Pine buds: medicinal properties and contraindications

Pine buds are used in medicine since ancient times. They are often used as a cure for bronchitis. They are famous for their expectorant qualities. It is known that even walking in the pine forest is beneficial for the respiratory organs, not to mention tinctures, decoctions and other medicines.

Chemical Composition

In the pine buds is a large variety of chemicals of organic origin. They contain many different vitamins, resins, essential oils and phytoncides. Each substance in its own way affects the body, and the final result of treatment depends on how the medicine is prepared. For example, decoction from pine buds contains more tannins, and alcohol is able to enhance the effect of essential oils better than other substances.

Each bud contains the following elements in a certain amount:

1. Essential oils. These components are beneficial to the muscle tissue as well as the urinary system. Essential oil relieves spasm, has diuretic and choleretic effects. Also, essential oils relieve fatigue and can restore immunity after illness.
2. Iron. Improves circulatory and respiratory function. Provides the body with an oxygen reserve.
3. Vitamins C (ascorbic acid), K, B. They can strengthen the immune system and are also involved in the normal development of tissue cells. These vitamins are responsible for the development of blood vessels and strengthen the body for all diseases.
4. Calcium. It is an essential element for the formation of bone tissue. If this element is deficient, it can cause problems with the heart, blood vessels, and even the nervous system. Calcium is responsible for the production of hormones and enzymes in the body.
5. Potassium. Very important element for the proper functioning of the kidneys, liver. It plays an important role in the heart and blood vessels, prevents the accumulation of sodium salts in the body. Their large amount can eventually lead to sclerosis. Potassium also helps to saturate cells with oxygen.
6. Resinous substances. Arrange the nervous and autonomic systems, can improve the condition of patients with asthma and tuberculosis.
7. Tannin. This element is known for its ability to restore brain cells damaged by a stroke and slow the death of nerve cells in the body.
8. Tannins. They are a natural antibiotic, purify the intestines, prevent various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Envelopes the intestines with a protective shell that prevents the development of inflammation.
9. Magnesium. Prevents infections from entering the body, is responsible for normal heart and vascular function, and has anti-inflammatory effects.
10. Nickel. Able to regulate hormones in the body, has a positive effect on the kidneys and pituitary gland, increases the effectiveness of insulin.

Thanks to the presence of important elements, pine buds have a positive impact on the human body. They often become a component of various medicines.

Collection and storage

Gather the raw material for medicinal purposes can only be collected in spring. During this period, the shoots have a light brown color outside and green or brown inside. On top of the buds are many scales, which are connected by resin. The buds themselves have a distinctly pleasant aroma and taste bitter. In spring, the buds begin to swell but have not yet opened. During this period, they contain more resin and it is important to collect them in time. It is not necessary to collect buds that have had time to open at least minimally. The buds used for treatment should have tightly pressed scales. It is easier to cut the buds from the tree with scissors, but you can also pluck them with your hands. In this case, you need to use gloves, as the resin with which they are impregnated is poorly washed off. The buds should be cut with a small shoot, no more than 5 mm.

After collecting the buds, it is important to dry them. To do this, spread them out in a thin layer on a piece of cloth or piece of paper. You can leave them on the balcony, then in good weather they can dry for 7-10 days. Do not store raw materials on the attic or use special means for drying, because the resin will evaporate and the buds will quickly decay. Ready raw material at the incision should not release any liquids.

Store the buds in a dark place so that they have constant access to fresh air. You also need to keep an eye on the humidity of the air, it should be low. If all storage conditions are met, they can last for 2 years. But it is better to use fresh buds for treatment, so it is recommended not to store them for more than one year.

Medicinal properties of pine buds

Pine buds have a whole set of positive qualities. They are mainly used to relieve patients with bronchitis, to treat coughs, but they have a number of other positive effects on the body. Among all the healing properties, several of the most important stand out separately:

1. Elimination of cough. They are often used in combination with other medicines. This plant can thin sputum, so it is a good expectorant. It is often used for pneumonia, bronchitis and even asthma.
2. Treatment of the upper respiratory tract. In addition to the ability to thin sputum, pine buds have a pronounced antiviral effect. They are used externally, internally, and as inhalations. Pine buds significantly relieve the disease in a short period of time.
3. Elimination of problems with the urinary system. Pine buds are often used to treat urological diseases. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory that helps cope with cystitis and many other infectious pathologies of the urinary system.
4. Headache Relief. Pine buds can cope with headaches, even for migraines. They are often used as an ingredient for syrups. Even the very smell of pine needles is good for the head. It helps strengthen the nerves and often helps patients cope with depression, improving the overall emotional state.
5. Normalization of pressure. They are no worse than drugs can lower blood pressure. In addition, regular intake of buds allows you to prevent a rise in blood pressure in the future. They are also able to clean the blood vessels, which is the prevention of atherosclerosis.
6. Elimination of muscle pain. Pine buds are notable for their ability to relieve inflammation and acute pain in various diseases of the joints, muscles or bones. They are used to make decoctions for lotions. They are very good to cope with sciatica and gout.
7. Improvement of the condition after a stroke. This becomes possible thanks to the tannins contained in the composition of pine buds. This element allows you to restore the function of the nervous system in people who have suffered a stroke. But you should not rely only on a folk remedy in the restoration of body functions after a stroke. It should be used in combination with medication.

For women

Pine buds have a beneficial effect on the female body. During menopause, they can reduce fatigue and irritability. The essential oils that comprise them act as irritants to the female genitalia, thereby provoking their intense work. They also restore fertility.

There are also a large number of ointments based on pine buds. They can significantly transform the skin. Facial masks are made from pine buds with the addition of many other useful substances. They clean pores, remove skin irritation, restore its appearance.

You can strengthen hair follicles with a decoction. It will prevent them from falling out. Such procedures are also useful for brittle hair and can restore the lost shine and volume.

For men

For men, this medicine is no less useful. First of all, they are valuable diuretic action. Also pine buds can remove bile from the body, allow you to cope with diseases of the genitourinary system. They are often used to treat the genitals. It is also an excellent tonic that can strengthen the immune system.

Pregnancy

At the beginning of pregnancy, the use of drugs can have unfortunate consequences. This is especially true during the formation of the fetus's organs. Therefore, women often turn to folk medicine. But do not forget that even folk remedies have a number of contraindications, and pine buds are no exception. They lower blood pressure, as well as increase blood clotting, so they can not be taken during pregnancy, despite the impressive list of useful substances.

For children

Pine buds can not be used to treat children under 12 years of age. This refers to the intravenous administration of the drug. Instead, inhalations from the decoction are used. This procedure should last no longer than 10 minutes. You can also prepare hot baths with the addition of decoction of pine buds. This will also allow you to breathe in the healing steam. But it is necessary to observe the dosage, since pine buds are quite active drug.

Children from 12 years of age can be given jam from pine cones in winter to strengthen the immune system and the body as a whole before the cold weather. Also every year in the winter comes the flu, and since school is a place where a lot of people congregate, children are highly exposed to the risk of infection. Taking pine tea will help to prepare thoroughly and prevent illness. In case of illness, you can apply compresses from the tincture.

Pine buds in folk medicine

Since ancient times, people have known all the positive effects of this medicine. To date, there are a huge number of recipes for preparing medicines aimed at all kinds of diseases.

Recipe for cough, bronchitis and other lung diseases

Ingredients:

• 150 g of pine buds.
• 0.5 vodka.
• 1 lemon.
• 200 grams of honey.

Divide the buds into two equal parts, in one half pour vodka and put in a dark place for 14 days. Pour a glass of water over the rest, add honey and the juice squeezed from a whole lemon. The resulting mixture insist at least 14 days, stirring regularly. After 14 days, mix with the first part, pour into a jar and leave in the refrigerator for at least a month. Thanks to the vodka, the preparation will be stored for a long time. Use a tablespoon, but no more than 5 times a day. The duration of treatment can be any.

Recipe for a strong cough

Ingredients:

• Pine buds.
• Sugar.
• Cahor.

To prepare it, you need to thoroughly grind the pine buds. The resulting pulp put a thin layer at the bottom of a glass jar, sprinkle the sugar on top. On top of the sugar, put the mush again and so on until the ingredients run out. Keep the mush in a jar until the juice appears. As soon as it begins to stand out, it must be drained and mixed with cahogor in the proportion 1:1.

Recipe for the treatment of asthma

Ingredients:

• Pine buds - 20 g.
• Plantain - 20 g.
• Boiling water - 200 g.

Finely chop the herbs, mix thoroughly and pour a glass of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 2-3 hours. Reheat in a water bath decoction and again leave for another as long. Drink in small portions throughout the day. Increase the effectiveness of the remedy by adding mother and stepmother to the composition.

Recipe for the treatment of IBC

Ingredients:

• A glass of milk.
• A small handful of pine buds.

Finely chop the buds, add them to the milk. Put on the stove, bring to a boil. After another 20 minutes, remove from heat and leave to infuse. Consume in small portions.

Recipe against sore throat

Ingredients:

• 30 g of pine buds.
• A glass of boiling water.

Pour boiling water over the buds, wrap with a blanket and insist at least 15-20 minutes. Strain the liquid and use for treatment. A small amount of decoction should be mixed with a glass of water to gargle the throat.

Recipe for the treatment of osteochondrosis

Ingredients:

• A handful of kidneys.
• Water.
• 200 g of sugar or honey.

Pine buds grind any convenient way, it is easier to do it with a meat grinder, then put in a three-liter jar, adding sugar (honey). All this mixture pour water. Insist in a cool place until it is ready, you can tell by the color. As soon as the mixture gets a brownish hue, strain the liquid. Take 1 tablespoon half an hour before meals. The minimum course of treatment is 20 days, if necessary, it can be repeated after a week. This recipe can also be used to treat bronchitis. The liquid should be added to tea.

Recipe for weight loss

Few people know, but pine buds can help even people who are losing weight. It is important to understand that in order to lose weight, it is not enough just to change your diet. It is a whole complex of procedures. For example, pine kidney extract will help improve blood circulation, remove toxins and detoxes. It also keeps the body toned and eliminates insomnia. All you need to do is add a small amount of extract to a hot bath. It will be enough for 15 minutes at a time, and after a while you will see the results.

Also pine buds can reduce the appetite. You can chew a few pieces before going to bed, so that you don't want to eat too much.

Recipe for inhalation

With an incessant cough, inhalations will be very effective.

Ingredients:

• Water.
• 60-80 grams of pine buds.

Boil the water, throw the pine buds in it, and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, inhale for no longer than 10 minutes. To increase the therapeutic effect, you can add to the broth a spoonful of dried sage.

Types of medicinal compositions

Decoction and infusion are the main medicinal preparations of pine buds. But they are also used to make ointments, teas, jam and syrup. In any form, they retain the maximum useful properties.

Infusion

Infusion is characterized by simplicity in preparation. It does not require vodka, which is an advantage for people who do not tolerate alcohol. This method of preparation of the remedy allows you to preserve as many useful substances as possible.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. of pine buds.
• 200 ml of boiling water.

Pour the buds with boiling water, then cover tightly and insist at least two hours. After straining, you can drink. Infusion is often used as an expectorant. But it is also drunk with colds, flu, viral diseases. The infusion is an excellent antipyretic. Use 2 tablespoons, no more than 3 times a day.

Tincture .

This is the most popular remedy in folk medicine. Alcohol or vodka is used to prepare the infusion. This remedy has gained wide popularity due to the possibility of long-term storage, as well as a wide range of applications. Tincture is used not only internally, but also as a rubbing and liquid for compresses.

Also, do not forget that alcohol enhances the positive effects of essential oil, which is part of the pine buds. Such a tincture is an excellent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial agent. It accelerates the healing of wounds and has a positive effect on the body as a whole, strengthens the nervous system, leads to tone.

There are many ways to prepare a tincture in alcohol. It is important to consider that the process is time-consuming, so you need to make the tincture in advance.

Recipe 1
Ingredients:

• 2 jars of 1 l.
• Bottle of vodka
• 8-10 tablespoons of buds.
• 1 lemon.
• 300 grams of honey.

Pine buds divide into two equal parts and pour into both jars. Next, pour a bottle of vodka in one jar, and a glass of water, honey and lemon juice in the other. Both jars tightly closed and put in a dark place for 14 days. After that, strain the liquids, mix, pour into one vessel and place in the refrigerator for 30 days. After a month you can use the tincture.

Use as an adjunctive medicine to fight colds, viruses, sore throat, lung diseases. Drink 1 tablespoon, no more than 5 times a day.

You can also drink the tincture for prevention, to strengthen the immune system. In this case, use no more than 3 spoons a day.

Recipe #2
Ingredients:

• Pine buds.
• A liter jar.
• Bottle of vodka.

The buds are thoroughly crushed and fill about 1/3 of the jar. Pour the vodka, cover tightly and put in a warm place for a week. From time to time you need to stir the contents of the jar.

Such a tincture is used to treat intestinal and lung diseases. The most effective course of treatment with this tincture lasts 60 days. During this time, it is necessary to apply 1 spoon three times a day. If there is a need to repeat the course of treatment, you can do it not earlier than 3-4 weeks.

Also this recipe for tincture is ideal for use as a rubbing or compress.

Decoction

Decoction is an excellent antipyretic. It is used for the flu and colds. With a high fever, it can quickly lower the temperature by 0.5 degrees or more. Also decoction of pine buds is useful to drink in diseases of the genitourinary system. It is especially effective for the treatment of cystitis.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of pine buds.
• Water.

Chop the pine buds very finely, pour water, then bring to a boil and boil for half an hour. Strain the decoction and add boiled water to the previous volume. Take a tablespoon no more than 3 times a day.

Tea

Tea from pine buds strengthens the immune system, so it is a good prevention of colds and various viral diseases and a strong diuretic.

On 100 grams of pine buds need 200 ml of water. Pour boiling water over raw material and insist for 5 minutes. Take teaspoons, not more than 3 times a day.

Syrup .

Syrup copes great with diseases of the joints and spine. It is often used to treat acute respiratory infections, problems with the lungs and genitals.

The syrup requires fresh buds, so make it in the spring. The course of treatment with the syrup is about 3 months, so you will need a lot of raw materials. To make the syrup, you need to take a full three-liter jar of buds. They should be thoroughly washed, put through a meat grinder and add a glass of sugar to the resulting pulp. Instead of sugar, you can use honey, you will need 2 cups. Many argue that honey is more effective for syrup. Stir the resulting mixture and put it in a dark place for 10-14 days.

As soon as the syrup becomes brown, it can be consumed. First you need to decant the liquid, then carefully squeeze the pulp. The resulting syrup can be stored in a plastic bottle. Take the syrup once a day for 1 teaspoon before meals for 2-3 months. Already after some time, pain in the joints will be noticeably weaker.

What is useful jam of pine buds

Pine bud jam is not only tasty, but also incredibly useful treat. It has healing properties due to the composition of the main ingredient. The jam concentrates a large number of biologically active substances. The sugar used in cooking allows them to be preserved for a long time. In any jam, you can add other ingredients that will enhance the basic effect of pine buds. Jam has antiviral, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and expectorant effects. In addition, the use of jam with tea reduces the likelihood of high blood pressure.

Recipe
Ingredients:

• 500 g of pine buds.
• 1 kg sugar.
• 0.5 liters of water.

Pine buds are thoroughly washed and pour water. Then put on a stove and cook over a low heat for half an hour, then drain the liquid. Add sugar to the water, stir until it is completely dissolved, then put on the stove and bring to a boil. When the water begins to boil, add the pine buds and leave on the heat for another 20 minutes. Pour the ready jam in vessels, tightly corked and leave to cool under a warm blanket. After cooling, you can move the jam to a pantry or cellar.

Cosmetic use

Pine buds are widely used in cosmetology. They can not only have a beneficial effect on the skin, but also help to cope with hair loss. In addition, treated with the infusion of pine buds hair will look healthier, will be smooth and lush.

To clean the skin of the body, use therapeutic baths with pine buds. They moisturize the skin, remove rashes, irritations, also promote rapid healing of wounds. Pine buds can also prevent cellulite.

For the skin of the face in pure form pine buds are not used, but they are part of many ointments and scrubs.

Therapeutic Skin Ointment
Ingredients:

• Egg - 1 pc.
• Tincture on pine buds.

Separate the protein and add to it 12 drops of tincture. Mix thoroughly and apply to the skin not more than 3 times a week. After two hours, wash off the ointment and rinse the skin with hot water. This ointment helps to get rid of skin redness, fungus, as well as irritation.

Other Recipes:

1. In winter the skin suffers from a lack of vitamins and proper nutrition. To keep it in a healthy state will allow the lotion from the pine buds. The basis of the lotion will be decoction of the buds - a small handful pour hot water and bring to a boil in a water bath. Once it has cooled, pour the mixture into a clean bowl, cover tightly and place in the refrigerator. Once it has cooled, you can wipe the skin. Such lotion will protect the skin from pimples caused by microbes.
2. You can clean the pores of your face with a steam bath of pine buds. Regular inhalation removes black spots from the face and also destroys sebaceous plugs. Pour half a cup of pine buds in boiling water, then bend over the container, covering your head with a towel. Inhalation should be carried out for 5-10 minutes, then rinse your face with cool water and apply cream.
3. The essential oils contained in the pine buds help to strengthen the hair. This is one of the most effective ways to combat baldness. Also, the essential oil will bring back the lost shine and beauty of your hair. Squeeze the juice from a handful of fresh pine buds, pour it into a tightly closed vessel. Add a few drops to shampoo or hair rinse. Regular use of such a shampoo can get rid of dandruff. You can also strengthen your hair by adding a few drops of oil to a comb.
4. To strengthen the hair, you can use a rinse prepared from pine buds. You need 5 liters of water and 500 grams of buds. They should be immediately poured into the water, bring to a boil and leave on low heat for another 20 minutes. The resulting liquid strain, cool. Rinse hair with the broth after washing your hair. You can also rub the liquid into the roots of hair. Use no more than once every two days.
5. To restore the softness of the skin of the hands, you will also need squeezed oil from pine buds. You need to add a few drops to your hand cream and regularly lubricate your hands at night. Pine oil will not only make your skin healthy and soft, but also strengthen your nails.

Contraindications for usage

Any medicinal product, even from folk medicine, has its contraindications, and pine buds are no exception. Any medication based on pine buds has a pronounced pine aroma. This smell is not equally liked by everyone. Some people have an individual intolerance, which can lead to headaches. If this happens, it is better to immediately stop treatment and look for alternative remedies.

Pine buds in any form should not be given to children under 1 year old, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers. Pine bud jam can be given only after 8 years of age.

People with hypotension should not take medicines based on pine buds, because they lower blood pressure, not raise it. It is also not recommended to drink them for hepatitis and thrombosis.

Photo of pine buds