In 1969, scientists discovered that Pacific Yew bark and leaves contain a chemical compound, paclitaxel, that can be used to treat ovarian and breast cancers. Until paclitaxel was synthesized and other sources found, Pacific yew was harvested in great quantities, many trees were killed in the process of stripping the bark. The yew’s painfully slow growth rate—200 years for a 40-footer. The average tree yields two-thirds of a gram of Taxol, which equals two dosages for an ovarian cancer patient.

John has salvaged the magical yew and through his passion for woodworking, has upcycled this rare and valuable tree into something unique and elegant “One of a Kind”  Each “Twisted Yew” hair stick is created from the heartwood of this 400-year-old Pacific Yew, arguably the oldest, in the pacific northwest. 

Pacific Yew wood is valued for its reddish color, hardness, durability, fine grain, flexibility and strength. The Yew is strong! The bending strength (MOR) is 15,200 psi, and the hardness is 1600 pounds. For comparison, Red Oak's MOR is only 8600 psi, and hardness is 380 pounds. 

"Twisted Yew” sticks range from: 4.5"- 9" long. For all lengths and hair types. $27.00 each. 

The "Twisted YEW" pictured here is 6 inches long with a medium diameter. Twisted Yew sticks to choose from Photo #10