The Wonders of Pine

     I love pine. It's a beautiful tree that stays beautiful no matter the time of year, or weather. In Summer, they are tall and proud. In Winter, they stay green and, if you're lucky enough to live in the more Northern climes, they provide a great snowy silhouette. I grew up wandering the deciduous woods in Northern Florida, so I got to experience the amazing scent of pine quite often as a child. Not to mention the, often painful, pine cone wars my friends and I would get into. Pine has always held a portion of my heart, and as an herbalist I'm just beginning to understand how amazing this lovely tree really is.

     The Pinus genus is a large one, containing over 144 distinct species of coniferous evergreen trees. Around the world, pines make up about 1% of the plant population, and according to the fossil records, they have been around for over 200 million years. In Florida, we have quite a few distinct species including Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda), Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris), Pond Pine (Pinus serotina), Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii), and many more. All species of Pine are safe to consume and there are no toxic look-alikes, so Pine is a good tree to start learning about.

Latin Name: Pinus spp.

Common Name: Pine

Parts Used: Needles, Resin, Bark, Seeds, Pollen, Roots

Medicinal Uses:

Summary of actions- Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-catarrhal, nutritive (nuts, pollen, needles), androgenic (pollen), antimicrobial, warming, astringent, purgative (boiled bark), immunomodulatory, carminative, diuretic, lymphatic, insecticidal, expectorant, adaptogen

Traditional Chinese Medicine- Known as Song in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Pine works most on the lungs and intestines. Pine Nuts tonify Lung Yin, lubricate the lungs and intestines, stop cough, promote bodily fluids, and treat constipation. Pine Bark heals wounds, abscesses, relieves pain, treats arthritis, and treats burns. Pine Pollen is an excellent Yin tonic and, as such, is used for a wide variety of ailments.

Native American Traditional Medicine- Various Native American tribes were known to use Pine Needles to treat Scurvy. They also use the inner bark, young shoots, twigs, pitch, and leaves to treat a variety of ailments including the common cold, flu, cough, pneumonia, fever, heartburn, headache, arthritis, bronchitis, croup, laryngitis, and kidney problems. Some tribes also used the inner bark and sap as a poultice for wounds. The pitch was used to treat boils and abscesses, to draw out splinters, and for rheumatism, broken bones, cuts, bruises, and inflammation.

Ayurveda- Himalayan Longleaf Pine (or Chir Pine) is used, in Ayurvedic Medicine, to control Vatha and Kapha, to expel worms, heal wounds, for digestive problems, to treat nervous disorders, for skin problems such as wounds and burns, and in the case of respiratory and rheumatic disorders.

Immune System and First Aid- The bark and needles contain high amounts of Vitamin C which helps improve the immune system. The needles and resin are also antimicrobial and can be used to help clean wounds.

Vision Health- The bark and needles contain a high amount of Vitamin A and other carotenoids which can help prevent the formation of cataracts, increase vision strength, reduce macular degeneration, and reduces oxidative stress in the ocular system.

Circulatory System- Pine increases your body's production of red blood cells which helps increase oxygenation in your body as well as prevent anemia.

Respiratory System- Pine helps to sooth inflammation in the respiratory tract, relieves coughing, sore throat, and can even help relieve asthma. It helps prevent upper respiratory infections. Pine also is an excellent expectorant, helping your coughs to eliminate excessive mucus. It also is great at eliminating pathogens and bacteria in your sinuses.

Needles- The needles can be harvested year round and make a delightful tea. They are high in antioxidants, and vitamins A and C. One of my favorite ways to use the leaves, is to make a syrup. Herb Geek has a great recipe for Pine Syrup here. The needles are great when added as a seasoning to your food, especially since they encourage healthy digestion. The needles can also be used as an expectorant, to help make your cough more productive in expelling mucus.

Nuts- Pine Nuts have been used for food throughout the world. They are a great source of vitamins E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, and folate. They also contain manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.

Resin- The resin is a sticky substance that Pine produces when it's been wounded. It helps protect the tree from opportunistic invaders such as fungus, bacteria, and harmful insects. The resin eventually hardens and over time (millions of years) becomes amber. However, this sticky substance can be used by us in similar ways to how the tree uses it. It's antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal, so it makes a great addition to any wound salve. It's also helpful to fight off respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.

Bark- Many scientists are currently studying Pine Bark for it's anti-cancer properties. It has also been used to improve the circulatory system, as well as to treat heart disease and varicose veins. It's high in vitamin C and other antioxidants as well.

Pollen- Pine Pollen is highly nutritious, and though each Pine has a slightly different makeup of nutrients, most of them contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, E, C, D2, D3, A, folic acid, potassium, sodium, B-carotin, nicotinamide, calcium, magnesium, phosporrus, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and selenium. In Korea, the pollen is used as a whole body tonic and to increase vitality. It's a great addition to anyone's food. However, the tincture of Pine Pollen is used to help increase testosterone levels in older men.

Cautions and Warnings- Ponderosa Pine may not be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, or young children. The volatile oils in Pine needles and bark may cause problems in your kidneys if taken over long periods of time. Pine resin and amber can cause problems in the digestive tract when taken internally without a balanced formula.

     I hope you have a new appreciation for this amazing tree. I encourage everyone to take frequent walks in the woods, and breathe in the amazing scent of this beautiful plant. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

Refrences:

5 Incredible Benefits of Pine: Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/pine.html

8 Terrific Ways to Use Pine Needles Right Now: The Herbal Academy: https://theherbalacademy.com/8-ways-use-pine-needles/

Chir Pine: All About Ayurveda & Medicinal Plants:http://www.medicinalplantsindia.com/chir-pine.html

Common Pines of Florida: EDIS: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_common_pines_of_florida

Herbal Healing Practices of Native Americans: The Herbal Academy: https://theherbalacademy.com/the-herbal-healing-practices-of-native-americans/

Historical and Chinese Medicine Perspective of Pine Pollen: Raw Forest Foods:https://www.rawforestfoods.com/historical-and-chinese-medicine-perspective-of-pine-pollen/

Native American and Other Ancient Remedies: Legends of Amercia: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-remedy/

Native American Pine Tree Mythology: Native Languages: http://www.native-languages.org/pine-tree.htm

Pine: A Modern Herbal: http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/pine--34.html

Pine: White Rabbit Institute of Healing: https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/pine/

Pine Herbal Monograph: Natural Herbal Living: https://naturalherballiving.com/pine-herbal-monograph/

Pine Keeps You Fine: Susan Weed: http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Pine-Keeps-You-Fine.htm

Pine Scotch Essential Oil: Ayurvedic Oils: http://ayurvedicoils.com/tag/ayurvedic-health-benefits-of-pine-essential-oil

Sarala: Chir Pine: Easy Ayurveda: https://easyayurveda.com/2017/07/05/sarala-pinus-longifolia-roxburghii/

Quinoa

     You might have heard about one of the latest food crazes, Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). This little superfood is loaded down with nutrients. It's one of the few plant foods that is considered a complete protein, actually containing all 9 essential amino acids. It's also super high in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, B vitamins, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin E. Quinoa is also a great source for fiber.

     Quinoa comes from South America, where it was grown as a major food source for thousands of years. It's used in the same way we use grains, but it's technically a relative of spinach and chard. The part we eat is the seed, cooked like rice. However the leaves are also edible. The seeds are coated in saponins, which are bitter compounds that could make you slightly ill if consumed too heavily. This is why you should rinse your quinoa before cooking it. Most commercial quinoas are already rinsed, but I prefer to play it safe and rinse them again.

     Due to it's amazing amount of nutrients, quinoa has been used to help a number of health problems. Quinoa has shown major promise as an antiviral, anticancer, and antidepressant. It's a well-known anti-inflammatory. Quinoa helps to lower cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, and help with weight loss. Since it's not a grain, quinoa is gluten free. Quinoa helps to prevent cardiac disease, prevent kidney stones, and improve liver function.

     With all these amazing health benefits, who wouldn't want to at least give it a try in their diets? You can cook quinoa the same way you cook rice, and you can use it in place of rice in any recipe. I have used quinoa in salads, to stuff vegetables (like bell peppers and tomatoes), in place of oatmeal in cookies, etc. But I thought you might be interested in a few recipes so here are some that should give you a good start on using quinoa in your kitchen.

Quinoa Burgers

(Gluten Free/Vegan)

2 tbsp Ground Flax Seeds (or Chia Seeds)

6 tbsp Water

1 tbsp Olive Oil

½ cup Diced Onion

1 cup Shredded Zucchini

1 cup Grated Sweet Potato

½ cup Diced Mushroom

2 Minced Garlic Cloves

1 cup Finely Chopped Watercress (or any leafy green)

2 cups Cooked Quinoa

1 tsp Gluten Free Soy Sauce

½ tsp Salt

¼ tsp Black Pepper

3 tbsp Gluten Free Flour

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Mix the ground flax seeds and water in a small bowl. Set aside to thicken. This will take at least 5 minutes. While your mixture is thickening, heat 1 ½ teaspoon of olive oil on medium heat. Add onion, zucchini, sweet potato, mushroom, and garlic. Sautèe

for around 7-8 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Add in remaining ingredients, and the flax seed mixture. Use remaining olive oil to lightly grease a baking sheet. Shape mixture into ¼ cup patties with damp hands. Pack them tightly so they stay together. Place them on a baking sheet, leaving space between each one. Bake for 15 minutes. Flip the patties. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes, or until golden and firm. Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve!

Quinoa Encrusted Eggplant Parmesean

(Gluten Free/Vegetarian)

3 Eggplants

4 cups Cooked Quinoa

½ tsp each: Oregano, Basil, and Thyme

3 Cloves Garlic, minced

Salt and Pepper

1 12oz bottle Gluten Free Beer of your choice

1 cup All-Purpose Gluten Free Flour

6 cups Marinara Sauce

½ lb Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine cooked quinoa, oregano, basil, thyme, and garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and set aside. Slice eggplant into ¼ inch thick rounds. Season with salt and pepper. Working in batches, coat the eggplant in flour, dip in your beer, then dredge in your quinoa mixture, pressing firmly to coat. Place in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, turn over the eggplant and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Top with marinara and cheeses. Cover and bake 15-20 minutes longer. Remove the cover and return to the oven until cheese is lightly golden.

Southwest Tomato and Quinoa Soup

(Gluten Free/Vegan)

About 4 ½ lbs Tomatoes, halved

8 Cloves Garlic

2 cups Corn

3 Jalepeños, halved and seeded (more for more spice)

2 cups Cooked Quinoa

4 cups Cooked Black Beans (or 2 15oz cans)

8 cups Vegetable Broth

2 medium Onions, diced

2 cups Fresh Cilantro, chopped

4 tsp Ground Cumin

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the tomatoes and garlic on a lightly greased baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes. Spread the quinoa on a separate, greased, baking sheet. Roast for the last 15 minutes of the tomato roasting time. Put the tomatoes and garlic in a food processor, or blender, and process until smooth. Meanwhile, in a large stock pot, sautèe the onions, corn, and diced jalepeños about 10 min. Add broth and tomato mixture. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring back to a boil and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.

     In any of these recipes, feel free to substitute, play with different dressings or seasonings. Add curry to the Quinoa Burgers to give them a different flavor. For those of us who may eat meat, use chicken instead of eggplant for your Parmesan (just cook it a bit longer so that the chicken is well done). There are also a few other quinoa recipes on previous posts, such as this one from July. Have fun, play around, and let me know what you think below!

References:

Quinoa: 27 Science-Backed Health Benefits: Well-Being Secrets: http://www.well-beingsecrets.com/health-benefits-of-quinoa/

Quinoa: Health Benefits: Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274745.php

Raspberry Leaves

     Have you ever picked up a fruit or vegetable in the grocery store and wondered what the rest of the plant looks like? Or how about if the rest of the plant is edible or useful in some way? I do this quite frequently, though I'll admit that I'm strange. When I remember these questions and do a bit of research, I often wonder why we never use the rest of the plant. For instance, each and every part of a banana tree is edible, beet greens are every bit as nutritious as spinach, carrot leaves are super tasty, and raspberry leaves are one of the best things a woman can add into her diet.

     Raspberries are members of the rose family, rosacea. There are two commonly used for their leaves, Eurasian red raspberry (rubus idaeus) and North American black raspberry (rubus occidentalis). There have been a number of scientific studies done on this herb. Most American studies have used red raspberry, but a number of Chinese studies have branched out and used several different raspberry species. Most of the findings have determined that the berries are delicious and packed full of nutrients and antioxidants, but the leaves contain even more of the active phytochemicals, and so have even more benefits.

Medicinal Uses:

Summary of actions- Astringent, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, and a slight stimulant.

Traditional Chinese Medicine- In Chinese medicine, raspberry is called Fu Pen Zi or Shan Mei. The primary meridians it works on are the Liver and Kidney meridians. In TCM, the Kidneys rule reproduction, especially in women. This makes a huge amount of sense when you think about how the Kidneys filter our blood, and how blood is such an integral part of the female reproductive cycle. However that leads to raspberry's main uses in TCM. Raspberry stabilizes and tonifies the kidneys, supports Jing, builds both Kidney and Liver Qi, and is typically used for impotence, bed wetting, frequent urination, premature ejaculation, incontinence, to improve eyesight, clear blurred vision, for lower back pain (around the area of the kidneys), infertility, nocturnal emissions, and to stop premature graying.

Highly Nutritious- The berries are known to be extremely nutritious. However the leaves are even more so. They contain huge amounts of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and E, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, niacin, and selenium.

Anti-cancer Activity- Several studies have shown that raspberry leaf has major anti-cancer potential in both breast and liver cancers. These same studies show that the leaves are much more potent than the berries.

Pregnancy and Labor- Raspberry is a great help in dealing with morning sickness. Some people attribute this to it's astringent nature, and others attribute this to the high amounts of vitamins and minerals. Either way, it works.

Some midwives and herbalists are cautious with it's use in the first trimester (however I have known several women who have used this in the first trimester with no problems), but it's considered safe after the second trimester has begun. Consult with your doctor/midwife/herbalist before adding this to your routine in early pregnancy.

Not only is raspberry great for helping with morning sickness, but it's super nutritious and helps prepare your body for labor. Women and midwives throughout the world credit raspberry leaf for helping shorten their labor, and prevent hardships during labor. It works extremely well with nettles to help reduce the chance of hemorrhage.

Fertility- Raspberry helps to regulate menses, clear the body of toxins, strengthen the uterus, balance female hormones, and prepares the uterus for pregnancy. This can help in conceiving as well as preventing early miscarriages.

Menstrual Help- Raspberry is used often as a uterine tonic. It also helps balance female hormones. These two actions combine to make Raspberry extremely effective in helping women regulate their menstrual cycles. Not only does it help regulate both the timing and the flow, it also helps reduce cramps, PMS, and other negative side effects that come with menses.

Respiratory Infections- Raspberry leaf tea has been used as a gargle, eyewash, and mouthwash when there have been infections in those areas. It's also been used to help knock out several respiratory infections such as pneumonia bronchitis. Just drink 2-3 cups a day during the infection.

Bowels and Leaky Gut- The astringent properties of raspberry leaf help to reduce diarrhea and strengthen the intestines. This helps to prevent and heal leaky gut issues.

Minor Wounds and Varicose Veins- Astringent herbs are great for dealing with wounds. Raspberry has shown to be no exception. Use it as a wound wash to help speed the healing of minor cuts and scrapes. Use it for sunburns and minor burn wounds. It's also great to help heal varicose veins. Just use a strong tea as a wash, and massage towards the heart. It's also great for eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

     I hope I have given you a little more to think about while picking out produce in your supermarket, or when deciding to grow your own. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to leave them below!

References:

3 Raspberry Leaf Benefits for Women: Herbal Academy: https://theherbalacademy.com/3-raspberry-leaf-benefits-for-women/

Raspberry: East West Healing Academy: https://www.eastwesthealingacademy.com/herbs/raspberry/

Raspberry Leaf: Richard Whelan Medical Herbalist: http://www.rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs%20A-Z/raspberry_leaf.html

Raspberry Leaf Benefits: Herb Wisdom: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-raspberry-leaf.html

Raspberry Leaf Herb Profile: Wellness Mama: https://wellnessmama.com/5107/raspberry-leaf-herb-profile/

Raspberry Leaf Tea Benefits: Earths Friends: https://www.earthsfriends.com/raspberry-leaf-tea-benefits/

Red Raspberry: Dr Christopher's Herbal Legacy: http://www.herballegacy.com/Corless_Dosages.html

Red Raspberry: Medicinal Herb Info: http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/RedRaspberry.html