Larix laricina/Larch/Tamarack

pH 3.5

Aroma and Taste One of the nicest smelling of the tree hydrosols. Fresh, resinous, a high top-note kind of odor without any of the wet mustiness one finds in so many of the conifer waters. The taste is also fresh and light but not insignificant, with only a hint of minty resin flavor in the background. Diluted, it is very mild.

Stability and Shelf Life Stable. Lasts eighteen months to two years.

Properties and Applications Experimental. Seems to be very effective as a circulatory stimulant, although it does not alter blood pressure in any way. On its own topically and internally larch can be used to cleanse and stimulate the lymphatic system and is wonderful in the bath or as an after-bath body splash, combined with bay laurel in synergy. Moderately diuretic, larch seems to have a positive effect on the renal system and should be considered to replace juniper berry and cypress when something equally effective but less astringent and fast acting is desired. Rudolphe Balz recommends larch hydrosol as an eyewash for infections, and the water certainly has had no ill effects, so far, when used in the eye, although I don’t recommend it for this purpose. Balz also quotes Rudolph Steiner as recommending larch, lavender, and pineapple juice internally for cataracts, so perhaps this may be a fifth hydrosol appropriate for the eyes.

Larch and hemlock are extraordinary from an energetic point of view. Larch surrounds the entire being with a high vibration field and facilitates out-of-body and lucid states. Hemlock reconnects the lower and higher fields of vibration. When dowsed, the field of this hydrosol is huge. It has a particular affinity for crystals and energy clearing and healing.

Laurus nobilis/Bay Laurel/Bay Leaf

pH 4.9–5.2

Aroma and Taste Warm, spicy, and mouth-watering when it’s good; wet and musty when it’s not. This is one hydrosol that smells very much like the fresh plant material or very high-quality dried leaves. The flavor is intense undiluted and remains potent in dilution. The taste is more spice than herb but has a green edge. Perhaps the most delicious of the nonfloral waters and incredible for health as well. Extremely variable in quality; I have had really, really good bay and really, really awful bay, so buyer beware; always ask for samples.

Stability and Shelf Life Very unstable. Maximum shelf life with any certainty is eight months, although occasionally longer—and I don’t care what others say! In fact, one distiller sent me a sample of his bay, claiming that all his hydrosols lasted three to five years, including bay. The bay sample arrived with furry white mold in the bottle. Bay just doesn’t last. Bay must be monitored regularly and filtered promptly as soon as the slightest change in pH is noticed or it will rapidly bloom. Fortunately it can be made from dried leaves and so is available most of the year.

Properties and Applications First choice for cleansing and toning the lymphatic system. Bay laurel should be taken in a three-week internal protocol at the first sign of swelling or congestion in lymph nodes anywhere in the body. The effect is dramatic and rapid, with symptoms usually disappearing in less than a week. Also very valuable for lymphatic drainage and circulation, particularly in combination with massage or hydrotherapy treatments and exercise. I have well over thirty cases of complete disappearance of lymph node swelling after treatment with bay hydrosol alone or in combination with the oil; some cases were even slated for surgery and bay was still able to clear them up. However, do not treat lymphatic congestion too casually, and do consult with your health-care professional.

In cases of cancer, replace with sweet fern combined with sweet gale, Greenland moss, or one of the hydrosols more specific to the cancer and the organs involved. Another option is to use the bay vibrationally, applying just one drop to the tumors or affected areas, rather than using the standard internal treatment.

A fairly broad-acting antiseptic, antibacterial, general tonic, and immune booster, it is good as part of a treatment for systemic infections or as a prophylactic for fast-spreading viral infections like influenza. Take bay laurel on its own or in combination with eucalyptus, tea tree, or green myrtle hydrosols internally and use an essential-oil blend topically and aerially to prevent infection. Its use in cooking tells us the herb has long been revered for its digestive properties, which the hydrolate clearly exhibits, toning the intestines and aiding peristalsis. It is a good after-dinner digestive, particularly after rich or fatty foods, and will relieve gas or bloat associated with excess. Laurel makes a delicious mouthwash and gargle for infections and general dental hygiene or bad breath and can be combined with immortelle for more serious gum problems.

Indispensable in the kitchen, bay can be added to every savory dish. Sprinkle it on cooked pasta, and add it to sauces or soups with fish or meat, salad dressings, and juices. One of the tastiest hydrosols of all. I personally find it emotionally comforting, although this is biased by a deep love for the tree and its spirit.

AVOID internally in cases of diagnosed cancer.