⚘ Materia Medica : Pine Tree Medicine
Humble Giants & Ancient Allies
Since I was a forest dwelling little girl in the Hungarian Bukk mountainside, living happily amongst rich meadows of wild herbs and thick forests of beech and conifers, I felt a deep connection to the evergreen companions around me. I came to understand part of their power and resilience back then but my journey into herbalism brought me even closer to these plant allies.
All true forest dwellers know the unforgiving nature of a pine thicket; the dense quiet that falls; the carpet of acidic needles that restrains the growth of all except the sturdiest of plants; and the light veil of shadow that shrouds the forest as you walk under the canopy of its crown.
Yet, they are ancient nurturers of life. Pinus is the oldest and largest group of conifers, dating back to about 200 million years. They are some of the few survivors of the Ice Age who played a key role in revitalizing the depleted soil & landscape, especially in North America. We humans have lived side by side with the pines for a long time. A relationship as old as time, always intertwining in the web of existence. In one of his Woodnotes, in truly romantic fashion Emerson describes,
“Whether is better the gift or the donor?
Come to me,”
Quoth the pine tree,
”I am the giver of honor.
He is great who can live by me;
The rough and bearded forester
Is better than the lord;
God fills the scrip and canister,
Sin piles the loaded board.
The lord is the peasant that was,
The peasant the lord that shall be,
The lord is hay, the peasant grass,
One dry and one the living tree.”
We have developed a spiritual connection with this family of trees as we had a lot of time to observe. Therefore, there are many traditional medicinal uses of pine. Matter of fact, there are hundreds of species of pines with recorded medicinal uses all over the world.
Pine is potentially a lifesaving edible during the cold winter months when all else disappears, and thus highly deserving to be included in our list of wild foods. The inner bark is safe to eat, and can be sliced or powdered as a thickener for bread, soups and stews. The needles are also safe to consume and can be made into a warm or cold tisane (herbal tea). It can also be included in cooking such as stews and soups and in preserving such as canning, tincturing and fermenting to supplement extra nutrition.
The needles provide high levels of vitamins C and A, and folk anecdotes claim that pine needles have higher levels of Vitamin C compared to an orange. Vitamin C is closely related to the healthy functioning of our immune system, fighting free radicals and allowing the healthy repair of all bodily cells.
Essential oils found in pine needles contain the chemical compounds of linalool, limonene and eugenol which have astringent, astringent and antiseptic properties. These exact characteristics make it excellent for external use on the skin. The sap that runs through the tree is antifungal and antibacterial making it especially valuable for skin ailments. These compounds can also be beneficial in support of the respiratory system, in the opening of the airways and in supporting the body’s natural defenses. Traditional uses include respiratory, bronchial and immune systems support, wound support, colds, flus and bacterial ailments.
Pine pollen also has some medicinal uses. There is some scientific research on the medicinal effects of this fine golden dust, as well anecdotal evidence claiming it was used by warriors before battle to gain more strength. Nevertheless, it can be used as an adaptogen supplement that can be gathered easily by hand during spring. At an early stage before releasing the dust, some species of pine buds are edible and can be flavored and pickled in vinegar.
Do you have any good ways to use pine?