Pine needles - a unique natural source of vitamins and bioactive substances, whose beneficial properties have been effectively used by ancient healers and traditional healers for many years, and modern medicine (both traditional and folk) is actively used for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Consider the features of this application in the article.
Botanical description
Pine - evergreen coniferous plant, reaching a height of 40 meters, with a straight trunk and a high crown. Pine needles have a unique healing aroma, they are located 2 in a bunch and can have a shade from gray to gray-green. Their shape is slightly flattened and curved on one side, and on the other there is a small groove. The length of the needles is 4-7 cm. 
Every three years the tree renews the needles, discarding a part of the yellowed needles in early autumn. The tree blooms with female and male flowers, which are presented in the form of pink cones and brushes at the ends of the branches, respectively.
Check out the varieties of pine, such as: White, mountain, elfin, Siberian cedar and black.
After spring pollination, the female parts are transformed into those real buds that we love to gather in the forest, and which contain the seeds of future pines.
Chemical composition
Pine needles contain a large amount of vitamins, phytoncides and other useful microelements. However, their number depends on the season, the area where the tree grows, on its age and type. All these factors are important, but in general, its chemical composition includes:
- high content of vitamin C. Indicators are very high in winter, when the amount of ascorbic acid increases many times;
- a large amount of carotene, along with carrots;
- essential oils;
- vitamins of group B, and also R, K, N and E;
- phytoncides;
- proteins;
- tannins.
These are the main substances that make the needles so popular and in demand, however, these are not all the beneficial trace elements and biologically active substances contained in it.Did you know? In California, USA, grows the oldest pine tree on the planet - Methuselah. Scientists claim that its age is 4834 years - this means that it began to grow even more than 2 thousand years BC. e.
Beneficial features
Pine needles are actively used in medicine, because its useful properties are very effective:
- antioxidant, cleanses the body from the effects and accumulation of harmful substances;
- is a powerful source of vitamins, mainly due to the high content of vitamin C and E;
- able to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the tissues;
- It has an effective impact on the reproductive system of women and men, improves sexual life;
- diuretic;
- disinfectant and anti-inflammatory agent, able to provide a healing effect in the treatment of burns and ulcers;
- immunomodulatory property that allows you to resist colds, flu, ARVI;
- sedative, for the prevention of depression, neurosis;
- eliminates pain in the joints, has a positive effect in the treatment of rheumatism, sciatica.
Medical applications
In traditional medicine, pine buds are used as a means to liquefy and remove sputum in case of bronchitis, to improve sweating in case of colds.
Learn also how they are used in the recipes of traditional medicine: pine pollen, pine resin, pine cones, pine bark, pine essential oil, as well as honey from pine shoots.
And young pine shoots perfectly clean the blood, make blood vessels more elastic, they are recommended for many cardiovascular diseases.
Needles are widely used in dentistry as the main substance in the treatment of stomatitis, periodontal disease, bleeding gums.
It is used to treat cough, sinusitis, sore throats, laryngitis and even tuberculosis, asthma and pneumonia.
If you have problems with the gallbladder, as an additional means to the main drug therapy, use choleretic properties of pine shoots. 
Using it in combination with other plant substances, you can achieve a positive effect in the treatment of the liver, stomach, kidneys and intestines.
Taking baths with extract of pine needles, you can get rid of insomnia, relieve fatigue or nervous stress - thereby normalizing the work of the nervous system.
Use in cosmetology
The needles have the properties to nourish the skin, regulate the water-fat balance and pass it a lot of useful vitamins. Most often for cosmetic procedures apply pine extract, which has a unique fresh scent.
Medicinal plants possess a number of useful properties. That is why in cosmetology are widely used: calendula, St. John's wort, arnica, birch buds, nettle, chamomile, oak bark and rosehip.
It contains fat-soluble vitamins, sterols, carotenoids, flavonoids, phospholipids, organic acids, as well as other substances mentioned above.
The high content of chlorophyll gives a deodorizing effect to cosmetics. So, popular products include soap, shower gels, shampoos, hair masks with this fragrance. 
In addition, coniferous soap has antibacterial properties and is able to heal minor cuts and wounds on the skin.
For the prevention of fungal diseases of the nails and feet, pine extract is used in the production of anti-fungal creams and lotions.
Harm and contraindications
The high content of bioactive substances needles can have the opposite effect and cause some diseases in the case of self-treatment and its uncontrolled and abundant use. So, with increased attention to the use of drugs and folk remedies based on it should be applied to people with such pathologies:
- hypertension;
- angina pectoris;
- acute hepatitis, liver failure;
- glomerulonephritis;
- thrombosis.
- headaches;
- general malaise;
- inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Important! Pine needles are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation.
Collection and storage
Pine branches can be harvested all year round, but it is worth considering the fact that in winter they accumulate the greatest amount of vitamin C. In the process of harvesting, it is recommended not to tear needles, but to harvest whole branches: this will save needles for the maximum amount of useful substances for a longer period . 
The optimal storage period for broken branches can be called 3 months - then the needles and branches will start to dry out and lose their benefit.
In order not to cause great damage to the tree, you should pay attention to weakened or damaged branches, and if they are not found, you can cut no more than two branches from a single pine. This should be done at an angle.
Important! Collected needles should not be stored in water - so all water-soluble vitamins to be destroyed.
If you decide to start collecting pine needles, experts recommend heading out of town for this purpose. It is better if it is a forest away from the road or highway, because the needles are able to absorb a large amount of harmful substances if it grows in a place where traffic is congested.
To prepare the needles, you should skip the pine branches through a meat grinder, and then you can either freeze or dry. Store the workpiece should be in a dry glass container in a dark place.
Recipes for healing remedies
Since the use of pine needles as a therapeutic drug in medicine and cosmetology has proven its effectiveness over the years, there are many proven folk remedies that can be made at home and used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. 
Before use, it is recommended to rinse in cold water. For grinding or take a meat grinder, or cut raw materials with scissors.
Did you know? Archaeological excavations of the Sumerian state confirm the use of pine needles in ancient times. The plate with cuneiform, found on the territory of the central city, contains more than 10 recipes for its use for therapeutic purposes as compresses and poultices.
Infusion
Water infusion used to treat vitamin deficiencies, pneumonia, bronchitis, exhaustion, anemia, loss of strength, with prolonged stress.
For the preparation of water infusion will need:
- 500 ml of cold water;
- 2 tsp. lemon juice.
- fill a liter jar with chopped pine needles, pour cold water over it and add lemon juice;
- close the jar and put in a dark place for 3 days;
- strain.
Alcohol infusion is a more saturated drug. It is used to strengthen the immune system, prevent colds, increase vitality, endurance. However, it is not worthwhile to use it uncontrollably inside - only after consulting with a therapist. External infusion can be used as an antiseptic. 
Ingredients:
- 250 g of pine needles;
- 500 ml of good quality vodka (diluted medicinal alcohol).
- chopped needles pour vodka;
- put in a cold place (you can in the fridge) for 2 weeks;
- periodically it is necessary to shake up the contents and shake it;
- strain.
Decoction
Broth for the prevention of atherosclerosis and clarification of blood vessels
Ingredients:
- crushed needles - 5 tbsp. l .;
- onion peel - 2 tbsp. l .;
- fresh rosehip berries - 3 tbsp. l .;
- boiling water - 1 l.
- rosehip berries stretch until the juice;
- mix all the ingredients;
- pour boiling water;
- cook for 15 minutes;
- strain.
Broth to improve vision
Ingredients:
- crushed needles - 5 tbsp. l .;
- boiling water - 2 tbsp. (400 ml).
- pour boiling water over pine needles;
- let it stand for 8-10 hours, you can spend the whole night;
- strain.
To improve your vision, you should include such products as carrots, sauerkraut and white cabbage, lley oil, beans, beans, apples and honey in your diet.
Tea
Coniferous tea is able to quench the body's daily need for vitamin C by 80%.
Ingredients:
- 4 tbsp. pine needles;
- 500 ml of cold water;
- 2 tbsp. l vinegar.
- pour pine needles with water, add vinegar to eliminate bitterness;
- let stand for 2-3 days.
A quick way to make coniferous tea will require these ingredients:- 4 tbsp. l shredded needles;
- 2 tsp. Sahara;
- 1 tbsp. boiling water.
- knead well with sugar needles;
- pour boiling water and let stand for 5-10 minutes;
- strain and drink.
We recommend to read what is useful and how to brew tea from lemon balm, with mint, ginger tea, tea from raspberry and cherry leaves.
Ointment
The most popular is the recipe for making antifungal ointment.
Ingredients:
- chopped needles - 500 g;
- butter - 200 g
- in a glass container to shift the layers of pine needles and butter;
- cover it tightly with foil;
- put in the oven, preheated to 100 ° C;
- keep the composition of 5-6 hours in the oven;
- strain through cheesecloth;
- Pour into a convenient container and let cool.
Mask for the face
Rejuvenating mask
Ingredients:
- liquid honey - 3 tbsp. l .;
- olive oil - 1 tbsp. l .;
- crushed needles - 3 tbsp. l
Application:
- apply on the face and neck, especially on those areas where wrinkles are observed;
- leave the mask for 20 minutes;
- rinse with water.
You can use no more than 2 times a month.
Hair Care Product
Mask for care of dry and brittle hair
Ingredients:
- shredded needles - 2 tbsp .;
- egg white;
- Cognac (a couple of drops).
Cooking:- needles pour water and boil for 1 hour;
- let cool and filter;
- add other components.
Pine bath
Baths are shown to improve the condition of the nervous system, increase tone, are effectively used to get rid of excess weight.
Baths of marigolds and lindens also have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
Ingredients:
- crushed needles - 2 kg;
- boiling water - 1 l.
- pour boiling water over pine needles;
- insist 30 minutes, strain.
The use of pine needles is very popular in traditional medicine, thanks to its useful properties, you can get rid of many diseases of the respiratory tract, improve the condition of blood vessels, relieve inflammation, increase vitality, replenish the balance of vitamins and even get younger. However, before using it, it is worth consulting with a medical specialist.
