Allow me to introduce you to Pine Needle Tea. White Pine (Pinus strobus) is an upright evergreen tree and they grow in most places, in the mountains, in the countrysides, even in some city parks. You may have seen them but did you know that they are medicinal?
They have been used as medicine for thousands of years in many indigenous cultures by ancient medicine men, shamans,
aboriginals and monks.
Here are some of the benefits of pine
needle tea that I found during my research:
Boosts the immune system
Speeds healing process
Improves vision
Improves lung health
Helps prevent respiratory infections
Has anti-viral properties
Is an anti-oxidant
Has antiseptic qualities
Helps in stimulating circulation
Strengthens heart health
Helps lower blood pressure
Helps to relieve conditions such as varicose veins
Neutralises free radicals
Helps detox
Helps increase cognitive performance
Helps bring mental clarity
Helps depression
Helps with allergies
Better sleep...and more!
Wow! That is a list and I haven't included every benefit.
I am not a doctor but I have been using plants as medicines for over a decade and I know, through my own experience that they work. I believe in plants, in Mother Nature more than human certified doctors. Yes, modern science is good for acute conditions but for chronic conditions...uh uh. All they do is diagnose, give it a label and prescribe synthetic pills. For years I suffered until I decided to do something about it myself. I ditched their synthetic medication, I call it 'plastic medicine' and started on my journey of becoming natural once again, the way I was made. My body started to respond and over a period of time, Mother Nature has brought me back to balance. But this blog is not about my story, it's about pine needle tea, so, let's get back to it.
It is said that pine needles can be used as a natural remedy for up to 80% of human diseases. It is just a powerhouse of health!
They contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals including high levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and they are a natural source of Suramin. What is Suramin? I will not write here, I will leave it to you to do your own research, you may come upon some very interesting information, which is relevant to the current time.
It is said that Taoist monks drank pine needle tea as they believed it made them live longer. I believe there is researched evidence that pine needle tea can help slow the ageing process.
So, what are you waiting for? Let's make some tea. It is so easy to make. Here's how you can do it:
Pick some pine needles or buy some, if you do not have a tree near you. Wildcrafted is the best.
Boil some water, I like boiling mine in a pan. As soon as the water is boiled, take it off the heat. You could also boil it in a kettle and pour it into a pan or a cafetière. Do not boil the pine needles.
Add the roughly chopped pine needles into the hot water.
Cover it and let it steep for 20 mins. The warm water will extract the compounds from the needles that contain all the goodness for you.
Strain it and drink it. That simple! You could add a dash of honey or a squeeze of lemon if you'd like. I like mine just as it is.
You can also drink it cool... add some fresh mint sprigs, some lemon slices and sip it on a hot summer's day! What's not to love about it...detox, boost, regenerate!
I have made a video to help you identify the tree and how to make the tea. Hope it helps.
I love it because I love the fragrance of pine anyway. I not only drink tea, I have also made a pine needle infused oil which I use for any skin issues, bites or itches and I am also making a tincture. I am a fan.
Some people ask me, do all these natural things work? My reply to that is, 'No', 'if you don't try it' and 'Yes', 'if you detox your body and allow the plant medicine to integrate into your blood to do its magic'. You have to try it for yourself to know if it works or not. All I can say is that we are natural beings, we are meant to feed only natural things into our bodies. Enjoy your cup of pine needle tea. Let me know how you like it and how it has helped you. I'd love to hear from you. With lots of love, warm hugs and healing goodness from Pachamama.
Note: If you have foraged the needles, try drinking a small amount first to make sure your body is accepting it alright.