Pine buds - use in folk medicine

Friends, today I want to present an article written by my friend Yulia, she works as a nurse in a clinic. We don’t see each other often, since she lives in another city, but no one has canceled the means of communication.

Having talked about the fact that it would soon be time to collect the kidneys, I asked. What you can cook from them and how to use them for yourself. I learned so many interesting things, you can cook them with alcohol, make jam from pine cones and brew them.

Although my mother collects them every year and brews pine buds for coughs. But I asked my friend to write an article, after all, they are a doctor and know more. And this is the material Yulia sent me, I’m happy to share it with you.

Scots pine is a common tree from the Pinaceae family. It grows wild in Eurasia. Needles, cones and resin are widely used in medicine, not only for the preparation of folk remedies.

For example, the oil is found in anti-inflammatory drugs and antispasmodics, and the resin is used in the production of plasters.

Pine buds are also endowed with medicinal properties. Thanks to their constituent components, they are used to treat coughs and other pathological conditions.

Composition of pine buds

The natural aromatic compound found in pine buds has the following components:

• Alpha-pinene is the main component of turpentine. Improves memory, works as an antibiotic against staphylococcus and a number of other bacteria, relieves bronchospasm, and relieves inflammation.
• Limonene is a hydrocarbon that can be used as an antibiotic, antidepressant and immunomodulator. There is evidence that the substance has carcinogenic properties.
• Borneol is a precursor to camphor, but is not toxic. It has a general tonic, antidepressant effect, improves blood circulation, stimulates cardiac activity and digestion, and is suitable for treating coughs during colds and bronchitis. Local use for rheumatism is allowed.
• Bornyl acetate is an ester with a pine-camphor odor. It is used in pharmaceuticals for the production of cholinergic drugs, which are widely prescribed by neurologists for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system.

Tannins are determined in pine buds. They have an astringent taste, help cope with intestinal disorders, and have a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect.

Resinous substances are effective against inflammation. Pinipicrin gives a bitter taste and stimulates appetite.

Pine bud honey recipe

A product that tastes quite pleasant and is very effective in treating old coughs is honey from pine buds.

For preparation you will need:

• crushed pine buds - 1 cup;
• water – 1 liter;
• sugar – ½ kg;
• citric acid – ½ teaspoon.

Pour boiling water over the shoots. Place the container with the raw materials on low heat and cook until the water evaporates by 50%. Then the broth is drained, the kidneys are kneaded or passed through a meat grinder. Mix the gruel with sugar and boil until thickened; add citric acid at the end of cooking.

Pine buds: medicinal properties and contraindications

Herbal remedies prepared according to traditional medicine recipes can provide benefits:

• Accelerate wound healing;
• Participate in the fight against pathological processes;
• Works as an antiseptic;
• Destroy viruses and bacteria;
• Promotes the removal of mucus from the trachea and bronchi;
• Fight swelling;
• Relieves pain and spasms;
• They have a choleretic effect;
• Strengthen the effectiveness of antibacterial drugs;
• Have a calming effect on the nervous system;
• Reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

We must not forget that any remedy that is used to treat and prevent various pathologies has contraindications and can harm the body.

Pine buds are prohibited under the following conditions:

• Hypercoagulation (thick blood);
• Long-term liver and kidney diseases;
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• Hypotension;
• Individual intolerance and tendency to allergic reactions.

Attention! You need to consult your doctor to determine the dosage and course of therapy.

Medicinal properties of spruce buds

The peculiarity of fragrant raw materials is the high content of essential oils. In addition to esters, the valuable part of the tree is replete with vitamins, mineral compounds, and substances beneficial to the body. Home remedies are successfully used for the following body problems:

• decrease in the body's defenses against infections, viral diseases,
• problems with mental activity - poor memory, decreased concentration,
• non-healing burns, wounds, ulcers,
• problems with the functioning of the heart, blood vessels,
• nervous disorders, insomnia, frequent breakdowns, depression,
• failure of digestive processes, imbalance of microorganisms in the intestines,
• respiratory tract diseases accompanied by severe cough,
• kidney disease, inflammatory processes on the mucous membranes,
• dilated veins, weak vessel walls,
• diseases of the skin, accompanied by inflammation, rashes, and fungal infections.

It is recommended to use home remedies in facial care - to rejuvenate the skin, with uneven shade of the dermis, and the appearance of pigmentation.

When to collect and how to properly prepare pine buds?

The right time for collection is early spring. Buds should be removed during the swelling phase, before they begin to bloom.

During this period, the eyes are the most fragrant and resinous. Pay attention to the top of the bud. If the scales are tightly closed, the material is suitable for collection.

You need to cut off the buds with part of the stem. Usually there are several eyes on it. Afterwards the material must be dried.

To do this, pine buds are laid out on paper and left in a cool, dry place for a month.

The finished raw materials are kept in canvas or paper bags away from sunlight for no more than 2 years.

Advice! Start collecting by wearing gloves; you should throw them away later. Resin is very difficult to wash off your hands.

Plant materials can be purchased at a pharmacy. The buds are sold in packs as an expectorant antimicrobial agent. On the packaging you can find methods of use, indications and contraindications.

Collection, drying and storage of pine buds

The collection of raw materials occurs in early spring, when sap flow and swelling of the buds begins. They acquire a brown tint and a strong pine smell. The buds need to be cut off with a crown, along with part of the stem. Dry in a well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight. It is worth spreading them in a thin layer (no more than 3 cm). The drying process continues for at least two weeks. With high humidity and cool weather, the process may take longer. It is strictly forbidden to dry it in the sun, in the oven, or in a stove. The high temperature evaporates the resin, the scales open and useful raw materials turn into garbage.

Tincture of pine buds with vodka: use, for what diseases

One of the effective remedies is alcohol tincture. It is believed that vodka enhances the healing effects of essential oils. This composition can be stored for a long time and taken orally. It is also suitable for compresses and rubbing.

The tincture helps in the treatment of diseases such as bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and sore throat. The product thins mucus well, promotes its removal, and also has an antibacterial effect, increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics.

It is recommended to take the tincture up to 5 times a day, 1 tablespoon. For prevention during the cold season, you can consume it 3 times a day before the main meal.

For the treatment of the digestive system and tuberculosis, the drug is taken three times a day with a large spoon for 2 months. Before use, the composition can be diluted with water or sweet tea.

The tincture can also be used externally. To relieve pain and inflammation of joints and ligaments, you can rub problem areas or make lotions.

Compresses are considered effective for coughs. It is important to remember that they are allowed to be installed if there is no elevated temperature.

Alcohol-based products are contraindicated in patients under 18 years of age, as well as in women during pregnancy and lactation.

Recipes for folk remedies

At the moment, you can find about a dozen varieties of vodka tinctures of pine buds. Before preparing the drink and starting treatment, do not forget to consult your doctor.

Recipe No. 1. Kidney tincture for colds

Make a tincture that will relieve the symptoms of colds, flu, bronchitis and sore throats

simple enough. To prepare you will need:

• pine shoots – 150–200 g;
• vodka – 1 l.;
• honey – 300 gr.;
• lemon – 1 pc.

The buds need to be divided into two parts, one of which is filled with vodka and left for a couple of weeks in a dark room. The remaining raw materials are poured with a glass of water, lemon juice and honey are added. The drug is thoroughly stirred and also removed for infusion. After time, both components of the product are passed through a filter, combined, mixed and put in the refrigerator for a month.

As soon as the drink is ready, you can begin treatment. 1 tbsp will help reduce the symptoms of colds. l. tinctures, drunk before meals 3-5 times a day. The same remedy can be used as a natural immunomodulator.

Recipe No. 2. Medicine for gastritis, tuberculosis and hepatitis

Alcohol tincture of pine shoots has proven itself in the treatment of diseases

Gastrointestinal tract, hepatitis and tuberculosis. It's very easy to prepare. To do this, you need to take a liter jar, fill it a third with finely chopped pine buds, and add the remaining volume with alcohol or vodka. The tincture is kept in a warm, dark place for a week (it needs to be shaken periodically).

The finished drink is consumed 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day. Good results are observed with a course of treatment. The duration of one course cannot exceed 1.5–2 months. After this, you should take a break for at least 3-5 weeks.

Recipe No. 3. Treatment of osteochondrosis

A tincture of pine buds with honey will help get rid of joint pain, reduce

symptoms of osteochondrosis, restore ease of movement. To prepare the product, you need to thoroughly chop the pine shoots (you can grind them through a meat grinder), put them in a jar and add a glass of sugar or flower honey. The mass is thoroughly mixed and left for several weeks in a cool room.

How to prepare a tincture of pine buds using vodka and alcohol?

There are several options for making medicine with alcohol.

Here are the most famous and effective:

1. Fill a liter jar to the top with buds and add good vodka or diluted alcohol. Seal tightly and keep for at least 2 weeks in a dark place. At the end of the period, strain.
2. Divide 150 g of raw materials into 2 parts. One half is filled with a bottle of vodka and infused for 2 weeks. The second is mixed with the juice of one lemon and a glass of liquid honey, filled with water, and infused for 2 weeks. At the end of the period, both compositions must be filtered and combined in an airtight container, refrigerated for 4 weeks.
3. Pour 80 g of pine buds into a glass of pure alcohol. Leave in a dark place for 10 days.

Alcohol tinctures are used not only to treat coughs. The product normalizes blood circulation, improves the condition of the heart and blood vessels, and promotes rapid rehabilitation after a stroke. Benefits are also observed in the treatment of cystitis.

The use of pine buds in folk medicine

When preparing medicinal products from ephedra buds, one of the main tasks is the correct preparation of raw materials.

The aroma of which makes breathing easier, invigorates and gives a feeling of lightness

Procurement of raw materials

It is recommended to collect shoot buds in the spring, since it is at this time of year that the buds are richest in nutrients. You need to trim light brown, not yet opened buds, the scales of which are pressed as closely as possible to each other. It is best to use sharp scissors for pruning to minimize the risk of damaging the tree.

It is better to assemble the product with rubber gloves to avoid getting the resin on your hands.

The collected raw materials can be prepared for future use. To do this, the rudiments are spread in a thin layer on parchment paper and dried in a dark, well-ventilated room. You can store the dried product in paper bags or boxes. Pine buds can also be purchased at the pharmacy.

Decoction

The decoction is prepared from 1 tbsp. spoons of fruit and 2 tbsp. water. The raw materials are filled with water and boiled over low heat for no more than 1 minute. You can infuse the liquid in a thermos or any other tightly closed container.

Decoction for use and inhalation for coughs

Infusion time is 30 minutes. After straining, the decoction can be used for its intended purpose.

The decoction is taken orally for bronchitis, pneumonia and ARVI, as well as for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The decoction can be used to gargle for inflammation, treat the skin for irritation, and use for inhalation when coughing. In addition, the decoction acts as a general tonic and helps improve immunity.

For a dry cough or sore throat, you can use milk instead of water.

Tincture

The tincture is made from crushed buds and vodka/alcohol in a ratio of 1:10. The raw materials are filled with vodka, tightly closed with a lid and left to stand in a warm and dark room for 7 to 14 days. The tincture must be shaken daily. Like a decoction, the tincture is filtered after settling.

The tincture is used as a mucus-thinning agent for colds and inflammatory respiratory diseases. In addition, the tincture can be used to make compresses for bruises, sprains and muscle pain.

The tincture is also used for rubbing and compresses.

Infusion

To prepare the infusion you will need the same amount of ingredients as for preparing the decoction. But if the decoction is infused for 30 minutes, then the infusion must be kept in a tightly closed container for 120 minutes. After 2 hours, the infusion must be filtered.

The infusion has an antipyretic, expectorant, bile and diuretic effect, due to which it is used for ARVI, cough, bile stagnation and inflammation of the bladder or urinary tract.

You can also use the infusion to treat open wounds and make compresses.

Honey

To prepare honey, you need to use only freshly collected rudiments.

Ingredients:

• kidneys - 0.5 kg;
• water – 3 l;
• sugar – 1.5 kg;
• lemon – 1 pc.

The rudiments are thoroughly washed, cleared of scales, 2 liters of water are poured in and placed on moderate heat. Cook the resulting mixture until its volume is reduced by half. Next, the broth is poured into a previously prepared container, and the kidneys are crushed in a meat grinder or blender and 1 liter of water is poured. The second portion of the mixture is also boiled until the volume is reduced by half. The second decoction must be carefully filtered and mixed with the first.

To prepare honey, you need to use only freshly collected rudiments.

The next step in preparing honey is adding sugar and evaporating the broth to a viscous consistency. After evaporation, add the juice of 1 lemon to the honey and mix thoroughly.

Honey is taken to treat the gastrointestinal tract, cough, ARVI and metabolic disorders.

Honey is also used to prevent respiratory diseases and to increase the body’s resistance to various viruses and infections.

Infusion, decoction and tea - how to prepare?

It is more convenient to prepare the herbal infusion in a thermos. The kidneys need to be washed and dried. Pour a spoonful of raw materials into a thermos and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. Leave for a couple of hours. Filter and drink 1/3 glass three times a day half an hour after meals.

To reduce body temperature, prepare a decoction. To do this, pour a tablespoon of kidneys with hot water, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for half an hour. Strain and take 50 ml 3 times a day. If a lot of water has boiled away, you can add boiled water.

Tea can be consumed during colds to strengthen the immune system. To prepare, several shoots with buds are poured into a glass of boiling water.

After the drink has cooled, take it one tablespoon 3 times a day.

How to cook

Herbal medicine uses water and alcohol infusions, as well as decoction and tea based on pine buds. Jam and so-called pine honey, as well as syrup from young pine shoots, are useful in their own way.

Infusion

An aqueous infusion of pine buds is an excellent mucolytic and expectorant that can be used to treat cough in children and adults.

It is prepared as follows: 0.5 tablespoon of young shoots is thoroughly washed and poured with 500 grams of boiling water. You can put everything in a thermos or wrap it and let it sit for 3 hours and then drain. The drug is taken 60 g 1 hour after meals, three times a day.

Alcohol tincture

Using this herbal remedy, you can treat not only coughs, but also inflammation of muscle fibers, as well as diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis, etc.).

To prepare an alcohol tincture at home, you need to pour 80 g of fresh, washed and dried buds with 1 glass of alcohol or high-quality vodka, shake, cork and leave in a dark, cool place for 1.5 - 2 weeks. Then the liquid is drained, stored in the refrigerator, taken 3 times a day, 40 drops, 1 hour after meals.

Pine bud tea

Tasty and aromatic pine tea saturates the body with vitamins and minerals, and is also useful for the prevention of colds and viral diseases, and for general strengthening of the body.

Making the drink is quite simple:

You will need 10 g of shoots, pour 200 g of boiling water, let the mixture cool to room temperature, then add honey to taste. This tea is taken 100 grams twice a day.

Pine bud jam

This original remedy is used to treat prolonged cough, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. The medicinal drug is prepared from 0.5 cups of fresh kidneys and 1.5 cups of sugar.

Young shoots are sorted, removing debris, washed in cold water, poured into enamel dishes and filled with 1 glass of water. Cook over low heat for 20 minutes, remove from heat and leave for a day.

Then the broth is drained, the kidneys are poured with a glass of clean water and brought to a boil. Pour in sugar and cook for 1.5 hours over low heat, stirring and removing foam.

Use 1-2 tbsp of jam. l. three times a day with hot tea. Suitable for long-term use as a means of enhancing immunity.

The second cooking method is much faster. To do this, you will need 0.5 kg of fresh spring buds, wash them twice, place them in enamel dishes and fill them with 2 glasses of water.

The container is placed on the stove and boiled for half an hour over low heat, then the water is drained. Prepare the syrup separately - pour 1 kg of sugar into a deep frying pan, add 0.5 liters of water and cook, stirring, until a thick clear liquid forms.

Boiled kidneys are placed in sugar syrup, and the mixture is boiled for 10 minutes. Then remove the jam from the fire, pour it into sterile jars and roll up the lids. Use at any time as a regular dessert, as well as for colds and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.

How to use pine buds for coughs - preparation method

What recipes are recommended for the treatment of cough in viral and infectious diseases:

1. Milk decoction. Pour a large spoonful of clean kidneys into a glass of milk. Place on the stove, bring to a boil. Cool the drink at room temperature, filter through cheesecloth. For a debilitating cough, take ¼ cup 3 times a day. It is possible more often, but you must first obtain permission from your therapist. Can be taken for tuberculosis.
2. Pour 2 tablespoons of raw material into 0.5 liters of hot water and place in a water bath. After half an hour, remove the mixture, cool, and strain. For bronchitis, drink half a glass 3 times a day. To treat a cough due to a common cold or sore throat, you can add honey to the drink if you are not allergic.
3. An alcohol tincture with honey and lemon (the recipe is above) relieves inflammatory processes and has an antimicrobial and mucolytic effect. Take the product 15 drops 3 times a day, after diluting it in warm water or tea.
4. Pour a glass of well-washed buds with a liter of boiling water and place on the stove. Simmer over low heat until half the liquid has evaporated. Drain the water and mash the kidneys thoroughly. Add 500 g of sugar and return to heat. When the mixture thickens, add ½ teaspoon of lemon, stir and remove from heat. This syrup helps get rid of old coughs.
5. Take ½ cup of pine buds and a glass of water. Keep on low heat for half an hour. Afterwards, leave the broth to infuse. After 24 hours, drain the liquid, add clean water and put it back on the stove. When the mixture boils, add 1.5 cups of sugar and cook for 90 minutes. Jam is added in small quantities to drinks. The product helps treat coughs due to pneumonia, whooping cough, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, and chronic bronchitis.
6. Pour 2 tablespoons of raw material with liquid honey and leave for 2 weeks. The composition needs to be shaken periodically. Can be consumed in its pure form, 1 spoon three times a day. Can be used instead of sugar. The product is effective for treating coughs and colds, as well as for their prevention.
7. Place equal parts of pine buds, plantain and coltsfoot in a thermos and steam in boiling water. Leave for 3 hours. Cool the infusion and heat it again in a water bath. Cool, filter through cheesecloth. Take ¼ cup up to 3 times a day. Duration of treatment is a week.
8. Pour boiling water over a spoonful of raw materials and leave for half an hour in a thermos. Take the product diluted with water. Can be used to gargle.

Decoctions are suitable for inhalation. Pour 3 tablespoons of raw material into a liter of clean water, put on fire, wait until it boils. Simmer for 30 minutes. Take a container with the broth, cover with a blanket and breathe in the steam for no more than 15 minutes. After the procedure, sore throat decreases, breathing becomes easier, and a runny nose disappears.

Important! Inhalation of steam is permitted only at normal body temperature. At high temperatures, this cannot be done.

Recipes

When treating with pine buds, various forms of medicine are used: tincture, decoction, tea.

Infusion

The infusion is not difficult to prepare. A tablespoon of kidneys should be ground and poured with a glass of boiling water. The resulting product is cooled and filtered. Drink the medicine 2-3 sips throughout the day. If desired, you can drink it with honey. This tea is very useful for colds, it relieves headaches and fever, and relieves inflammation.

To cure severe coughs in children and adults, you can prepare a milk infusion. For this, 2 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with 500 ml of boiling milk. After cooling a little and straining the infusion, add a couple of tablespoons of honey to the warm mixture and mix thoroughly. The folk remedy for cough is ready.

Decoction

A decoction of pine buds is used internally and externally. It is drunk for inflammatory diseases, to increase immunity and generally strengthen the body. It helps with liver diseases, rheumatism and dropsy. Baths using a decoction help with osteochondrosis.

To prepare the decoction you will need 1.5 liters of water and 2 tsp. dry raw materials. The crushed raw materials are placed in a container, filled with water and boiled under the lid for 30 minutes. The broth is allowed to brew for 2 hours and filtered. Drink before meals 4 times a day.

The decoction is excellent for colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia. With proper treatment, cough and runny nose go away quickly. It’s not for nothing that pine buds are included in many breast milk recipes. If you rinse your mouth with the product, you can cure gum disease and other diseases of the oral area.

This folk remedy has a bitter taste, so children often refuse to drink it. Therefore, honey or sugar is added to the broth to taste. Treatment of children with self-prepared drugs is possible only after the approval of a doctor.

Inhalations

For throat diseases and coughs, inhalations using preparations based on pine buds help well. The solution for the procedure is prepared as follows: 50 g of raw material is poured into a liter of water and boiled over low heat for 10 minutes. Breathe over the pan for 15 minutes, covered with a towel.

Tincture

A tincture of pine buds is prepared with vodka or alcohol diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. Dry buds (10 pieces) are infused in 500 ml of liquid for 7 days, regularly shaking the contents of the container. The finished medicine is filtered and drunk one tablespoon before each meal.

A course of taking the tincture gives a good effect. Each course lasts up to 45 days, the break between courses is a month. Rubbing with alcohol tincture is a safe and effective way to treat osteochondrosis.

Alcohol tincture is effective in treating the consequences of stroke and heart attack. It can also be used as a prevention of these diseases.

The tincture can be prepared without alcohol. For this preparation, take 10 g of dry pine buds. They are poured with 0.2 liters of boiling water and left for 5 hours. The medicine should be taken one tablespoon before meals three times a day. Treatment continues for a month.

Syrup

Pine bud syrup is prepared using a tincture without alcohol. Add 300 g of honey to 2 glasses of the finished tincture. The resulting mixture is placed on fire and boiled until a viscous consistency is formed. Dosage for adults – 1 tbsp. l. before meals, for children - half a tablespoon. This home remedy not only treats colds and inflammation, but also saturates the body with useful substances.

What are the benefits of pine buds for women?

There is information that treatment with pine buds helps restore the menstrual cycle, and also alleviates the symptoms of menopause - migraines, nervousness, anxiety.

Instructions for the treatment of female infertility:

• Steam 30 g of kidneys in 0.5 liters of hot water;
• Leave for a couple of hours;
• Add 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey;
• Keep on the stove until the mixture thickens;
• Take 5 spoons per day for two weeks.

Women who want to lose weight are recommended to eat a few pieces of kidneys before meals. This will help reduce your appetite and fill you with nutrients.

Infusions from the eyes are used to get rid of acne. You can wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in the composition, or you can add the product to creams, scrubs, and lotions. Pine also improves the appearance of the skin and the condition of the hair.

Can pine buds be used for children?

It is not recommended to give herbal products to children under one year of age. Some pediatricians allow the use of medicinal compositions for compresses and rubbing for colds. The use of alcohol tinctures is absolutely contraindicated.

After a year, you can give not very concentrated infusions and herbal decoctions, add a sugar mixture or jam from pine buds to tea.

Honey can be used with caution if the child is not prone to allergies. It is better after consulting a doctor.

The unique properties of pine buds have been known for a long time. To achieve maximum effect from treatment, you need to properly collect raw materials.

But you can take such drugs only with the permission of a doctor. After all, the wrong dosage can cause nausea, dizziness and an allergic reaction.

Useful and medicinal properties of pine shoots

The benefits of pine buds for the human body are due to their following properties and functions:

• wound healing;
• anti-inflammatory;
• diaphoretic;
• disinfects the skin and mucous membrane;
• antiviral and antibacterial;
• stimulating mucus removal;
• diuretic and decongestant;
• choleretic;
• antispasmodic;
• painkiller;
• immunostimulating;
• disinfectant;
• adaptogenic;
• the ability to enhance the effect of chemicals, such as antibiotics.

To combat diseases, various forms of medicines prepared from pine shoots are used - infusions, tinctures, teas, oils, mixtures, powders. Kidney jam is no less useful.