Did you know that White Pine is one of the best-selling Christmas trees in the United States? It is famous for its delicate appearance, needle retention, and benefits.
Other than these, the White Pine trees have many culinary uses and benefits. Continue reading to get to know them all.
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White Pine Benefits [8 Most Prominent Ones]
Many products, including food, medicine, crafts like basketry and stitching, decorations, and caulking, are made from White Pine trees.
The Pine tree’s inner bark, sprigs, or sap can be helpful in several medical applications, while the resin is used to produce cement and garments.
Pine tree resin is a gooey, liquid substance that comes out of the pine tree to heal its wounds and repel insects.
Let’s dive deeper into the benefits of White Pine.
1. Helps Treat Cold or Flu
The most frequent infectious disease among us is the common cold. Every year, the average adult has two to three colds, which are worse in the winter.
Pine resin tea can help coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, and chest congestion by clearing the phlegm.
Similarly, the inner bark, needles, and roots serve comparable health functions.
According to Foliage Botanics, White Pine’s inner bark and needles can help relieve congestion that leads to colds and the flu.
These inner barks and needles contain astringent and antibacterial qualities well known for inhibiting viral development.
2. Contains Rich Vitamins
White Pine contains five times as much vitamin C as a lemon. The blue-green White Pine needles are a good source of vitamin C.
As per USDA Forest Service, each gram of White Pine needles contained 0.72 to 1.87 milligrams of ascorbic acid.
Ascorbic acid is the purest form of vitamin C and works as an antioxidant, protecting the cells against free radicals and supporting the immune system.
You can make tea with Pine needles by steeping them in hot water to obtain your recommended daily intake of natural vitamin C.
Additionally, drinking White Pine tea can help treat a severe vitamin C deficiency by repairing bodily tissues and stabilizing immunity.
3. Alleviates Mood
White Pines contain terpenes and volatile chemicals known as Pinene and Limonene.
The smell of these chemicals and terpenes is very refreshing. Also, several health benefits are associated with them.
Similarly, a little stroll through a forest of Pine trees is rejuvenating and can quickly improve your mood.
A study also showed that the smell of fragrances might affect our emotions and how we perceive them.
The results imply that natural scents like White Pine enhance general emotional functioning.
4. Possesses Antioxidant and Anti-aging Properties
White Pine contains several antioxidants and anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antiviral, and anti-aging properties.
It is because Pine extract contains a high amount of polyphenols. Polyphenols regulate cellular activity and fight free radicals, which expose our bodies to oxidative stress.
They defend the body against damage from diseases like cancer and heart disease. It also functions as a built-in photoprotector, slowing down the aging process.
Aside from that, Researchers at NCBI suggest that polyphenols have potential anti-aging effects and play an essential role in regulating metabolism.
Additionally, Pine bark extract can perfectly complement your nutritional kit.
5. Helps Lower Blood Pressure and Prevent Heart Disease
White Pine bark contains Pycnogenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics, which aids in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.
Likewise, Pycnogenol reduces oxidative stress and limits fat accumulation in the human body.
Furthermore, Pinene, a chemical that gives White Pines their aroma, efficiently decreases blood pressure.
A blog posted in The Schuylkill Center mentions that Japanese scientists had conducted an experiment where they sprayed a small amount of pinene in a hospital’s neonatal ward.
The babies in the ward chilled out as their blood pressure dropped.
6. Treats Kidney Diseases
Chronic renal disease can severely damage the kidneys and eventually stop their functioning.
According to research published in PubMed Central, the White Pine tree’s bark, needles, and twigs have been traditionally used to treat kidney and bladder issues.
The tea has a mild diuretic effect that could help flush kidney crystals from the body before they harden into kidney stones.
7. Treats Skin Complaints
White Pine tree bark can treat skin conditions like wounds, burns, boils, sores, and more.
Similarly, it is also used in the form of liniment plasters.
Moreover, the poultice developed from the inner bark of this tree can treat cuts, sores, and wounds.
Creams, essential oils, powders, and other forms are among its products.
Pine essential oil must be diluted with another carrier before directly applying it to the skin.
Another study shows that Pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) can retain moisture in people with dry skin.
Do you know Hawthorn berries can also treat skin-related issues? The berries can be crushed instantly and applied to the skin!
8. Relieves Joint Pain
White Pine bark is rich in pigments called bioflavonoids, prominently used for treating osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis, affecting millions worldwide by damaging joints in the hands, knees, hip, and spine.
Even the use of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) dropped by 58% in the participants who took Pine barks.
Culinary Uses of White Pines
Despite not producing berries, tubers, or large leaves, White Pine is still a significant culinary plant because of its needles.
The needles are the most edible and commonly used vitamin-rich beverage.
The edible parts of the tree are here in the table below.
| Parts | Features |
|---|---|
| Seeds | Can be used as a flavouring in cooking |
| Needles | Used for brewing vitamin-rich beverages |
| Tender New Shoots | Used to make candies by boiling the shoots in syrup |
| Pulpwood released by resins | Used to obtain vanilla flavouring |
| Unexpanded male cones | Used as a flavouring by boiling |
| Inner Bark | Used in soups and cereals as a thickener |
| Pollen | Nutrient-Dense super food |
| Pine Nuts | Nutritious snack; can be eaten raw or roasted |
How to Brew a Hot Cup of Pine Tea?
Until now, we know that White Pine tea has several benefits, including treating colds and coughs and solving kidney issues.
In this section, let us see how we can brew a hot cup of Pine Tea in the comfort of our house.
Tea Ingredients
- Fresh Pine needles- 2 tablespoons
- Boiled water- 1 Cup
- Sweeter or honey to taste (Optional)
Brewing Instructions
- Collect fresh Pine needles from the tree.
- Remove the clusters of needles from its branch and rinse thoroughly.
- Chop the Pine needles into small pieces.
- Place the chopped needles in a cup or teapot and cover them with freshly boiled water.
- Let the tea steep for about 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea, add honey or other sweeteners as you like, and enjoy.
Where to Buy White Pine?
You can find White Pine Seedlings easily in plant stores. Check out the following if it interests you.
| Shops | Delivery Time |
|---|---|
Garden Goods | Delivers within 1 to 5 business days |
| Arbor Day | 1 week to 10 days |
| TN Nursery | 3 to 4 days |
| Cold Stream Farm | 2-3 business days |
Health Considerations to Keep in Mind
When dealing with White Pine, there are typically few health concerns to consider.
According to PubMed, Pine-wood workers’ occupational exposure to Pine resins may worsen their chronic lung disease.
Additionally, if you have asthma or bronchitis, avoid using it internally. Stomach aches could result from the astringent flavor.
Caution: Avoid drinking or eating Pine needles if you are pregnant.
Pine needles can be harmful to unborn babies. In the worst case, it may lead to miscarriage and low birth weight in humans and domestic animals.
Pine pollens can also increase allergic symptoms in those who have asthma.
Keep in mind that a natural product is not always necessarily safe. Be mindful of the dose you consume.
FAQs About White Pine
What is White Pine good for?
White Pine is generally used to extract its efficient lumber that can be used to make matchsticks, doors, windows, etc.
Apart from the constructional uses, it also has benefits we discussed previously.
What is the spiritual meaning of White Pine?
Similarly to its prominent growth, White pine symbolizes eternal life and immortality.
Iroquois people consider this tree to be the “Tree of Peace.”
Editor’s Note
After reading about all these benefits, it is evident that White Pine is undoubtedly a valuable tree.
If you have adequate space in your house, plant it as soon as possible.
They are evergreens, have an ornamental specimen, and will add considerable value to your garden.
