Make the most of the season by incorporating Eastern White Pine

The new season is a great reason to try new things, to learn new things, to forage for new things.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus) has amazing and beneficial properties for you! Pine Needle tea supports health and alleviating cold symptoms. It has a citrusy pine taste. It smells amazing. It is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, decongestant and expectorant. It has antioxidants and is rich in vitamin C. It was once used to help treat scurvy. I started drinking Pine Needle tea about 12-14 years ago. I had a Eastern White Pine tree in the yard and I did research on it. I found that indigenous people used to drink it throughout history.

Pinus strobus belongs to the Pinaceae (Pine) family. It is known as the Tree of Peace among indigenous people. Eastern White Pines have had many popular uses. The inner bark was historically used for flour for baking. The inner bark, needles and sap have been used for their medicinal properties from skin issues, to coughs to colds and flus. You can make a range of poultices, salves, and teas. Eastern White Pine was a staple in Michigan's timber history. They have been used to build many homes and businesses. In colonial days, the best of the trees were set apart by the king for masts on British ships. White pines are fast growing. And it is Michigan's state tree.

For my Michiganders you definitely should be able to identify an Eastern White Pine. The needles are long, and are usually in bundles. A bundle of them is a fascicle. Every fascicle should have 5 needles. 

I also decided to try Pine Needle Soda. I heard about Pine Needle Soda and I read it is kind of like cousin to Spruce Beer. This drink again was intended for illnesses like scurvy. Pine needles have natural yeast on them. Adding them in a bottle of water mixed with sugar or honey, allows the drink to ferment. I gently washed the needles. I put them in a reusable bottle. Then added sugar water or honey water in the bottle. I let it sit for about 2-3 days and burped it every day to release the build up of pressure. I think I would consider making it with the sugar water instead of the honey. Pine Needle Soda using sugar in the water has a more potent flavor! 

A little article about Pine Needle Tea and the beverage helping against scurvy!

Lastly,

I made Pine Needle Salve!

A salve is a balm for your skin made with oil and beeswax. It can help soothe dry skin, promote healing and create a protective barrier. Pine Needle salve has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It is great for healing, drawing out splinters and soothing sore muscles.



I put pine needles in castor oil for several weeks, once infused, it became this beautiful green color.  Then I strained the pine needles out. I added the pine infused oil in a double boiler, added some calendula infused oil and beeswax. I put it on low heat until the beeswax was melted. Once I removed it from the heat, I added my vitamin E and essential oils to it.

Finally, you pour your salve mixture into the tin containers. And viola! you have Pine Needle Salve!