General information where it grows
Pines are evergreen, resin-rich trees. Their size is almost always large, but there are also small trees, sometimes almost shrubs.
There are 16 wild pine species in Russia. Most of them are located in Siberia, forming pure and mixed forests. It is typical for pine forests to grow in sandy soil and rocky substrate. In Latin, pine is translated as “rock.” Able to cling to bare rocks with its roots and live in such conditions.
The tallest pine tree is Lambert. It grows in North America. Its height reaches 70-80 meters.
And in South Asian countries the Bunge pine grows. It is distinguished from its fellows by the fact that its bark is white.
Swamp pine has the longest needles of all members of the family. They reach a length of up to 40 cm. Pine is of enormous industrial importance. Pine needles are used as raw materials for construction and mining, in medicine and even for the manufacture of pencils, artificial silk and artificial leather.
Needles are often used in folk medicine. For example, a decoction of pine needles, onion peels and rose hips is widely used for cancer. Amber is nothing more than the frozen resin of ancient pine trees.
Interesting! The needles, thanks to their vitamin C content, saved partisans from widespread scurvy, pneumonia, and bronchitis during the war.
To treat scurvy, crushed pine needles, acetic or tartaric acid were used. To cure cough, bronchitis and pneumonia, large holes were dug in the forests, smoldering firewood was placed at the bottom and pine branches with pine needles were laid on top.
The partisan lay down on such a “mattress”, then he was covered with another layer of branches. Already in the morning the defender’s health was much better, and after 4-5 days of such procedures there was no trace of the disease.
Teach yourself to drink drinks for immunity
We are not talking about a juice diet at all, but simply consuming flash juices before dinner or lunch. Please note that before meals, vitamins are better absorbed and will bring more benefits to the body, but if a person suffers from gastritis or a stomach ulcer, this should not be done. Such people need to drink fresh juice only after meals, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease.
Berry juice
Berry juice, without pasteurization and added sugar, is considered a good drink for the immune system. To prepare a healthy vitamin cocktail, you can take any berries you have at home: raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries, blackberries. Depending on what combination you make, the benefits for the body will be great, and the recipe will be accessible.
Mash the berries well and strain through cheesecloth to separate the juice from the pulp. Pour the already squeezed berries with a small amount of boiled water and let it brew for 15 minutes. Squeeze the berries again and pour the resulting mixture into concentrated juice. Repeat this several more times until all the juice is removed from the berries. Afterwards the drink is ready to drink. Honey, vanillin, cinnamon and other aromatic spices are added to it.
Fruit juice saturates the body with minerals, healthy acids, and vitamins. It has a bactericidal effect and is used as an anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing agent. For example, blueberries include tanning elements that remove all accumulated harmful waste from the body, and cranberries and lingonberries are good antibacterial components.
1-2 glasses of fruit drink a day will help improve the functioning of the body. Depending on what microelements and vitamins are missing, you can adjust the consumption of berries in the composition.
Orange juice
If you ask any of you what vitamin drink is number one for supporting the immune system, many will answer that it is orange juice. Indeed, this freshly squeezed drink restores the body, invigorates, saturates with vitamins, ascorbic acid, potassium, and flavonoids.
This popular drink does not contain fat and cholesterol; if you drink just a glass of orange juice a day, you can get your daily requirement of vitamin C. When you have a cold, it is recommended to drink one glass of orange juice as a preventive measure. In addition, it relieves lethargy and fatigue of the body, tones, and is an antioxidant.
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Herbal teas
Tea made from medicinal herbs is an excellent natural method that has a positive effect on a person’s condition, helps get rid of diseases, and increases the body’s resistance to viruses and microbes.
The collections do not include chemical components and are a completely natural product. You can prepare berries, roots and herbs yourself or buy them at a regular pharmacy.
Chamomile tea
To prepare it, take three tablespoons of dried chamomile and pour one liter of boiling water. Let it brew for several hours, and then strain and add three teaspoons of honey and the same amount of lemon juice.
The drink can be poured into a thermos to keep it warm. Take one glass three times a day. This is a proven remedy against bronchitis, sore throat, and flu.
Ginseng tea
To make the drink you will need dry ginseng root, which is ground into powder and poured with boiling water in a ratio of one to ten. The mixture is infused for 15 minutes, filtered. Use one tablespoon three times a day. It is recommended to consume 20 minutes before meals. The course of preventive use is 30 days, after which you need to take a break and can be repeated.
Rose hip tincture
Don't forget about rose hips. Making a tincture from it is very simple. The fruits are thoroughly washed and poured with boiling water. One glass of dried rose hips requires one and a half liters of water.
The drink is infused all night, and in the morning it is ready to drink. You can add honey, lemon, and cinnamon to taste. Please note that rose hips can be used twice. The second infusion will be no less concentrated than the first.
Strawberry tea
In order not only to strengthen your immune system, but also to lift your spirits, you need to drink strawberry tea regularly. To prepare, take three tablespoons of crushed strawberry leaves and pour two glasses of boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes and then the tea is ready to drink.
Add a few aromatic dried strawberries, as well as honey, lemon, sugar. Thanks to vitamin C, essential oils and flavonoids, strawberry tea helps with colds and flu. And if you add St. John's wort and mint (2 grams of each ingredient), this way you can increase the body's resistance to disease.
Pine tea
Vitamin C is found in large quantities in pine needles, and this is very important for supporting immunity. In winter, the amount of vitamin C in pine needles increases many times, so in cold weather it is more beneficial. Needle tea is prepared as follows. The needles are trimmed and washed under running water, crushed and poured into a thermos. Four tablespoons of crushed needles are poured into one liter of boiling water. The tincture sits for 24 hours, and before use, the pine tea leaves are diluted with boiling water in a 1:1 ratio. You can add 2 teaspoons of honey or sugar to taste. Best consumed after dinner. One glass a day will be enough.
The course is repeated for 20 days twice a year. Pine tea is recommended to be consumed as a preventive, vitamin drink for severe vitamin deficiency, frequent colds, loss of strength, and anemia.
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Dried fruits compote
Fruits retain all the vitamins and essential microelements that are found in fresh fruits. A decoction of dried fruits helps to activate the immune system and fight viruses. It doesn't need to be boiled. Bring the water to a boil, add half a glass of dried fruit to one liter of boiling water, cover the pan with a lid and let it brew for an hour. Afterwards, cool and consume as a regular drink.
Mineral water with milk
An amazing, but very simple and healthy recipe. Mineral water is diluted with milk in proportions of one to one. Both liquids should be at room temperature. If there is a sore throat, sore throat or irritation, add 10 grams of butter. The drink tones, reduces soreness, pain, and removes phlegm.
Fresh vegetable juices for immunity
Pumpkin juice is a unique balance of copper, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, vitamins C, B, E, carotene. In combination with honey, it perfectly soothes and improves sleep, while also having a general strengthening effect. Pumpkin along with carrots and apricot pulp is a unique combination that not only saturates with all the necessary vitamins, but also increases hemoglobin levels.
A vegetable cocktail made from zucchini, carrots and parsley regulates the protective barrier and allows you to resist any viruses and microbes. To prepare, simply place the peeled fruits and a few sprigs of parsley into the juicer, and then squeeze the juice out of them. You can drink just one glass a day. The effect will not take long to appear.
Ascorbic cocktail
To prepare freshly squeezed juice you will need two apples, two kiwis and two grapefruits. Peel the fruit and pass through a juicer. Liquid ascorbic acid contains a global amount of vitamin C, as well as the necessary phosphorus, selenium, beta-carotene, biotin and other necessary elements.
It is recommended to be used as a preventive measure during and after illness to strengthen the body’s strength.
To support immunity, vegetable ascorbic acid is suitable. To prepare, take two cucumbers, 4 tomatoes, two heads of broccoli and a little spinach. All of these ingredients are passed through a juicer. Additionally, the resulting cocktail can be strained through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Use every day for 1-2 weeks.
Vitamin "Salute"
An unusual mix, which is based on the juice of one large orange, 4 carrots and 2 cloves of garlic. Everything needs to be passed through a juicer or grated on a fine grater, and then squeezed out the juice. The unique composition contains calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium and so on. Use one hour before meals once a day.
There are a huge number of recipes. Don’t be lazy to make fresh juices, infuse teas and prepare delicious vitamin fruit drinks. This will protect your body, saturate it with vitamins and increase your immunity significantly.
Collection
The needles can retain their healing properties for a long time (up to 2 months). But for this it is necessary to prepare it correctly. The following rules should be followed:
- It is best to collect pine needles in winter. At this time, they contain the greatest amount of useful substances - ascorbic acid and essential oils.
- To preserve the properties of beneficial substances as much as possible, it is recommended to collect branches with needles. It is better to collect needles in combination with buds in early spring, when the sap begins to move in the branches.
- It is better to collect needles further from highways and residential areas, deep in the forest.
- From one tree you can cut no more than two branches, and the lower ones. If the top young branches are plucked, the tree may die.
Procurement of raw materials
Pine buds should be collected during the swelling period. Collection should be made from the side shoots of young growth. Harvesting should be done in logging areas.
The buds must be cut with a knife or scissors along with last year's shoot up to 3 mm long. You need to dry the buds in a dry, ventilated area or in the open air.
The finished raw material is aromatic and has a bitter aftertaste. It is recommended to use tightly sealed glass jars for storage. In such containers, raw materials can be stored for up to a year.
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Plant storage
Recommendations:
- Pass the branches through a meat grinder, dry and store in an airtight container in a dry, dark place. This mass can be stored in the freezer, divided into portions in plastic bags.
- Fresh pine needles can be stored at room temperature for 10 days by placing them on cotton cloth. When the needles fall off, they should be placed in a tightly sealed jar and placed in a cool place, protected from the sun. The shelf life of dry pine needles is no more than a year.
- A prerequisite is to check the needles and mix them so that they do not become damp and begin to rot.
- Another storage method, according to the large Encyclopedia of Traditional Medicine and Healthy Lifestyle. You need to collect the needles, rinse with warm and then cold water. Finely chop and place in a glass container, mixing with sugar (4 parts needles: 1 part sugar). You can store this mixture in a cool place for 3 months. To saturate your home with the beneficial aroma of pine needles, you need to place 2 sprigs in a vase with water.
Pine needle jam
Pine needles provide benefits in the form of jam. This dish is not exactly a dessert, but rather a type of medicine. Ingredients required:
- 2 tbsp. pine needles
- 1.5 liters of water;
- 0.5 tbsp. rose hips;
- 0.5 kg sugar;
- 1 lemon.
We recommend reading: Rosehip infusion: benefits and harms, how to prepare
Preparation takes place according to the following scheme:
- The needles are crushed by pouring into a blender. 700 ml of water is added to them.
- The mass is placed in a saucepan, 800 g of water is added.
- Add whole washed rose hips.
- The mixture is left to infuse for 12 hours.
- The infusion is filtered into a saucepan, sugar is added.
- The mixture is boiled to the consistency of liquid honey.
- Add lemon juice to neutralize the bitterness.
The jam is tasty, but uncontrolled consumption will cause harm instead of benefit. The dose should be limited to 5–6 tsp. per day.
Important! Taking jam at the same time as tea and a pine bath is unacceptable. Properties are enhanced.
What substances do pine needles contain?
To understand what medicinal properties pine needles have and contraindications, you should study their composition. The needles contain the following beneficial substances.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid:
- accelerates the healing process of wounds,
- restores hormonal levels,
- regulates hematopoietic processes and normalizes vascular permeability,
- promotes the regeneration of tissue cells, bones and cartilage of the body,
- restores metabolism,
- removes toxic elements,
- improves bile secretion,
- restores the functioning of the pancreas and thyroid gland.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant: it strengthens the immune system, increases the body's resistance to viruses and bacteria.
Carotene
Benefits for the body:
- participates in cell growth and differentiation,
- activates the immune system,
- improves vision by restoring the retina of the eye,
- maintains healthy skin, hair, mucous membranes (digestive system, respiratory tract),
- restores the functioning of the gonads.
Carotene is essential for bone tissue, including teeth.
Vitamin E
This vitamin is also called women's vitamin. It improves skin condition and restores hair structure. Besides:
- restores hormonal levels,
- prevents myocardial infarction,
- blocks the growth and development of cancer cells,
- promotes tissue regeneration,
- removes toxins,
- restores cells of the liver, gall bladder and pancreas.
Vitamin E is an excellent helper for problems with the central nervous system.
In addition, pine needles contain:
- Protein – responsible for the rapid growth of muscle mass, promotes weight loss by breaking down fat molecules.
- B vitamins – ensure the normal functioning of the nervous system, participate in energy metabolism, maintain a normal digestive system, increase resistance to stress, and stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Vitamins P and PP reduce the production of hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands during stress, and also helps improve blood circulation.
- Chlorophyll. Helps increase the quality and quantity of red blood cells (erythrocytes), since its chemical formula is related to hemoglobin.
- Phytohormones. Prolong youth.
- Phytoncides. Neutralizes bacteria, fungi and viruses that cause diseases of the respiratory tract and ENT organs.
- Manganese – forms bone structure, improves the functioning of the thyroid gland, central nervous system, reduces nervous irritation, increases potency.
- Copper. Anti-inflammatory component, participates in the production of collagen, strengthens bones. Increases immunity, normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland and digestive system.
- Iron. Provides tissue breathing. It is part of hemoglobin and takes part in the creation of nerve impulses and their conduction along nerve fibers. Supports thyroid function.
- Zinc. Participates in the formation of bone tissue, prevents diabetes, increases libido and potency.
- Cobalt. Participates in hematopoiesis, stimulates the development and growth of red blood cells, supports the normal functioning of the pancreas.
- Calcium. Participates in blood clotting, in the process of muscle contraction and excitability of nerve tissue, and is necessary for normal bone growth.
- Phosphorus. Participates in the growth of dental and bone tissue.
- Essential oils. They have a bactericidal effect.
As you can see, pine needles are a real storehouse of vitamins. Thanks to the components included in the composition, it can be used as an additional remedy for the treatment of diseases of the ENT organs, blood vessels, pathologies of the upper respiratory tract, central nervous system, and bones. Needles can also be used to prevent these diseases.
What does pine needles help with?
A unique combination of healing substances makes pine needles an effective remedy against many diseases. Among them:
- Arthritis and rheumatism. Pine essential oils stimulate blood circulation and relieve inflammation in joints.
- Bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia. By removing mucus from the respiratory tract, pine decoctions relieve irritation of the mucous membrane and stop coughing.
- Sore throat, laryngitis, pharyngitis. Gargling with a decoction of pine needles eliminates swelling and sore throat.
- Cardiovascular diseases. Decoctions of pine needles strengthen blood vessels and cleanse them of cholesterol.
- Gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis. Preparations from pine needles remove excess bile and relieve internal inflammation.
- Anemia. Vitamin C and iron help improve blood composition.
- Fungal infections. Baths made from pine decoction get rid of foot fungus.
- Skin diseases. Antibacterial substances of pine help fight acne, eczema, and dermatitis.
- Age-related vision loss. Vitamin A strengthens the retina of the eyes, preventing its weakening.
- Reduced immunity. The vitamins contained in pine needles help avoid infection with ARVI and influenza during seasonal epidemics.
We advise you to read: Meadowsweet: medicinal properties and contraindications
Sedative baths
Dissolving in hot water, the essential resins of pine needles have a complex effect on the skin, muscles, respiratory organs and the olfactory center of the brain. Pine baths are recommended for physical fatigue, neuroses, insomnia, and severe menopause in women.
To carry out the procedure, you will need a glass of pine needles, along with twigs and buds. The raw materials are finely cut with scissors, placed in a large saucepan and 5 liters of hot water are added (temperature +60ᵒ C).
Boil the mixture for 10 minutes over low heat. Leave covered for 20 minutes, then pour through a sieve into a hot bath (from +35 to +40ᵒ C).
The procedure is carried out at night, for 20 minutes. After the bath, take a short warm shower. For a lasting therapeutic effect, a course of 10 procedures is required daily.
Important! Hot pine baths are not allowed in the presence of cardiovascular diseases, thrombosis and malignant tumors.
In cosmetology
Bioactive elements of pine needles help improve the condition of oily, problematic and aging skin, get rid of acne and fine wrinkles. Care products are prepared on the basis of pine infusion. It is made from 1 tbsp. spoons of needles and a glass of boiling water.
The components are combined in a glass jar and left covered for half an hour. Moisten a gauze cloth with the strained product and apply it to the face for 15-20 minutes. As a result of the procedure, the skin tightens and loses its oily shine.
You can make a tonic mask from the same infusion. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon of chopped oatmeal, liquid honey, lemon juice and pine infusion.
The composition is thoroughly mixed and applied to the forehead, cheeks, chin and neck. Leave for 10 minutes, remove with a damp cloth and wash with pine infusion.
Inhalations
When exposed to high temperatures, pine needles actively release essential oils. This property has long been used in steam inhalations. They are done for bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis, sore throat and ARVI.
For the procedure, take 2 tbsp. spoons of finely chopped pine needles, fresh or dried. The raw materials are placed in a saucepan, poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes over low heat.
Keep the decoction for 15 minutes under the lid. Next, transfer the pan to the table and breathe in the steam, covering your head with a blanket. The procedure is carried out in the morning and evening, for 5-7 days.
Beneficial features
Pine needles are useful for all people, regardless of gender and age.
Why needles are useful for women:
- Thanks to the vitamin E content, reproductive function improves. This is especially true for women who are unable to get pregnant or have a history of miscarriages.
- Vitamins A, C, phytohormones help not only normalize the functioning of the immune system, but also improve the condition of hair, nails, and skin.
- The beneficial properties of a decoction of pine needles for women also include the fact that you can wipe your face with it every morning and evening. After just 2 weeks, women will see that the skin has become elastic, fine wrinkles have smoothed out, and swelling has disappeared. This method of washing is especially recommended for women over 35 years of age.
What are the benefits of pine needles for children:
- Calcium and phosphorus improve bone condition.
- Pine needles help prevent diseases of the ENT organs, acute respiratory viral infections, and acute respiratory infections in childhood. But these pathologies often develop in childhood.
- Vitamins C, E, D, B improve brain activity, memory, and thinking, which is also necessary in childhood.
- Vitamin PP relieves stress and balances the functioning of the central nervous system, which is important for children with various phobias and hyperactivity. With fetal hypoxia during pregnancy, muscle hypertonicity develops in newborns. One way to get rid of this problem is to bathe your baby in pine baths.
Why pine needles are useful for men:
- Thanks to vitamin PP, zinc, manganese, blood circulation and blood composition improve. And this is especially true for men. After all, every third representative of the stronger sex is diagnosed with prostatitis after 35 years. And this is due to blood stagnation due to a sedentary lifestyle (for drivers, office workers). Against the background of improved blood circulation, prostatitis is prevented. In addition, varicose veins and heart attack are diseases that more often affect the male body. By taking pine decoctions and tinctures, these problems can be avoided.
- Vitamin A is an anti-inflammatory component. Helps not only prevent, but also treat prostatitis and adenoma.
- Vitamin PP relieves nervous tension and stress, and this is also important not only for the entire male body, but also for potency. A very common cause of impaired potency is stress.
- Vitamins C E B, as well as manganese and zinc are the first friends of men. Their deficiency causes not only a decrease in libido, but also impotence.
What are the benefits of pine needles for the body:
- Has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Increases immunity.
- Removes phlegm.
- Accelerates sweating - quickly removes toxins.
- Improves digestion.
- Has diuretic properties.
- Improves blood composition, restores blood circulation.
- Relieves stress, helps get rid of insomnia.
- Improves metabolism.
- Normalizes blood sugar.
- Improves reproductive function.
- Improves the condition of skin and hair.
- Strengthens joints and bones.
- Increases potency.
- Stops the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.
Doctors recommend drinking decoctions of needles and taking baths as preventative measures during general flu and ARVI quarantines. But we must not forget that treatment of diseases with needles must be combined with the main therapy.
Needles with onion peel and rose hips
A stunning recipe for a decoction of a mixture of needles, onion peels and ground dark rose hips has enormous benefits. Its antioxidant properties help get rid of many diseases. It does not allow the formation of new cholesterol plaques in the vessels and eliminates the formation of blood clots.
Helps faster tissue regeneration, restores mucous membranes and removes toxins from the body. This composition is used even for frostbite, poisoning and burns.
How to prepare a healing decoction from onion peels, needles and rose hips at home
Take 2 large tablespoons of ground dried dark rose hips, 5 large tablespoons of needles (it is best to take fresh tops of branches 10-15 cm in size) and 2 large tablespoons of chopped dry onion peels. Place everything in an enamel bowl and bring to a boil over heat.
When it boils, remove from heat and wrap in a blanket. After 10 hours, the cooled broth will be ready for use immediately after straining. Take half a glass 3-4 times a day. If desired, it is permissible to add honey. True, even without them the drink tastes very pleasant.
Pine needle decoction for the heart
Take 5 heaped tablespoons of pine needles (pine, spruce or cedar), 2 heaped tablespoons of husks, 2 tablespoons of crushed rose hips (preferably dark). Pour the entire mixture into a liter of cool water and slowly bring the mixture to a boil. Cook for about 15 minutes. Let the broth sit and drink as desired throughout the day. The same mixture can be brewed in a thermos and left to steep overnight. It is recommended to drink warm.
To reduce high blood pressure
A similar recipe with onion skins will help with high blood pressure. Everything is very simple to prepare. Take 5 tbsp. spoons of any pine needles, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of onion peel and ground rose hips (it is better to take dark ones). Fill it all with 1 liter of clean cool water, put it on the fire and cook over low heat under a tightly closed lid for 10 minutes.
Let stand until cool for 2 - 3 hours, strain. Bring the resulting volume to 1 liter with boiled water. We divide this volume equally into two days. Drink 500 ml throughout the day, regardless of meals. Next we prepare a new portion. The treatment course lasts no longer than 4 months. At the same time, such courses are conducted regularly in the first years, then as needed.
The recipe tones, cleanses and normalizes blood pressure. Its action has been tested by many, and there are many positive reviews on the Internet.
Anti-asthmatic infusion
To obtain the medicinal composition, you need to take 5 large spoons with the top of pine buds or its young shoots, 50 ml of alcohol tincture of ginseng, 100 ml of ready-made rosehip syrup (just take the pharmacy one), 150 ml of agave juice (preferably homemade, if we don’t have it, we take the pharmacy one), 300 g of liquid natural honey, 10 g of purified mumiyo and for its dilution 50 ml of clean cool water.
Dissolve the mummy in water and mix with the rest of the ingredients. It’s better to put everything in a dark jar. Leave for a week in a dark closet. After infusion, strain the liquid and take a full tablespoon before breakfast and lunch half an hour before.
Needles for healthy liver
Pour a large handful of pine needles into 0.5 liters of boiling water and keep in a water bath for half an hour. Drink half a glass after cooling. The body is saturated with vitamins, and bitterness and phytoncides disinfect and restore liver function.
Green cones for treating joints
Place 10 green young cones in a liter dark glass jar and fill them with 0.5 liters of vodka. To obtain the healing agent, the tincture must be left in the dark for 10 days. You don't have to throw away the cones. It is useful to rub this remedy on sore joints as needed.
Skin toner
Brew a glass of pine needles with a glass of boiling water. Wrap the tonic warmly and leave to infuse until it cools completely. All. We begin to wash ourselves.
Contraindications
Contraindications for the use of pine needles include:
- individual intolerance to the components included in the composition,
- acute kidney diseases,
- hepatitis,
- pregnancy and breastfeeding,
- skin cancer (this is the only pathology for which it is prohibited to use tinctures and decoctions as compresses or take pine baths).
Hypertension is a relative contraindication. In this case, pine needle baths can be taken in combination with medications that lower blood pressure.
When taking a large number of decoctions and tinctures, irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines may develop. Therefore, people with gastritis or ulcers should consult a doctor about the use of needles.
Pine needles - beneficial properties and contraindications
Among all coniferous trees, pine, with its beneficial properties, occupies one of the very first places as a storehouse of useful substances, but it also has contraindications. For pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and allergies, all parts of pine are effectively used: pine buds, needles, pollen, natural essential oil and pine resin. Tar is most often used externally as ointments for skin diseases.
The aroma of pine needles can relieve headaches, lower blood pressure and strengthen the immune system. Pine needles are of great benefit when used as baths and when taken orally. It was a decoction of pine needles that sailors drank on voyages to prevent scurvy - a cheap and effective remedy.
Pregnancy and lactation period
What is the harm of needles during pregnancy? During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is not allowed to take decoctions or tinctures orally. Since they can have an aggressive effect on the fetus. But no one forbids putting branches with needles in a vase in an apartment!
Thanks to phytoncides, the air in the room will be purified, and a pleasant aroma will calm the nervous system. If a pregnant woman is injured, then a decoction of pine needles can be used to treat the wounds locally. Such methods of treatment during pregnancy are allowed.
Pillow with pine needles
Pine needles gradually evaporate volatile compounds of essential oils. Distributed in the air, they destroy pathogenic microbes and viruses. Penetrating into the respiratory tract, ethers relieve shortness of breath and facilitate the release of sputum. In addition, pine needles create a sedative effect - calm the nerves and provide sound sleep.
The action of the pine pillow, which provides preventive protection against respiratory infections and neuroses, is based on these properties. To create the product, you need to collect pine spruce branches and dry them on paper until the needles fall off.
The pillowcase base should be equipped with a zipper so that the pine filling can be replaced regularly. The pine needles are placed loosely inside, otherwise the product will turn out to be thorny. Every 2 weeks the pillow needs to be filled with fresh raw materials.
We advise you to read: Aloe - medicinal properties and contraindications
Treatment recipes
The components included in the needles will help not only prevent diseases, but also treat them. You should know how to brew pine needles and infuse them. Recipes:
- Oncology. Mix (chopped) 6 tbsp. l. pine needles, 3 tbsp. l. rose hips and onion peels. Pour 1 liter of water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for 7 minutes. Leave for 3 hours, strain, drink a glass 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 3 months. Pine needles, rose hips and onion peels help stop the growth of cancer cells in oncology.
- Cough, cold. 100 g of needles, 50 g of chopped lemon, ginger. Pour 1 liter of boiling water over the mixture, bring to a boil, but do not boil - immediately remove from heat. Leave until completely cool, strain, add 1 tbsp. l. honey (if you are not allergic to bee products). Drink 0.5 cups of pine needle tea 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 10 days. This recipe can be used for both dry and wet coughs.
- High blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease. Pour 200g of chopped freshly collected needles into a three-liter container. Pour in 2.5 liters of vodka and close the lid tightly. Infuse the tincture of pine needles in a dark place for 2 weeks, shaking daily. After 14 days, strain. Take 1 tsp after meals. 3 times a day, mixing the product with half a glass of water or tea. The course of treatment is 5 months. The same recipe can be used as a diuretic. Only 100 ml of rosehip decoction should be added to the decoction of husks and pine needles. In this case, you need to take it 2 times a day.
- Diabetes. 3 tbsp. l. Pour 400 ml of boiling water over the pine needles, place in a water bath and boil for 10 minutes. Leave for 2 hours, strain. Add lemon juice (2 tbsp). Take 100 ml 3 times a day for 3 months.
- Iron-deficiency anemia. Mix 100 g of needles with boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain and add 50 g of lemon, apple, beet and carrot juice. Divide the resulting mixture into three doses over 1 day. Prepare the ingredients every day. The course of treatment is 2 months.
- Prostatitis. Regular sitz baths made from pine needles will help not only relieve the unpleasant symptoms of prostatitis, but also stop the inflammatory process in the prostate gland. Boil 300 g of pine needles and 1.5 liters of water in a water bath for 10 minutes, leave for 1 hour and pour into a deep basin. Do not dilute with water. The bath should be warm, but not hot! The amount of decoction in the basin should be such that the buttocks are covered. Bath time 15 minutes. The course of treatment is 1 month.
- CNS disorders. For central nervous system disorders, as well as for constant stress and insomnia, you should take a warm bath with a decoction of pine needles every day before bed. The amount of decoction is 7-8 l. You will need 200 g of needles per 1 liter of water.
- Antifungal ointment. Mix 50 g of chopped pine needles and 50 g of butter in a fireproof container. Cover the container with foil and place it in the oven (preheated to +800). After 1 hour, take out the composition. Pass the ointment through several layers of gauze in order to filter out all the needles. Apply the product to areas damaged by fungus 2-3 times a day. You can secure the gauze with ointment with a band-aid and leave it overnight.
- Varicose veins. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over pine needles (50 g) crushed in a blender, stir until the consistency of mush. Apply the composition to gauze and cover varicose veins for 15-20 minutes 3 times a day.
- For teeth. You can make a kind of toothbrush from pine needles. To do this, you need to pour boiling water over 20 g of needles; there is no need to grind them. After 30 minutes, take and chew the needles for 2 minutes. It disinfects the oral cavity and gives a feeling of natural freshness.
- Mask for the face. Take 50 g of chopped pine needles, pour in 150 mg of milk. Bring to a boil and turn off immediately. Strain and apply to face. Keep the mask on for 20 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. It refreshes the face, smoothes out fine wrinkles, and promotes skin rejuvenation.
Benefits of pine needle decoction
Pine needles are a source of a large number of chemical compounds that “supply” vitamins, macro- and microelements to the body. The composition of needles includes the following substances:
- ascorbic acid;
- vitamins A, P, PP, K, H, E and group B;
- turpentine;
- carotene;
- simple proteins;
- volatile substances that inhibit the development of pathogenic bacteria;
- starch;
- resins;
- oleic, benzoic, stearic acids;
- tanning compounds;
- Fe;
- Mn;
- Cu.
Many people are interested in what pine needles help with. The product has the following therapeutic effect:
- promotes the separation of mucus from the bronchi during colds, which are accompanied by a wet cough;
- stops the inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract;
- promotes the secretion of bile and urine;
- kills pathogenic bacteria;
- strengthens the immune system;
- reduces blood pressure (BP);
- relieves pain;
- has a beneficial effect on cardiac function and vascular condition;
- calms and eliminates neurosis;
- cleanses the blood;
- improves the condition of the skin;
- rejuvenates;
- removes toxic substances from the body;
- promotes wound healing;
- helps against cancer;
- has a beneficial effect on female organs.
In folk medicine, spruce needles are used in the treatment of cancer. The drink is made according to the following algorithm:
- Wash 50 g of fresh pine needles well and chop finely.
- Pour the raw material with 2 glasses of water and place the container on a heated stove.
- Boil and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Remove the container from the heat and cover with a lid. Leave to brew for 2 hours, filter, sweeten with honey or sugar.
If you have oncology, you need to drink this tea 0.5 cups 4 times a day. The therapeutic course is 4 months, then a break is taken for 30 days.
Drinking from pine needles reduces acidity and eliminates the burning sensation in the chest. The drink is brewed according to this recipe:
- Cut 2 tbsp. l. raw materials.
- Pour the needles into a glass of hot water.
- Leave the container on the table.
- Pass the cooled liquid through cheesecloth.
To eliminate painful sensations in the stomach and esophagus, drink 200 ml 2-3 times a day. When the pain disappears, stop taking it.
A fortified drink high in vitamin A is good for the eyes. The medicinal decoction is prepared according to the following algorithm:
- In a ladle, combine 5 tbsp. l. ground pine needles and a liter of boiling water, put in a steam bath and leave there for 30 minutes.
- Remove the ladle from the heat, let it sit for 10-12 hours, pass the contents through cheesecloth.
To increase visual acuity, take 1 tbsp of liquid. l. after eating food four times a day. The course of therapy is 5-6 days, then the same break is taken, after which the treatment is resumed.