S’áxt’(Tlingit)

(Oplopanax horridus)

-also called devil's club-

...is a rainforest plant in the ginseng family and native to the northwest coast of the US, Canada, and southeast/southcentral Alaska.  It grows from 3ft to 14ft high and gets its common name "devil's club" because of its spiny bark and large spiny leaves.  S’áxt’ has been used for centuries among Native cultures for a variety of remedies due to its wide range of medicinal properties.

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At Southeast Devilsclub we respect the environment and the role of s’áxt’ in overall wellness. Our small batch, hand-made, wild-crafted products are made from stems which are responsibly harvested from the Tongass rainforest near Juneau, Alaska. 

 

The goal at Southeast Devilsclub is to make the amazing healing properties and health benefits of s’áxt’ essential oil, hydrosol, and tincture available to everyone- to promote relaxation, comfort, and well-being.

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Our primary product is essential oil from the cambium (inner branch bark) and from that we make a variety of preparations- like salves, massage oil, renewing skin serum, healing bug repellent, and personal nasal inhalers.  The plant contains 7 categories of medicinal compounds.  We capture the aromatic portion and concentrate it using steam distillation. 

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Traditional s’áxt’ (devil's club) products -like salve, tea, and decoctions- must be harvested during specific months for full potency.  Due to our unique processing methods, the essential oil can be extracted at maximum potency year-round; there are no seasonal limitations to making it -and products which are made from it.  This means your favorite salve or therapeutic oil will be full-strength whenever you need it.

 

In terms of concentration, traditional salve needs 30-35 ft of bark to make a quart of salve.  We need 4500 ft of this sustainably harvested bark to make 1 liter of this essential oil concentrate.  Although it contains different compounds, it is hundreds of times stronger than any traditional preparation.  Since the essential oil is so potent relative to traditional s’áxt’ preparations, it is generally diluted to low concentrations in a carrier oil-and often in conjunction with other therapeutics to provide help for various ailments.  It is also used as a pre-treatment for other preparations- to make them more effective.

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S’áxt’ essential oil is the next and "strongest version of the ancient medicine" (Tlingit elder); it is not merely an air freshener or general use fragrance.  Usage guidelines are found on the product pages in the Shop.  ​

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Quality control
To ensure the consistency and integrity of the product, the steam distilled oil is analyzed and certified by a 3rd party testing lab regularly.  Our commitment to purity and quality drives continual improvements in the manufacturing process.

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