Herb of the Week

Herb of the Week: White Pine

This week’s herb is White Pine.

White Pine( pinus strobus ) Family: Pinaceae, Common names: soft pine, eastern white pine, northern white pine, and Weymouth pine.

White pine was used medicinally by many  North American Indian tribes who valued it, especially for its antiseptic and vulnerary qualities. It was used extensively in the treatment of skin complaints, wounds, burns, and boils. It is beneficial to the respiratory system and was used in treating coughs, colds, and influenza. turpentine obtained from the resin of pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, and vermifuge. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections. It is also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such as coughs, colds, influenza, and TB. Externally it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints, wounds, sores, burns, and boils it is used in the form of liniment plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths, and inhalers.

Herbal and Healing:

Healing Properties: decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, diuretic, expectorant, rubefacient, and anxiolytic

The parts of White Pine used are the needles, bark, and resin, pine is a traditional remedy for coughs, colds, allergies, and urinary tract and sinus infections. Topically, pine is used to address skin infections and to lessen joint inflammation in arthritic conditions. It is an antiseptic, expectorant, and tonic. Pine needles contain a compound called alpha- or beta-pinene, which is a natural decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anxiolytic. Expectorant, demulcent, and diuretic it has a beneficial effect on the bladder and kidneys. Using the needles in steam inhalation, their stimulating expectorant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory qualities are useful for breaking up phlegm in the lungs. Pine nuts provide potassium, magnesium, carotene, and vitamin E.

 MAGICAL PROPERTIES:  Luck, Joy, Balance, Purification, Banishment, Healing, Fertility, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness

Gender: Masculine Element: Air Planet: Mars Goddess/God:  Pan, Diana, Baccus,

Pine is an all-purpose magical tree. Carry pine cones to increase longevity and fertility. Burn needles to purify and cleanse an area of unwanted negative energies or spread the needles on the ground to ward off evil spirits. Burn the needles to break or reverse a curse or spell. Place a pine branch over the bed to ward off sickness and bad dreams. You can substitute the sawdust for any of the above.

Recipes: These recipes are shared from my childhood, my gram used to make this tea for me when I was coming down with a cold or just feeling  “under the weather.” It was also something she and I shared on many cold winter evenings after outside chores were finished. I loved the taste, and she said it was good for me. Pine top tea is filled with vitamin C, It can also be charged to bring protection, healing, and money into your life. I would suggest that you find a healthy pine tree away from traffic and exhaust fumes, herbicides, and pesticides. This may require a walk in the woods. This time of year in the Northeast, you may have to settle for pine needles and cones. I am lucky I only need to walk into my yard to acquire the main ingredients for these soothing, healing pine recipes.

Pine Top Tea

• Pick at least 1 cup of fresh, green pine needles; the freshest ones will be bright in color,  Rinse them in fresh water.
• Measure 3 cups of water  Pour the water into a saucepan. Place the saucepan on the stove and bring the water to a boil.
• Chop the needles into small pieces. Remove any faded or imperfect needles.
• Add the chopped pine needles to the water as soon as it comes to a boil. Stir the needles into the water with a wooden spoon. Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes.
• Steep the tea mixture for an additional 20 minutes or overnight. Add the juice squeezed from one lemon to the tea if you like. You may let the tea steep overnight; it will be a deep reddish color and taste stronger if you do.
• Strain the pine needles out of the tea. Pour into cups and sweeten with a teaspoon of sugar, honey, or maple syrup, if desired.
• What you don’t drink hot, refrigerate for a cold, refreshing drink. Experiment with the proportions of pine needles to water.
• The best tea will be a nice reddish color, and a small amount of oil will rise to the top.

Warnings:
Pregnant women should never drink pine top tea; it may cause spontaneous abortion.
Don’t over-boil the tea; doing so will lessen its amount of vitamin C.

Pine Needle Bath Tea

A good long soak in a pine needle bath will help relieve the dry, itchy skin that comes with winter weather. It is also good for eczema and other itchy, dry skin conditions.

To make this, you will need to collect about 1 pound of pine needles and pine candles[the new growth on pine branches] or pine cones.

• Fill a large pot with water. Leave about five inches between the water level and the lip of the pot.
• Bring the water to a rolling boil.
• Bring needles, candles, and or cones to a boil and stir with a wooden spoon to keep them from scorching. Boil for about 1/2 hour.
• Strain the tea into a large bowl or pitcher, and discard the needles, candles, and cones.
• Bath tea may be stored in a gallon container with a good lid, Let it sit for at least 12 to 14 hours before using it in your bath.
• Add one cup to your bath water and soak for at least 15 to 30 minutes to begin bringing relief to your dry skin.