, constructed entirely of larch wood.

Larch wood held ancient appeal as a source of “Venice Turpentine,” a resin still utilized in contemporary industry for manufacturing paints and adhesives for glass and porcelain.

Some plants, including the Flowering Ash (Fraxinus ornus) and oak manna species like Quercus vallonea and Quercus persica, exude a fluid that contains 80% mannitol, a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute. This sap, known as manna, is also found in the larch. Larch needles produce the “Manna of Briançon,” known for its laxative properties. Notably, the biblical manna is believed to be a different substance, potentially a secretion from scale insects or an edible lichen called Lecanora esculenta.

Symbiotic relationships exist between the larch and various fungi, including the edible and delectable larch bolete. Remarkably, the larch resists pathogenic or wood-destroying fungi.

Throughout history, the larch has been revered as a sacred, protective tree. In many regions of Germany, larch twigs adorn doors and windows, known as “Hexenrüttel” or witches’ wands, believed to ward off malevolent spirits and lightning strikes. Southern Slavs hang larch bark pieces around their children’s necks to avert the evil eye. It is said that benevolent wood fairies find sanctuary in larch groves, assisting lost travelers in finding their way.

PLANETARY:

Larch trees are associated with the planet Saturn due to their enduring and resilient nature. Saturn is often linked to qualities like discipline, structure, and endurance. Larch trees’ ability to withstand harsh mountain climates and their strong, long-reaching roots could symbolize the enduring qualities associated with Saturn.