Young needles spruce useful properties. Spruce needles and young shoots

Norway spruce, from the point of view of a biologist, is a direct relative of pine. This plant is one of the most ancient. The physiology of this tree determines many qualities of spruce.

Biological characteristics of spruce

The familiar Christmas tree is a gymnosperm plant that forms high (25-30 meters) woody forms. On the territory of the Northern Hemisphere, this tree species formed entire forests, common spruce is one of the main components of the taiga.

The tree is evergreen, its green parts are transformed leaves, the nature of the changes of which is aimed at reducing evaporation and thus preserving moisture. From the trunk, in the adult state covered with brown bark, whorls of branches depart, while the tree forms a pyramidal crown.

Spruce loses part of its needles annually, which is associated with the accumulation of substances toxic to the survival of the tree in the needles. The water-repellent properties of needles determine the fact that spruce forests are very dry. Reproduction occurs by transferring seeds formed in cones - megastrobiles. Fertilization occurs within the same tree, since male and female strobili are located on the same individual. Seed ripening occurs in the autumn season, that is, in September-October.

Gymnosperms, a typical representative of which is the common spruce, have come down to our times from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic. In those days, angiosperms (flowering) plants had just emerged. Later, angiosperms, due to their adaptability, became cosmopolitan and spread throughout the globe.

Meanwhile, gymnosperms, due to the peculiarities of their growth, in some places can displace trees belonging to the angiosperm department. A typical example is the joint growth of spruce and birch. First, the birch crown gives the shade necessary for a small Christmas tree, and when it grows, it obscures the territory and acidifies the soil, so the birch dies off.

The ancient Germans revered the spruce tree as the source of forest life and worshiped it. Of course, the tradition of decorating a tree dates back to pagan times. However, Christianity is known to have adopted many pagan rites. Therefore, the fir tree began to decorate for Christmas.

The fashion for the installation and decoration of spruce on New Year's Eve in Russia was introduced by the reformer tsar Peter I. The German tradition quickly became popular in our country and to this day we put this pretty tree in our apartments, houses or garden plots.

Chemical composition

In general, common spruce, like any other plant, is formed by a complex of organic and mineral substances. However, the proportions of some substances fluctuate depending on the season. Therefore, there is evidence that there are more useful substances in winter spruces than in trees of other seasons of the year.

The organic component of the composition is represented by a large number of phytoncides, resinous and tannic components, vitamins, polyprenols, as well as carbohydrates, fiber and some other substances.

Various mineral salts are dissolved in the cell sap of the Christmas tree, which are donors of substances such as iron, magnesium, manganese, and aluminum. It is known that different parts of this plant contain different elements, for example, the bark of a tree contains tannins, which are practically absent in other parts of the tree.

This phenomenon is associated with aspects of the life of spruce. Features of the seasonal composition determine the time of collection of medicinal raw materials, for example, it is better to collect cones in the summer, and take needles from young spring twigs.

Application in traditional medicine

Norway spruce has a lot of useful properties, so even official medicine recognizes it.

Currently, there are several pharmaceutical preparations that are used to cure various diseases. A typical example is the drug "Pana-Bin", which is a mixture of essential oils of spruce needles and peach oil, mixed in a 1: 1 ratio. This preparation is used to treat urolithiasis, because the substances that make up the needles affect the smooth muscles of the ureters.

The medicinal qualities of common spruce are widely used in various traditional medicine recipes. For the treatment of various diseases, specialists in the field of homeopathy use different raw materials from spruce.
Phytoncides, which are part of different parts of spruce, determine its therapeutic effect on the human respiratory system. Many problems associated with the area of ​​specialization of the ENT doctor can be solved through the use of infusions and decoctions on spruce. In folk medicine, a decoction of spruce cones is used for this purpose.
Ingredients: finely chopped cones - 1 tbsp. spoon, water - 2 tbsp. Preparation and reception: the components are mixed and boiled for about 0.5 hours. Strained broth is used for inhalation, which should be carried out for at least 10-15 minutes. The liquid can be reused, preheated. The shelf life of the decoction is 3 days if stored in the refrigerator.

With the help of inhalations with a decoction of spruce cones, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma are treated. Also, a decoction can be used to gargle with sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis. In case of diseases of the nasal passages - sinusitis, rhinitis, sinusitis - washing them with salted infusion on spruce cones is useful.

In addition to spruce cones, spruce resin is used to treat the internal respiratory tract - bronchi. To do this, it is mixed with beeswax, having previously melted, in a ratio of 1: 1. After cooling, the viscous mass is rolled into balls, which can be stored for a long time. Application occurs by burning (smoldering) one ball and inhaling the resulting smoke.

For the treatment of various diseases of the human musculoskeletal system, spruce needles are used. The composition of this plant element includes vitamins, tannins and essential oils. Together, they have an analgesic, diaphoretic and antimicrobial effect on a person. These mechanisms underlie the use of spruce as a medicinal raw material in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica. There is a recipe among the people that has been used since ancient times.

Ingredients: finely chopped spruce needles - 1 tbsp. spoon, hot water -1 glass. Preparation and reception: the needles are brewed with boiling water and simmered over low heat for about half an hour. The infusion is filtered and used to rub the affected joints.

Also, for the treatment of pain in the joints, especially at the stage of the process, when the shape of the joint is transformed, resin helps, otherwise - spruce resin. To do this, it is placed in a damp warm gauze, heated to a temperature of 30-40 degrees and the gauze (or bandage) soaked in resin is applied to the diseased joints of the arms or legs. In some cases, even spruce wood can be used to treat diseases of the spine and back. For example, from sciatica among the people there is the following recipe:

Ingredients: wood chips or finely chopped spruce needles - 0.5 kg. Preparation and reception: vegetable raw materials are calcined in the oven or in a frying pan and transferred to a woven bag. A hot bag is placed on a sore spot on the back, previously covered with a waffle towel or diaper.

At the same time, the therapeutic effect is achieved simultaneously from heating the affected area, and also, when cooling, the raw wood releases aromatic substances that have a psychological calming effect on the patient and disinfects the air. Warming up with this method is carried out for 15-20 minutes.

In folk medicine, the calming effect of spruce raw materials is used. For the treatment of chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety and even neurosis, it is useful to use lying, sitting and foot baths. For insomnia, spruce needles are used, placed in a woven bag, which is placed close to the pillow. However, it should be borne in mind that over time, such a handbag with needles loses its useful properties, so vegetable raw materials are recommended for replacement at least once every 2 months.

For baths, water extracts and decoctions of spruce needles are used. They are bred in the volume of warm or hot water poured into the bath. There is the following recipe based on needles.

Ingredients: spruce needles - 100g, warm water -1 liter. Preparation and reception: The components are mixed and allowed to boil in a saucepan with a covered lid for about half an hour over medium heat. The broth is filtered and poured into a lying bath (volume 200 liters).

Also, anxiety, restlessness and increased excitability can be fought with the help of young spruce shoots or the upper parts of the stem of the branch (where the needles are softest). On their basis, water extracts are made, which are mixed with warm water and taken in the form of sitz or foot baths. The shoot extract recipe is similar to that described for pine needles. The proportions must be kept the same, but the concentration of the therapeutic composition will differ, because for a foot bath you will need 250 g of medicinal raw materials, and for a sedentary bath - 750 g.

For the treatment of various wounds, suppurations, boils, abrasions or ulcers, treatment with spruce resin is widespread among the people. Numerous biologically active substances contained in this product cause bacteriostatic, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects on external lesions of the skin and mucous membranes.

In addition, the use of resin as an ointment relieves the pain that accompanies various external injuries, including pain from a burn. Among the people, there are quite a few ways to prepare medicinal components based on resin. Let's take a look at some of them.

Ingredients: spruce resin - 1 part, butter -1 part, beeswax - 1 part. Preparation and reception: the melted components are mixed and placed in a container with a lid. With the resulting ointment, lubricate the areas of skin affected by a boil, ulcer or abscess.

Ingredients: resin, flower honey, any vegetable oil (sunflower, hemp, linseed, olive). Preparation and reception: all components are taken in a ratio of 1:1:1, heated until a liquid state is obtained and mixed. The cooled mixture is lubricated with abscesses, ulcers, festering wounds. You can use this ointment in the form of patches.

Ingredients: spruce resin - 1 part, pork fat - 1 part, yellow wax - 1 part. Preparation and reception: these substances are melted in a water bath and mixed. This composition can treat such complex wounds as thermal and chemical burns, fistulas, as well as abscesses, abscesses and abscesses.

Norway spruce is popularly known as a source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Its antiscorbutic therapeutic effect is based on this property, because scurvy is an acute lack of vitamin C, leading to severe consequences for the human connective tissue. This property of spruce raw materials was widely used during the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, in cases of shortage of this most important vitamin for a person, the following recipe is used, based on spruce medicinal raw materials.

Ingredients: spruce needles - 30g, hot boiling water - 0.5 liters. Preparation and reception: The plant component is scalded in a container with a lid. The mixture is infused for at least several hours and, in a strained state, is drunk before meals 3 times a day.

In addition, spruce needles, buds, shoots and other parts of the tree are used to treat other vitamin deficiencies. The fact is that in addition to the described vitamin C, this plant also contains vitamin A (carotene), E (tocopherol), as well as some representatives of the vitamin family of group B. In this vein, the following multivitamin solution is taken.

Ingredients: needles or tops of spruce shoots finely chopped - 5 tbsp. spoons, wild rose (fruits) - 3 tbsp. spoons, onion peel (chopped) - 1 tbsp. spoon, hot boiling water - 0.7 l. Preparation and reception: vegetable raw materials are brewed with hot boiled water and kept at medium heat for another 5-7 minutes. Cool for two hours with the lid of the pan closed, in which boiling was carried out. The tincture is taken in the volume of half a glass 3 times a day, daily for a month, after which it is taken for a break for 10-12 days.

In addition, there is a recipe for monoinfusion on spruce. At the same time, needles and water are combined in a ratio of 1: 2, and honey or sugar can be added to the strained infusion to improve the taste. Tincture is taken in half a glass in the morning and before bedtime.

Contraindications to taking spruce medicinal raw materials

With the whole mass of useful substances that make up this plant, common spruce also has a negative impact on human health. In particular, doctors have found that the intake of spruce essential oils has a negative effect on the condition of people suffering from kidney diseases such as nephritis or nephrosis. In addition, spruce phytoncides are a fairly powerful allergen, so allergy sufferers should take spruce medicines with caution.

The intake of water extracts and infusions of spruce inside is contraindicated for people suffering from ulceration of various parts of the intestine, as well as gastritis.

Coniferous baths should be taken with caution for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, in particular, hypertensive patients. Varicose veins and thrombosis are also a contraindication to taking lying or sitting baths with spruce infusions.

The condition of cancer patients can also worsen when taking coniferous baths.

Spruce has been growing on Earth since very ancient times. The healing properties of this tree were noticed many thousands of years ago. Traditional healers use all parts of the plant - needles, bark and cones. Spruce needles deserve special attention.

Spruce needles inhibits the growth of bacteria, relieves inflammation, has a diaphoretic property and analgesic effect, can be used as a choleretic (diuretic) agent, and helps with scurvy.

Spruce needles (needles) have a complex composition. They contain many amino acids, and essential, including, as well as salts of iron and manganese, cobalt and copper, chromium. Needles are rich in vitamins - E, C, B1, B2, P, H, K, PP, carotene. It contains essential oils and resins that contribute to the removal of radionuclides from the body, as well as natural dietary supplements and biologically active substances.

Properties

The needles have:

• bactericidal,
• cardioprotective,
• regenerating,
• enzymatic,
• diaphoretic,
• expectorant,

and many other useful properties, which is why spruce is so loved by traditional healers.

Phyto-recipes based on spruce needles for external use

Baths - relieve the feeling of depression, fatigue, overexcitation, are useful for exacerbation of chronic diseases, for pain in the joints.
Pour a mug of needles 1000 ml. freshly boiled water, boil and boil for ten minutes over low heat. After filtering, pour the product into a bath, the water temperature in which should not be higher than thirty-seven degrees. The duration of the bath is about fifteen minutes. Course - about twenty baths. Don't forget to rinse your skin in the shower.

Spruce oil includes up to thirty percent bornyl acetate, which gives it significant antimicrobial activity. It has long been known as a mild and powerful diuretic. Soothes and relaxes muscles. Improves the protective barriers of the body. Relieves symptoms of eczema and bruises, as well as pustular phenomena on the skin.

With varicose veins of the extremities - crush five hundred grams of crushed needles in three hundred milliliters of boiling water. Put the resulting slurry on gauze and wrap the affected limb for about twenty minutes. Then rinse the skin with water. Repeat after a day. The course is fourteen days.
For bronchitis: fill a jar with washed and dried pine needles. Pour into a clean container and pour about two liters of distilled water (for thirty minutes). Include five medium-sized potatoes in the remedy. Boil. Mash the boiled potatoes, place in paper and attach to the chest. Keep until completely cooled.

With a fungal infection of the skin: grind five hundred grams of needles, put a layer of one centimeter in a jar, place two hundred grams of butter on top. The bank should place five layers of needles. Cover the jar with foil and place in the oven at a temperature of one hundred and twenty degrees for six hours. After cooling, strain the product. Get green oil. Lubricate the sore spot several times a day.

For rheumatism, fill the mattress with chopped pine needles. Sleep daily on this mattress, the pain will soon subside.

For internal use

Contraindications

In severe somatic diseases, the duration of the course of treatment with needles and its quantity is determined by a specialist. Spruce needles are a universal remedy, but with prolonged uncontrolled use, it can provoke a relapse of concomitant pathology. Treatment with needles is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, very severe diseases of the kidneys and liver, during pregnancy and lactation.

The composition of the needles

Moreover, in winter and autumn, the needles contain the largest amount of essential oils and vitamin C. Naturally, it is during this period that it is worth harvesting (the concentration of nutrients especially increases on frosty days). Moreover, winter and autumn are the time for colds, which means that it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. And vitamin C just helps to do this.

Such a rich composition indicates a large number of useful properties of spruce legs. Therefore, a healing drink made from spruce branches will come in handy in cold winter weather. You can store sprigs at home in water for ten days (preferably in the refrigerator or on the balcony), then vitamin C will be completely preserved.

But we must keep in mind that infusions and decoctions are not useful for everyone. They are not recommended during pregnancy, lactation, problems with the heart and blood vessels, hepatitis.

What is useful needles?

Prickly twigs invigorate, relieve stress, improve the condition with a cold, help restore the disturbed balance of substances, as well as remove excess water and improve the functioning of the digestive tract.

Needles are also useful for oncology, bronchial asthma, whooping cough, cerebral vascular dystonia, myopathy, pyelonephritis. Green twigs activate the work of the heart and blood vessels, improve brain activity and relieve fatigue.

As you can see, twigs are useful for all body systems and help with many diseases. To be vigorous and strong, healthy and not afraid of colds and flu, infusions and decoctions of spruce needles will come in handy. The main thing is to prepare them correctly.

How to prepare drinks from spruce branches?

Classic spruce paw drink

Rosehip tea

cold drink

Tea "Taiga"

Drink for beriberi

Tea to activate metabolism and improve the functioning of organs

You can experiment and add other herbs to the needles (if there are no contraindications), berries, aloe juice. And get healthy and tasty drinks. Decoctions and infusions from spruce paws will improve blood circulation, remove inflammation, strengthen immunity, and even help you become slimmer. So be sure to use this simple tool.

Picea abies (L.) Karst., Picea excelsa Link.
Picea Excelsa Link. (Picea abies) (L.) Karst.).
Pine family - Pinaceae.
Popular name: Christmas tree.

Description

Spruce is one of the oldest trees in our forests. Its origin dates back to the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era. It is an evergreen tree with a cone-shaped crown and scaly brownish-gray, rarely reddish-brown bark. The bark of old trees peels off in thin scales. The branches are somewhat drooping. The diameter of the trunk can reach 1 m. The needles are hard, prickly, flattened-tetrahedral, pointed, dark green. Male staminate strobiles (inflorescences), from anthers collected together, are located in the lower half of the crown, elongated cylindrical, greenish-yellow. Female strobili - in the upper part of the crown, closer to the top, hanging, elongated-cylindrical, purple, then green, mature - turning brown. Seed scales are convex, notched-toothed, woody. Mature cones are large, hanging down. Seeds are dark brown, with long wings. The height is 20–50 m. At a young age, spruce grows slowly, after 10 years the growth rate increases sharply, the increase in height decreases at the age of 100–120 years. Lives up to 250-300, sometimes up to 600 years.

Spreading

Spruce grows in the northern and central strip of the European part of Russia, in Siberia, in the Caucasus, and is found in the Carpathians.

habitat

It grows forming spruce forests or in mixed forests on fertile loamy and sandy soils. It is used for landscaping settlements and creating railway snow protection plantings.

flowering time

Blossoms in May, seeds ripen in autumn, dissipate at the end of the winter of the following year. Harvest years repeat in 4–5 years. In other years, fruiting is either absent or very weak.

collection time

Young tops of branches are harvested in May, immature cones and resin - in June-September.

Procurement method

For medicinal purposes, young tops of branches with buds are used (harvested in early spring, cut off at the base, dried in the shade), young needles, immature seed cones (harvested in June-September), resin and turpentine.

Chemical composition

The chemical composition of spruce has not been studied enough. It is known that spruce needles are rich in vitamin C (up to 300–400 mg%), phytoncides, tannins and resinous substances, essential oils, iron, manganese, copper, chromium, and aluminum were found in it.

Applied Part

Young tops of branches with "buds", immature "seed" cones, resin - rosin and turpentine, needles.

Application

Spruce is used in scientific medicine. The pharmaceutical industry receives vitamins C and K from spruce needles, as well as some drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis, fungal diseases and urolithiasis. For example, the drug "Pinabin" (Pinabinum), which is a 50% solution of essential oils (obtained from spruce needles) in peach oil. Used as an antispasmodic and bacteriostatic agent for urolithiasis, 5 drops per sugar 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 4–5 weeks. With renal colic, take 20 drops per sugar once. Produced in orange glass bottles of 25 ml. Sometimes taking the drug causes side effects (irritation of the digestive tract, general depression). Contraindicated in nephritis and nephrosis. Coniferous extract, in the form of baths, is used for functional disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system (with various neuroses, neurasthenia, radiculitis, plexitis, neuritis), with overwork, weakening of muscle tone, with polyarthritis, as well as with hypertension I and II stages. In medical practice, an infusion of cones (in the form of inhalations and rinses) is allowed, which is used for sore throats, catarrhs ​​of the upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis (with a cold), as well as for chronic inflammation of the lungs, attacks of bronchial asthma and for the prevention of childhood infections. An infusion of spruce buds and cones has antimicrobial, antispasmodic and desensitizing properties. Active ingredients - essential oil and tannins. Needles - a source of ascorbic acid, carotene and chlorophyll - have the ability to regulate metabolism, improve hematopoiesis, have a diuretic and bactericidal effect.

Spruce has found even wider application in folk medicine. Its medicinal properties have been known since ancient times. Among the people, ordinary spruce needles were considered an edible product and used as a storehouse of vitamin C and carotene. Spruce preparations are successfully used to treat a variety of diseases, a far from complete list of which is given below. In folk medicine, infusion, tincture, powder and decoction of spruce are used:

• With cough, pneumonia, whooping cough, purulent bronchitis;
• With radiculitis, rheumatism, gout;
• For the treatment of purulent wounds, abrasions, cuts;
• As an antiscorbutic;
• With pulmonary tuberculosis;
• For the prevention of childhood infections;
• With edema of renal and cardiac origin;
• Like a diaphoretic;
• As a choleretic;
• As a diuretic;
• With bronchial asthma;
• For diseases of the nose and throat;
• With dropsy;
• With microinfarctions, myocarditis and rheumatic heart disease;
• For various skin diseases.

Contraindications

Individual intolerance. Preparations made from common spruce are contraindicated in stomach ulcers and gastritis.

Other application

• The plant is used mainly as a building material, as well as for landscaping and snow retention near roads.
• Separate varieties with even layers of wood are used to make musical instruments. This is the so-called resonant spruce.
• Spruce wood, soft, with a high cellulose content and low resin content, is the main raw material for the pulp and paper industry.
• Wood is used in the production of building materials (chipboards, plaster and roof shingles, parquet, etc.).
• Resin, turpentine, rosin, tar, cellulose are obtained.
• The bark is used for tanning leather in industry.
• The fatty oil of the seeds is used in the manufacture of varnishes.
• From spruce needles, a chlorophyll-carotene paste containing chlorophyll, phytoncides and vitamins is obtained, which is used as a feed additive in animal husbandry.
• In the manufacture of ethyl alcohol, 1 ton of wood replaces 1 ton of potatoes.
• Activated carbon is obtained from spruce wood.

Mode of application

Spruce preparations can cause an allergic reaction.

Powder

Dry spruce resin - rosin is crushed and sprinkled with wounds, hard-healing ulcers and abrasions.

Infusion

• Infusion of needles: 40 g of coarsely chopped spruce needles per 250 ml of boiling water insist 20 minutes, filter. Take 50 ml 5 times a day with a lack of vitamin C, as an expectorant, as well as in diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.
• Infusion of cones: 40 g of crushed cones of spruce are poured into a glass of boiled water (1:5) and boiled for 30 minutes, stirring. After boiling, the liquid is cooled for 15 minutes, then filtered through 3 layers of gauze. A brown liquid, astringent taste, with the smell of pine needles is obtained. The finished infusion is stored in a dark container, protected from light, in a cool place for no more than 3 days. The infusion is used for inhalation, washing, rinsing and as drops for acute respiratory infections, chronic pneumonia, bronchospasm, tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis.
• For inhalation: An infusion of spruce cones is heated to 60–80 ° C, poured into an inhaler in 10–15 ml increments for 1 session - for children from 1 to 10 years old; for children from 10 years old and adults - 20-30 ml. Inhalations are done 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment is from 10 to 40 sessions.
• For rinses and rinses: Heat the infusion to a temperature of 35-40 ° C and use it for rinsing with sore throat, tonsillitis and acute respiratory infections and for washing the maxillary cavities - with sinusitis.
• Drops: Heat the infusion to a temperature of 35–37 ° C and instill 5–10 drops into each nasal passage in the treatment of sinusitis and vasomotor rhinitis.

Tincture

2-3 tablespoons of young coniferous needles or young buds or young cones pour 0.5 liters of vodka. Close tightly and leave in a dark place for 2 weeks, shaking occasionally. Take 3 times a day before meals (you can use 1/2 cup of hot water) for any colds, rhinitis, tonsillitis, bronchial asthma, cough, bronchitis and pneumonia.

Ointments and mixtures

• Spruce resin (resin), pork interior fat, yellow beeswax - all in equal parts by weight. Heat all components in a water bath, mix. The resulting ointment is used to treat burns, ulcers, fistulas, boils, carbuncles, abscesses. To speed up healing, first the wound is treated with lime water (a tablespoon of quicklime per 1 liter of water), then apply a bandage with ointment.
• Spruce resin (resin), yellow wax, bee honey, sunflower or hemp oil - all in equal parts by weight. Heat all ingredients and mix thoroughly. After cooling, it is used as an ointment or in the form of plasters for abrasions, abscesses, ulcers, purulent wounds.
• Spruce resin (resin), yellow wax - all in equal parts by weight. Melt the ingredients, mix, roll into small balls and cool. Put a piece of the mixture on hot coals, breathe in the emitted smoke with a prolonged cough (chronic bronchitis).
• Spruce resin (resin), yellow wax, butter - all in equal parts by weight. Melt all components, mix, use as an ointment for furunculosis, wounds and abrasions, ulcers, abscesses.

Decoction

• Boil 30 g of young shoots or young cones in 1 liter of milk. Strain the broth, divide into 3 parts and take during the day. The decoction is taken for colds, for the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pharyngolaryngitis, rheumatism, pulmonary tuberculosis.
• 40 g of crushed spruce cones per 200 ml of water are boiled for 30 minutes, filtered. Used for gargling 5-6 times a day or instilled 4-5 drops into both nostrils for sore throat, tonsillitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, for the prevention of childhood infectious diseases.

vitamin drink

Needles (needles) are rubbed in a mortar with a small amount of cold boiled water, then boiled water is added in a ratio of 1:10, acidified with lemon or cranberry juice, boiled for 20-30 minutes, insisted for 3 hours, filtered. Take 1/4-1/2 cup after meals 2 times a day as an antiscorbutic and tonic.

pine juice

Porridge from spruce needles (pine and fir can be) mixed in equal parts by weight with honey and leave in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, stirring occasionally. Drain the honey-pine juice, squeeze out the rest, take 2 tablespoons in the morning on an empty stomach for tuberculosis. Store juice in the refrigerator.

Juice can be obtained from the needles of cedar, pine, spruce, fir, cedar elfin. To do this, young shoots that are harvested no later than May 15 should be washed well, rinsed in cold water and, spread out on a towel, dried. Pine needles are placed in a glass jar in layers: a layer of needles - a layer of sugar. It is advisable to use a jar with a wide mouth. The thickness of the layers - both needles and sugar - should be about the width of the palm of your hand. The jar is filled to the very top, the last layer should be sugar. Leave the jar overnight. In the morning, mix the needles and sugar in a jar with a wooden spoon and, tying the neck of the jar with a clean cloth, put it in the sun. The contents of the jar must be infused for 10 days. In this case, the needles will gradually begin to rise up, and the juice will be at the bottom. On the 11th day, the juice should be drained, bottled, tightly closed with corks and left to be stored at room temperature. A 5-liter jar consumes 1.5 kg of sugar.

The juice from the needles is an amazing healing agent in terms of strength and spectrum of action. It cures: beriberi, colds, coughs, inflammation of the lungs, bronchi, trachea, asthma, tuberculosis, has a general strengthening effect on blood vessels, kidneys, heart and the body as a whole. For bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, take juice from the needles: children - 1 tablespoon, adults - 2 tablespoons in the morning, on an empty stomach. With a cold, the dose can be reduced by half. In the case of consistent and daily treatment with juice from the needles, a complete recovery occurs.

Syrup of honey and spruce buds

Spruce or fir buds, collected at the end of May, when their length reaches 3–5 cm, should be washed in cold water, finely chopped, poured with water (3–4 liters of water is taken per 1 kg of buds), boiled in an enamel bowl 10–15 minutes, then strain, let stand and strain again through cheesecloth. For 1 kg of the resulting broth, add 1 kg of honey and 10 g of propolis extract (30 g of propolis per 100 ml of alcohol), mix well and heat to 40–45 ° C. After cooling, pour into bottles, which should be kept closed in a cool place. Take syrup 1 teaspoon before meals 3 times a day.

Spruce jam (syrup)

Fresh spruce cones or young shoots are thoroughly washed, placed in an enamel pot and poured with water so that there is a 2 cm layer of water above the cones. Put the pan on the fire and cook the mixture for 2 hours. Insist until completely cooled, strain through a sieve or several layers of gauze. Measure the volume of the resulting broth and add sugar based on 1 liter of spruce broth - 1 kg of sugar. Put the pan back on the fire and cook for another 1.5–2 hours (check the degree of readiness on a saucer, like regular jam). Pour boiling jam into sterilized jars and roll up. Take syrup for the treatment of cough, with microinfarctions, myocarditis and rheumatic heart disease.

Fresh needles and buds

In the spring, the bright red "berries", very similar to strawberries, are eaten fresh and boiled in sugar syrup.

For diseases of the gums, oral cavity, chronic tonsillitis and influenza, bright green twigs of spruce are useful to chew, but not swallow.

Spruce buds are harvested at the end of May, when they grow 3-4 cm, washed in cold water, finely chopped. For 1 kg of kidneys - 3-4 liters of water. Boil in an enamel bowl for 10-15 minutes, strain, let stand and strain again through gauze. For 1 kg of the resulting broth, add 1 kg of honey and 10 g of propolis extract (extract - 30 g of propolis per 100 g of alcohol), mix well and heat to 40-45 C. After cooling, pour into half-liter bottles, store closed in a cool place . Apply 1 teaspoon before meals 3 times a day.

Baths

Contraindications: Despite all the benefits of coniferous baths, it is necessary to follow the main principles and take into account contraindications. The temperature in the bath should increase gradually, the heart area should remain above the surface of the water. The duration and temperature of the water are selected individually, based on the patient's well-being. Coniferous baths are contraindicated in cardiovascular diseases with II and III degree circulatory disorders, stage III hypertension, malignant neoplasms, infectious skin diseases, and the presence of acute inflammatory processes. Hot general and local baths are contraindicated in various thrombosis and varicose veins.

• Bath with pine extract: For a bath for an adult, take 100 g of the extract. The water temperature is not higher than 37°C, the duration of the procedure is 15–20 minutes. Baths are taken for functional disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system (with various neuroses, neurasthenia, radiculitis, plexitis, neuritis), with overwork, weakening of muscle tone, with polyarthritis, as well as with stage I and II hypertension.
• Bath for arthritis and other joint diseases: pour freshly cut branches of fir trees with boiling water and leave to brew. When the infusion has cooled to a temperature that you can stand, lower your legs or arms for 30 minutes. Then wrap them in something woolen for 1 hour and rest. Repeat the procedure after 2 days. With rheumatic polyarthritis, the course of treatment is 5-7 procedures. Hot foot baths are contraindicated in thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.
• Bath to improve blood circulation in the joints of the legs and prevent arthrosis: Prepare a decoction of pine needles, divide it into two parts. Cool one part, keep the other hot. Place the decoctions side by side and immerse your feet first in the hot infusion, then in the cold one (20°C). It is necessary to keep the legs in each decoction for about 15 seconds, or three times longer in hot than in cold. To improve the effect of treatment, add 2 tablespoons of table or sea salt to both decoctions. Hot foot baths are contraindicated in thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.
• Bath for sciatica, myositis and lichen: prepare a strong coniferous decoction of spruce paws, insist, strain and pour into the bath. Add 2 handfuls of table or sea salt. Take a bath for 15–20 minutes at a temperature of 37°C.
• Cosmetic bath: Pour 300 g of pine needles into 3 liters of cold water and boil for 10–20 minutes. Pour the broth into a bath with a water temperature of 36-37 ° C.
• Bath for gout, rheumatic lesions of the joints: 100 g of the tops of young spruce branches with buds per 500 ml of water are boiled for 50-40 minutes, filtered. The temperature and duration of the bath depends on how you feel.
• Bath according to G.P. Malakhov: Spruce needles, finely cut twigs and chopped spruce cones - only about 1 kg of dry weight - boil for 30 minutes in 7-8 liters of water. After that, close it well and let it brew for 12 hours. A good infusion of needles is brown. Pour into a bath of warm water (36–40°C). The procedure itself ranges from 10 to 30 minutes or more, depending on how you feel. Gradually increase the water temperature from procedure to procedure, but well-being in this matter is the most important criterion. Do 2-3 baths per week. After the procedure - a cool shower for 5-10 seconds. The cycle of such baths lasts about a month. The combination of taking coniferous baths and drinking coniferous broth allows you to get rid of 80% of various diseases.
• Recipe for coniferous decoction for oral administration: 5 tablespoons of spruce needles pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, simmer for 5 minutes. Insist. Strain. Pour the broth into a thermos and take it warm throughout the day.

For each of us, spruce is associated with the New Year holidays and a wonderful mood. But when the fun days are over, we are in a hurry to throw out the "green beauties". But do not rush, because in fact, parts of this plant can bring great benefits to our health.

Give spruce a second life, and she will definitely thank you

Spruce is a unique natural preparation that will help overcome a variety of diseases. Spruce parts are rich in vitamins, minerals and flavonoids. And in order for these components to bring maximum benefit, it is enough to properly prepare a decoction of spruce needles, cones and branches.

About the incredible benefits of spruce

Spruce can be safely called a unique plant that can increase the body's defenses, strengthen the immune system, relieve stress and take care of skin health. As mentioned earlier, on the basis of its various parts, you can prepare a healing spruce decoction that has great benefits. Regular consumption of this drink improves tone, neutralizes anxiety and increases appetite.

Spruce preparations have the following properties:

• diuretic, which is used to treat the entire urinary system;
• bactericidal and antiviral, which become especially relevant in the autumn-spring period;
• soothing - allows you to cope with increased nervousness, insomnia and overexertion;
• due to the presence of a large amount of essential oils, spruce decoction is highly effective in the common cold, is used as a prophylaxis of acute respiratory infections and helps to overcome diseases of the upper respiratory tract;
• in a short time, this tool is able to neutralize the action of harmful microorganisms.

spruce needles

A decoction of pine needles exhibits the following beneficial properties:

• antimicrobial;
• diaphoretic and diuretic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• choleretic;
• painkiller.

Spruce needles help with beriberi, since all the healing components, when boiled, pass into the decoction and are completely preserved in it. With it, you can cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, normalize metabolism and even get rid of excess weight.

Most often, coniferous decoction is used to strengthen immunity. And if you use it daily for a month, you can feel a surge of strength, vitality and vitality.

You can prepare a tonic drink as follows:

• 2 tablespoons of pine needles chop;
• pour a glass of boiling water;
• cook for 20 minutes.

Advice! To make the broth more pleasant, you can add a small amount of sugar to it.

The resulting remedy must be drunk in three divided doses throughout the day.

A decoction of spruce needles can be used as an antiscorbutic, for its preparation it is necessary:

• take a tablespoon of freshly picked needles;
• pour a glass of boiling water;
• cook for half an hour;
• Pour into a cup, cover and let steep.

After three hours, the restorative coniferous decoction is ready. It must be taken 100 ml throughout the day.

Important! Before including spruce decoction in your daily diet, you should consult with your doctor and rule out individual intolerance.

fir cones

A decoction of spruce cones has also found application in folk medicine. This part of the plant is rich in the following valuable substances:

• resins;
• essential oils;
• vitamin C;
• tannins;
• copper, manganese, chromium, iron and aluminium.

It is thanks to these components that a drink from young cones shows a lot of useful properties. With its help, you can overcome tonsillitis and bronchitis, sinusitis and pharyngitis, and it will help both adults and children from pneumonia.

A decoction of spruce cones is recommended for use in muscle and joint pain of various etiologies, and with complex treatment it helps to significantly improve the condition of patients suffering from such a complex disease as pulmonary tuberculosis.

To prepare a healing drink you need:

• chop fir cones;
• pour boiling water in the ratio - 1 part cones to 5 parts water;
• cook for half an hour;
• let it brew for 15 minutes, filter.

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Needle treatment - pine, spruce, cedar

Needle treatment - folk recipes

Greetings, dear reader of the blog "Recipes of traditional medicine". Today I will tell you about the healing properties of some coniferous plants.

Useful properties of needles

● Since ancient times, when traditional medicine was just beginning to develop, all nationalities used needles to treat various diseases. Decoctions and extracts of needles as a remedy were used five thousand years ago by the ancient Sumerians. Needles were known at that time both in Rus' and in Ancient Greece.

● People chewed cedar or pine needles all winter long so as not to get sick. Moreover, people who constantly chew needles have absolutely no problems with teeth and gums.

You wonder when you begin to understand how many diseases can be cured with the help of forest beauties - pine and spruce. What is the secret of these plants?

● Needles contain a lot of biologically active substances that have stimulating and healing properties. These include vitamins, macro- and microelements, chlorophyll, essential oils, phytoncides and phytohormones.

Most importantly, the needles are rich in ascorbic acid - vitamin C, the level of which rises to a maximum in winter and decreases slightly in summer.

● As for essential oils, it is the other way around – their accumulation is much greater in summer and less in winter. Needles are a unique source of carotene, which is absolutely indispensable for the prevention of cancer.

In our body, beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A, a very important trace element that ensures the body's resistance to infections and normal vision due to the synthesis of visual pigment.

● There is a lot of vitamin E in the needles. A lack of this vitamin leads to rapid aging of the body, miscarriages, painful changes in the heart muscle and skeletal muscles, sex glands and nerve cells.

● The needles are rich in phytoncides. These are substances that have the ability to destroy pathogenic microbes, fungi, harmful protozoa: unicellular and multicellular organisms or stop their development.

They have a detrimental effect on pathogens of dysentery, tuberculosis, influenza and other diseases; accelerate wound healing, stimulate cardiac activity, stimulate the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract, purify the surrounding air from harmful chemicals and microbes, maintain biological stability.

● Phytoncides by their structure contain essential oils - special mixtures of volatile aromatic compounds. That is why the beautiful Christmas tree has such an unusual persistent aroma. New Years is soon!!!

I am sure that a forest beauty will certainly appear in your house by this date. Be sure to pay attention to how the air environment in your home will change.

If a cat lives in it, he will really want to lie down under the Christmas tree. Moreover, he will try to climb it along the trunk. The explanation is simple - the animal is treated by inhaling the aroma of a coniferous plant.

● To ensure a sound and restful sleep, place a bouquet of spruce paws in your bedroom. Pine needles contain many macro- and microelements, for example: aluminum, copper, iron, etc.

These elements are indispensable for human life. When we lack some microelement, blood counts worsen, anemia (anemia), dizziness, digestive difficulties, disorders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems occur.

● Now you are convinced that the needles are a storehouse of nature, a natural pharmacy containing useful vitamins and substances. Be friends with needles: she is always ready to help you fight ailments and gain good health for many years to come.

Pine needles treatment - traditional medicine recipes

● With cholelithiasis, cholecystitis and biliary dyskinesia:

Rinse a heaping tablespoon of spruce needles, chop it and boil for 20 minutes in a glass of boiling water. Cool, filter and add honey or sugar to taste (preferably the first).

Drink the entire broth in small sips. You can brew this tea twice a day. Spruce tea has an amazing taste, you will enjoy drinking it.

This tea has a diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory effect, so it is recommended to use it for all types of colds (flu, bronchitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc.), as well as an antitussive and expectorant.

● In diseases of the kidneys (nephritis, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, nephroptosis, protein in the urine, etc.):

Prepare a decoction of pine needles with onion peel; chop finely and mix 5 tbsp. l. coniferous needles and two tablespoons of onion peel.

Simmer the resulting mixture for 10 minutes over low heat in one liter of water. Pour into a thermos and leave overnight. Filter through two layers of cheesecloth and drink throughout the day (3-4 consecutive months).

● In folk medicine, not only needles are used, but also pine buds. They need to be collected in February-March, before they start growing. Cut off the kidneys with a knife in the form of a crown with one central and several kidneys on the sides.

The surface of the harvested bud is covered with scales intertwined with resin and tightly pressed, visible rudiments of green needles. Leave the collected raw materials to dry under sheds, in attics or dryers at a temperature not exceeding 20-25˚.

● Dry the kidneys should be on paper or cloth in a thin layer and often stirring. Drying of the kidneys in the oven is not allowed: the resin evaporates and melts, the scales diverge in different directions.

The condition of properly harvested raw materials: color - pink-brown, resinous-bitter smell, coniferous. Store no more than 2 years.

● Treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, dropsy (ascites), gout, rickets, metabolic disorders, expressed in the form of skin rashes:

In half a liter of milk, boil 50 grams of pine buds for 20 minutes; drink in sips, for adults - a daily dose, for children - two days;

Brew in a sealed container for 1-2 hours a tablespoon of kidneys in two cups of boiling water; strain the infusion and take ¼ cup three times a day as a diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant.

● Treatment of colds in children:

Insist 2 hours 50 grams of kidneys in two glasses of boiling water, boil the syrup from the strained liquid; the syrup turns out fragrant and tasty pink. Give children 5-6 tablespoons a day.

● Treatment of varicose veins:

Let it brew for half an hour 500 grams of needles in 300 ml. boiling water; take a piece of gauze large enough to wrap around a limb affected by varicose veins.

Distribute the resulting slurry evenly over the limb and wrap it with gauze. Hold for 15 minutes, wrap every other day for two weeks;

At the same time, take a decoction of needles inside: boil coniferous needles ground in a mortar with a small amount of cold boiled water for half an hour, adding so much boiled water that the proportion is 1:10 (one part of needles to 10 parts of water). Acidify the broth with a little lemon juice, leave for 3 hours and filter; drink half a glass twice a day.

Other needles treatment recipes

● Tea that strengthens the immune system. This drink will help you with colds and flu. Rinse a glass of pine needles thoroughly, chop, brew with three glasses of boiling water. After an hour, add the juice of ½ lemon and a teaspoon of honey. Then you can drink this healing nectar, but first strain it.

● A unique remedy for bronchitis. Rinse the needles thoroughly and fill a liter jar, pour into an enamel pan and pour two liters of water for 30 minutes.

Add 4-5 potatoes there and put on the stove. After the potatoes are cooked, mash them, wrap clean paper or a thin towel and apply to your chest. Keep until completely cool.

● Ointment for the destruction of the fungus. Finely chop half a kilogram of pine needles and lay a layer of one cm on the bottom of a jar with a volume of no more than 250 ml. On top of the same layer - 200 grams of butter.

Fill the entire jar: you should get five layers laid in this way. Cover a full jar with foil and put in the oven at a temperature of 100-120 ° C, for about 6 hours.

Remove and cool the jar, strain its contents through a fine sieve or gauze. You should have a greenish oil. Apply the ointment two to three times a day. You will see the result on the second day.

● We treat rheumatism. Stuff your mattress with crushed pine needles and sleep on it. Soon the joint pains will leave you.

● Coniferous baths at home. Collect needles in a canvas bag and place it in a bath of hot water. Take a bath - colds and other diseases will leave you.

● Set up your own "sauna" at home. It is well known that essential oils contribute to the healing of the body. Put on “coniferous clothes”: a dressing gown or an old nightgown boiled in a solution of spruce twigs.

It is best to do this before taking a pine bath: while you are in the bath, the clothes will be saturated with ethers and the aroma of pine needles. After the bath, wring out the "coniferous" robe, put it on - and go to bed. It helps to treat colds and skin diseases.

● Toning face mask. Mix equal parts (50 ml each) of kefir or cottage cheese and infusion of needles until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Apply to the face in an even layer for 30-40 minutes, then rinse with warm water. This tool is an antiseptic, has a tonic and whitening property.

● How to smooth wrinkles. Apply this mixture in a thin even layer on your face: 20 ml of sunflower oil, three tablespoons of honey, 2-3 tbsp. l. chopped needles. Rinse with warm water after 10-15 minutes.

Such masks should be done 1-2 times a month, after which you will find a rejuvenating effect.

● To strengthen the hair. Place two cups of pine needles in a saucepan and cover with water until they are completely covered. Cook over low heat for one hour.

After 20 minutes of removing from heat, filter and add the beaten protein of one chicken egg and 3-5 drops of good cognac. Apply this mixture to your hair, wrap it in a towel, and wash it with shampoo after half an hour. This mask will relieve hair from brittleness and dryness.

● How to get rid of unpleasant negativity. Popular rumor says that our house is protected from damage by smoke from spruce or pine branches. To do this, put a few sprigs of spruce or pine in a hot pan.

The branches will begin to smolder, and direct the smoke to all corners of your home - it will drive away all the negative (negative) energy that has accumulated over the years.

Contraindications for needle treatment

● Coniferous baths are contraindicated in patients with disorders of the cardiovascular system, blood circulation, severe hypertension, malignant neoplasms, infectious skin diseases and the presence of acute inflammatory processes.

● Spruce and pine needles are best harvested in winter when the trees are dormant. Spread the broken spruce branches on a cotton cloth and dry in places with air circulation.

The needles will fall off on their own. Collect needles in the forest away from settlements. In no case do not pluck the upper young shoots with buds - the plant may die due to growth failure. Store needles in closed glass jars in a cool, dark place for no more than 2 years.

Take care of your health and may the Lord God help you in this!!!

You can find the latest information about conifers on Wikipedia ...

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Spruce and its needles in folk recipes for the treatment of diseases

Spruce has been growing on Earth since very ancient times. The healing properties of this tree were noticed many thousands of years ago. Traditional healers use all parts of the plant - needles, bark and cones. Spruce needles deserve special attention.

Spruce needles inhibits the growth of bacteria, relieves inflammation, has a diaphoretic property and analgesic effect, can be used as a choleretic (diuretic) agent, and helps with scurvy.

The composition and benefits of spruce needles

Spruce needles (needles) have a complex composition. They contain many amino acids, and essential, including, as well as salts of iron and manganese, cobalt and copper, chromium. Needles are rich in vitamins - E, C, B1, B2, P, H, K, PP, carotene. It contains essential oils and resins that contribute to the removal of radionuclides from the body, as well as natural dietary supplements and biologically active substances.

Properties

The needles have:

• bactericidal,
• cardioprotective,
• regenerating,
• enzymatic,
• diaphoretic,
• diuretic,
• expectorant,

and many other useful properties, which is why spruce is so loved by traditional healers.

Phyto-recipes based on spruce needles for external use

Baths - relieve the feeling of depression, fatigue, overexcitation, improve blood circulation, are useful for exacerbation of chronic diseases, for pain in the joints. Pour a mug of needles 1000 ml. freshly boiled water, boil and boil for ten minutes over low heat. After filtering, pour the product into a bath, the water temperature in which should not be higher than thirty-seven degrees. The duration of the bath is about fifteen minutes. Course - about twenty baths. Don't forget to rinse your skin in the shower.