Eastern White Pine – Known as Pinus Strobus officially and commonly as Deal Pine and Soft Pine, is native to North America. It grows from Newfoundland to Georgia mountains, central Iowa, and west to northern Illinois. The inner bark, young shoots, twigs, pitch, and leaves have long been used by Native Americans in medicinal remedies to treat colds, cough, flu, pneumonia, fever, heartburn, headache, arthritis, neuritis, bronchitis, croup, laryngitis and kidney problems. Some Native American tribes used the inner bark or the sap as a poultice for wounds and sores. Pitch was used to “draw out” boils, splinters, and abscesses, and it was also used for rheumatism, broken bones, cuts, bruises, and inflammation. A hot resin was sometimes spread on a hot cloth and applied to treat pneumonia, sciatic pains, and general muscular soreness.
Native Americans used White Pine as one of their most common remedies, for coughs, head colds, throat infections and consumption—all sorts of breathing types of ailments. White Pine Cough Syrup quickly became an American folk remedy, still much used today. Pine resin has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is used in treating wounds and fighting infection in the folk tradition, which is so often based on a strong bedrock of science.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine Pine is considered Yang (masculine) in nature, its element corresponds to air & its planetary correspondence is Mars. The energetic property of this tree target the liver. Pine is considered to be of the most powerful condensers of Yang Qi. According to the Books of Northern Chi Dynasty (550-577A.D.), it was believed that the Pine and Cypress trees could naturally stand against the ravages of air, weather, and insects due to strong constitutions. Therefore, the vitality of Qi contained within their wood and capacity to live long was said to be unequaled by any other tree and is said to be an herb of immortality. In traditional Chinese medicine Pine is used in magic to banish negative entities, exorcise evil, attract money, break hexes, heal, cleanse, protect and awaken positive Qi. Pine needles are a valuable source of vitamin C and can loosen a tight chest. The knotty wood from several species of pine is infused in wine and used topically for joint pain.
Pine Pollen released from the Pine ball sacks is used to increase testosterone and detoxify microplastics.