An Essential Guide to Pine Needles - Foraged (2024)

FAQs

Who should not drink pine needle tea? ›

While most people can safely consume the tea, if you have pine allergies you should avoid drinking pine needle tea because it could result in skin rashes, respiratory issues, nausea or diarrhea. If you're new to pine needle tea, it's best to start with small amounts to see how your body reacts.

This is gentle enough for use on sensitive skin and is believed to soothe aching muscles as well as minor skin ailments, such as itching, pimples, eczema, psoriasis, sores, scabies. In addition, it is also reputed to soothe gout, arthritis, injuries, exhaustion, inflammation, and congestion.

The pine needle tea has effects of benefiting liver and nourishing kidney, and improving eyesight and relaxing bowel and is suitable for hypertension patients.

In TCM, pine needle tincture is used to improve digestion, reduce inflammation and manage pain. The famous Greek father of medicine - Hippocrates used pine needle teas way back in 400BC for bacterial infection and to support immune function.

Anti-oxidative activities are a well known feature of phenolic compounds. The pine needle has many phenolic compounds such as pinene ²⁸ . Thus, PNE can affect liver regeneration through reducing the oxidative stress created by the liver regeneration process.

Pine needle tea is a rich source of arginine — an amino acid responsible for dilating blood vessels to maintain a healthy blood pressure. Arginine metabolizes synergistically with vitamin C in a way that relaxes stiff arteries and improves the flow of blood to vital organs [source].

Spiritual uses: Pine has a protective energy that benefits highly intuitive people. It helps to create a filter for, and barrier from, negative psychic energy and unwanted influences. Add pine to an aroma-energetic smudging mist for protection. Mental uses: Pine supports the mind during times of adverse conditions.

Skin Care

Essential oils can make great natural acne treatments that work fast. Because it can fight bacteria and fungus, pine oil may be useful with a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis, warts, boils, athlete's foot, eczema and itching.

White pine is the most common tree species that pine needles are collected from for tea, and they are easily identified by their needle bundles of five (the only tree species in Ohio to have such needle bundles). Learn to identify white pine.

Although it doesn't contain caffeine, the refreshing taste of pine needle tea can help you feel more awake and alert. In this way, it is similar to mint or citrus teas, which are great for brightening your palate and reviving your mind.

Does pine needle tea interact with medications? ›

Talk to your doctor first if you plan on regularly adding pine needle tea to your diet — especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions. Natural remedies can interfere with prescription medications and supplements. Your doctor is the best person to determine whether pine needle tea is safe for you.

As a daily tonic: Take a dropperful (about 30 drops) of pine needle tincture under your tongue or mixed with water, once or twice daily. This can help support your immune system, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health.

Pine needle tea is a great natural energy booster. It's a great way to get the body moving and increase circulation. It helps improve mood, including reducing anxiety and stress. It helps improve sleep quality, including reducing insomnia and improving the quality of sleep.

The fresh needles and buds, picked in the springtime, are called “pine tops.” These are boiled in water, and the tea is consumed for fevers, coughs, and colds. The needles are also diuretic, helping to increase urination.

Which Pine Needles Are Safe for Tea? Pine needles from pine trees in the family Pinaceae are generally safe for consumption. This includes white pine (Pinus monticola), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) throughout North America.

Pine needles are edible and have been consumed for centuries as a source of nutrition and medicinal benefits. However, they should be prepared properly and not consumed in large quantities as they can be tough and difficult to digest.

In keeping with its aroma benefits, a cup of pine needle tea is used in complementary treatments to remedy all sorts of anxiety, fatigue and emotional concerns.