Uplifting Aromatics
During the gray, damp winter months, most plants retreat, leaving the landscape bare and somber. Yet evergreen conifers remain steadfast, offering a literal breath of fresh air and an uplifting reminder of God's enduring faithfulness.
What Is an Evergreen?
Evergreens are hardy, woody plants that retain their greenery year-round, no matter the season. Types of evergreen conifers include firs, spruces, pines, junipers, hemlocks, and cedars. For our purposes, I will exclude yews due to their toxicity.
A helpful distinction:
Conifer: Refers to trees that reproduce through cones.
Evergreen: Describes trees or plants that keep their foliage throughout the year.
Not all evergreens are conifers (consider holly or ginkgo), but most conifers are evergreen (a unique exception is the larch, a conifer that sheds its needles in the fall). This enduring quality makes them a fitting symbol of steadfastness in creation.
The Pine Family
The pine family (Pinaceae) is the largest and most diverse conifer group, boasting around 250 species across 11 genera. These trees range from modest shrubs to towering giants over 300 feet tall.
These trees produce both male and female cones:
Female cones are larger, woody structures that persist on branches.
Male cones are smaller and release pollen into the wind before falling away, completing their role in reproduction.
The cones themselves are masterpieces of design, from small, 2-inch mugo pine cones to the impressive, 20-inch cones of the sugar pine.
Their Scent: Aromatic and Medicinal Benefits
Spend time among evergreens, and their invigorating aroma is unmistakable. This “piney” scent is not just pleasant—it is medicinal. The volatile compounds released by evergreens act as natural antiseptics and respiratory aids.
A simple walk among evergreens can:
Boost your mood and emotional well-being.
Reduce stress and improve symptoms of depression.
Enhance immune function through exposure to healthful volatile compounds.
Even without access to a forest, you can experience similar benefits by diffusing evergreen essential oils or simmering fresh pine needles on the stove.
The Protective Role of Bark
Pinaceae have developed several mechanisms to protect themselves from threats. The bark of these trees serves as a vital defense system, featuring innate and induced responses. One notable defense is resin production, which occurs when the tree detects stress, such as when herbivores nibble on its bark.
Resin is a complex mixture of volatile compounds, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and non-volatile diterpenes. These substances play a crucial role in repelling pathogens, sealing wounds, and protecting against insect infestations, such as those from the bark beetle.
Healing Resin
The sticky, fragrant resin of pines is both a defense for the tree and a gift to us. Trees produce resin as a healing response to wounds, sealing damaged bark and repelling insects. 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.
For us, pine resin provides:
Antiseptic Properties: Preventing infection in cuts or wounds.
Vulnerary Actions: Stimulating the healing process in damaged tissue, including acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
Respiratory Support: When pine resin salve is rubbed onto the chest and back it can help clear congestion and improve breathing.
Analgesic: Traditionally used to relieve pains such as muscle aches, arthritis, and rheumatic pains.
Pine resin also plays a key role in the production of cough drops and syrups, opening airways, and treating bacterial infections and congestion. The invigorating aroma of burning pine resin in incense uplifts the spirit and supports better breathing.
Harvesting Tip: Collecting resin can be done year-round, but it is easiest during the winter months when it hardens in the cold. If you find resin on your hands, use a little oil to remove it.
Needles: Nutritional and Respiratory Allies
Needles are not just a source of essential oils; they also contain a surprising amount of vitamin C, making them a vital resource in traditional herbal medicine. Pine needles have been:
Brewed into Teas: To support the immune system and ward off illness.
Used in Steams: To clear respiratory congestion and soothe irritated airways, including asthma and bronchitis.
Tinctured: Taken orally to ease a wet cough
Liniments: Used topically to dry wounds, and reduce pain.
Drinking pine needle tea, especially during the winter months, provides a simple yet profound way to honor the evergreen’s resilience and boost your immune system. 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.
Pollen: A Hidden Treasure
The pollen is ready for harvest in the springtime when the golden-yellow pollen dust puffs from the male cones (also known as catkins). 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. While it can be a nuisance for those with allergies, it’s worth noting the immense nutritional value of this golden dust. Witnessing a “pine pollen storm”—when the wind sweeps through and scatters pollen like gold dust—is a reminder of how God’s creation continues to nourish us, even in the smallest particles.
Pine pollen has recently gained recognition as a superfood, noted for its ability to:
Support Hormonal Balance: Particularly beneficial for men, as it can help regulate testosterone levels.
Enhance Vitality: Often used in tincture form, it’s a wonderful addition to a health regimen.
Serve as a Mild Flavoring: Pine pollen has a mild taste, making it an ideal addition to foods like pancakes, bread, cookies, and truffles.
Evergreen Conifers: A Symbol of Hope
Evergreen conifers are symbols of life, endurance, and hope. Even in the coldest, darkest months, they remain vibrant, a living testament to the eternal presence of God. While evergreen traditions may predate Christianity, early believers saw these trees as symbols pointing to eternal life through Christ.
One legend tells of St. Boniface, a Benedictine monk who, in his efforts to bring the Gospel to the Germanic peoples, felled a pagan oak tree dedicated to the god Thor. As the story goes, after the oak was cut down, an evergreen tree miraculously grew in its place—a symbol of the everlasting life Christ offers.
When you see evergreens standing tall against the cold this winter, let them remind you that God’s faithfulness endures forever—just like the evergreen trees. As Isaiah 60:13 beautifully states: “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.”
The imagery of evergreen trees as a source of life reflects God's constant provision and His promise of life everlasting. The passage in Hosea 14:8 is often seen as a reference to Christ, “I am like a green cypress tree; your fruit is found in Me.” Evergreens stay green all year, symbolizing Christ’s unchanging nature. He is eternal; always there to provide for His people.
Preparation Ideas
Pine Needle Tea
Prepare a soothing cup by steeping 1 Tbsp of fresh, chopped pine needles in hot water for 10-20 minutes. Enhance the flavor with a squeeze of lemon.
Culinary Conifer Salts
Experiment by using the fresh growth from firs and spruces, along with other herbs like garlic, citrus peel, juniper berries, parsley, and basil. Mince the greenery and herbs, then layer in a salt shaker for a delightful seasoning blend.
Herbal Steams
Used on the stovetop to cleanse and moisturize the air, or as a personal steam to clear sinus congestion and have antibacterial benefits for treating bacterial respiratory infections. To make a personal 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. If you are including the resin, you may want to use the heat method to infuse the oil. You may find that you need to strain twice to get all the little bits out of the finished oil. This oil makes a great massage oil for sore muscles and feet. Alternatively, 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 2 ounces of beeswax per cup of infused oil. Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, and once melted, slowly add in the infused oil. Then remove from the heat, stir in optional essential oils, and pour into jars or salve tins. 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
Although I have not yet made pine tar soap, it is an option. Additionally, you can make soap with pine-infused oil. To make a 3-pound finished soap loaf:
15 oz of olive or sweet almond oil infused with pine needles and/or resin
3.75 oz of coconut oil
4.8 oz of mango butter
1.5 oz of castor oil
Be sure to 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 juniper berry, cypress, cedarwood, black spruce, or Siberian fir. 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:
0.5 oz vodka or Everclear
~1.5 oz distilled water or a hydrosol
up to 24 drops of essential oils
For a masculine scent try 8 drops of cedarwood, 4 drops of frankincense, 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 explore the many aspects of evergreen conifers through our herbal experiments, we gain a deeper appreciation for their uplifting and healing qualities. This Christmas, let the evergreen conifers remind you of the enduring hope we have in Christ. May their steadfast presence encourage your faith and renew your spirit, pointing you to the eternal promises of our faithful God.
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