Pinaceae Herbal Monograph
By Amanda Rose Klenner, CCH
Originally Published in Natural Herbal Living Magazine’s Pine issue Jan 2015
Pinus spp. (including: P. edulis, P. ponderosa, P. aristata, P. strobus, P. contorta, P. strobus, P. sylvestris)
Common Name: Pine
Parts Used: needles, seeds, bark, resin, pollen, roots
Needle Constituents (percentages vary by species): leucocyanidin, neoabietinic acid, pinosylvin monomethyl ester, strobic acid, antioxidants, volatile oils including α-terpineol (30.2%), linalool (24.47%), limonene (17.01%), anethole (14.57%), caryophyllene (3.14%), and eugenol (2.14%)
Bark Constituents (percentages vary by species): abietic acid, cis-abienol, leucocyanidin, neoabietinic acid, pinosylvin, monomethyl ester, strobic acid, volatile oils
Resin Constituents (percentages vary by species): abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, elliotic acid, isopimaric acid, levopimaric acid, palustric acid, pimaric acid, andaracopimaric acid, strobinic acid, volatile oils
Pollen Constituents (percentages vary by species): amino acids, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, inositol, folic acid
Needle Nutritional Profile (percentages vary by species): antioxidants, vitamins A and C
Pollen Nutritional Profile (most pines have a similar profile but P. montana, P. sylvestris, and P. nigra have been most tested): Vitamins B1, B2, B6, E, C, D2, D3, A, nicotinamide, folic acid, B-carotin, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosporrus, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and selenium
Nut Nutritional Profile (P. sibirica, P. koraiensis, P. monophylla and P. edulis have larger nuts that are easier to harvest)(percentages vary by species): 100g of dry pine nuts averages 673 calories. Rich in mono-unsaturated acids like oleic acid, pinolenic acid, vitamin E, and B vitamins such as thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, and folates. They also contain manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.1
Actions: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-catarrhal, nutritive (nuts, pollen, and needle), androgenic (pollen), antimicrobial, warming, astringent, purgative (boiled bark), immunomodulatory, carminative, diuretic, insecticidal, lymphatic
Pine and People
There are days when I feel like just running away. I think everyone has these days, days when you feel drawn somewhere else. Somewhere with peace and sanity, where the perfect beauty of the wind blows through the trees, water trickles through the creek, and the sweet resinous scent of pine hangs in the air. On these days, I pack up the kids with a little lunch, jump in the van and drive to my favorite place at the base of the Rocky Mountains where I am surrounded by ponderosa pine, bird songs, and the peace of the forest. Here I breathe deep, exhale, and smile. The scent of the pine forest is immediately uplifting and puts me at ease, washing away the stress of the day.
The concept of forest bathing is a new one developed for city dwellers in today’s fast-paced world. It’s a term used to describe going into the woods, unplugging, and breathing deeply. This helps people overcome their “nature deficit disorder” and has been reported to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and improve mood.
In Japan, a small study was conducted which demonstrated forest bathing’s ability to enhance natural killer T-cell production in the body. After 6 hours in the forest over the course of two days, every single participant’s natural T-cell activity was increased by 50%. (2)
This potent immunomodulating activity occurred as a result of simply spending time in a coniferous forest—not even working with the herb topically or internally!
About Pinus spp.
Pinus is a beautiful genus of coniferous evergreen trees with over 144 species. The fossil record indicates that coniferous trees have been around for over 200 million years (3). They now make up about 1% of the plant population of the earth, and most regions in thenorthern hemisphere have their own species. Here in Colorado, we have piñon (P. edulis), ponderosa (P. ponderosa), lodge pole pine (P. contorta), and bristle cone pine (P. aristata) (4). We also see a lot of eastern white pine (P. strobus) as a landscaping plant.
Pines are closely related to cedars, junipers, and firs, which are also conifers, but with their needles arranged differently. Pinus needles are round, not flat, and in bundles of two or more (depending on the specific species) wrapped in a paper-like sheath at the base of each needle cluster.
The needles vary in size but tend to be longer than those on spruce or fir trees. Pine cones are woody and brittle. They stand upright from the branch instead of dangling down. Pines can be found growing all over the world, in a variety of climates and elevations.
There are many distinctions in the different species of pine, but the most important for this monograph is the difference between hardwood and softwood pine. Softwood pines tend to have needles in groups of five attached to twigs radiating off of a central branch.
Hardwood pines have needles in groups of two or three per twig. Soft pine needles contain less pitch and turpentine, and are generally better tasting. To me, they taste like a lemony forest! I find the harder pines taste more like something I should clean my floor with, not drink.
Thankfully, all pines are safe to consume (some in smaller doses than others), and they have no poisonous look-alikes (as long as you use the ID I share above), so I suggest getting a good plant ID book or two and getting acquainted. Use the Internet to find out the Pinus species near you and perhaps its medicinal uses.
Because pines are evergreen trees, the middle of winter is the perfect time to go hiking through the forest to find them. They’ll have green needles this time of year, while all the other trees will be dormant. As I mentioned earlier, pine needles are extremely high in vitamin A and C, which makes it a wonderful winter medicine. Just harvest a small cluster of pine needles, cut them up, and steep them for 5-10 minutes in hot water to enjoy this nourishing winter remedy. Some sources say that Indigenous Americans showed the Europeans how to fight off scurvy by enjoying a pine needle infusion just like this.
The Iroquois nation made a pact of peace with other tribes under the white pine tree, burying their weapons under it, as instructed by The Great Peacemaker (a Native American leader and prophet of sorts). The five needle clusters of the white pine symbolized the five tribes in the Iroquois nation.
Pine Medicine
Pine is such a generous herbal ally—it shares its medicine from almost every part of itself.
Pine Needles
Pine needles can be harvested year-round as needed to be enjoyed as a tea, but my favorite time to harvest is in the spring, because I especially love the new growth at the terminal ends of the branches. These fresh needles are tender, a lighter color than the older needles, and when lightly steamed, they make an amazing nutritious addition to meals. They are delectable when infused in butter, tossed into a salad or pasta, or used like rosemary to season light meats such as poultry and fish. Not only are they delicious and nutritious but, being carminative, they also help to encourage healthy digestion.
In a tincture (fresh needles 1:5 in 80-95% alcohol), pine is a perfect aromatic bitter to add to bitter mixes for people with stagnant, wet digestion paired with depression. I only use about 2-5% of pine needle tincture in the bitters blend, but have found it to have such a dramatic dispersive effect on the digestive system that it comes with an almost immediate uplifting effect. I would guess this is because of the aromatic nature of the plant.
I have actually found it to be so effective that I only have to include pine in the first round of bitters. When the client comes back for more, I can usually move them to a formula without pine, and they continue feeling much better than before.
Pine needles, bark, and resin are all useful expectorants. The needles can be infused in hot water, the bark decocted, and the resin just chewed on. The needles are the mildest expectorant, and the resin is the strongest, the latter inducing productive coughs and softening bronchial mucous (5,6,7).
Pine Bark
Like the needles, pine bark is extremely high in antioxidants and vitamin C, and it’s easier to store for long periods of time. It has recently been studied for its effects against cancer, heart disease, blood clotting disorders, varicose veins and more (5,8). Although many of these studies test pine bark extract, the decocted bark should still be sufficient to benefit one’s health.
Pine Resin
Pine resin is a viscous substance that pine and other coniferous trees produce when they have a major wound. This sticky goo is exuded to protect the tree from foreign invaders that could further damage it, like insects, bacteria, and fungi. As the resin ages and the weather cools, it becomes firm, trapping possible invaders in its oozy path.
Resin is not sap, but a different substance that functions as the tree’s immune system. It’s like those killer T-cells I mentioned earlier, going out and protecting the body from foreign invaders (6).
Because resin is so important to the health of the tree, we need to be conscious when harvesting it. Never harvest resin directly from a tree’s wound. It will drip down the side of the pine and onto the ground. Feel free to harvest that resin on the ground, but leave the tree’s scab alone so that it might stay healthy and heal.
Now that we know what the pine resin does for the tree, what kind of medicine do you think it holds for us?
Its antimicrobial nature makes it a potent antibacterial and antifungal. A small amount of resin tincture (1:5 ratio in 95% alcohol) is effective against both respiratory and digestive infections. Use the tincture with caution, though, because resins in the digestive system can be very harsh!
Topically, pine resin is helpful for all sorts of aches and pains. I include piñon pine in my warming salve to help enhance circulation and ease pain associated with cold, damp, stagnant conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. It also stars heavily in my Trauma Salve, which is used for all sorts of scrapes, bumps, bruises, and broken bits.
Pine resin’s anti-infective nature also makes it an appropriate and unique addition to a salve used for scratches, scrapes, and other surface wounds. In fact, I have found that even just warming up a piece of resin and putting it on a deep splinter or abscess will bring heat to the area, encourage swelling (a natural immune system response to bring white blood cells to the area), and pull the splinter or abscess right out over about 24 to 48 hours. This is a useful technique to know if you’re ever out in the woods and in need of first aid (6,7).
Pine Resin is also a fantastic addition to first aide salves. I use it as an anti-inflammatory, vulnerary, anti-spasmodic, and it makes its way into both of my body pain salves, one is for chronic pain, while the other is for acute pain.
It is burnt as an incense or spiritual smoke to help connect to the divine, and the divine in one’s self. The spirit medicine of the smoke is used in many cultures throughout the world for spiritual cleansing, protection, and connection. The smoke is also anti-microbial and supportive for respiratory conditions.
Amber
Amber, or succinum, is fossilized pine resin from millions of years ago. It is an herb, fossil, rock, and gem all in one. As an herb, it’s used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and its Chinese name is Hu Po, which translates to “tiger soul.” In TCM, succinum is considered a heavy and settling sedative with several specific indications: subduing fright, tranquilizing the mind, and relieving convulsions (it’s even used in children’s epilepsy formulas), alleviating water retention, promoting urination, promoting blood circulation, and removing stagnation, plus it’s a qi blood tonic (9).
Interestingly, some people wear amber necklaces to relieve pain. Babies are given amber necklaces to relieve teething pain, but adults can wear them to relieve local pain as well. The theory is that the oil is released from the amber slowly and works as a topical analgesic. Many mothers say amber necklaces work, and some say they don’t. For my children, Baltic amber necklaces sure did seem to help with teething pain, but I have no studies to back up my observations. As a substance that is supposed to “anchor, settle and calm the spirit (10)” perhaps it works on an energetic level as well as a biochemical one.
In a class I took with Kiki Geary, a TCM doctor, she discussed the health benefits of burning amber as an incense. Amber is associated with the wood element, which aligns with the inside of the spinal cord, the chakras, and the internal organs (11).
A pine tree has to have a deep and dramatic wound to exude resin, and as the resin seeps from the tree, it picks up debris. This debris is held in the resin, fossilized over millions of years, and held tight. That’s how amber is formed. It is like a tiger (a symbol of qi or life force) stuck in a cage pacing back and forth, back and forth, waiting to escape. By crushing the amber and allowing it to burn, we release the tiger within. Think of that as a metaphor for all that traumatic debris caught in our deepest and darkest places! By releasing our tiger, we break open our soul, our ability to create, and it helps us grow on our central spiritual axis toward the heavens.
When using amber as an incense, it can cause deep, buried psychological stuff to come to the surface; and it has the ability to release painful memories and trauma, so amber should only be used by those who are able to work through their buried and crystalized damage, and are ready to move to the next level of emotional and spiritual healing.
Pine Pollen
Pine pollen is another preparation used in TCM. It’s also used in Korea as a whole-body tonic, and as a food that increases vitality. It comes from the catkins or male reproductive organs of the pine tree. Every spring to early summer, pines will produce massive amounts of pollen that are spread throughout the area. You know that yellow dust on your car every June? That’s pine pollen!
In his book, Pine Pollen: Ancient Medicine for a New Millennium, Stephen Buhner discusses this beautiful substance in depth. (I highly encourage reading this book.)
The book distinguishes between including pine pollen sprinkled on food, where the health benefits are that of a tonic, nutritive, adaptogen, antioxidant, immune and endocrine troporestoritive, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antitumor, anticholesteremic, and hepatotonic; versus consuming a liquid extract made 1:5 in 95% alcohol, which is used primarily by men after andropause to increase testosterone levels in the blood. He is careful to clarify that pine pollen, as a daily additive to food, is a wonderful overall tonic for anybody, but the tincture should only be used by men trying to increase testosterone levels. He also states that pine pollen tincture is in no way useful to young men who want to increase muscle mass. It isn’t a steroid, he reminds readers, but a useful hormone balancer for older men (12).
As an additional side note (added by Amanda Rose in October 2023), I have been taking a supplement containing pine pollen (along with 3 other Sweedish plant pollens), to help mitigate the significant hot flashes and night sweats I have been having after surgically induced menopause. The pine pollen supplement has SIGNIFICANTLY benefitted my hot flash and menopause symptoms, and has also helped balance my mood. For women in menopause, pine pollen capsules may be helpful for hot flash symptoms. Unsurprisingly, the data on use in Women is not well researched yet, but a few references will be included in the reference section.
Pine Nuts
Pine nuts are delicious and nutritious, containing vitamins B1, B2, B6, E, C, D2, D3, A, nicotinamide, folic acid, B-carotin, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and selenium (1).
These seeds (not actually a nut) are hearty and full of essential fatty acids. Squirrels eat pine nuts during the cold winter months to stay fed and healthy. Humans depleted in fat-soluble vitamins and nutrition can use them similarly (6). Pine nuts are great in pesto or in trail mix as an alternative for those with nut allergies or for kids who attend a nut-free school.
Cautions
The volatile oils in pine needles and bark mean that pine can be hard on the kidneys when taken over long periods of time.
Pine bark decoction taken in large quantities has been used as a purgative, so use it sparingly.
Pine resin and amber can be very hard on the digestive tract when taken internally without a balanced formula.
Use with caution and refer to TCM formulas containing Hu Po to see how they balanced that side effect. Some people are allergic to pine pollen and nuts, but this is rare.
Neither safety nor harm has been established in pregnancy or breastfeeding, although the pollen and nuts are both used frequently as food for women and men alike in China and Korea, so as a food, it is presumed safe.
Conclusion
I hope my overview of pine will give you a new appreciation of this abundant and generous plant ally. I hope that throughout this issue, you can learn new and interesting ways to work with this beautiful tree and are encouraged to learn the species in your area.
Pack a picnic, go up into the woods, sit at the base of a tree and listen. There are many lessons this beauty has yet to teach us. All we have to do is listen, observe, and breathe.
References:
1) “Pine Nuts Nutrition Facts,” Nutrition and You. http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pine-nuts.html
2) Li Q, Morimoto K, Nakadai A, Inagaki H, Katsumata M, Shimizu T, Hirata Y, Hirata K, Suzuki H, Miyazaki Y, Kagawa T, Koyama Y, Ohira T, Takayama N, Krensky AM, Kawada T. “Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins,” International Journal of Immunopathology Pharmacology. 20 (2007). Abstract only: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17903349
3) Steven McLoughlin and Viva Vajda, “The Wollemi Pine and the Fossil Record,” Survivor! The Tree that Survived the Dinosaurs! http://www.academia.edu/1127216/The_Wollemi_Pine_and_the_fossil_record
4) “Colorado’s Major Tree Species,” (Colorado State University). http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/major-tree-species.html
5) Robert Sanders, “Pine bark extract is a potent antioxidant, and may help boost the effects of vitamin C and other antioxidants, UC Berkeley scientists report,” Public Affairs News Release, (University of California, Berkeley, 1998). http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/98legacy/02_05_98a.html
6) Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2004), 195-197.
7) David M. R. Culbreth, A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology, (Lea & Febiger, 1927).
8) Rohdewald P., “A review of the French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol), a herbal medication with a diverse clinical pharmacology,” International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 40 (2002). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11996210
9) Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., “Succinum (Amber) Use in Chinese Medicine,” Institute for Traditional Medicine (2009). http://www.itmonline.org/arts/amber.htm
10) “Chinese Herb: Hu Po (Amber), Succinum,” Sacred Lotus Chinese Medicine. http://www.sacredlotus.com/go/chinese-herbs/substance/hu-po-amber
11) Class notes from Herb Folk Gathering with Kiki Geary
12) Stephen Buhner, Pine Pollen: Ancient Medicine for a New Millennium, (SurThrival, 2012).
Other Sources:
Matthew Wood, The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants (North Atlantic Books, 2009), 269-272.
Efrayim Lev, Zohar Amar, Practical Materia Medica of the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean (BRILL, 2007), 466-468.
Green Deane, “Pining for You,” Eat the Weeds, http://www.eattheweeds.com/pines-not-just-for-breakfast-anymore-2/
White Pine for the Respiratory System. Kate Gilday, shared in a workshop at the New England Women's Herbal Conference in 2012.
Franco OH, Chowdhury R, Troup J, et al. Use of Plant-Based Therapies and Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2016;315(23):2554–2563. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8012
Nicoletta Biglia, Margherita Giorgi, Roberta Rosso, Marta D’Alonzo, Silvia Actis, Isabella Cipullo, Elisabetta Robba, Valentina Elisabetta Bounous. Purified and Specific Cytoplasmic Pollen Extract for the treatment of vasomotor menopausal symptoms: a review. Academic Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - A.O. Ordine Mauriziano, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
Panida Chamawan, Krittiya Thisayakorn , Srichan Phornchirasilp. Effects of Pine Pollen Extract in Relieving Hot Flushes in Sex Hormone-Deficienct Rats. Thai J Pharmacol; Vol. 39: No. 1, 2017.
