The Eastern White Pine as Medicine
It's December and this time of year, a lot of us are in the holiday spirit, and one thing that is in the center of it all is the beautiful evergreen pine tree we call the Christmas tree. In our homes, they are all sizes. In the forests they are all sizes as well, from very small seedlings to the very stately and very, very tall. So tall that you have to tilt your head way back to look at the top!
Did you know that pine, spruce and fir trees are powerful native medicines with remarkable healing properties? Past generations relied on the pine tree for its medicine and even nourishment. Today, some Native American tribes still depend on it.
North America has about 36 kinds of Pine trees. It's important to know that not all are safe to ingest, some examplse are Ponderosa Pine, Yellow Pine, Lodgepole Pine, and Norfolk Island Pine, for example.
Today, we are going to refer to the Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus). The white pine is considered safe, and you will know it by its long, soft needles. They are easy to identify.
Identification: White pines can be identified by their clusters of long, soft, blue-green needles that grow in bundles of five. This differentiates them from red and jack pines, whose needles grow in bundles of two. The trees have red-brown bark that forms scaly plates. They produce elongated 3-8-inch cones containing small, winged seeds. . If you are not familiar with the Easter White Pine, please do an internet search and become familiar.
Let's Get Down to the Medicine and Food Part!
My favorite is the needle tea! What do you need for needle tea? Some pine needles and water; a little bit of honey or lemon is an option. Perhaps a fun family outing would be to take a walk in a forest or possibly your own backyard and find a white pine that you could sustainably and gently harvest some of its needles (always make sure the tree is in a clean location and has never been exposed to harmful chemicals, pesticides, etc. Therefor, never harvest from a tree on the side of the road.).
Eastern White Pine Needle Tea
The pine needles are loaded with vitamin C, apparently 5 times more than an orange. We all know vitamin C is required for our immune system. They also contain vitamins A, E, and a host of B vitamins, as well as containing antimutagenic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties. That's potent!
Ingredients:
½ cup young pine needles (a small handful)
3 cup spring water
slice of lemon or a little honey (optional)
Instructions:
De-stem and remove the brown papery sheaths at the base of the needles.
Chop needles into ½-inch pieces, to help release essence.
Bring water to a boil.
Place 1 tbsp. of chopped needles into a mug and pour boiling water over top, steep for 5-10 minutes.
Squeeze lemon into tea for flavor if desired and enjoy.
Eastern White Pine Salve
1. Using the pitch or resin, you can make a salve that has powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This can be used as first aid for cuts, slivers, and minor burns.
Ingredients:
¼ cup pine resin
½ cup almond or olive oil
1 oz. grated beeswax
Directions:
Heat the oil in a double-boiler. As oil begins to simmer, add pine resin, and continue heating until the resin melts. Stir occasionally.
Strain mixture through a cheesecloth or fine mesh stainless steel strainer.
Return mixture to double-boiler over low heat, and slowly stir in beeswax until melted. Pour mixture into jars or tins, and store in a cool place.
Use the nuts or "fruit" in the scales of the pine cone. Known for its own set of health benefits. These include: appetite suppression, boosting energy, reducing risk of heart disease, anti-aging, and improving vision. Use the nuts in salads and other recipes, or simply enjoy them as a snack. Of course, you can find these in your grocery store, so you won't have to sort through pine cones if you don't want to. ( :
Use Pine essential oil. Invigorating and cleansing, pine essential oil can alleviate headaches, relieve pain, boost energy and mood, treat acne and other skin conditions, act as a decongestant, and freshen a room. Consider diffusing the oil at home, or adding a few drops to a bath for a rejuvenating and restorative experience. Try This one!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Blessed and Healthy New Year!
Val
Just a note: In a survival situation, you can use the bark, however, be certain of the type of pine that it is!
You can actually eat the bark of a pine tree. Hopefully none of us ever have to do that. The easiest way to reap its benefits is using pine bark extract, which is packed with powerful antioxidants, including vitamin C. The extract has been shown to lower glucose levels, improve diabetes symptoms, prevent hearing loss, restore balance, stave off infections, protect the skin from harmful UV rays, restore circulation, improve erectile dysfunction, reduce inflammation, even increase athletic performance. This is one made from the Chines Red Pine.
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