Pine cones: medicinal properties and contraindications

Why are sanatoriums and children's health camps located in pine forests so popular? The air there has a powerful healing power, calms the nervous system and increases the body's resistance to disease. Systematic walks in a pine forest cure many diseases without medicines, because pine trees emit phytoncides, disinfecting the air. The maximum amount of phytoncides is released in summer, in hot sunny weather. At this time you can take a walk in the woods, breathe in the healing air, and at the same time pick cones, from which later to prepare medicinal compositions and survive the autumn slush and winter prickly winds. Cones will also help in the treatment of other diseases.

Chemical Composition

Cones are rich in resinous acids, vitamins, minerals and tannins, which make them a real serious help to a person who is sick and healthy. First of all, these are vitamins, each of which is responsible for a particular body function.

For example, vitamin A is supposed to keep the muscles toned and the eyesight in order, and its deficiency is fraught with frequent inflammations. Vitamin B1 makes the heart work without interruption, stimulates the digestive tract and keeps the nervous system in check. If it is lacking, the blood vessels are in trouble. Vitamin C is known for actively supporting the immune system. Vitamin H also helps their function, sets up the digestion, nervous system and boosts the immune system.

Without vitamin E, the metabolic process can not go properly, it is also necessary to maintain the functions of the reproductive system. Vitamin U is "charged" to make blood vessels elastic, eliminate their fragility, protect the body from allergies and atherosclerosis. In addition, this component of the cones effectively counteracts hypertension.

The set of minerals contained in the cones is no less rich. So, potassium is considered good for improving the respiratory system, heart and blood vessels. Calcium has long been recognized as the best building material for bones and muscles. Magnesium is the substance without which the brain and nervous system can not withstand the daily pressures. In addition, it is a good way to protect the body from infections and related diseases.

The normal course of metabolic processes is associated with phosphorus, which is also a component of the chemical composition of cones. Iron is responsible for metabolism and delivery of oxygen to organs and tissues.

The cones also contain mineral salts, iodine, sodium, tannin, and organic acids, all of which are extremely important for a healthy human existence. Thanks to the essential oils, cones retain all their useful properties.

Phytoncides, also called natural antibiotics, have the ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria or even destroy them, and bioflavonoids control capillary permeability, that is, play a role in the blood supply. Carotene (or provitamin A) is involved in various processes in the body, particularly supports reproductive function, heart function, and its shortage has a negative impact on the immune system.

Resins protect people from the penetration of fungi and other pathogens, as in nature protect the pine itself. Turpentine, which is an integral part of the resin, is able to effectively disinfect and heal wounds, stop blood.

Terpene compounds in the cones are indispensable participants in the metabolic process, they participate in the synthesis of bile acids and cholesterol.

Harvesting and storing

If the cones are collected correctly, the benefits from them will be more. In order to maximize the preservation of the useful properties of medicinal raw materials, during the collection it is necessary to adhere to several simple rules.

1. First, the highest quality cones can be found in mature pine forests, which are already about 30 years old. It is at this age that trees begin to generously build buds, from which cones are formed. If a tree shows any signs of decay or insect infestation, it is better to avoid it.
2. Secondly, the forest must be located in an environmentally clean and safe place - where there are no cities that can damage the nature with emissions from industrial plants, and away from highways and automobile emissions.
3. Thirdly, you must collect the raw material no later than mid-June, because at this time the cones are still young and soft and can be easily cut with a knife. This is also the time when the cones contain the most healthful substances.

Cones that can be harvested grow on young twigs, differing from last year's with their bright green color. If the fruit is ripe or not, you can check it by pressing it with your fingernail. The best cones for medicinal purposes are undamaged, juicy, thick, resinous and sticky. They can be different sizes - from 1 to 5 cm, their length does not affect the quality of the product.

To wash or not to wash cones before processing, everyone decides for himself. Of course, when washing, some of the useful qualities will be lost. But at the same time, you can be sure that neither dust, nor dirt, nor pollen from other plants, nor anything else similar and undesirable for the human body in the finished medicines.

To prepare infusion, decoction, syrup, jam or tincture, freshly harvested cones are best. But they must be used within three days of harvesting. If you need a longer storage, it is better to dry the cones. This way they are able to retain their healing properties for two years.

Can pine cones be frozen?
To prevent green young cones from starting to rot, they can also be frozen. Washed and dried raw material is placed in portion bags, using both polyethylene and made of wax paper. They are put in the freezer, and if necessary, take out and defrost on a shelf in the refrigerator. Like dried cones, frozen cones retain their medicinal properties for two years.

Therapeutic properties of pine cones

Science has studied cones quite deeply. As a result of research, quite a few preparations have been created, which are used by medicine. Most often these are syrups or ointments, which help to normalize blood pressure. That is why pine cones-based remedies are prescribed for the treatment of hypertension or as a means of preventing cardiovascular diseases.

1. Due to the presence of special kinds of tannins that help stop the processes of neuronal decay and brain areas dying, cones are used in the treatment of stroke. In addition, tannins can thin the blood and thus prevent the formation of blood clots. The ability of cones to resist stroke has been proven through major research. Today, medical science and pharmacy have gone further - the most serious specialists are working on the creation of pills from cones, effective for treating strokes.
2. Widely used compositions based on the cones in various respiratory diseases - they are used internally and make inhalations, than coughing up attacks in case of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and bronchitis. Also, these compositions gargle with sore throat in case of angina.
3. Preparations made of cones have a strong immune-stimulating effect. Therefore, they are prescribed for vitamin deficiency, to boost strength after surgery, heavy illness and as a means to prevent scurvy.
4. Diseases of the digestive system are another area of active use of pine cones. Healing solutions on the cones support the stomach, treat gastritis and ulcers, have a beneficial effect on the activity of the pancreas.
5. Recommend preparations from pine cones in cases where you need to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, in particular with varicose veins. To this end, healing compositions and use the inside, and take them to bath, helping to reduce swelling, heaviness and pain in the legs.
6. Assign alcoholic tinctures of pine cones in problems with the joints, as these products have analgesic effect. Appoint them externally - make lotions and rubs. Also rub the sore spots with rheumatic and radiculitis pain, gout, neuralgia of the trigeminal or occipital nerve, myositis.

Outwardly, the lump remedies are used for skin diseases - eczema, scabies, herpes and various allergies.

If you need to heal the nerves - and here cones will help. Strengthen the nervous system can be used with infusions, decoctions, baths from medicinal cone compositions. You can ignite the aroma lamp with essential oil from pine cones - such a procedure is used to relieve stress and restore mental strength after exhausting work.

For women

Women can use cones to solve various problems. So, they have shown themselves well as an analgesic and tonic, so they are recommended to relieve discomfort and pain during menstruation.

1. The ability to relieve pain, coupled with the ability to fight infection, allows the use of decoctions and infusions of cones in cystitis, which are quite frequent in women. And the cones can be used both alone and in combination with nettle, lapwort, cornflower, angelica.
2. For the treatment of inflammatory diseases in gynecology, to the cones are added dried wormwood, lavender, nettle, clover, elderberry.
3. The compositions based on cones are also used to solve a problem that always worries all women - weight loss. It is possible to lose weight due to the ability of these medicinal products to discourage appetite.
4. Well, women would not be women if they had not learned how to use the cones for cosmetic purposes.

For Men

Practice shows that most men sooner or later have a problem with potency. There is nothing to be surprised about: in addition to purely physiological age reasons, men's health is also harmed by an unhealthy environmental situation, stresses at work. Way out of this situation - bath decoctions pine cones. If you can not take a bath, you can replace it with compresses.

To do this, boil the cones for half an hour after boiling and then leave them in the same pot for 12 hours. You should get a red-brown extract with a pleasant pine scent. You can either pour it into a bath or make a compress on this basis.

If you choose to take a bath, you should take it for at least 20 minutes. The water should not be hot. Regular use of this technique before going to bed improves potency and spurs the production of testosterone.

If you are pregnant

Take compositions based on pine cones during pregnancy is not worth it: no one can predict how it will affect the health of the future baby, because he may be allergic to the components of the product.

Baths with decoctions or infusions of cones can be taken, they are even useful if the future mother has problems with blood circulation, obvious signs of varicose veins, swollen legs. They are also useful as a sedative, able to normalize the nerves, upset due to a changed hormonal background. The bath will relax, improve the condition of the legs, reduce swelling. But it is important that the water is not hot.

In late pregnancy, it is better not to take a bath, because it is difficult for a woman. It is better to put compresses soaked in decoction of cones on the swollen legs.

For Children

For children, pine cones will be useful as a means of raising the immune system and alleviating the condition with colds, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, which are quite frequent in kids. In particular, the healing compositions of cones will help to pacify the cough, for which make inhalations, rubbing. Children over 7 years of age can be given healing decoctions and water infusions, but alcoholic tincture is strictly forbidden. With skin irritations, a child can be prepared a bath.

It should be remembered that the allowable dose of any medication for children should be half as much as for an adult.

Pine cones in folk medicine

Cones have been used to cure various ailments for centuries. How to use them, in what form, for what diseases - with such questions people addressed even to the ancient healers. They noticed that walking in a pine forest is useful, as it improves breathing, calms the cough, and just calms the nervous system.

Veduns, of course, did not know that the cause of the beneficial effects on breathing are phytoncides emitted by trees. They successfully disinfect the air and strengthen the immune system of a walker in the woods.

Today, folk medicine still uses medicinal compositions to treat avitaminosis, angina, bronchitis, laryngitis, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, arthritis, rheumatism, stroke, anemia, bruises, skin diseases, and to improve metabolism and raise immunity. Treatment with pine cones is currently one of the most common folk methods.

Types of healing compositions

From cones can be prepared such medicinal compositions as infusion, tincture, decoction, tea and jam.

Tincture in alcohol can be prepared at once in large quantities, as it is stored for a long time without losing its useful properties. The main condition - the place of storage should be dry and dark. But you can not use such remedies more than 10-15 days, otherwise you may become addicted.

Decoction or infusion should be prepared as much as required for one day, maximum - for two, store in the refrigerator.

Tea is brewed a little to drink at one time. Jam should be stored as all home preserves: if the jars are screwed tight - in a kitchen cabinet or cellar, if the lid of the capron - in the refrigerator.

Infusion .

1. To boost immunity. This infusion helps well if you need to get rid of coughs, improve immunity and add vitality to the body. Take 50 grams of freshly ground pine cones for half a liter of water. Heat water to boiling, pour it over cones and insist for two hours, tightly covered with a lid and covered with a towel for warmth. Strain and drink.
2. For swelling and rheumatism. Such an infusion of green cones is recommended if there is swelling, aching joints from rheumatism or arthritis. In these cases, the infusion can be both to drink, and impose with him compresses. Recommend this infusion and as a styptic. To prepare a daily quota of infusion scald two cups of boiling water in a pot cones (tablespoon). Cover the composition with a lid, which should be additionally insulated from the top with a small blanket or towel. Insist in this form for 12 hours. Drink during the day, dividing the resulting composition into 3-4 times.
3. For the thyroid gland. Pine cones collect, cut into slices and pour vodka (if available - medical alcohol) in such a volume that it was equal to the volume of raw materials. Allow to infuse a month. Protect it from sunlight. Drink for three weeks: three days a drop, then increase the rate to 5 drops. It is recommended for diseases of the pancreas and thyroid glands, but its use is contraindicated in the case of nodules on the thyroid.

Tincture

Alcoholic Tincture.
This is a tincture that is suitable for relieving both joint pain and colds. You need to pour a glass of chopped green cones in a liter jar, pour there a glass of liquid honey and after 24 hours top it up with vodka. To bring the healing composition to perfection, remove the jar for 10-12 days in a dark place - in the closet. On the joints you can apply compresses on its basis.

It is acceptable to take inside by a teaspoon, no more.

If you insist the cones not 10-12 days, and three weeks - the ready composition is good to clean blood vessels and to fight with cholesterol plaques. To strengthen blood vessels, it is enough to drink once a day in the morning, on an empty stomach, to get rid of plaques, 3 times a day.

Stroke tincture #1
Grind 6 cones, pour a glass of good vodka and insist in a dark place for two weeks, shaking from time to time. Strain and take it for a long time, at least six months. Drink a teaspoon three times a day. If used for prevention - once a day is enough.

Tincture from stroke #2
Fill a liter jar with washed cones, pour vodka. Insist in the dark for 40 days, strain and drink, diluting a teaspoon with tea or warm water. You can rub the tincture paralyzed part of the body. Apply this remedy only as part of a complex treatment, having previously consulted a doctor.

Tincture with cahogor.
Fill a liter jar with cones. Pour there the same 5 tablespoons of sugar and remove a couple of days to stand. Then fill the jar with cones up to the top of cahogor. Close tightly and put in a cool dark place for a month. Strain the finished tincture is not necessary. Take 3 times a day before a meal - a tablespoon, if cough or sore throat.

Decoction

1. Universal decoction. This remedy is drunk for colds, male or female problems, coughs, digestion, gallbladder, added to medicinal baths, etc. To prepare the broth, take a liter pot and fill one-third of its volume with crushed cones. Pour water to the top, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, no more. After turning off the heat cover the pan and wait until the broth cools. Drink after straining, adding honey or sugar to the broth. The resulting volume is drunk in two days.
2. Decoction for inhalation. Pour half a liter of water 4 large spoons of cones, under a lid bring to a boil and keep on the fire for another two minutes. Then cover your head and the pot with a towel and breathe over this decoction while there is still steam, about 15-17 minutes. The procedure helps with coughs, bronchitis and even angina.
3. Decoction with milk. Decoction is good to use for tuberculosis and complex diseases of the respiratory system - but as part of the therapy prescribed by the doctor. To prepare a healing solution, boil for half an hour two tablespoons of chopped cones in half a liter of milk. Insist for about half an hour or 40 minutes. The resulting milk decoction is drunk in a day, dividing the received norm into three times.

Tea .

In an enamel ladle with a glass of water, pour a teaspoon of crushed cones, bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Drink as a regular tea, with honey or jam.

Oil .

For 1 kg of washed and properly dried cones take a liter of cooking oil. Mix the ingredients in a saucepan, which is then placed in a water bath for an hour. During this period, all the useful substances pass from the cones in the original vegetable oil. The pot is removed from the water bath and allowed to cool, then poured into a glass dish and placed in the refrigerator. After a week, the oil is strained into another container, and after another 7 days, the operation is repeated. And only after two weeks, after double straining, the oil is ready for use. Store it in the refrigerator, using it to rub the sick joints or chest with bronchitis.

Syrup

Syrup from pine cones prescribed for colds, to improve immunity, to relieve the pain of rheumatism and gout, improve metabolism, men - to increase potency.

Take about 100 young cones, pour a liter of water and boil for about 20 minutes from the start of boiling. The fire is turned off, the composition is left to infuse for a day, after which the cones are removed and discarded, poured into the broth of 1 kg of sugar and boiled for about an hour and a half over low heat - until the syrup thickens. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice, mix and put in small sterilized jars. Keep this syrup in the refrigerator.

Cosmetic Applications

In cosmetology used properties of pine cones to protect the human body from free radicals due to a combination of vitamins A and C. They inhibit the process of cell damage, thus helping the skin to stay young longer. In addition, vitamin C accelerates the healing of the skin, A helps to reduce scarring - for example, in lesions such as acne. Pine cones are also good for hair health, because thanks to the healing compositions the curls become shiny, stop breaking, and also the dandruff disappears. And for hair, it is not necessary to use the remedies only for therapeutic purposes, you can also use them as a prophylactic.

For shiny hair.

For this composition you need not young and green, but more mature cones. Take 5-6 pieces, cut or broken into pieces and put to boil on low heat in a liter of water. When it boils, keep on the stove for another 15-20 minutes, then remove and let stand for about 40-60 minutes. Then in this pot drop apple cider vinegar (7-8 drops) and infused as much time. Then strain the decoction and rub into wet clean hair and scalp. The remedy is not washed off, and left on the hair for an hour and a half, the head should be wrapped in a towel. At the end, just rinse your hair with clean water.

For healthy hair

To hair do not fall out, were shiny, easy to comb, improved structure, disappeared dandruff, 3-4 drops of oil from pine cones added to the finished mask for hair. Use a mask as usual: apply to hair and wash out after a couple of minutes.

Ice for washing.

Such a tool will go well for those whose skin is problematic, for example, there are blackheads or not uncommon any inflammation. So, for 10 minutes, boil 6 cones in a liter of water, at the end of this period pour into the broth a tablespoon of chamomile or celandine and boil for another 3 minutes. Insist broth for an hour and a half, strain and pour into molds for ice. Send the molds to the freezer.

These ice cubes are washed in the morning and evening, without using tap water. Do not wipe with a towel. This is suitable for women with any type of skin. It is especially good for those whose skin is oily.

Mask for aging skin

This mask - a kind of first aid for the skin, it will help when you need to quickly clean up and, as they say, to appear in all its glory. For this purpose one egg yolk is beaten up with castor oil and pine cone oil. Take a half teaspoon each oil. Keep the mask on the face for 5 minutes.

Mask for oily skin

Whisk an egg white with a teaspoon of infusion of cones, lemon juice (tablespoon) and 3-5 grains of salt. Apply to the skin for 15 minutes. Wash off the mask with warm water, then rinse your face with cool water.

Oil for healthy eyelashes

Use a cotton swab to gently apply the oil from pine cones to the eyelashes. Apply a couple of times a week, the result will be noticeable in 2-3 weeks - lashes will be thicker, longer and softer. Even the mascara on these lashes is lying perfectly.

What is useful for pine cones jam

The original taste of an unusual forest delicacy, as a rule, is liked by everyone - both children and adults. In addition, pine cone jam is very useful. Doctors note several of its properties, which will help the body easier to bear illnesses and recover faster.

1. Jam has the ability to stop the development of colds - if a person is sick, tea with this product helps to reduce fever or chills, eliminate runny nose and cough. Thanks to its immune-stimulating properties, jam will raise your vitality, give you strength and vigor, and increase your efficiency.
2. If you are tired of coughing, pine cones jam will also come in handy. Medics have noticed that its expectorant properties are effective not only for the common cold, but for such serious illnesses as pneumonia, bronchitis, pleurisy, bronchial asthma and even tuberculosis. With a dry cough, jam will contribute to the liquefaction and removal of sputum, for a sweet treatment will be enough for a week, in severe cases - two. With asthma, a two-week intake of jam is alternated with a break of one month.
3. Jam from pine cones has a phytoncide effect, that is, the ability to fight viruses and bacteria. In addition, he is under the power and to cope with fungi. Because of these qualities, jam is used as a supportive agent in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections. When sore throat, it is not only able to eliminate pain in the throat, but also to clear it of pus and bring down the fever. If you additionally rinse your throat with the infusion, the recovery will come faster.
4. The presence of B vitamins in the product contributes to strengthening the cardiovascular system, as blood vessels become more elastic, and in combination with another component of pine cones - tannin - this sweet product prevents the occurrence of a stroke.
5. The positive effect of jam on the digestive system is also positive: it improves the peristalsis of the intestines, stimulates the activity of the pancreas, it is useful for stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers.
6. The antioxidant properties of jam help protect the human body from dangerous free radicals, which ultimately prevents the development of malignant tumors.
7. Jam is also good for the joints - if they are sore, sweet compresses will help. They have an analgesic effect. So you can put a tampon of jam on the tooth, and on the gum, if suddenly overcome by pain. The main thing - do not joke with your teeth, use sweetness as a method to endure until the visit to the dentist, but not more than a couple of days.
8. Do not tolerate such jam giardia and worms. To kick out the parasites that have settled in the body, you should start the morning with a tablespoon of sweet product. Jam on an empty stomach, without drinking, and after half an hour for breakfast - this is the scheme of the fight against uninvited guests in the body. Worms can be cured in a week, from giardia - in two.
9. You can even improve your appetite with pine cone jam. A teaspoon of tea - herbal or green - will make not only an adult, but even a capricious baby, refusing to eat normal healthy food. But introduce such jam into the child's diet carefully and gradually, watching for reactions, since this product can cause allergies.

The product is very useful, but we must remember not to overuse it. It is enough for adults two tablespoons per day, for children - no more than two teaspoons. And this rate should be divided into several times.

Recipe

Since young cones are sticky, quite often all kinds of debris sticks to them: grass, dust, pollen. To wash all this off, soak the cones in cold water for two hours before washing them. It is better to prepare a pot for cooking spacious, not aluminum, as it oxidizes. If you decide to cook in a clay pot, you should keep in mind that after making a jam, it will get darker on the inside.

A classic recipe
Jam according to this recipe is suitable for treating colds, bronchitis, pharyngitis, tuberculosis, strengthens the immune system well.

First, in a pot on a low heat boil the syrup: for 2 cups of water take 1.5 kg of sugar. When the syrup thickens and thickens, dip in it 1 kg of cones cut into small pieces. As soon as the syrup with cones boils, turn off the fire under the pot and cover it with a lid for 4 hours. Then bring it to a boil again and remove it. After 4 hours this procedure is repeated again, but the jam has boiled on low heat for an hour, and then poured into jars and cover.

Making jam at once
You can also cook jam at one time. Sweetness cooked according to this recipe is good for hypertensive people. Those who suffer from diabetes, after consulting a doctor, can also try this jam.

1 kg of cones are cut into pieces and fill them with the same amount of granulated sugar. Cover with a lid and wait for the raw material to give juice. If even after 12 hours of juice in the pan has not appeared, there pour a little water and put the mixture on a water bath. Stew it for at least an hour and a half, removing the foam as necessary. Then pour into jars.

Jam without boiling
If the cones are not boiled, the useful substances will be preserved in their original form, and the anti-inflammatory properties will be maximized. Store such jam only in the refrigerator, using it to treat cystitis, prostatitis, ulcers and inflammation in the mouth.

1 kg of young cones are cut into pieces. Take 2 kg of sugar and pile the cones in it. Then placed in jars and cover the remaining sugar. Cover the jars with gauze or clean cloth and put on a sunny window sill. Periodically shaking them. Continue this procedure until the sugar has finally dissolved, and its place will not take the syrup. Such jam is ready for use.

Contraindications for use

Not every person is absolutely useful cones, people with certain diseases they can be harmful. This applies to those who suffer from chronic liver disease, especially hepatitis, as well as renal failure.

If a person's gastrointestinal tract is too sensitive, compositions based on cones can cause intestinal irritation, especially if they are infused in alcohol.

Drugs from pine cones are contraindicated in an allergy to pine needles or turpentine. To detect a possible negative reaction, start taking remedies in small portions, paying attention to how you feel and skin manifestations.

Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under seven years should not take decoctions, infusions, tea and jam inside. Do not recklessly use products from cones and those who are over 60 years. Cones are also contraindicated to patients who abuse alcohol.

Like any other medicinal product, you can take compositions based on pine cones only in the recommended dosage. Abuse is harmful even to a person who has no contraindications. Before you start treatment, you should consult with your doctor. He will correctly select the right composition and calculate the dosage.

Photo of pine cones