Scots pine: properties and uses

Dr. Boris Wydoff

Scots pine is an evergreen coniferous tree that has long been used in herbal medicine. According to reference books, buds, needles and resin are collected for medicinal purposes. The plant contains resinous substances, essential oil, vitamins and other natural compounds, so pine has traditionally been used as part of herbal remedies.

What kind of plant is it and how can you recognize it?

I will tell you about Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) — one of the most well-known coniferous plants. It is a tree from the Pine family. In herbal medicine reference books, pine is described as an evergreen tree that can reach a considerable height.

Pine has a straight trunk. It is covered with reddish-brown, cracked bark. In the upper part of the trunk and on the branches, the bark becomes yellowish and flaky. The tree crown can be rounded or pyramidal.

The main feature of pine is its needles. They are bluish-green, dense, needle-shaped, and sharp. The needles are arranged in pairs on shortened shoots. Reference books state that they remain on the tree for several years and do not fall off in winter.

Pine blooms in May — June. Male and female structures appear on the same tree. Male flowers are collected in small spikelets, while female ones develop into cones. The seeds are located inside woody cones.

This is a widespread tree. Pine grows in the forests of the European part of Russia, Siberia, Ukraine, and Northern Kazakhstan. It can be found on sandy and sandy-loam soils, watersheds, river valleys and peat bogs.

Pine forests occupy large areas. Pine can grow in different natural conditions, so it forms both pure pine stands and mixed forests together with other trees.

How is pine different from other coniferous trees?

When collecting raw materials, it is important to identify the plant correctly. In pine, needles are arranged on shortened shoots, with two needles in one bundle. The needles are rigid, needle-shaped, bluish-green, smooth and sharp.

Pine can be distinguished from larch by the fact that its needles do not fall off in winter. Larch needles turn yellow and fall during the cold season every year. Other coniferous plants may differ in the arrangement of needles, the structure of shoots and the presence of resin ducts.

Female pine cones consist of covering and seed scales. They mature over two years, and the seeds have wings and reach about 3–4 mm in length.

Scots pine beneficial properties: what does it contain?

According to herbal medicine reference books, different parts of pine differ in composition. Pine buds are described as containing resinous and tannin substances, essential oil, vitamins and pinicycrin. It is the buds that are most often considered medicinal raw material. Pine needles contain ascorbic acid, tannins, anthocyanin compounds, alkaloids and terpenes. Among the substances found in needles are borneol, pinene, limonene and other compounds. Resin is obtained from pine wood. It is rich in essential oil and terpenoids. Turpentine is obtained by distilling resin, and tar is obtained by dry distillation of wood.

The needles of coniferous plants contain volatile substances — phytoncides. Reference books note that pine is especially rich in them. These natural compounds are one of the features of coniferous forests.

Pine gives people not only plant raw materials. Its wood is used as a material and fuel. Resins and products of their processing are used in various fields.

What substances are obtained from pine?

Pine is a source of various processed products. It is used to obtain turpentine, rosin, turpentine oil, charcoal, essential oil, tar, chlorophyll paste, pine extract and vitamin C preparations.

The resin ducts of wood contain resin and essential oil. Resin dissolved in essential oil is called oleoresin. When the tree is damaged, it comes out and covers the damaged area.

Tar is also obtained from pine wood. Its composition is described as containing resinous substances, oils and other compounds formed during dry distillation of wood.

How is pine useful for the respiratory system?

Herbal medicine books describe the use of pine bud preparations. According to reference books, they may increase the secretory activity of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. An expectorant effect is also noted, associated with stimulation of the work of ciliated epithelium of the mucous membranes.

In addition, reference literature states that pine bud extracts show bactericidal activity against some microorganisms of the nasopharynx and oral cavity.

How is pine used for other purposes?

Pine buds are described in reference books as raw material that is attributed with mild diuretic and choleretic properties.

Oleoresin is traditionally known as a product formed in the resin ducts of the tree. When the tree is damaged, the resin comes out and covers the damaged area. In folk descriptions, pine is called a tree that can protect itself thanks to oleoresin.

Reference books also contain information about the use of oleoresin in external products. At the same time, it is important to remember that external products and internal use of plant products have different safety considerations.

Scots pine uses: which parts are used?

For medicinal purposes, reference books indicate several types of raw materials: pine buds, needles and oleoresin. Buds are collected as young shoots. This raw material contains resinous substances, essential oil and other compounds. Pine needles are used as a source of ascorbic acid, tannins and terpenes. In industry, pine needles are used to obtain pine extract and vitamin C preparations. Oleoresin is a resinous pine product. Turpentine and other processed products are obtained from it.

How was pine used in the past?

Pine has accompanied people for many generations. Old herbal books described the use of various parts of the tree: buds, needles, cones, pollen and oleoresin. Oleoresin especially interested people because of the tree's ability to close its own wounds. Resin from coniferous trees was traditionally chewed in Russia for dental and gum care. Pine forests were also valued because of their air and natural volatile substances. Reference literature noted that coniferous plants are especially rich in phytoncides.

How to brew Scots pine?

Reference books describe methods of preparing remedies from pine raw materials. Some folk recipes mention the use of buds or other parts of the plant, but exact preparation methods depend on the purpose and composition of the remedy.

For homemade herbal drinks, it is important to use only properly collected raw materials and exercise caution. Highly concentrated coniferous preparations may differ in their effects from a regular infusion made from dried plant material.

How to collect and store pine raw materials?

Harvesting pine requires careful treatment of the tree. In herbal medicine, buds, needles and oleoresin are used. Pine buds are collected as medicinal raw material. They are gathered from young branches before active growth begins. After collection, the raw material must be properly dried and stored. Needles are collected while taking care to preserve the plant. They are used to obtain herbal preparations and extracts. Oleoresin is released from the resin ducts of the wood. Various processed products are obtained from it.

When are pine buds collected?

Pine buds are young shoots. Reference books state that they develop in the second year. They are collected as medicinal raw material before active growth begins.

When collecting, it is important not to damage the tree completely, because buds are part of future shoots. After harvesting, the raw material should be cleaned and dried under suitable conditions.

Where is the best place to look for pine?

Pine is a light-loving tree and often forms pure stands. It grows on sandy and sandy-loam soils, is found on dry hills, in river valleys and on peat bogs.

In forests, pine can grow together with spruce and other tree species, forming mixed forests. The variety of growing conditions is connected with the ability of this tree to adapt to different environments.

Pine is considered one of the oldest tree species. Its ancestral forms appeared on Earth about 150 million years ago and survived several ice ages. Dried raw materials should be stored in a dry place protected from moisture. The quality of plant material depends on proper harvesting and storage.

Scots pine contraindications and precautions

Pine preparations differ in composition. Needles, bark, oleoresin and concentrated extracts may have different properties. Therefore, all forms of the plant should not be treated in the same way.

According to current safety data, pine products should not be used by people with a known allergy or increased sensitivity to pine, its needles, pollen, bark, oleoresin or other plant products.

Concentrated preparations, especially essential oils, are not intended for internal use without special medical supervision. Essential oil has a different safety profile compared with tea or dried plant material.

Caution is needed when taking medications. Some pine extracts are described as potentially affecting blood clotting, so people taking medicines that influence this process should discuss the use of herbal products with a specialist.

Possible interactions with medicines that affect blood sugar levels or blood pressure are also described, although data on such interactions are limited. The safety of using pine products during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been sufficiently studied. During this period, the use of such preparations is recommended to be discussed with a doctor.

Safety data on concentrated pine products in children are limited. Essential oil requires particular caution: its internal use is not suitable for children because of possible toxicity.

Possible unwanted reactions include abdominal discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, gas formation, headache, dizziness, skin reactions and rash in sensitive people. Large amounts of products containing pine essential oil or resinous preparations may be dangerous. In case of accidental intake of a large amount of such products, medical advice is required.

When a doctor is needed

Herbal remedies do not replace diagnosis and treatment prescribed by a doctor. It is important to seek medical help in case of pronounced symptoms, worsening condition or unusual body reactions.

It is especially important to consult a doctor:

• if signs of allergy appear after using pine products;
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• if herbal preparations are used for a child;
• if there are chronic diseases;
• with constant use of medications.

If a person takes medicines that affect blood, blood pressure or metabolic processes, the use of new herbal products is better discussed with a specialist in advance.

Boris Wydoff — naturopath and author, Ph.D. in nutrition. For over fifty years I have helped people restore health through nutrition, cleansing and the power of the mind — in Europe, America and Asia. About the author →

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