Scots pine
Description of Scots pine:
Pinus sylvestris L.
(Old or other familiar names: burr pine, white pine, conifer pine, resinous pine, torch pine, topaz pine, pine, pine, pine needle, common pine)
A species of the northern hemisphere, native to the northern temperate tribe of open-grown trees and the pine family. Its young buds, resin and bark are also collected. It is used both externally and internally in the manufacture of essential oils and cosmetics.
It has long been known to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been used against inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, bronchial and urinary tract organs. Antimicrobial and antiseptic, diuretic, expectorant and tonic. The syrup and decoction of the buds are used to treat respiratory diseases, influenza, bronchitis, laryngitis, cough.
Externally, it is used for arthritis, gout, rheumatic pains, asthma and inhalation, as well as baths.
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Occurrence
Part to be collected
Active substances
Properties
Collection and drying
Processing and marketing
Pines – Abietaceae
A species of the order Pines and family Pines within the genus Arboraceae.
tree 25-35 m tall (up to 50 m), with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. Its crown is domed and flared. The bark is potted, light brown, the needles are 4-6 cm long, twinned on dwarf branches, semi-cylindrical, dark green and wintergreen. The flowers are stamens, sulphur-yellow, bark-like, and the fruit is pollen.
It belongs to the same genus as the coastal and dwarf dwarf pine. It grows wild in the mountains of the Alps, but can be cultivated even in lowland areas with cold climates.
Occurrence:
In the northern temperate zone. In our country, it mainly forms forests in the north-western mountains, but is also planted elsewhere. It is usually found in the cooler climate habitats of the northern hemisphere, in mountain areas up to 2100 m altitude. Native to Europe, northern and pre-Asia, it has been introduced to the Americas. In Hungary it is also found as black pine or oak pine.
Part to be collected:
The young branch shoots, 3-5 cm long and cylindrical in shape, form the commercial product, known in the trade as turiones Pini – (Pini turio). Resinous plants can be collected all year round, either for their bark, needles or buds. Buds should be used fresh, and resin can be collected by cutting the bark cracks with a knife, but be careful not to damage the tree Young buds should be collected between March and April.
Active ingredient of Scots pine:
Essential oil, resin, monoterpenes, hydrocarbons (alpha-pinene, beta-pinene), carboxylic esters, camphene, myrcene, pinocrene, diterpenes (pimaric acids), lignans (pinoresinol), limonene, the fresh smell of pine needles is due to the essential oil containing a group of compounds called pinene. In Sweden, pine needle tea is drunk for its vitamin C content. The Hungarian Pharmacopoeia has identified the bornyl acetate content as the main essential oil component.
Properties:
Internally:
Antiseptic, antimicrobial, diuretic, expectorant and tonic. Syrup and decoction of the buds have been used against respiratory diseases, upper respiratory tract inflammation, influenza, bronchitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, cough, inflammation of the urinary organs. Its anti-inflammatory action is well known. Not recommended for respiratory diseases with spasms, as it may aggravate the condition!
For coughs, bronchitis:
add 20 g of buds to a litre of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes, strain and consume. 4-5 cups daily (especially for laryngitis).
For external use:
A decoction of needle leaves and buds for steaming is effective for arthritis, gout, rheumatic pains, asthma, physical and psychological exhaustion. When added to bath water, the decoction cleanses and perfumes the skin, and its essential oil is found in various cosmetics. Its essential oil should be used with caution and in sufficient quantity on the skin, as it can cause sensitisation.
Its terebentin content stimulates the blood circulation of the skin. Pine balsam, pine pitch or terebinthina, which is extracted from the bark of the pine tree trunk. The essential oil obtained from turpentine (terpenes) is effective against rheumatic pain. In bedridden patients, regular rubbing reduces the development of bedsores. The extract of the roots is an active ingredient in hair restoratives.
Its essential oil has also been used to treat forehead and sinusitis.
Pine inhalation for colds and flus:
add 20 g of buds to a litre of boiling water and inhale with this decoction 3-4 times a day.
For baths:
250-300 g of dried pine needle leaves should be placed in a linen or cloth bag and soaked in the bath water. Alternatively, 250-300 g of pine needles can be soaked in 2-3 litres of boiling water for at least 20 minutes and then strained and added to the warm bath water.
Collecting and drying:
The collected shoots should be dried in a shady, airy place and should not be exposed to direct sunlight during the drying period.
Processing and marketing of Scots pine:
Sprigs of Scots pine, which are the commercial product, are nowadays used less and less for medicinal purposes. However, pine is of great practical value, like other pine species, in the production of essential oils.
In addition to oleum Pini sylvestris, it is also used to produce common turpentine(oleum terebinthinae communis), pine tar(pix liquida) and pine resin(resina Pini).
In our country, before and during the war, the chemical industrial processing of the domestic pine species developed well; – after the war, however, deprived of its most valuable areas in this direction, the processing that had begun was abandoned.
Its essential oil, soaps, bath foam and bath salts are also made. Its aromatic leaves are also mixed into potpourri and the cones are used to flavour wine and beer. The resin of the pine tree gives the famous Greek wine the aroma of retsina. The pine tar is obtained by dry distillation (pyrolysis) of the pine tree.
Pine resin has been used to obtain adhesive fluid for the fixation of plasters, adhesive bandages and bandages, but also in the soap industry. The plasters may also have caused allergies (skin lesions at the application site and in the immediate vicinity). It has also been used as a welding resin.
Pine tar has been used as a dilute solution in ointments, detergents, medicinal soaps for psoriasis, some eczemas, skin oil disorders.
Turpentine oil is an industrial solvent, unsuitable for medicinal use.
Source:
Béla Páter, The wild medicinal plants
Dr. Ferenc Darvas and Dr. Gyula Magyary-Kossa,Domestic medicinal plants, their production, marketing, effects and medicinal uses
Reader’s Digest, Nature’s herb garden, ISBN:978 963 9562 01 1
Lesley Bremnes, Spices and Herbs, ISBN:963 545 041 9
Home Herb Book – Vicky Chown&Kim Walker, ISBN:978-963-433-225-72
Alexandra, Handbook of herbs, ISBN:978 963 297 946 5
Jenő Bernáth, Medicinal and aromatic plants, ISBN:963 286 258 9
Dr. István Isépy, Medicinal Plants, ISBN:963 11 6369 5
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