Content
Pine buds are a valuable natural raw material from a medical point of view. To get the most out of your kidneys, you need to know what they look like, when they can be harvested, and what properties they have.
The appearance of pine and spruce shoots
In early spring, in a coniferous pine forest, you can smell a pleasant resinous smell. It is emitted by pine buds - in late February and early March, they appear on the branches of a coniferous tree. It was during this period that they contain the maximum amount of healing resin.
In appearance, the buds of pine and spruce differ from ordinary buds of deciduous trees. In the absence of experience, they can be easily confused with the rudiments of young branches. Coniferous buds look like short shoots no longer than 2-3 cm, tightly surrounding the so-called crown - a part of the bud covered with dry resinous scales. Pine and spruce buds are pinkish-brown in color, and brown-green at the break.
For medicinal purposes, very young coniferous shoots are used, which have not yet begun to open. As the kidneys grow older, the amount of valuable substances in them begins to decrease, respectively, and the use of raw materials becomes less.
The healing properties of pine buds
The beneficial properties of pine buds are very extensive, since the chemical composition of the raw material contains many vitamins and other valuable substances. Pine buds contain:
- vitamins B and A;
- tocopherols and ascorbic acid;
- vicasol;
- resins and essential oils;
- pinene, limonene, cadinene, borneol;
- tannins;
- a bitter substance, or pinicycrine;
- phytoncides and starch;
- oleic acid.
Due to the rich composition, pine shoots have a pronounced beneficial effect on human health.
- The kidneys have a strong antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. Pine raw material lowers the temperature and promotes expectoration, soothes inflammation in the throat and respiratory tract, eliminates viruses and germs.
- Pine buds are a good choleretic and diuretic. Drinks based on them not only remove excess fluids from the body, but also stimulate contractions of the smooth muscles of the biliary tract, which contribute to the increased secretion of bile.
- The beneficial properties of pine buds include their ability to stop blood. The high content of tannins in the composition of the shoots contributes to the thickening of blood and the formation of blood clots, in some situations this can be dangerous to the body, but with bleeding it brings significant benefits.
- Pine buds disinfect any damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Vitamin C in their composition, as well as flavonoids and resinous substances inhibit bacteria and contribute to the rapid healing of wounds.
- Pine shoots effectively relieve internal inflammation. They are useful not only for the common cold, but also for very serious ailments such as flu, tuberculosis or dysentery.
- Pine shoots increase the defenses of the immune system. When using raw materials for medicinal or prophylactic purposes, the body receives a huge amount of vitamins, useful resins and phytoncides.Thanks to this, general endurance increases, blood vessels, cardiac and nervous systems are strengthened.
Products based on pine shoots not only relieve inflammation, but also eliminate swelling and pain. Due to this, they are often used for joint ailments and muscle injuries - the kidneys are beneficial for both external and internal use.
Rules for the procurement of raw materials
The collection of useful pine buds should be carried out at the very beginning of spring, in February or March, when individual shoot scales are tightly pressed against each other. As soon as the kidneys begin to open, their healing power will greatly decrease, and the procurement of raw materials will simply lose its meaning. The best weather for harvesting pine buds is a cloudy day with no rain or strong sun. Under these conditions, the shoots contain the maximum amount of resin.
- To carry out the collection, it is necessary to select a clean forest located far from highways, settlements and industrial enterprises. The fresher and cleaner the air in the pine forest, the more useful the coniferous buds are.
- Since shoots are cut directly from the branches of the tree, it is better to go for raw materials in a fairly young forest with low pines.
- The collection itself is carried out using a knife or sharpened scissors. It is necessary to collect the buds located on the lateral branches, it is not recommended to touch the apical shoots - this will damage the growth of the tree.
- When collecting, you need to use tight gloves, since pine resin is very sticky to your hands, and it is very difficult to wash it afterwards.
For long-term storage, shoots must be dried immediately after collection. It is impossible to use an oven, dryer or even a heating battery for this - the raw materials should dry in an exclusively natural way, at room temperature and sufficient ventilation. In terms of time, drying takes about 2 weeks, as soon as when squeezed in the hand, the shoots no longer seem wet, they can be put away for storage.
The use of pine buds
The valuable properties of pine buds are used in the treatment of many ailments. Traditional and official medicine recommends using raw materials:
- for colds and bronchopulmonary diseases - from bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung abscess, a decoction from the kidneys will help;
- for diseases of the oral cavity - with stomatitis, gingivitis, caries, as well as with angina, acute respiratory viral infections and tonsillitis, rinsing with decoctions and infusions of shoots will be beneficial;
- with ailments of the genitourinary system - with cystitis, prostatitis, gynecological inflammation, as well as with problems with bile separation, there will be benefits from water decoctions;
- with vitamin deficiency, scurvy and anemia - a decoction of the kidneys inside will make up for the deficiency of vitamins in the body;
- with increased bleeding of the gums - both the internal intake of decoctions and rinsing will be beneficial;
- with increased pressure - decoctions from the kidneys are especially useful for hypertensive patients;
- for joint and muscle pain - pine shoots have a good antispasmodic effect and relieve pain and inflammation when used internally and when rubbing;
- with poor blood clotting - the use of teas and decoctions on pine shoots will improve the composition of the blood;
- with migraines, sleep disorders and increased anxiety - if you regularly drink tea with kidneys shortly before bedtime or consume syrup, this will have a beneficial effect on the nervous system;
- with a tendency to gain excess weight - drinks on the kidneys bring a good effect for weight loss;
- with a decrease in libido in men and women, both teas and decoctions based on shoots and sweet treats from pine buds help;
- with poor blood circulation - decoctions based on pine shoots accelerate blood flow and improve brain function.
With a wide range of skin diseases, it is customary to use alcohol tincture on pine buds or homemade ointment.The funds have not only an antiseptic, but also a regenerating effect, so damage and irritation pass much faster.
Pine bud recipes
The benefits of pine buds in traditional medicine are applied in several main ways. Proven recipes offer easy-to-prepare yet highly effective medicinal products.
Pine tree tea
Tea has a firming, soothing and anti-cold effect on pine buds. It is very simple to prepare it:
- 10 g of dry shoots are poured with a glass of boiling water;
- cover and wait about 20 minutes for the liquid to infuse.
You can drink tea on a daily basis three times a day, but in small amounts, just a teaspoon per dose. In the same amount, the agent can be added to ordinary tea, pine shoots will give the drink a pleasant resinous taste and aroma.
Healing tincture
With rheumatism, arthritis, radiculitis, as well as with inflammation of the urinary tract, tincture of shoots with alcohol has a good effect. Prepare it as follows:
- half a liter jar is filled with dried pine buds;
- to the top, the raw materials are poured with alcohol or high-quality vodka;
- the jar is tightly closed and removed for 12 days in a dark place.
From time to time, the container must be taken out and shaken up. After the expiration date, the tincture must be filtered, and then poured into a clean glass vessel.
You need to take the tincture inside four times a day on an empty stomach, only 20 drops, and continue therapy for no longer than 2 weeks in a row. Also, the tincture can be used externally - rubbing sore joints and disinfecting lesions on the skin.
Pine bud decoction
For colds, inflammatory processes in the body, sore throat and diseases of the oral cavity, pine shoots boiled in water are beneficial. To prepare a medicinal broth, you must:
- pour 1 large spoonful of finely chopped pine shoots into an enamel pan;
- pour raw materials with 200 ml of water;
- put the shoots in a water bath and cover, and then cook for half an hour.
When the broth is ready, it will need to be completely cooled, and then filtered and refilled with clean water to the initial volume.
You can boil pine shoots in another way - just pour a large spoonful of raw materials with 500 ml of water and boil for 15 minutes, and then insist for another half hour.
According to both recipes, the broth is taken orally in very small quantities - 2 large spoons three times a day. The drink has a high concentration, therefore, the dosage cannot be exceeded, otherwise it will harm the body.
You can use the broth to lower the temperature and eliminate vitamin deficiencies. Also rinse the mouth and throat with pine broth for dental diseases and sore throat. With a runny nose, inhalations with a healing agent can be carried out, for this you need to bend over the hot broth for a few minutes and carefully breathe in the rising steam.
Pine bud honey
Pine buds for cough can be taken in the form of honey - the remedy has not only medicinal properties, but also an unusual pleasant taste. In addition to water and dried buds, you will need sugar and a little lemon juice to make honey, and the recipe itself looks like this:
- 2 glasses of shoots are cleaned of possible excess litter and pour 2 liters of hot water;
- boil the kidneys over low heat until exactly half of the original volume remains;
- the pan is removed from the stove and the kidneys are kneaded into gruel with a wooden crush, and then the broth is filtered;
- 1 kg of granulated sugar is poured into the pan and put on the stove again;
- boil until the mixture thickens, and 5 minutes before complete readiness add 1 small spoonful of fresh lemon juice.
The resulting pine honey can be consumed both for colds and coughs, and as a prophylaxis in the cold season.
Pine syrup
Another tasty and healthy pine shoot-based treat is simple bud syrup. It is especially beneficial for joint ailments and disorders of the nervous system, migraines, insomnia, and increased anxiety.
To prepare the syrup, you need to pour 2 large spoons of dry buds into a glass jar, and pour 300 ml of natural liquid honey on top of the raw material. The raw materials are mixed and placed in a cool place under a closed lid for 2 weeks. During this time, the beneficial substances of the kidneys and honey will mix with each other, and the syrup will acquire a homogeneous consistency.
It is necessary to use the remedy little by little, three times a day on an empty stomach, half a large spoon. In total, the course of therapy takes 3 weeks, if you take the syrup for longer, side effects are possible.
Cream
For skin irritations, scratches and burns, as well as inflammatory diseases of the epidermis, homemade pine bud cream has a healing effect. To prepare it you will need:
- take an alcoholic tincture of pine shoots and 1 chicken egg;
- separate the egg white and beat well;
- mix with 10 drops of tincture and bring to homogeneity.
The finished cream is very light in consistency and has a strong soothing and healing effect. It is applied to a sore spot for a couple of hours, and then washed off with clean warm water. The cream helps with damage of any kind, with dermatitis, eczema and lichen, as well as with edema and itching after insect bites.
Is it possible to give pine buds to children
The beneficial properties of pine shoots can be used to treat not only adults, but also children. Decoctions, syrups and honey from pine buds help well with a child's cough, strengthen the immunity of babies and help to quickly cure colds or sore throats.
At the same time, parents should remember that pine components can cause severe allergies and harm the body. Pine buds can be offered to a child for internal use no earlier than 7 years old, halving the dosage compared to adults.
Contraindications to pine buds
The health benefits and harms of pine buds depend on the individual condition of the body. In some cases, pine shoots can be very harmful. Contraindications for their use are:
- heart failure;
- severe hepatitis;
- serious kidney disease - nephritis and glomerulonephritis;
- hypotension;
- tendency to form blood clots;
- gastritis, stomach ulcer and pancreatitis in the acute stage of the disease.
Pregnant women should not use healing remedies from pine shoots; the potential harm from such treatment outweighs the possible benefit. The danger is an overdose of means based on pine buds, excessive use of raw materials leads to migraines, arrhythmias and discomfort in the stomach.
Terms and conditions of storage
Dried pine buds should be stored in a paper bag away from sunlight. You can keep raw materials at room temperature, but air humidity is of great importance. The formation of condensation inside the bag will be detrimental to the useful raw materials, therefore it is recommended to stir the kidneys regularly and even transfer them to another bag.
Subject to the conditions, the shoots can retain their benefits up to 2 years, after which the collection will need to be repeated.
Conclusion
Pine buds are able to benefit the body, since they contain a lot of vitamins and resinous substances with a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. At the same time, you need to use the kidneys very carefully, strictly following proven recipes.
