Words on Wellness: They're Good For US
by Karin Uphoff
Every Christmas nearly thirty million live trees are sold in the USA to be decorated and discarded. Fortunately 350 million trees are farmed for the occasion (they take about fifteen years to mature) and they are fully recyclable, however few people think of using some of the branch tips for fir or pine needle tea. Redwood, pine and fir needles of many varieties make excellent medicine when recovering from respiratory infections. Fresh pine needle tea has long been an ally of indigenous peoples worldwide in recovery from viruses and providing vitamin C. The volatile oils support the tree’s own immunity, so drinking a cup of fragrant tea allows us to receive that same gift.
Learn about the conifers around you and get to know them before you gently pick some of the tips or needles at the end of branches (younger needles) to wash, chop and put in a teapot with hot water (1-2 tsp per cup), cover and steep for twenty minutes or so. Covering keeps in the oils which are also a good source of vitamin A, and when you lift the lid you can breathe in the spicy aroma to open your nasal passages. Strain the tea and add a little honey for a delicious winter brew. Alternatively you can bring the needles to a boil in a covered pot of water, simmer low for ten minutes and let sit for another ten to get a stronger (more bitter) brew. Not all conifers are used for tea. Species that are considered toxic are: ponderosa pine, Monterey pine, lodgepole pine, Norfolk pine, common juniper and yew – none of which are typically grown as Christmas trees.
Image by Nina from Pixabay.
When you walk amongst conifers and inhale their rich aroma, you are breathing in phytoncides (wood essential oils) that are released as aerosols. These have antimicrobial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory benefits for all creatures and have been shown to boost mental health and immunity in humans. When you bring a live Christmas tree into your home, your living space receives these aerosols as well. If you have a wood burning stove, you can put a bowl of water on top with sprigs of conifer needles for an aromatherapy treatment that reduces the spread of molds and pathogens. Then give a gift back to nature by making donations to organizations that help save our precious forests.
