Parts Most Frequently Used: Resin, Bark, Pine Needle, Seed, Pine Nut, Pine Pollen

Flavors/Temps: Bitter, Aromatic, Cooling

Caution: Considered safe.

History/Folklore: Among the most important commercial trees. The crude resin of pine is almost entirely used for distillation of Oil of Turpentine, which is a good solvent for wax, fats, sulphur, and largely used to make varnishes used in oil painting. It is also used to make Rosin, used by violinists to rub their bows with, and to make soap.

Pine is also known as a spiritual cleanser and incense.  The Iroquois used to burn it as an incense before moving into a vacant house to clean out unwanted spirits and negative energy.  It is considered helpful in drawing steady money, clearing mental negativity.

It helps build confidence and stamina.  Its scent is said to enhance a sense of freedom. Native Americans were also said to prevent scurvy by making a tea out of the twigs and bark. They used the oil to keep away fleas, ticks and other insects.

Pine bark extract made from the Maritime Pine (Pinus pinaster) contains naturally occurring proanthocyanidins, which is the same name for a group of compounds called pycnogenols (also found in grape seeds) which are considered to be a powerful antioxidant.

Pine oil is used in many household products, cleansers, deodorants and soaps.  The modern English name Pine derives from the Latin pinus, which is traced back to the Indo-European base “pit” meaning resin.  Pines were also called fir trees which comes from the Old Norse “fyrre.” Today the name “Fir” is reserved for the Fir (Abies) and the Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga).

Pine resin is used for horses and cattle internally as a vermifuge and externally to help heal sprains and bruises.  Pine bark extract is suggested as an herbal viagra and some claim it is even better at clearing free radicals than either Vitamin C or E.  Some species have large seeds called pine nuts that are used for baking and cooking. The soft, moist, white inner bark found clinging to the outer bark is edible and very high in Vitamin A and C. It is eaten raw or ground into powder to be used to thicken soups and stews.

Pine is listed as one of the 38 substances used to prepare Bach Flower Remedies, an alternative medicine promoted for its effective health benefits.

The Chinese use pine pollen from the Pinus massoniana pine, a rare species found in China.  It is said to be an overall Yin tonic.