With Yule, Winter Solstice, and Christmas coming up, I wanted to talk about the properties of pine since it is used throughout the winter. Pine is one of my favorite smells when it comes to winter. I also like to add pine to my Christmas decor when it’s time to decorate. Anyways, below is information about pine and how you can use it within your practice.
Pine is an evergreen tree, meaning that it is long-living and long-lasting. Which makes it the perfect item to use for longevity workings. It also symbolizing warmth which is great for those long cold winter nights.
Pine is part of the Pinaceae family and refers to and conifer in the Pinus genus. There are about 120 species of evergreen conifers around the world but most of them are native to the Northern Temperate regions. Conifers have evolved around 300 million years ago and pines evolved 153 million years ago.
A fun fact about pine cones is that they are gendered both male and female. The male pine cones are smaller and stay on the tree for one season. The female pine cones are larger and will stay on the tree for 1.5 to 3 years. Most pine prefer acidic soils and require good drainage, although a few pine trees are able to grow in wet soil.
Using Pine
You can use pine needles in a herbal bath to help calm you and to reduce inflammation. You can also use young pine needles to make teas to help with cold like symptoms. You can also create a steam using fresh pine leaves and water to help clear up your sinuses. Different parts of the pine tree do have slightly different uses. Pine resin can be toxic and shouldn’t be consumed.
Health Benefits of Pine
Please note that I am not in the medical field and this is based on my own research. Please do your own research on this subject to come to your own conclusion.
Pine can be used in:
- Baths
- Teas (young pine needles)
- In water to create a steam
The befits of pine are:
- Ani-inflammatory
- Helps symptoms of colds and coughs
- Resin can help remove splinters
- Improve brain function and memory
- Boost your mood
- Easy muscle and joint aches
- Protects skin from sun damage
Properties of Pine
Characteristics:
- Cone - bearing evergreens
- Straight trunk
- Bark can be dark and furrowed or divided into rectangular plates
- Branches grow in whorls around the tree
Botanical Name: Pinus | Pinaceae Family
Other Names: Pinus nigra, Pinus rigida, Pinus sylvestris
Aroma: Sharp, sweet, and refreshing
Symbolism: Warmth, Longevity, Peace
Correspondences
Gender: Masculine
Element: Air
Planet: Mars
Zodiacs: Aries, Scorpio
Deities: Pan, Diana, Baccus, Saturn, Astarte, Cybele
Crystals: Citrine, Pyrite, Moonstone
Chakras: Throat
Magical Properties
Luck, Joy, Balance, Purification, Banishment, Healing, Fertility, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness
Sourced From
All over | Native to Northern Temperate Regions
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