What are pine cones for? To spread your seed? It turned out that they can be used for other purposes. Everyone knows that breathing in a pine forest is very useful, only few people thought about why.
Beneficial features
Green cones spruce and pine are a source of iron and other useful substances, among which:
- lipids;
- monoterpene hydrocarbons;
- oleic and linolenic acids;
- bioflavonoids;
- tannins;
- and other nutrients and nutrients.
Pine needles and buds also include a huge number of useful components. They contain many tannins, essential oils and a variety of vitamins. At the same time, there is a lot of carotene, resins, vitamin C and ascorbic acid in the needles.
Because of this composition, fir cones are widely used to treat a variety of diseases. At the same time, for treatment it is necessary to collect still green, young fruits.
Application in traditional medicine
Fir cones have been used in alternative medicine several centuries ago. They have the ability to remove negative energy: it is enough to hold the “gift” of the Christmas tree in the palms of your hands, after which the burst of energy will not take long to wait. Fir cones are rich in vitamin C, therefore, preparations from them are very relevant in the winter, when a person's immunity is weakened, while the activity of microbes and viruses increases very much.
The antibacterial properties of spruce make it possible to use decoctions and infusions from it for treatment:
- tuberculosis
- ENT diseases;
- skin diseases.
Fir cones with rheumatism and bruises treat joints: it is enough to attach them after a bath to a diseased place.
Cone picking time
You must understand that you need to collect only unsolved cones. At the same time, their collection time may vary depending on the climate in which the tree grows. In Russia, this is June 21-25. At this point, the cones reach a width of four centimeters.
When collecting them, you need to consider that from trees that are affected by insects, it is better not to pick them. Fir trees and cones should be without any rotting, not eaten by insects, look beautiful.
Application
Fir cones are used in different forms - it can be jam, "honey", infusions. In alternative medicine, they are used for various diseases, including:
- avitaminosis;
- colds;
- bronchial disease;
- reduced hemoglobin;
- pulmonary tuberculosis;
- pneumonia, etc.
Fir cones are used for cough, needles and kidneys - in the treatment of gout, putrefactive bronchitis, rheumatism. An excellent effective antioxidant is cone extract.
Prescription drugs
There are a lot of recipes for preparing all kinds of medicinal infusions, preserves and healthy “honey”. Next, consider the most common of them.
Cone jam
Spruce cone jam is a remedy that helps a lot with colds. It also perfectly supports the immune system and relieves fatigue. If you have gastrointestinal diseases, your body is depleted, hemoglobin is lowered, or sensitive gums are concerned, then you just need this product.
Composition:
- 1 kg of young cones;
- 10 glasses of water;
- 1 kg of sugar.
Cooking
It is better to collect cones for jam in early July. Rinse them and fill with cold water for 24 hours. Pour sugar into the pan, add water and bring the mixture to a boil. In this case, sugar in water should completely dissolve. In the resulting syrup, place the soaked cones and leave to cook.
During cooking, if desired, you can also add a spoonful of lemon juice. Pour the jam into jars. The resulting product, reminiscent of the consistency and color of honey, clean in the refrigerator. It should be taken in a spoon daily. This jam is best suited for white or green tea.
"Honey" from cones
"Honey" should be taken on an empty stomach, diluting it with water. The cones need to be sorted out, washed, and then put in a saucepan and add cold water, which should cover them with two fingers. Bring the water to a boil, then add a kilogram of sugar per liter of water to the contents. After it dissolves, bring everything to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about an hour and a half. Do not forget to remove excess foam. Everything, cone "honey" is completely ready.
Fir cones: tincture on vodka
Tincture or wine from spruce cones effectively reduces pressure, and at the same time serves as the prevention of strokes and heart attacks.
Composition:
- 2 liters of vodka;
- half a three-liter can of young cones;
- 1 cup of sugar.
Cooking
Finely chop the young spruce cones and put them in a three-liter jar, while filling it in half. Add a tablespoon of sugar to the vodka and pour the cones to the top. Then cover the jar with gauze and put in a dark cool place.
After a week, pour the liquid into another container, with the remaining cones, repeat the process. A week later, mix vodka from both cans and leave it again for the same period. Everything, tincture is ready! Take it one spoonful three times a day.
Fir cones: tincture on alcohol
Composition:
- 1 kg of young cones;
- 0.5 kg of sugar;
- 0.5 cups of alcohol.
Cooking
Rinse the cones and cut the tails from them. Put the prepared raw materials in a container, pouring it with layers of sugar. Cover the jar with gauze and clean for three weeks. After this time, the juice that the cones will release must be drained and mixed with alcohol. Pour the finished mixture into bottles, cover and leave to infuse for two months. It should be borne in mind that the longer the liquor is infused, the more useful it is.
If you make tincture for the treatment of young children, then the amount of alcohol must be reduced. On a glass of juice of cones you need to add one glass. Children with coughing should be given tincture one spoon three times a day.
The above recipes can be used for colds (preserves and "honey"), to restore the body after a stroke, to prevent a variety of diseases, and also as an antioxidant.
Contraindications
- Acute hepatitis.
- Kidney disease.
- Elderly age.
- Breastfeeding and pregnancy.
Take delicious products from fir cones, and then your health will only be stronger every day!