Linden plant profile

Linden is a plant rich in comfort, energy, protection, and lore. In Greek mythology, the nymph Philyra, who was stolen by Cronos, prayed to the gods not to be abandoned among mortals. The gods granted her wish by turning her into a beautiful linden flower. After giving birth to Chiron, she transformed into a linden tree.

Energetically, as tree medicine, Linden’s ancient wisdom runs deep. She is a great ally for “deep listening,” and supports us during times of uncertainty when we may feel ungrounded and need to turn inward for inner guidance. She is extremely grounding and through her magic, has a way of bringing us “back down to earth,” feeling safe and present in our bodies.

She is also plant of compassion - compassion and understanding for others and compassion for ourselves. She tenderly encourages us to practice non-judgment, self-forgiveness, and acceptance when making difficult decisions. As an extension of this nurturing energy, Linden has long been known as an ally for children, who she is gentle and safe enough for them to use over centuries.

She tends to hold a divine feminine energy (although not always!) and is deeply healing to our hearts. She is especially supportive of holding gentle and loving space for grief and softening to the blow of broken hearts. Linden’s protective energy helps to clear away dense energies from negative interactions or relationships and helps us get back into the flow of life with ease and joy.

But don’t sleep on this girl’s skills - her softness is her strength and this beautiful nervine - while technically not considered a nourishing herb - is generally considered safe and can be used over time like the others in that class.

Medicinally, she has a strong affinity for the heart and lungs, not uncommon for tree medicines. Her doctrine of signatures and heart-shaped leaves tell us that she supports the heart and cardiovascular system (she is a vasodilator, after all) and is adept at lowering blood pressure over long-term use.

She is also useful in situations where there is a fever, and according the work of herbalist Matthew Wood, particularly those with a presentation of chills and shivering, as well as heat and spasms. This is further supported by her work as an antispasmodic, making her a friend to cramps and tight or spasming muscles.

As a vulnerary (or wound healer) Linden is also wonderful in a salve that can be used topically to ease irritation from dry, itchy skin and/or rashes that need to be cooled down and soothed.

She is an ally for those struggling with anxiety and tension - her nervine properties make her supportive and relaxing to the central nervous system, helping to calm jitters and soothe a racing mind. She is also an antispasmodic, making her a friend to cramps and tight or spasming muscles.

Latin Name: Tilia spp.

Common Name: Linden (Lime tree in the UK)

Part(s) Used: Flowers, Leaves

Energetics: Sweet, Moistening/demulcent, Cooling

Herbal Actions: Nervine, anxiolytic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, vasodilator

Personally, Linden has always come to me as the gentle embrace of a warm, nurturing Grandmother, lovingly shrouding me in a cloak of starlight and divine protection. Drinking her grounds me and brings me into surrender with my body, but also moves me deeply into my heart, encouraging me to soften and creating a safe place for me to feel grief.

Harvesting: Linden trees typically bloom in early summer between June and July. Like any flowers, try to harvest them within a few days of full bloom to get the most from your medicine.

It’s best to harvest the leaves before the flowers bloom so that the energy is still going to producing leaves. You can also harvest them after the flowers bloom by which time the energy of the plant will have returned to its leaves.

Cultivation: Plant Linden trees in early fall so their roots have time to establish themselves before the frost. You can also start your tree in a container then move it outside.

Herbal Preparations: Linden likes to be used as either an overnight infusion or a decoction, though not decocted as long as many root herbs. Her syrupy-mucilaginous texture lends itself well to making it an actual herbal syrup that can be used on desserts and ice cream for a floral, citrusy flavor.

A last word on Linden: I’ve included a poem below that I really love by Jeeva Bhagwat of the League of Canadian Poets. However, Linden is beloved, especially in Europe and has inspired many odes and writings to her gentle steadfastness.

The Linden Tree by Jeevan Bhagwat

Your loveliness took root

inside me,

branched its way through my body

till my spirit cried out

with an aria of

linden leaves

All this time

you watched over me,

ringed my years with

dendrochronology,

while my sapling dreams

sprouted and grew.

Lovers came and went

friends disappeared,

but always, there was you,

steadfast and true

who oxygenated my lungs

when hope was hard

to breathe.

When the dark shadow comes

to cut me down

in the twilight of my days to be,

know that you carved

your name on my heart,

and filled my life

with beauty.

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