The tamarack, also known as the larch, is the only conifer that sheds its needles in the fall in Quebec. Rich in vitamin C, its small, flexible needles are highly valued in herbal teas. In the past, its young shoots were eaten as emergency food in the forest. Larch is used in many ways in alternative medicine. For example, as a dietary supplement, elixir, ointment, poultice, infusion, disinfectant, etc.