Pine resin: what is it

The healing properties of pine resin are used in dozens of folk recipes. To appreciate the healing properties of resin, you need to carefully study its chemical composition and understand what properties it has for the human body.

What is pine resin

In folk medicine, resin is called ordinary pine resin – a viscous aromatic substance that is released in places where the bark is damaged and freezes in translucent droplets. It is not for nothing that resin has such an expressive name, it really contains a lot of life-giving substances with powerful antibacterial and protective properties.

The composition of pine resin includes primarily fatty acids and resin esters of retinols. In addition, it contains:

• vitamins A, E and K;
• vitamin D and ascorbic acid;
• vitamin PP;
• iodine, cobalt, zinc and iron;
• chromium, copper and barium.

In nature, pine resin, which has such a rich composition, clogs wounds on the surface of the tree and does not allow insects, fungi and harmful microorganisms to penetrate under the bark. Despite its viscosity, the resin moves quite easily inside the pine trunk, it contains natural solvents that prevent premature solidification.

Pine resin has an increased value not only for the coniferous tree itself, but also for humans. With proper use, its beneficial properties help in the treatment of a huge number of ailments.

The benefits of pine resin

The valuable properties of pine resin have been known for many centuries – for the treatment of internal diseases and external injuries, the resin was used in ancient times. The benefits of pine resin are that it:

• has a pronounced antibacterial effect and prevents the reproduction of viruses, bacteria and fungal microorganisms;
• helps fight any inflammation, as it is a powerful natural antiseptic;
• benefits from any damage and inflammatory diseases of the skin – resin not only cleans wounds and ulcers, but also relieves irritation, promotes healing and tissue repair;
• has an analgesic effect, if you treat a scratch, burn, boil or abrasion with resin, then slight swelling at the site of damage will quickly disappear, and the pain will subside;
• strengthens immune resistance when used internally – it is useful to take oleoresin in small quantities as a prevention of colds, for any infectious and bacterial processes in the body;
• effectively warms up the joints and soft tissues, removing inflammation and swelling – it is useful to use pine gum for joint ailments, bruises and sprains;
• rejuvenates the body and serves as a prevention of malignant neoplasms – pine resin contains many antioxidants that promote cell renewal;
• It has a beneficial effect in the fight against ailments of the respiratory system – it helps with bronchitis, colds, coughs and pneumonia, as it contributes to the productive discharge of sputum.

In addition to these properties, pine resin gives other beneficial effects. In particular, if you regularly chew small pieces of resin, then resin will not only freshen your breath, but also help strengthen your teeth and prevent the development of caries and periodontal disease.

Pine resin preparation

Despite the fact that pine resin is sold in specialized stores, you can assemble it yourself. The main condition is the presence in relative proximity of an ecologically clean pine forest located at least 20-30 km from major roads, industrial facilities and cities.

It is best to collect resin from young pines with thin trunks no more than 30 cm in diameter. Although pine trees produce resin from spring until late autumn, the best time to collect fresh resin is summer, or rather, the hottest part of it. At high temperatures, the resin moves faster under the bark and flows more easily into the collection container.

The resin collection process is as follows:

• the selected tree must be mentally divided into two parts by a straight vertical line;
• in the central part, right along this line, a container for collecting resin is hung with a cord, trying to attach it so that it is pressed tightly against the surface of the bark;
• on both sides of an imaginary vertical line, about 20 oblique cuts are made on the bark – 10 on each side;
• the notches should be at an angle of approximately 45°, with their lower ends towards the collection container.

After that, it remains only to wait for the right time – fresh pine resin from the cuts will drain into the fixed container in small transparent droplets.

One pine tree can produce quite a lot of resin, but it is recommended to collect no more than 2 kg of resin from an individual plant. Too much resin loss will weaken or even kill the useful tree.

You can collect pine resin not only in summer, but also in the cold season. True, for this you will have to stock up on a sharp clean knife and look for trees with natural damage to the bark, on which the leaked resin has already solidified. The outgrowths of pine resin are cut off, after wiping the knife blade with oil – to avoid sticking.

The use of pine resin for medicinal purposes

Pine resin is used to treat a wide range of inflammatory, colds and infectious diseases. Indications for its use include:

• inflammatory diseases of the gums and mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
• flu, ARVI, angina;
• toothache caused by caries;
• varicose veins in the legs;
• skin damage – scratches and cuts, purulent wounds and burns, boils and ulcers;
• herpes and fungal diseases;
• mastopathy;
• inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system in women and men;
• joint ailments – rheumatism, sciatica, arthrosis;
• fractures – during the recovery period, resin has an additional healing effect;
• muscle pain – bruises and sprains;
• ailments of the digestive system – gastritis and heartburn;
• dermatitis and other inflammatory skin diseases.

Also, pine resin helps with insect bites – when applying resin to a sore spot, swelling and itching quickly pass. It can be used to treat insomnia.

Healing recipes

Traditional medicine offers many effective ways to deal with ailments with the help of pine gum resin. Conventionally, all recipes can be divided into 2 categories – external and for internal use.

Among external recipes, balms and ointments based on pine resin are the most popular.

• Balm for varicose veins. Expansion of the veins in the legs can lead to serious complications, but in the early stages it responds well to treatment. To prepare a healing balm based on pine resin, you need to mix resin and olive oil in a ratio of 1 to 10, and then put on a slow fire and cook for about 2 minutes after the product boils. The finished balm is removed from the stove, completely cooled and treated with problem areas on the legs in the evenings, leaving a useful mixture on the skin until morning.
• Compresses for boils. From purulent abscesses under the skin, pine resin in its pure form helps well. A small amount of resin must be applied to a small piece of a sterile bandage, applied to a sore spot and secured with a medical plaster all night. You need to repeat the procedure for 3-4 days, after this time the boil should completely resolve and not leave scars behind.
• Ointment for purulent wounds and trophic ulcers. Pine resin can heal even the most severe skin lesions, and a healing ointment is prepared as follows – 50 g of pure resin is mixed with 100 g of animal interior fat and the same amount of beeswax. Thoroughly mixed until smooth, the agent is applied with compresses to sore spots all night, after treating the open wound with hydrogen peroxide for disinfection.
• Alcohol tincture for joints. With rheumatism and sciatica, such a remedy helps well – resin, high-quality water and olive oil are mixed together in equal parts. In a small glass vessel, the mixture is removed for a week in a dark and cool place, and then used for compresses and warming rubbing.

In addition to recipes for external use, there are ways to treat pine resin inside. The natural composition of pure resin is completely harmless to health, although, of course, you need to use resin in small quantities.

A recipe based on resin to strengthen immunity is very popular:

• pine resin in the amount of 30-40 g per hour is removed in the refrigerator so that the resin is properly frozen;
• after that, the hardened piece is taken out and ground to a state of a homogeneous powder – with a mortar or fine grater;
• the resulting powder is taken in full on an empty stomach three times a day – it can be pre-diluted in a glass of water, or you can simply drink the accepted resin with liquid.

Traditional medicine suggests taking pine resin inside with an exacerbation of gastritis.

• With heartburn, pain in the stomach and a feeling of heaviness, a small piece of fresh resin can be absorbed daily in case of unpleasant symptoms.
• Usually, pain and discomfort disappear almost immediately after taking the remedy – it takes only 5-10 minutes to improve well-being.

Pine resin inside brings an excellent effect for colds.

• The dosage of natural medicine is about half a teaspoon, you need to dissolve the resin in the morning and evening.
• Since the resin contains a huge amount of vitamins, when it is taken, the protective functions of the body quickly wake up, and the cold recedes.

The recipes given are the main ways to use pine resin. You can use resin for many other ailments, but for this they use all the same means for external and internal use.

Contraindications to pine resin

The medicinal properties and contraindications of pine resin depend on many factors. For most people, coniferous resin in small quantities is very useful, since the vitamins, acids and minerals in its composition have a healing effect on most ailments.

But in rare cases, pine resin can cause harm. First of all, the resin can cause an individual allergy, which is manifested by reddening of the skin, the appearance of a rash, and when used internally, leads to nausea and headaches. When using pine resin for the first time, it is necessary to conduct a kind of allergic test – apply a little resin to the sensitive skin of the wrist and wait about a day to see if there is a negative reaction. At first, you also need to use the resin inside in minimal portions.

In addition to allergies, pine resin has the following contraindications:

• pregnancy;
• the period of breastfeeding in women;
• children up to 7 years;
• severe kidney disease.

Use in the economy and industry

The valuable properties of pine resin are used not only for the treatment of ailments. Gum is actively used in the economy, in rural and taiga life, in production.

• First of all, pine resin is an excellent natural sealant. In ancient times, slits in wooden log cabins and window frames were treated with resin, and even now in villages resin is used to seal minor voids in wooden buildings. Pine resin can be used for urgent repair of boats or rafts, if the plug carved from wood has nothing more to fix in the hole.
• Fresh resin can act as a natural lubricant. Pine resin is used to cover wooden parts that rub against each other when moving, and ropes that constantly slide on a hard surface.
• Resin is an excellent natural adhesive – anyone who has ever taken it in their hands knows that resin is very difficult to wipe off from fingers. Just as well, pine resin sticks to any other surface – wood, fabric and leather, allowing you to fasten them together. In field conditions, resin is used in the construction of huts, for example, branches and spruce branches can be tied much stronger and more reliably if you use a rope soaked in resin.
• Pine resin contains alcohol compounds and turpentine. Therefore, tarred wood is the best material for making a fire, it ignites easily and burns brightly and well. It is especially important that you can use pine resin for making a fire even in the rain – high humidity does not affect the combustible properties of the resin.

As for the industrial use of pine resin, in its pure form it is used to create ski mastics and sealing wax, it is added in small quantities to inks and printing inks.

In a processed form, pine resin is used to create valuable products – turpentine and rosin. Turpentine is often used in medicine, as well as in paint and varnish production, it is part of paints and varnishes, drying oils and mastics, wax. On the basis of turpentine, insecticidal agents are made from garden pests, in small quantities it is added to the lubricant for vehicle engines.

Rosin, obtained by processing pine resin, is mainly used in the paper industry for sizing paper and cardboard. It is also used in the oil and chemical industries, in the manufacture of paints and varnishes.

And of course, it is impossible not to mention the natural treasure of hardened pine resin – amber. Real amber is valued very highly – jewelry and small sculptures, mosaics and carved wall panels are made from it.

Conclusion

The medicinal properties of pine resin are in demand for most diseases, and there are very few contraindications for natural raw materials. Pure pine resin not only strengthens the body, but also finds its application in everyday life and industry – its importance can hardly be overestimated.