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It seems so weird to think I can go outside and pick the pine needles off the tree and make tea. Any pine will do? White pine? Red pine? Do I have to dry them? Cut them up? Smoosh them? And I hear in an emergency you can eat the bark, but that sounds pretty awful.
Does the same apply to other trees like gingko or red maple?
"I Collect Smiles!" DebBee 🐝
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Yup. Many trees are amazing medicinals. As herbalists, we have a tendency to look down at all the medicinal plants but we need to remember to look up because most tress are quite good too.
I’m writing a book about medicinal trees right now. There are also a number of trees in the Individual Plants lessons. There is a video there on pine.
Red and White pine have had most of the research but folks have used most species over the years. Don’t use them during pregnancy or lactation.
Also, be aware that any needles or branches you remove from a tree will never grow back. So pick them off a spot that won’t be ugly later. I usually just remove a branch and then pick the needles off of it. That’s better than having a permanently bald tree.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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When are you expecting the tree book to be available? When I order your other 2 books would be nice to add this one to the order. To make the best of shipping to Canada as it is far more than the price of one book!
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Probably this summer.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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why is the ponderosa pine toxic? almost all the pine trees in this part of the state are ponderosa
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The only references on Ponderosa pine being toxic that I can find are about a diterpene called isocupressic acid found in Ponderosa and some other conifers. It is toxic to some livestock and can cause cattle to abort their calves. I found nothing about humans. I have often chewed on the needles while hiking and never had any ill effects (that I know of!) I’ll keep looking.
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So I am confused on why the Ponderosa pine is toxic? Almost all the pine trees where I live are Ponderosa. If I can’t use this that is so sad! I was excited to try this
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I am amazed at all the plants around me that have so much nutritive and medicinal values. I had always considered myself to more knowledgeable than average, but I am realizing there is so much to learn.
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“I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”
Isaac Newton
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Really looking forward to your medicinal tree book!
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Doc, I know that pines and spruces are very beneficial, and likely BEST in the spring – but for a tincture, are they any good now since now is when the cold and flu season is most likely to happen. Obviously I’ll wait if now is just a really bad time to make any… Also, are there any noticeable differences in the pines and spruces? Also anxious for your tree book!
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Spring is great but if I needed pine January, I’d be out picking it. Most of the research has been done on pine but Native Americans used spruce too.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Yup. Many trees are amazing medicinals. As herbalists, we have a tendency to look down at all the medicinal plants but we need to remember to look up because most tress are quite good too.
I’m writing a book about medicinal trees right now. There are also a number of trees in the Individual Plants lessons. There is a video there on pine.
Red and White pine have had most of the research but folks have used most species over the years. Don’t use them during pregnancy or lactation.
Also, be aware that any needles or branches you remove from a tree will never grow back. So pick them off a spot that won’t be ugly later. I usually just remove a branch and then pick the needles off of it. That’s better than having a permanently bald tree.
Ponderosa pine… I *think* that’s what we have in my area. My Mama has one over 2 stories high that was once our Christmas tree. Will that one work be ause I saw something about ponderosa being high in some toxin?
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Great, looking forward to the medicinal tree book. I did not realize the the needles would not grow back after being picked. I have a ‘big’ pine tree in my yard that looks tastier by the moment. A limb (or several) off of it would not be noticeable. I’ll try that.
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I loved this, “we have a tendency to look down at all the medicinal plants but we need to remember to look up because most tress are quite good too.” I think one of the biggest takeaways I’ve learned from my studies is that ALL parts of a plant can be useful. Who knew???? Ok, you did. Thanks for teaching us!!! 😀
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I know that pines and spruces are very beneficial, and likely BEST in the spring – but for a tincture, are they any good now since now is when the cold and flu season is most likely to happen. Obviously I’ll wait if now is just a really bad time to make any… Also, are there any noticeable differences in the pines and spruces? Also anxious for your tree book!
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How closely related are pine and fir? My property is loaded with doug fir, there’s not many pine trees in my area.
I am looking forward to your medicinal tree book as well.
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Is it OK to post a recipe for Pine Needle Tea? I have one!
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Pine Needle Tea (I would like to credit this recipe but honestly cannot remember where I found it)
3 TBS chopped fresh pine needles (new growth preferred; I used White Pine); 2 tsp cardamom pods crushed; 1.5 tsp grated ginger; 2 cinnamon sticks – or 1, I prefer 1 – 2 star Anise pods; 1 tsp whole allspice; 6 cups water; honey/cream
Add everything to H2O in a pan and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer at least 20 minutes. Strain. Add honey and/or cream to taste.
Kind of like a ‘piney’ chai!
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Pinyon and all of its other pine cousins in the Pinus genus (as well as spruce and fir) have been used historically for respiratory applications and other effects. I’ve only ever tasted red pine and white pine. Both of those incidentally, are the ones with most of the research.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Pinyon needles don’t have a strong taste and make a nice tea. I like to add Brigham Tea also, especially when the juniper are pollenating (yellow dust on EVERYTHING). And the pinyon nuts are incredible in oatmeal, cookies, bread, and stuffing!
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Getting ready to do a basic plant class for a group of kids in our co-op. We are going to start with pine so I really appreciate this thread. Though we don’t have a whole lot of pine in our area here in Washington state. We have lots and lots of fir trees, but even more cedar.
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When are you expecting the tree book to be available? When I order your other 2 books would be nice to add this one to the order. To make the best of shipping to Canada as it is far more than the price of one book!
I have really found that rubbing pine needle tincture on my knees is helping the arthritis in my knees as is taking Dr. Jone’s Chaga tincture!
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So is it ONLY the needles, or the piece of a branch and/or the little baby pinecone at the end of the branch. Just harvested some today, and really anxious to get going, but don’t know what to include/exclude. And I think I remember Doc saying that vodka will work fine. Thanks in advance!
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The things that look like “baby pine cones” are literally called “pine tips” and are wonderful. Use them like you would regular pine needles, or you can make syrup with them. You can also make a wonderful fermented syrup out of green pine cones! (Look up “mugolio”) Traditionally made with cones from the mugo pine, the same method can be used with cones from any pine, and has many medicinal and culinary qualities. I have ambitious plans to make a batch as soon as I possibly can!
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Yup, that’s right. If they’re pine tips. They’ll be needles someday. If they’re pollen cones (the boy parts) they’re also medicinal …but completely different uses) and if they’re pine cones (girl parts) they’re not what you want.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Doc, you mentioned the pollen cones have different medicinal properties, but would you mind elaborating on what the difference medicinally between the needles and the pollen cones? I was planning on using them together both for tea as well as tincture, but if they have different properties, should I just use them separately? Thanks in advance.
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Here ya go:
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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So another couple of questions on pine parts.
- Since we are senior citizens now and the “benefits” from the pollen cone that you mentioned in the video is not of importance here – would we be better off to just tincture the pollen cones with the needles and use it more or less as a nutritional tonic daily for general health? For both of us, our blood sugar levels are well in the normal range, so that seems like a good thing here.
- But since it has androgenic properties, is it ok for us ladies to use internally on a regular basis?
- Also, since the resin is mentioned as being medicinal, but also used to make turpentine – would it be beneficial (since I already have some) to use pure gum turpentine made by locals in GA with trees on their property as part of the tincturing process?
- Is a pine tincture the most “bang for the buck” medicinally over other things like tea, powdered needles, fresh needles in a smoothie, etc?
- This one might be kind of a lame question, but is there a “better way” to harvest the needles from the tree so it DOESN’T end up with ugly places later? There must be a good technique for it…
Thanks in advance for your time and answers!
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Mine in Bold
- Since we are senior citizens now and the “benefits” from the pollen cone that you mentioned in the video is not of importance here – would we be better off to just tincture the pollen cones with the needles and use it more or less as a nutritional tonic daily for general health? For both of us, our blood sugar levels are well in the normal range, so that seems like a good thing here.
I’d just use the pollen as a daily tonic and save the needles as needed for illness.
- But since it has androgenic properties, is it ok for us ladies to use internally on a regular basis?
The dose for nutritional tonic is markedly less than the dose for androgenic effects.
- Also, since the resin is mentioned as being medicinal, but also used to make turpentine – would it be beneficial (since I already have some) to use pure gum turpentine made by locals in GA with trees on their property as part of the tincturing process?
I wouldn’t.
- Is a pine tincture the most “bang for the buck” medicinally over other things like tea, powdered needles, fresh needles in a smoothie, etc?
Doesn’t matter how you get it into your body.
- This one might be kind of a lame question, but is there a “better way” to harvest the needles from the tree so it DOESN’T end up with ugly places later? There must be a good technique for it…
Lop off branches you don’t like and take the needles. That’s how I do it.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Thanks so much for a speedy reply! We were out harvesting our state tree (blue spruce) today, and got lots of the pollen cones on the tips, so I’ll tincture them separately. I assume that both of the tinctures should be in 60% alcohol since the parts are all fresh (though I’ve heard of others using 40% – but for a much longer time in the alcohol). So is there a lot of the vitamin and mineral content in the pollen cone tincture compared to the needle tincture? I love the idea of enhancing our vitamins thru the winter! Curious though (not questioning your advice at all), when I see mention of spruce tips, most of the time it’s mentioned as a tonic – perhaps you could educate me on where these folks are going wrong with using it as a tonic? And Never, Ever, be offended when I question something please – I am by nature a VERY, very inquisitive person – with no end in sight even at my advanced age! I know that much information on the internet is just flat out wrong, so that’s why I try to filter everything I read or hear on the web with your actual, factual presentation of the herbs. I love your real life experiences and your teaching style for all the wonderful herbs and plants we have been given for our benefit. Thank you for such a wonderful course and for making yourself available to answer the questions from your students – something many “teachers” won’t do! I know I likely don’t have enough years left to learn as much as I want to, but your course is making a sizable contribution to my knowledge bank – thanks again!
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Ponderosa pine needles are very similar to other pine needles. Its bad reputation as a toxic, dangerous plant comes from case studies of cattle eating it and aborting.
News Flash: Any pine needle will cause miscarriage and none of them should be used during pregnancy.
So, it’s really not fair that Pinus ponderosa is the only pine species people are wrinkling their noses at. This is a classic example of internet “cut and paste” herbalism where someone reads something and repeats it and it becomes dogma and doctrine in the trade even though it’s completely out of context.
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Why do pine trees have such a hard time sewing?
Because they always drop their needles.
"I Collect Smiles!" DebBee 🐝
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I recently read that women who are expecting should not use Ponderosa pine or lodgepole pine because they could cause a miscarriage. Although I do not know why. The good species of pine to use are supposed to be white fir, noble fir and balsam fir. I made a tea this last Christmas from our noble fir that was freshly cut. I liked it, first time making pine needle tea.
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