Pinaceae (Pine) Family - including Douglas fir, fir, hemlock, pine and spruce (except yew!)
Energetics - warming and drying, Taste - pungent, bitter, sour.
Folklore - Scots pine is the tree of the winter solstice (December 22).
Evergreens are nature's winter helpers. They provide food and shelter for birds and insects, wood for fires, a canopy for the ground beneath and medicine for us humans.
The resin has been used for many many years (pine tar), firstly the pine tar is there to protect the tree from damage and infection, and this is the gift that we can gather for ourselves. As experience pine tar is extremely sticky and once on your fingers takes a while to remove.
There are many types of evergreen in the northern hemisphere and nearly all offer some medicinal value and are not poisonous (except yew).
Rich in vitamin c. Pine is helpful for rheumatic conditions and pain as it is a circulatory stimulant which promotes warmth and healing. Pine is a good decongestant and helps thin and expectorate mucus. Good for colds and flu.
Uses -
Hot tea - Infuse a pinch of pine needles to a cup of boiling water, cover and leave to steep for 15 minutes, this tea (infusion) can help with congestion, catarrh and supporting the fever process (releasing heat). A cold infusion (the same as above but with cold water) helps retain the more Vitamin C (absorbic acid). Chewing the needles is the best for Vitamin C intake.
Skincare - pine infused oil is a great topical aid for muscle aches and pains and good for itchy rashes like eczema. Pine infused oil can also be used to rub on the chest and the back to warm and help with bronchial/chest issues. Dandruff can be helped by applying pine infused oil into the scalp and leaving for around 20 minutes. Then use shampoo on dry hair directly on the hair avoiding the scalp, rinse and remember to condition... conditioning brings the PH down again to neutral after shampooing, allowing cuticles to be smooth and hair to be smooth and shiny.
Pine tar can be used to aid firelighting and could be applied to any wounds needing an antimicrobial medicine.
Shop below for my Everygreen Body Cream.