Common pine is a representative of the pine family, under good natural conditions, it can reach a height of up to 50 meters. The duration of her life can be 400 years. If comfortable conditions are created for a tree, then its annual growth reaches 80 centimeters.
Scots pine - plant description
This plant has a straight trunk, which is covered with red-brown bark. The leaves of the pine in the form of needles, which have a dark green color, are very long and hard, their lifespan is about 2-3 years. Forest pine has stamen spikelets that are twisted at the base of the shoot, pistil spikelets are gray-yellow in color and are very numerous, and the stamens and pistils are on the same tree. After fertilization, the cones grow and become stiff; the seeds ripen only after a year and a half. Usually in early March, they spill out of cones and sprout. Common pine begins to bloom from the age of 15, this occurs in May - June. This tree is distributed throughout the forest zone in the CIS countries.
Pine needles have medicinal qualities. It has been used for poultices and compresses for more than 5 thousand years. In ancient times, the resin of this tree was used for embalming. Some of the discovered compounds have retained their bactericidal properties despite the fact that about 3 thousand years have passed. In ancient Russia, pine needles helped many to strengthen the gums and teeth, and also disinfected the oral cavity, for this it was simply chewed.
Scots pine - collection of raw materials
In medicine, not only the needles of this tree are used, but also the kidneys, resin, pollen. Turpentine, rosin, tar, wood vinegar are obtained from pine.
Collection of buds begins in early spring, at a time when they are already swollen, but not yet bloomed. If you start collecting them earlier, then they will be small in size and they still contain a little biologically active substances. You can not collect the apical buds on young trees, this should be done only during sanitary cleaning or spring felling. After the kidneys are plucked, they are dried, usually in the attic or in a place protected from the sun and in a well-ventilated area. If the weather is favorable, then after a week and a half, the kidneys completely dry out. You can use them for two years.
You can collect needles at any time, but it is best to harvest in winter or late autumn. It was at this time that it contained the largest amount of essential oil, as well as ascorbic acid.
To prepare coniferous paws, which are used in the preparation of coniferous-vitamin flour, chlorophyll paste or coniferous extract, you can go out into the forest at any time, shoots are prepared, the thickness of which is not more than 8 mm.
During the growing season , harvesting of resin is carried out. After cleaning the resin, the rosin and turpentine are obtained from it.
When tarred stumps are uprooted, they undergo dry distillation. Thus, turpentine, charcoal and liquid tar are obtained. And after distillation using water vapor through the paws, an essential oil is obtained.
Scots pine - medical applications
As an expectorant, a decoction of pine buds is used. It excites the secretory activity of the epithelium of the respiratory tract, therefore, the viscosity of sputum decreases, the functions of the ciliary epithelium are stimulated. Also, this decoction has a diuretic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, disinfecting effect. Needle preparations have an expectorant, antimicrobial, disinfectant, diuretic, anti-scurvy, analgesic effect on the body.
An infusion of cones helps in the treatment of heart disease. Tea from pollen is indispensable for rheumatism and gout, and tincture in the treatment of lung diseases.