From time immemorial, people have been harvesting various parts of pine as a medicine. From twigs, needles, bark and kidneys, infusions and decoctions were prepared. In this article we will talk about cones, their use in treatment, harvesting and healing recipes.
The healing properties of pine cones
The largest concentration of nutrients is found in immature specimens.
It was in them that the richest chemical composition was discovered:
Vitamins | Minerals | Other substances |
A - retinol | potassium | tannins |
B1 - thiamine | calcium | volatile |
C - ascorbic acid | magnesium | pitches |
E - tocopherol | phosphorus | essential oils |
K - phylloquinone | iodine | flavonoids |
H - Biotin | sodium | |
U - methylmethionine | iron |
- Preparations from green pine cones have a lot of beneficial effects:
- Strengthen the immune system, provide support in the fight against inflammation and infections.
- They have an expectorant effect.
- They remove edema, being a diuretic.
- Reduce fragility of blood vessels, strengthen their walls, cleanse blood of toxins.
- Contribute to the normalization of hemoglobin levels in the blood.
- Strengthen the heart muscle, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Soothe and normalize sleep, help reduce anxiety syndrome.
- Sputum is diluted and excreted in case of diseases of the respiratory system.
- Beneficial effect on the health and cleanliness of the skin, effective in the treatment of dermatological diseases.
- Improve bowel and digestion, metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Increase the elasticity of muscle fibers, strengthening tissue.
- Regulates blood pressure.
- Increases the conductivity of nerve impulses, reduces the risk of atherosclerosis.
Female and male pine cones
Pine is a dioecious culture, which means that both female and male cones grow on the tree. Biologically, they are modified shoots during the long years of evolution.
Female cones - from 3 to 7.5 cm in length, in the shape of a cone, grow singly or 2-3 fruit in the top of a tree. Immature specimens are painted in dark pink or red, then they are lignified and turn brown. These fruits contain ovules, located two on two scales. They stick together after pollination and will be closed for about 20 months. Ripe winged seeds scatter from the opened cone in January-February.Did you know? Cream of cedar cones in Siberia is produced, which is almost 3 times higher than the fat content of a similar cow product.
Male reproductive organs in an unripe form of yellow-green color. Pollen ripens in the bags in them, which is subsequently blown onto the ovules by the wind. Male cones are formed at the tips of the shoots of the current year. They are not much smaller in size than the female fruit, and more ovoid in shape. As they mature, they also lignify and acquire a brown color.
If we consider the role of the sex of the lump for medicinal purposes, this is not of fundamental importance. Both those and others have the same chemical composition, and, therefore, properties.Did you know? Cones react sharply to changes in air humidity: when it decreases, the flakes open, and when they increase, on the contrary, they are pressed against the stem.
The use of cones for medicinal purposes
The medicinal properties are recognized by both folk and official medicine. Recipes from the people are infusions, decoctions, teas, which have an excellent effect and enhance the therapeutic effect. In pharmacology, extracts, elixirs and oil from pine cones are prepared.
Before taking drugs according to a folk prescription, you should consult your doctor. Coniferous medicines may not be compatible with the prescribed therapy and have a number of contraindications.
For the treatment of blood vessels
The benefits of pharmacy extract and homemade alcohol tincture for blood vessels are invaluable. Preparations strengthen not only large canals and arteries, but also small capillaries. The tool has the ability to reduce bad cholesterol, which, in turn, is the prevention of blood clots. In addition, the risk of intracranial pressure and atherosclerosis is reduced, as the vessels of the whole body, including the brain, are strengthened.
From bronchitis
A complex of substances in the composition of pine fruits exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect, killing an infection that affects the respiratory system. The diluting and expectorant property of the medicinal product helps the gathered sputum to move away. In addition to a decoction for drinking, it is useful to conduct a course of treatment with inhalation. Resins, volatile and essential oils will also contribute to the elimination of sputum, and also relieve the pain experienced by tearing cough, soothe the mucous membranes. You need to breathe over a decoction of pine raw materials for 5-7 minutes, covered with a towel.
Important! Treatment with cones is undesirable for people over 60 years old. It is not recommended to give drugs to children under 7 years of age. The medicine is contraindicated in diseases of the kidneys and liver.
For asthma
With a disease, due to various factors, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi occurs, a lot of mucus is produced, which narrows the airways. As a result, they swell, the patient begins to suffocate.
The reasons that provoke this phenomenon can be:
- genetics;
- allergy;
- cold;
- contaminated air;
- set of factors.
One of the steps taken is the relaxation of the muscles of the respiratory tract, the release of accumulated mucus. It will be useful for patients to do the inhalations described above, since their effect is similar to industrial inhalers for asthmatics.
Traditional medicine also recommends milk-pine infusion.
Prepare it in the following sequence:
- Green cones 5-6 pcs. placed in a thermos.
- A piece of pine resin 2 × 2 cm is added here.
- The ingredients are poured with hot milk of 0.5 l, mixed and corked.
- Insist 4 hours, then filter and drink twice a day for 1 tbsp. l within 2 months.
From pressure
An increase in blood pressure provokes vasospasm. This is due to severe excitement, nervous and physical overload.
Alcoholic pine tincture has a complex effect on the body:
- Expands blood vessels, which automatically lowers blood pressure.
- Relieves spasm.
- Soothes the nervous system.
- Relaxes muscles and tissues, tones.
With gastritis
To alleviate the condition with gastritis, honey from the product helps. Green cones fill 2/3 of the capacity of 3 liters, pour natural honey, about 1 liter. Insist 3 months, shaking the contents daily. Use 1 tbsp. before meals three times a day. The tandem of two useful components will gently soothe inflammation of the gastric mucosa and reduce acidity. Both ingredients are useful for digestion and elimination of putrefactive processes, heartburn, flatulence.
Important! In order not to cause even greater harm, discuss the concentration of the medicinal infusion, dosage and course of use with your doctor.
With a stroke
The cause of a stroke may be a blood clot, which blocked the access of oxygen or rupture of a blood vessel, so one of the preventive measures is to strengthen the walls of arteries and capillaries. Infusion and broth counteract the formation of blood clots, increase the elasticity of blood vessels, normalize blood pressure and eliminate edema. If a stroke has occurred, the decoction will serve as a restorative therapy, since the tannins in its composition inhibit the destruction and death of brain cells.
Cones using recipes
The benefits of folk recipes are that they are not expensive, affordable and natural. In addition, one remedy can serve as a medicine for various ailments. Drugs for alcohol should not be given to people with alcohol dependence and children. You also need to consider that the main component and some additional products, such as honey, are allergenic. Before using the prepared drug, you need to make sure that there is no individual negative reaction to the components.
Tincture
The tool can be taken not only as a therapeutic, but also for the prevention, for example, colds.
Preparation and use of tincture:
- Fruits in the amount of 5-6 pcs. crushed and filled with alcohol 200 ml.
- Insist the drug for 2-3 weeks in a dark, dry place.
- Consume 1 hour in the morning after eating.
Jam
Cooking a sweet medicine, in fact, does not differ from fruit and berry recipes. The fruits need to be washed and chopped into pieces 1.5 × 1.5 cm.
Did you know? Pine wood is used to make artificial silk and leatherette.
Further instructions:
- In a pan with a thick bottom, syrup is made from water and sugar in a ratio of 400 ml / 1.5 kg.
- When the mixture becomes thick, sweet grains dissolve completely, add the main component.
- Jam is prepared on the principle of five minutes: bring to a boil, remove from heat, let cool completely and repeat the procedure 2 more times.
Video: pine cone jam
Tea
A cone drink can be consumed like regular tea, boosting the immune system.
Prepare it like this:
- Rinse and grind raw materials.
- Pour 200 ml of water into the fire.
- Wait for the boil and cook for 5 minutes.
As a medicinal product, take 50 ml 3 times a day after meals. The drink calms the nervous system, helps to restore a healthy sleep, is useful for the reproductive system of men and women.
Syrup
A sweet preparation is useful for colds, coughs (relieves sore throat), and digestive upsets.
Did you know? Tallest pines — Lambert. The oldest representatives of the species reach a height of 70–80 meters.
Syrup preparation:
- 8-10 crushed cones are boiled in a liter of water.
- Insist a day.
- Then the liquid is filtered, add 1 kg of sugar.
- Simmer for 2 hours.
- The mixture is poured into sterile containers hot.
- Roll up the lid. Store as preservation.
When is it better to collect cones
In the campaign for the collection of raw materials you need to go to ecologically clean regions, otherwise there will be no benefit from the product. Be sure to arm yourself with gloves, since pine resin is difficult to wash off from the skin of the hands. For the same reason, it is advisable to collect the material in a container, which is not a pity (a bag of polyethylene). Harvest time is May – June, when the fruits are small in size, immature. At this time, they have the highest concentration of vitamins and other elements.
How to store
Green cones are not stored for long at home, after a few days the process of decay begins inside the fruit. You can save them only in a freezer. The raw materials are preliminarily placed in a wax paper bag. Remove as needed. You need to defrost in the refrigerator, in the vegetable compartment or on the top shelf.
Alcohol tincture can be stored for a long time, but in a dark and dry place. A decoction or infusion is prepared exactly enough to use immediately, it can stand in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Jam is stored as usual sweet preservation, if the jar is clogged with a nylon cover, then in the refrigerator.Nature is rich in medicines that literally grow under our feet or at eye level. You only need to be able to use natural wealth and use it correctly.