Winter Tree Medicine

Usually the medicinal herbs we think of revolve around flowers and small plants (sometimes known as 'weeds'), cultivated in garden patches or found deep within the forest. We don’t usually think of trees as a source of medicine, but medicinal trees are all around us, hiding in plain sight. Historically, the landscapes of many ancestral regions were heavily forested and people turned to the trees for their medicinal needs. The Celts especially held trees in high regard, creating the Ogham tree alphabet, which contained many layers of tree wisdom.

Here in BC we are fortunate to have a diverse range of trees, especially the conifers, which offer their tree medicine throughout the winter months - Pine, Fir, Spruce, Cedar, Hemlock and Juniper - majestic beauties which all have a long history of medicinal benefits. Simply spending time in a forest has been proved by scientific research to have its own health benefits, termed 'Forest Bathing' time spent among the trees can lower heart rates and blood pressure, reduce stress and boost the immune system, all thanks to the volatile oils given off by the trees.

Harvesting medicine from trees needs to be done with great care, as they can take years and sometimes even decades to mature, a casual harvest for its bark or sap could scar or deform a tree for life. Working with conifer needles however can be the gentlest way to harvest from a tree and they are an excellent source of vitamin A and C, historically they were used to keep scurvy away. The needles can be easily steeped into a tea by cutting up a small cluster of them and steeping for 5-10 minutes in hot water, be sure to place a lid overtop so the volatile oils do not evaporate off and enjoyed on a cold winters day, or even as a decongestant steam.

While many conifer needles have useful properties, there are a few that are toxic, such as the yew tree. Most true pines are safe to use, with the possible exception of the Ponderosa pine, which pregnant women should avoid using.

The needles from conifers contain the following constituents:

Leucocyanidin: A flavonoid which has been found to significantly increase the thickness of the mucous membrane layer of the stomach, helping to neutralize acidity and decrease heartburn.

Neoabietic acid: Is said to have an antibacterial element and anti-inflammation properties, however the term 'inflammation modulator' is a more appropriate description for most medicinal plants, as they do not totally halt the inflammation response, which is an important process in the body defending itself.

Pinosylvin monomethyl ester: Research indicates this compound may be able to neutralize free radicals, as well as modulate inflammation.

Volatile oils of conifer needles include α-terpineol (30.2%), linalool (24.47%), limonene (17.01%), anethole (14.57%), caryophyllene (3.14%), and eugenol (2.14%)

White Pine needles in particular help to stimulate the elimination of mucus, by increasing oxygenation to bogged down, mucus entrenched membranes. It relaxes tissues and calms irritated and inflamed sinuses and lungs and is effective for both damp and dry coughs. As well as the tea method explained earlier, tree needles can also be infused into honey or vinegar and included in food such as stews and even shortbread recipes.

All of the trees found in the Pinaceae Family have an affinity for the lungs, you may have a variety of them growing in your neighbourhood, or even in your own garden. When we are able to work with the local trees growing around us, it can help to empower us not only in creating home remedies, but also by providing an attunement and harmonization to our local landscapes, ecosystems, and seasonal shifts, creating a more holistic balanced lifestyle:)