Botanical Description
Photo courtesy of Cliff Wallace (67kB)
Ethnobotanical Use
The Gitxsan scraped off the cambium layer during the spring. It was baked in earth ovens and made into cakes that were eaten fresh or dried for storage purposes. During the winter months, they would whip it with water and oolichan grease. Hemlock cambium was swallowed when a sharp object (such as a fishbone) had been inadvertently swallowed. The sharp object would pass out of the body safely. The cambium was also a good remedy for gall bladder problems. The cambium could be used as a "cast" to set broken bones by a proficient "bone setter".
