During the gray, damp winter months, most plants go into hiding, leaving a sense of sadness behind, evergreens offer a literal breath of fresh air and a much-needed emotional uplift.
Evergreen trees are hardy woody plants that maintain their greenery year-round and grow worldwide. Types of evergreens include firs, spruces, pines, junipers, hemlocks, and cedars, but for our purposes, we will be excluding yews because of their toxicity.
Fun side note, conifer vs evergreen: Conifer refers to how the plant reproduces, in this case with cones. Evergreen refers to keeping the greenery (needles or leaves) year-round. Most conifers are evergreen but not all evergreens are conifers, such as holly and ginkgo.
Description
The pine family, or Pinaceae, is a diverse group of conifer trees and shrubs that play a crucial role in various ecosystems. Pinaceae is the largest conifer family in terms of species diversity, with around 250 species across 11 genera. Often when you think of evergreens, you think of majestic tall trees, but their stature ranges from 7 to 300+ feet. Being conifers, they have cones, both female and male cones. Female cones of Pinaceae are typically large and woody. On the other hand, male cones are smaller and fall shortly after pollination, with wind being the primary mode of pollen dispersal. There is significant variation in cone size within the family, ranging from mugo pine (Pinus mugo) cones that grow to about 2 inches long to sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) cones that can grow up to 20 inches long.
Evergreens are wonderfully aromatic, owing to their rich array of volatile compounds. These aromatics offer a wide range of health benefits, such as acting as natural antiseptics for the respiratory system and aiding in the defense against invading pathogens. The scent you experience when around conifers is medicinal in itself. By taking a walk in the forest, you are engaging in the beneficial activity known as forest bathing. The rich and diverse volatile aromatics exuded from evergreens offer mood-boosting and emotionally uplifting effects that contribute to stress reduction, improvement of depression symptoms, and improved immune function. If you do not have a forest nearby, you can diffuse evergreen essential oils or steam a pot of pine needle water on the stovetop to bring the benefits to you.
Pinaceae have evolved various mechanical and chemical defenses to aid in their survival. The bark serves as a complex defensive boundary, featuring innate defenses that offer immediate protection. Induced defenses, such as resin production, activated by cues like herbivores nibbling on the bark, are a key short-term defense mechanism. Resins are a complex mix of volatile compounds of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, as well as nonvolatile diterpenes. Resins are produced and stored in specialized secretory areas and play a crucial role in repelling pathogens, sealing wounds, and defending against insect attacks, such as the bark beetle.
Resin
When gathering pine resin, it tends to be quite sticky, making a mess of your fingers. To easily remove it, coat your hands with a little oil and rub it around, as the resin is oil-soluble. Likewise, with its high volatile terpene content, pine resin is best extracted for product making using oil or high-proof alcohol like Everclear, rather than water or lower-proof alcohols such as vodka. Harvesting pine resin can be done throughout the year, but winter is preferred due to its frozen state, resulting in less mess.
Resin, especially from pines, is recognized for its wound-healing properties for people as well as the trees. Its antiseptic nature prevents infections, while its vulnerary actions stimulate the healing process. Pine resin is a versatile and valuable resource for creating a powerful antiseptic and vulnerary salve that is an ideal addition to first aid kits. When applied topically, pine resin salve proves can be beneficial for various skin issues, including arthritis, rheumatism, cuts, wounds, acne, eczema, and psoriasis. For lung congestion relief, pine resin salve can be gently rubbed over the chest and back. Additionally, pine resin is often a key ingredient in the production of cough drops and cough syrups due to its ability to open the airways, enhance breathing, and address bacterial infections and congestion.
Pine resin has served as a base in incense practices worldwide for thousands of years. Pine incense has been used in many spiritual rituals for protection, longevity, wisdom, and as a symbol of peace. With its use in spiritual rituals, it is thought that burning pine incense can instill courage, foster optimism, and promote confidence and self-acceptance. The distinct aromas of pine resin are characterized as piney, fresh, green, penetrating, and sharp. When burned, the invigorating properties of pine resin incense brighten and freshen up the atmosphere, uplifting the spirit and senses. Medicinally, pine incense is employed for its ability to improve breathing. The iconic evergreen scent of pine resin is cherished for its ability to evoke a sense of freshness and connection with nature.
Needles
In traditional folk medicine, pine needles, and resin have been used for various respiratory ailments in the form of herbal steams and incense to alleviate conditions like asthma and bronchitis. Pine needles are renowned for their high vitamin C content. Incorporating fresh or dried pine needles into your tea blend is a simple and effective way to introduce a boost of vitamin C to your diet. The combination of rich vitamin C content in pine needles, along with their volatile aromatics, allow pine needles to be a supportive companion for immune health, particularly during cold and flu seasons. Pine needles play a crucial role in promoting respiratory well-being by warming the respiratory system and acting as an expectorant, facilitating the removal of phlegm from the lungs in cases of bronchitis, pneumonia, and general chest colds. Pine needles can also be tinctured, and used internally or applied topically. taken orally, pine needle tincture can relieve coughs by clearing stuck mucous. A liniment of pine needles and resin can be used externally to help dry small wet wounds and bring pain relief.
Pollen
The pollen is ready for harvest in the springtime when the golden-yellow pollen dust puffs from the cone. A simple collection method involves dropping the cones into a paper bag, allowing them to dry for a few days, and then shaking the closed bag to ensure the release of the pollen. It's worth noting that if you are irritated by pine pollen, precautions such as avoiding harvesting or wearing a mask can help prevent potential problems. You may also be "lucky" enough to experience a pine pollen storm, which is a remarkable (messy) event; the wind disperses the pollen into a thick cloud, where it has the potential to enrich the soil, providing nutrition to soil microbes and small creatures, but it can also coat your car with a sticky yellow layer. Pros and cons.
Pine pollen has recently gained popularity as a superfood, marketed as a potential hormonal balancer for both men and women. Pine pollen, produced by the male cones, aka catkins, has potential benefits for male testosterone health and is regarded as a hormone balancer, particularly useful in tincture form for older men according to the late Stephen Buhner. Pine pollen can also be incorporated into the diet. It has a mild flavor, and is a good addition to bready-like foods such as pancakes, cookies, and cornbread, additionally, can be used in sweets, such as fudge and truffles. If cooking with pollen does not sound appealing, there are also the options of capsule form or tincture.
Symbolism
Evergreens are a familiar symbol of Christmas. Although often debated whether the symbolism of evergreen trees is secular, Christian, or pagan is up for debate, ultimately, they are beautiful and aromatic and bring much-needed cheer during the cold winter months. Early Germanic people worshipped the Thunder Oak of Thor, which was later cut down by a Benedictine monk by the name of Boniface, who was said to have used its wood to build a chapel. Legend has it that an evergreen grew in the oak's place, symbolizing God's everlasting life and power. Evergreen trees and shrubs, representing life and hope, have been embraced by religions worldwide, becoming integral to winter celebrations.
Evergreens, with their resilience and everlasting greenery, are powerful symbols that convey various meanings within Christian beliefs. In the Bible, the evergreen takes on multiple symbolic roles. In the book of Hosea, the evergreen is used to symbolize God's nourishment and eternal vitality, stating, "I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit" (Hosea 14:8). The evergreen also serves as a symbol of God's shelter, as seen in Isaiah 60:13, "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet." Evergreens are tall, strong, immovable pillars, serving as both God's shelter on earth as well as symbols for the characteristics of the Lord. Jesus, in a similar vein, emphasizes faith in God as the source of everlasting life and vitality in John 15:5-6, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned." In these biblical references, the evergreen becomes a powerful symbol, representing eternity, shelter, and God's enduring faithfulness.
Preparation Ideas
Pine Needle Tea: Prepare a soothing cup by steeping 1 tablespoon of chopped pine needles in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Enhance the flavor with a squeeze of lemon.
Conifer Salts are fun to experiment with. It is best to use the springtime fresh growth at the tips of firs and spruces, the chartreuse-colored tips. You can use pine needles, but be aware that they are a bit tougher like rosemary leaves. Include additional aromatic herbs like dried garlic, dried citrus peels, juniper berries, parsley, and basil...let your imagination run wild and have fun experimenting. Mince the greenery and any additional herbs. In a salt shaker, layer a spoonful of your favorite salt, and minced herbs and continue until close to the top. Put the lid on and shake well to blend the mix. And voila!
Herbal Steams: Used to simply cleanse and moisturize the air, or when you sit with your head over the steam with a towel draped over you can help to clear sinus congestion and have antibacterial benefits for treating bacterial respiratory infections. To make a steam, boil a pot of water, and once boiling, remove from the heat and add a handful of chopped pine twigs (both needles and twigs go into the pot). To add moisture to the air, let the pot continue to simmer on low.
Infused oil: Craft and infused oil with pine needles and resin. Fill a mason jar about half full of chopped evergreen goodness (needles, twigs, resin). Pour your chosen carrier oil into the jar up to the shoulder, being sure to completely cover the greenery, being sure to avoid air bubbles. If you are including the resin, you may want to use the heat method for infusing the oil. You may find that you need to strain twice to get all the little bits out of the finished oil. You can use the oil as a massage oil for sore muscles and feet, rub it on the chest for respiratory complaints, use it as a hair oil, or use it to make a lip balm, pine salve, or pine soap.
Pine Resin Salve: Using the pine-infused oil, you can easily make a salve. Using about 1-2 ounces of beeswax per cup of infused oil (the more beeswax, the more solid the salve will be), you may find that you want to use a bit more beeswax to get the consistency that you prefer. I like my salves a bit soft, so I usually use 1 ounce of beeswax per cup of oil. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, and slowly add in the infused oil. Once it is all melted and blended, remove from the heat. This salve is helpful for minor topical wounds and makes a great chest rub, especially with the addition of essential oils such as pine, fir, rosemary, or eucalyptus in a 1% dilution.
Soap: I am relatively new to soap making and have only experimented with the hot process, but I am already addicted and think that everyone should be making their soap. You can make a pine tar soap, which sounds pretty fun, but I have not yet tried it, so I cannot write about it...yet. You can, though, make soap with pine-infused oil. To make a 3-pound finished soap loaf, use 15 oz of olive oil infused with pine, 3.75oz of coconut oil, 2.4 oz of shea butter, 2.4 oz of mango butter, 1.5 oz of castor oil, check soapcalc.net or a similar website for the correct amount of water and lye to use. Once the cook is over, feel free to add in some evergreen essential oils, such as 80 drops of juniper berry and 80 drops of cypress. For a quick tutorial on hot process soap making check out Healing Harvest Homestead and The Nerdy Farm Wife.
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Room Spray: For the times that you would love to take a walk in the woods, but you are not able to do so, a room spray is a great alternative. The base recipe that I use to make a 2 oz room spray is 15ml vodka, 43ml distilled water or a hydrosol, and up to 24 drops of essential oils. For a masculine scent try 8 drops of cedarwood, 4 drops of sandalwood, and 4 drops of bergamot. For help with focus try 8 drops of cypress, 6 drops of rosemary, and 4 drops of peppermint. For winter bliss try 6 drops of Siberian fir, 6 drops of juniper berry, 3 drops of nutmeg, and 2 drops of clove.
As we delve into the diverse aspects of evergreen conifers through our herbal experiments, we discover nature's enduring wisdom and immerse ourselves in the enchanting embrace of their uplifting and healing aromatics. It's more than just an experiment; it's a holistic encounter with the resilient spirit of evergreens and a blessing from God.
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