Contents
The healing properties of fir are highly respected in folk medicine – there are many remedies based on this useful plant. To assess the benefits and possible harm of fir, you need to carefully study its effect on the human body.
What is useful fir
The coniferous fir tree belongs to the Pine family and has huge reserves of valuable substances in its composition. Due to this, it has a positive effect on the body, namely:
- relieves inflammation and reduces tissue swelling;
- has a strengthening and immunomodulatory effect;
- accelerates recovery processes;
- has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and helps with pulmonary diseases;
- regulates the production of gastric juice and is beneficial for digestive ailments;
- stimulates cardiac and vascular activity;
- cleanses the body of toxins, toxic substances and poisons.
In folk medicine, not only fir cones and needles are used, but also other parts of the plant – buds, gum, bark. The chemical composition of different parts is quite different, so when studying the beneficial properties of fir, you need to understand what kind of raw material we are talking about.
Useful properties of fir needles
Useful properties of fir needles are most often used in recipes, since this raw material is easy to collect in large quantities. The chemical composition of fir needles contains antioxidants and vitamin C, vitamin A and phytoncides, essential oils and beta-carotene.
Decoctions and infusions based on coniferous fir needles are used to treat heart, vascular, and viral diseases. Fir needles are used in the treatment and prevention of pulmonary ailments, it is used for bronchitis and pneumonia, bronchial asthma and tuberculosis.
Another useful property of raw materials is that needle-based products contribute to the rapid healing of wounds, they not only disinfect, but also restore tissues.
Medicinal properties of fir resin
Resin is a resinous mass secreted by the bark of coniferous trees. Fir resin is 70% resin, and the rest is occupied by essential oil – about 30%. This is much more than in all other parts of the plant.
The healing properties of fir resin are due to its powerful antiseptic effect. It is used mainly for the treatment of scratches and wounds, cuts and burns, ulcers and boils. Pharmacies sell solutions of fir resin with a concentration of 5%, 25% and 30%, they can be used not only externally, but also inside. The medicinal properties of fir resin are used in the treatment of varicose veins and osteochondrosis, colds and inflammatory infections, gastritis and dental ailments.
Medicinal properties of fir bark
Dried fir bark is a valuable source of tannins, essential oils, resins and camphor oil. It contains valuable substances santen and borneol, bornyl acetate and is painless. Decoctions and tinctures based on the bark are used to treat scurvy and beriberi, they provide effective help with toothache and migraines.
Also, the properties of fir wood help with high blood pressure. Means based on raw materials contribute to the removal of toxic substances from the body, so the bark can be used to cleanse the blood and tissues.
Medicinal properties of fir cones
Young fir cones contain ascorbic acid and tannins, tocopherol and carotene, essential oil. Most often, cones are used in the treatment of joints, their properties relieve inflammation and pain in rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica and osteochondrosis.
Fir cones are used both inside in the form of decoctions and externally. For example, you can make foot baths based on fir cones – useful substances will penetrate the tissues through the skin and have a quick calming effect.
Medicinal properties of fir buds
Fir buds, which appear on the branches of a tree in April, contain an impressive supply of vitamins E and C, as well as a huge amount of antioxidants. Kidneys are highly valued in the treatment of colds and inflammatory diseases, and their properties help to improve the condition of the skin and hair.
Raw materials help to renew the body and strengthen protective functions, therefore, it is useful to use kidneys with a weakened immune system or during the period of recovery from an illness.
What helps fir
Fir treats the symptoms of a wide range of ailments. Healing agents based on fir are used:
- with colds – runny nose, cough, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis;
- with viral and fungal infections;
- with joint ailments – arthritis, sciatica, radiculitis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism, during the healing of fractures;
- for skin diseases and injuries – diathesis and dermatitis, acne and cuts, burns, boils, diaper rash and bedsores;
- with toothache and headache;
- with angina pectoris and hypertension;
- with infectious diseases of the oral cavity – stomatitis, periodontal disease, caries.
Plant-based products have a relaxing and calming effect, so the use of fir is in demand in the treatment of neuroses and insomnia.
Rules of raw material procurement
Since almost all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes, the collection of useful raw materials is carried out throughout the year. Namely:
- fir buds are harvested during the period of appearance on the branches – at the end of March or April;
- coniferous needles from young shoots are cut twice a year – from June to August or from October to February;
- the bark of a tree can be harvested throughout the year, but it is better to do this in early spring, when juices are moving intensively along the trunk, and the tree can give off maximum useful substances;
- resin can be obtained throughout the warm season – the main thing is that the air temperature at this time is not lower than 16 degrees;
- Mature fir cones are harvested in September and October, before they naturally fall off.
Fir resin and young buds are most beneficial fresh. Pine needles are used both dried and fresh, depending on the recipe. But the bark must be dried, they do it in the air, spreading the crushed raw materials in a thin layer in a shaded place. Drying increases the benefits of fir bark and also extends shelf life.
The use of fir in folk medicine
Medicinal properties and contraindications of fir are used for dozens of different ailments. On the basis of woody parts, needles and resin, plants make useful infusions, decoctions, extracts and oils, if used in accordance with recipes, the properties of a coniferous plant will have a healing effect.
Fir tincture
Alcoholic tincture based on needles and young fir buds has powerful beneficial properties. In large quantities, it can damage, but when used properly, it is great for respiratory and joint ailments – rheumatism and arthritis, tuberculosis and pneumonia.
Make the tincture as follows:
- young buds and fir needles are carefully crushed and poured into a glass vessel in a volume of 150 g;
- pour raw materials with 500 ml of vodka, cork, shake and clean for 2 weeks in a dark warm place;
- shake the container every 3 days, and when the tincture is completely ready, filter and pour into another vessel.
Fir tincture should be consumed three times a day on an empty stomach in the amount of 1 large spoon. In case of joint diseases, rubbing and compresses with coniferous tincture are beneficial, they have a warming and analgesic effect.
Fir infusion
From fresh or dried fir needles, you can prepare a healthy water infusion. Its properties will help in the treatment of gastritis and ulcers, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. Fir infusion is used for cystitis in women and prostatitis in men, for diseases of the kidneys and gallbladder, for hypertension and high cholesterol.
Preparing fir infusion is very simple. For this you need:
- grind fresh needles in a blender, meat grinder or manually;
- pour a large spoonful of raw materials with 200 ml of warm water;
- close the lid and put in a dark place for 3 hours.
After that, the fir infusion should be stirred, filtered and squeezed soft needles through gauze. Use a healing agent three times a day on an empty stomach or immediately after meals, 2-3 sips.
fir decoction
Another valuable remedy based on fir needles is a fragrant decoction, which is especially beneficial for anemia, vitamin deficiency and a tendency to frequent colds. For its preparation it is necessary:
- fir needles in the amount of 2 large spoons, rinse thoroughly, pour a glass of boiling water;
- put on the stove for 20 minutes on a slow fire;
- let the broth cool and brew for half an hour.
Drink a decoction in the amount of 1 glass per day, and this volume must be divided into 2-3 servings.
You can prepare the product in another way – in a thermos. To do this, pour 5 large spoons of fir needles into 500 ml of boiling water, tightly cork the thermos and leave it overnight, and filter the drink in the morning. Apply it in the same way as the classic decoction.
fir tea
For insomnia, neurosis, gastric ailments and a tendency to edema, it is useful to use fir tea – or rather, a medicinal collection consisting of dried fir needles and fermented willow tea.
- Raw materials are mixed in equal proportions and poured into a teapot in the amount of 2 small spoons.
- Fir and willow-tea are poured with hot water, but not with boiling water, and left to infuse for 10 minutes.
- If desired, honey is added to the drink – to increase the benefits and improve the taste.
If you drink fir tea for at least 2-3 weeks, the state of the nervous system will noticeably improve, and insomnia will go away. Also, tea will have a beneficial effect on sore throat and rhinitis, psoriasis and sinusitis, headaches and joint pain.
fir honey
Fir honey is a tasty and healthy delicacy – it has a vascular strengthening and immunostimulating effect, helps with edema and tumors, colds and infections. The delicacy is produced mainly in the Mediterranean – in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and France. The raw material for its production is not flower pollen, but the so-called honeydew, which is produced by insects that feed on fir sap.
Honeydew fir honey differs from the usual one in its darker color, resinous aroma and less sweet taste. It contains a large amount of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.
Real fir honey can be purchased in specialized stores. However, if desired, at home it is realistic to make a delicacy, in its properties as close as possible to honeydew honey. To do this, crushed fir needles must be placed in ordinary flower honey for several months and wait until they give all the useful properties to the bee delicacy.
Also at home, honey is made from fir buds – the raw material is boiled for a quarter of an hour, then insisted for a day, and then mixed with sugar in equal proportions and boiled for another 1,5-2 hours. The resulting product has a lot of useful properties, but it is rather a syrup and cannot fully replace honeydew honey.
Fir kvass
Fir kvass is beneficial for the body – a healing drink that helps with digestive disorders and nervous ailments. Kvass is prepared on the basis of copper water, and the recipe looks like this:
- a liter of pure water is boiled in a copper bowl until half of the original volume remains;
- when the water boils away halfway, it is added with a new portion of water up to 3 liters and 2,5 cups of fir needles are poured with this mixture;
- add 100 g of honey or sugar to the drink and mix thoroughly;
- after the product has cooled to 25 degrees, 10 g of dry yeast is added to it.
For a day, kvass is removed to ferment, and then filtered and poured into glass jars or bottles. You need to store kvass in the refrigerator, otherwise it will quickly deteriorate. Since a carbonated drink can irritate the stomach, kvass should be consumed only after meals and in small volumes, half a glass three times a day.
fir water
Healing fir water, which I also call florentine, is extracted in the process of obtaining fir essential oil and, in fact, is a by-product of distillation. However, the colorless liquid has a rich composition, which contains polyphenols, minerals and flavonoids. The positive effect of the healing properties of fir water is observed in a wide range of diseases – from conjunctivitis to radiation sickness.
High-quality fir water is easiest to purchase at a pharmacy. However, a remedy with similar properties can be prepared at home. For this you will need:
- pour 100 ml of warm water into a bottle;
- add literally 3 – 5 drops of fir oil to it;
- Close the cap tightly and shake the bottle vigorously for 10 minutes.
Fir water can be used both internally and externally. For douching and wiping, Florentine water is usually used three times a day, 100 ml each, and the agent can be taken orally 30 ml three times a day. It is important not to exceed dosages, otherwise the beneficial properties of water can easily turn into harm.
fir oil
Fir essential oil is used for infectious diseases, skin ailments and injuries, and for diseases of the respiratory system. The oil contains cineole, pinene and borneol, therefore it has a pronounced antiseptic effect. Its beneficial properties are in demand for colds and bronchitis, pneumonia, prostatitis and cystitis, toothache and inflammation of the gums, arthritis and rheumatism.
You can buy high-quality essential oil in a pharmacy, and it should be used in very small quantities. For example, with sore throat in salted water with honey, you need to add only 2 drops of fir oil, the same amount is used to lubricate the tonsils, with a strong cough, for rubbing the joints and as part of cosmetic face masks.
It is impossible to make real fir oil at home – this requires special equipment. But you can prepare a similar remedy:
- pour needles and young fir buds with olive oil and soak in a water bath for 4 hours;
- squeeze out the raw materials, pour fresh needles into the container and pour it with the resulting oil;
- keep the mixture in a water bath for another 4 hours and cool.
The beneficial properties of homemade oil will be lower than that of a pharmacy oil, but such a remedy will also have an effect in the treatment of joint ailments and inflammation.
fir extract
Fir extract, which is obtained from the young spring needles of the plant, has useful properties. Outwardly, the extract looks like a dark brown viscous substance with a bitter taste; resins, tannins, phytoncides and tocopherol are present in large quantities in the composition of the product.
It is impossible to make an extract at home, but it is not difficult to buy it at a pharmacy. A healing agent is used to strengthen blood vessels and improve blood composition, to disinfect tissues and cleanse cuts and purulent wounds.
For internal use, fir extract must be diluted with water – add half a teaspoon of the product to a glass of water. Baths with fir are also beneficial; only 150 g of concentrated extract should be added to the collected container.
Fir in aromatherapy
Since fir essential oil has bactericidal, antifungal and antiviral properties, it is often used to scent rooms. A few drops of oil are added to a special aroma lamp, and the pleasant coniferous smell in the room not only has a calming effect on the nervous system, but also helps to get rid of colds and respiratory ailments.
Fir purifies the air and eliminates pathogens, prevents the appearance of mold in the house, and reduces the amount of dust. Inhalation of a tonic aroma helps with insomnia and headaches, with chronic fatigue and muscle weakness.
The smell of fir in the apartment is beneficial and harmful – with moderate use, the essential oil will have a positive effect, but overdose may cause migraines. It is not recommended to use fir for aromatization if you have allergies, in addition, you should not add more than 4-5 drops of oil to treat a small room.
Fir during pregnancy
Useful properties and contraindications of fir are determined individually. During pregnancy, the use of the plant should be approached with caution. It is strongly not recommended to use any fir-based products inside, the plant belongs to the category of embryotoxic and can seriously damage the fetus, especially in the early stages.
Pregnant women can treat cuts and bruises with fir oil, lubricate inflamed gums with fir-based products, or add oil and decoctions to warm baths.
But aromatherapy should be approached with caution, for many women during the period of bearing a child, even the aroma of fir causes severe nausea. At the time of aromatization of the room, it is better for a woman to leave the room and return to it only when the smell subsides.
Противопоказания
With all the beneficial properties, treatment with fir is dangerous for certain diseases and conditions of the body. Contraindications for fir are:
- tendency to convulsions and epilepsy;
- acute phase of peptic ulcer or gastritis;
- allergy to components present in fir;
- children’s age up to one year.
Small children should not eat fir inside – only external use of oil and decoctions is allowed, the same applies to pregnant women and nursing mothers. It is forbidden to use fir-based products at the same time as drinking alcohol – this will only cause harm.
Conclusion
The healing properties of fir, with proper use, can significantly improve health. Needles, resin, bark and buds of the plant are used not only in domestic, but also in official medicine, which further confirms the powerful healing effect of fir.
