The Healing of the Pine Tree
The pine tree is an incredibly versatile plant, known for its numerous benefits that span both physical and spiritual realms. Its needles, which are rich in vitamin C, are used to produce tea, while traditional medicinal treatments utilize extracts from its cones and bark. Beyond its physical properties, the pine tree also possesses potent spiritual powers. It's known to offer grounding and protective energies and has been utilized by practitioners across various spiritual traditions to promote healing and abundance in their lives.
Over one hundred pine species exist worldwide, and most have recorded medicinal uses. Folk healers around the globe have used the needles, inner bark, and resin for similar ailments.
Internally, pine is a traditional remedy for coughs, colds, allergies, urinary tract and sinus infections.
Topically, pine is used to address skin infections and to lessen joint inflammation in arthritic conditions.
Remember, at Elphyne and Co., we recommend you first connect and create a relationship with your healing plants, and pine should be no exception; find a pine tree in your area and connect to its bark root and spirit before asking for any medicinal use parts to be cut or taken.
Using Pine Trees In Herbcraft:
Pine's divine associations
Pine is often linked with various deities such as Diana, Bacchus, Saturn, Attis, Cybele, and Pan. Adding pine to rituals and spells devoted to these deities can improve the power of your workings and create a stronger connection with their energies.
Pine wood is a powerful and meaningful material that has been used for centuries in herbal craft and Feng Shui. Its unique properties offer protection, purification, and a solid connection to the earth. No wonder pine wood is a top pick for crafting magical items, such as wands, talismans, and staffs.
Pine needles are a powerful symbol of energetic protection. They are thought to represent clarity, intuition and spiritual growth.
Pine needle tea — brewed by steeping needles in hot water — provides physical and mental clarity and promotes overall health and wellness. In hedgecraft, pine needles are often used in cleansing rituals and as incense to purify spaces and energy. Pine needles are also believed to attract prosperity and good luck, making them a popular ingredient in spells and charms.
Our Silver Pine tincture is a potent elixir for purifying the body and mind; use a small drop before ceremonies or rituals to cleanse the mental and energetic body or mix it with honey to purify the blood and kidneys.
Don't miss out on our unique Protect and Purify Silver Pine Tincture! Get it now!
We’ve listed a few suggestions and some great recipes below.
1. Try the pitch. The sticky delicious-smelling sap has powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Try your hand at making your own healing salve below:
Pine Resin Healing Salve
Ingredients:
¼ cup pine resin
½ cup almond or olive oil
1 oz. grated beeswax
Directions:
Heat oil in a double-boiler. As oil begins to simmer, add pine resin, and continue heating until the resin melts. Stir occasionally.
Option: Strain mixture through a cheesecloth.
Return mixture to double-boiler over low heat, and slowly stir in beeswax until melted. Pour mixture into jars or tins, and store in cool place.
You can use this salve on aching joints and sore muscles, shallow scrapes, and wounds, or on the chest for an aromatherapeutic agent.
2. Use the bark. In a survival situation, you can actually eat the bark of a pine tree. But the easiest way to reap its benefits is using pine bark extract, which is packed with powerful antioxidants, including vitamin C. The extract has been shown to lower glucose levels, improve diabetes symptoms, prevent hearing loss, restore balance, stave off infections, protect the skin from harmful UV rays, restore circulation, improve erectile dysfunction, reduce inflammation, even increase athletic performance—and the list goes on.
3. Try the needles. Also loaded with vitamin C—more than five times that of an orange—along with vitamins A, E, and a host of B vitamins, the needles are a cherished part of the pine. Pine needles have strong antimutagenic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties, which help in preventing the growth of cancer cells. Try making your own tea with the following recipe:
Sacred Pine Needle Tea
Ingredients:
½ cup young pine needles (a small handful)
3 cup spring water
1 slice of lemon (optional)
Instructions:
Bring water to a boil.
De-stem and remove the brown papery sheaths at the base of the needles.
Chop needles into ½-inch pieces, to help release essence.
Place 1 tbsp. of chopped needles into a mug and pour boiling water over top, allowing to steep for 5-10 minutes.
Squeeze lemon into tea for flavor, or use as garnish.
4. Use the nuts. The “fruit” of these sacred trees can be found in the scales or spines of the pinecone, and is known for its own set of health benefits. These include: appetite suppression, boosting energy, reducing risk of heart disease, anti-aging, and improving vision. Use the nuts in salads and other recipes, or simply enjoy them as a snack.
5. try the oil. Invigorating and cleansing, pine essential oil can alleviate headaches, relieve pain, boost energy and mood, treat acne and other skin conditions, act as a decongestant, and freshen a room. Consider diffusing the oil at home, or adding a few drops to a bath for a rejuvenating and restorative experience.
The Christmas tree is a prime example of a wild medicine that is hidden in plain sight. Revered by those who came before us, this noble plant is a shining reminder that the forest holds many healing secrets that are waiting to be told… to those of us who are open to hearing them.
