Zhivitsa pine: medicinal properties and contraindications

Pine is one of the most common conifers. It is of great importance in the national economy. The wood of this tree is characterized by good technical performance. Compared to larch, pine wood is lightweight and easier to process. At the same time, it is very durable. Pine wood is widely used in construction and furniture production. Due to the ease of processing, it is possible to make furniture and interior items of unusual unusual shapes from it.

A pine can also be called an amber tree. It is she who is considered the ancestress of this unique and beautiful creation of nature. Amber is a petrified resin of coniferous trees, mainly pine. This stone is used not only in jewelry production, but also in industry for the production of insulators, varnishes and even some physical and medical devices.

Dry distillation of wood results in tar used for wound healing. Charcoal is used in the technical field for the absorption of gases and liquids. Obtained by processing activated carbon is used in medicine for poisoning.

Decoctions from unblown kidneys are used as an expectorant and disinfectant. Infusions of needles are considered a preventive and therapeutic agent for scurvy. Mariners used needles as the only source of vitamin C on a long journey. Now they make vitamin flour from it, which is used in agriculture and animal husbandry. Coniferous extract has found application in medicine, cosmetology, perfumery.

But the most miraculous, relieving from a huge number of ailments is considered pine resin, or resin.

Resin, or turpentine, is a resinous aromatic substance secreted by conifers due to metabolism and in violation of the integrity of the bark. When hardened, this substance protects the damaged place from pathogens and other pests due to the content of antibacterial and antifungal substances. It was they who initially determined the healing power of the resin.

It is interesting! In the war years, with an acute shortage of medicines, it was with the help of resin that thousands of wounded were saved.

In childhood, many chewed fragrant clots, not even suspecting what benefits they bring to the body.

Chemical composition

The resin contains vitamins of groups A, C, D, E, K, minerals: iron, phosphorus, manganese, iodine, potassium, calcium, silicon, zinc. Also in the resin are fatty acids, succinic acid, carotene, resinous esters, alcohols (resins).

Zhivitsa is 75% composed of resinous acids. They are solid, but with the help of natural solvents called terpenes, resin, like blood in the human body, can freely move inside a tree trunk. Neutral substances, due to the presence of which coniferous resin is a therapeutic agent, make up to 20% of the total weight of resin.

Collection and storage

For a long time people have been extracting resin. In industrial volumes, it began to be mined and processed in the 50s of the last century in Altai. Turpentine and rosin were made from it.

From turpentine obtained from coniferous resin, camphor is obtained by distillation. It is an integral component of many medications.The rosin produced by boiling the resin at 170 ° C is used in soldering, in the production of plastics, rubber, linoleum, glue, and soap. Turpentine and rosin are excellent starting materials, and for some types of products they are the only possible raw materials.

Collect the resin of conifers and for personal use. The collection can be carried out all year round. In winter, resin is in hardened condition. To collect hard resin, you will need a jar with a lid, a knife and a rag soaked in vegetable oil. It is not recommended to collect gum near roads or industrial plants, because trees can accumulate harmful substances and heavy metals. You need to find a pine tree with drops or smudges of resin. Then with a knife, rubbed with oil, carefully cut the resin and lower it into a jar. Wipe the knife after each use, as the resin is very sticky.

It is better to collect fresh transparent resin from early spring, when sap flow begins, and until autumn. When going to the forest, you need to arm yourself with a knife, a rope and a jar with a lid. On a young tree under a branch, you need to make an incision with a depth of bark thickness. The length of the notch should be no more than 5-6 cm. Under the notch, fix the jar with a rope. You can pour a little sunflower oil into it so that the resin should remain in a liquid state. For faster resin collection, it is better to make several cuts at about 45 degrees from two sides that converge in one line. Primary resin release is usually rather scarce. After a week, the incisions must be cleaned, causing the next discharge, which is much more intense. During the summer period, it will be possible to collect about 0.5 l of resin from each tree.

For convenience, you can make an uncomplicated gutter from improvised means, for example, from a plastic bottle. It needs to be tightly fixed under the incision, and already under it tie a jar. This will prevent the resin from flowing past the can. Containers for the collection of resin should be glass or ceramic. In no case should the metal come into contact with the resin either during collection or during the further preparation of various medicines. The fact is that the resin reacts with the metal, while changing its chemical composition. This may affect the quality of its derivatives.

Gum collection is best done in warm sunny weather. The higher the atmospheric temperature, the better the trees give the resin, since it is in a more liquid state. Such a resin is more useful.

Gum is also collected by piercing pockets with resin. Pine is different from other conifers and almost does not form such pockets.

Some people think that collecting tar causes great damage to trees. This is not true. The incision is quickly tightened with its own resin, so pests cannot get into the wound. The formation of renewed resin occurs quickly, like blood formation in the human body, and soon returns to normal.

Hardened resin can be stored for a long time. If you do not plan to cook something from fresh liquid resin immediately, then you can pour it into small forms and let it harden. Then, pulling out small pieces from the mold, fold them into a storage vessel. In this case, you do not have to chip off the hardened large piece with the right amount of resin, just take a small piece and prepare a tool from it.

But most often, balm is immediately prepared from gum, warming it with a water bath along with any vegetable oil until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. The choice of oil depends on the effect that is expected to be obtained. For example, sea buckthorn oil will contribute to even faster healing, burdock oil will strengthen hair and accelerate its growth. You can make the whole balm with sunflower oil, and add the right ones before use. Everyone also chooses concentration for himself. If you take 100 g of resin and 100 g of oil, you get a 50% balm, 50 g of resin - 25%. Store balm in glass jars, closed with a lid, at a temperature of about 200 ° C. The duration of storage of the balm is limited only by the shelf life of the oil.For solid resin in its pure form, the shelf life is unlimited.

The healing properties of pine resin

The main known healing quality of gum is its healing properties. It promotes the healing of cuts, burns, it is especially effective for festering wounds, can stretch pus and disinfect the affected area. But only the healing effect of the properties of coniferous resin is not limited to. The range of its therapeutic effects is very wide:

1. Inflammation of the respiratory tract, colds and viral diseases. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it successfully treats pneumonia, flu, bronchitis, and helps cough up sputum when coughing.
2. Diseases of the oral cavity and gums. It is used for rinsing the oral cavity. It disinfects and relieves inflammation of the mucous membrane.
3. Sciatica and inflammation of the joints. With arthritis, osteochondrosis, arthrosis, ointments and creams containing pine resin are rubbed into a sore spot. They relieve inflammation, reduce pain and discomfort.
4. Pathology of the digestive tract. The use of gum has a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora, normalizes the liver and pancreas, the process of bile formation, restores the mucous membrane of the stomach, regulates the secretion of gastric juice, heals inflammation and ulcers. To achieve the maximum effect in the process of treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to use balms from gum and sea buckthorn oil.
5. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Pine resin balms thin the blood, prevent blood clots, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity, normalize venous outflow, improve blood circulation to the brain, and regulate blood pressure.
6. Disorder of the nervous system. Zhivitsa increases mental and physical performance, relieves irritability, helps with headaches, normalizes sleep, serves as an antidepressant, relieves the feeling of constant fatigue.
7. Genitourinary diseases. With kidney disease, inflammation of the urinary tract, prostatitis take balm gum with cedar oil. Pine gum and its medicinal products make the healing process faster thanks to the diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.
8. Skin diseases. Zhivitsa is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic, disinfects and disinfects injured or damaged skin diseases. It accelerates the process of restoration of the epithelium in case of its violation due to disease. Heals the skin without visible residual scars and scars.
9. Diseases of the endocrine system. For inflammation of the thyroid gland, gum is also used. It also reduces sugar in diabetes, succinic acid contributes to this.

Zhivitsa pine in folk medicine

Nature herself suggested to people that coniferous resin is a healing remedy. Any damage or cut on the tree poses a threat to the existence, growth and normal development of the plant. The trees themselves protect and heal themselves with the help of healing resin, distinguishing it from damage. People noticed this and began to use coniferous resin for their treatment.

In folk medicine, there are two ways to use coniferous resin: internal and external use. For external use, various oils, lotions, compresses, ointments, grinders are used. Inside take ready-made balms, decoctions, infusions. The resin can simply be resorbed like a candy.

There are a great many recommendations and recipes for using pine resin. Here is some of them.

Ointment for eczema and trophic ulcers

Take 100 g of beeswax, 100 g of internal lard and 50 g of resin. Warm up with a water bath and mix.Apply to a problem place once a day. It is better to do this at night, after pre-treating the place damaged by the disease with hydrogen peroxide.

Grinding for the treatment of varicose veins

Zhivitsa pine and any vegetable oil are mixed in a proportion of 1:10. The mixture is well warmed and cooled. Once a day, lubricate sore spots, preferably before bedtime.

Burn ointment

Pine resin, inner lard, sea buckthorn oil are taken in equal parts. All mixed to a homogeneous consistency. The ointment is applied for one hour, covered with a bandage. It is advisable to repeat at least three times a day.

Therapeutic composition for radiculitis and joint diseases

Equal parts of vodka, olive oil and pine resin are mixed until smooth. The mixture is insisted for a week in a cold place. Inflamed places are rubbed with infusion.

Infusion of sexual impotence

1 teaspoon of crushed coniferous resin is poured into 0.5 l of vodka. The mixture is insisted 5-7 days. Take an infusion of 2-3 tablespoons for lunch and evening.

Peptic ulcer treatment

Prepare a 10% balm in sea buckthorn oil. In the morning, before meals, take 1 teaspoon.

The remedy for the treatment of hernia between the vertebrae

It will take 500 grams of comfrey root, 70 grams of pine resin, 350 grams of pork interior fat and 300 grams of vodka. Thoroughly washed root is ground with a meat grinder several times, mixed with fat, simmer for 40 minutes. Then add liquid resin, vodka and simmer for another 5 minutes. Cool and apply to a sore spot.

From boils

In its pure form, resin will help from boils. It is applied to a small piece of bandage or gauze, applied to a boil and fixed with a patch. Treatment lasts 2–4 days. The boil disappears without a trace.

For immunity and ARVI

It is recommended that a piece of gum be well cooled, thoroughly chopped and taken three times a day with cold water. This will strengthen immunity, help with colds.

With cough and runny nose, grease the wings of the nose and nose with gum balm, rub the chest and feet.

Other recipes

If you dissolve a piece of gum like candy, heartburn will disappear, stomach pain will decrease. Thus, you can relieve toothache, heal wounds on the gums and mucous membrane, and freshen your breath.

There is scientific evidence on the action of resin in cancer: it reduces the resistance of tumors to radiation and chemotherapy.

Pine gum has long been considered an effective means for weight loss. Receiving a 10% balm at night cleanses the body of toxins. Rubbing with gum oil in the bath promotes fat burning. The so-called Siberian diet shows very good results (they write and talk a lot about it now).

Rubbing the balm of pine resin in the skin, you can protect yourself from blood-sucking insects for several hours. With a bite, the balm will relieve burning and itching.

Gum-based preparations

After studying all the properties of coniferous resin, scientific medicine recognized its healing qualities. Pharmacists use resin in the manufacture of medicines.

After cleaning, turpentine is widely used in traditional medicine, it is an integral part of ointments for pain in the joints and spine, is used to prepare turpentine baths, inhalations are made with it for inflammation of the respiratory tract. Rosin is used only in industry.

From gum oil, olimetin is made - this is a substance used to get rid of cholelithiasis.

In the pharmacy you can buy resin in its purest form. To enhance the therapeutic effect, medicinal herbs and plants, various oils are added to the resin.

1. Artichoke. Used for diseases of the kidneys, liver, relieves intoxication, swelling, normalizes metabolism.
2. Aloe. It has beneficial effects on the skin, heals inflammations and wounds.
3. Badger fat. It is used for colds, bronchitis. Rubbed into the chest before bed.
4. Mummy. Heals bone tissue with fractures, helps with hematomas. When taken orally, it eliminates the problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Propolis. Tones up, protects immunity, relieves depression.
6. St. John's wort Rinsing helps with stomatitis. Topically used to treat skin diseases. By internal application they fight overfatigue.
7. Cinquefoil. Strengthens muscles and joints, reduces pain during movement.

Application in cosmetology

For facial skin, it is recommended to use gum balm with a resin content of 15-20%. With any type of skin, the absorption of the balm is equally good. It gives the skin elasticity, softens it. The balm also maintains moisture, heals small wounds, relieves itching and redness, and soothes irritation. Using pine gum balm you can easily remove makeup, it gently removes all dirt and cosmetics from the skin.

1. Pine balsam balm can be used instead of a night face cream. It is recommended to lubricate the skin an hour or two before bedtime to allow the balm to soak.
2. Peach or jojoba oil is mixed with gum. It all depends on what effect is desired in a particular case.
3. To get rid of acne and acne, use gum balm with tea tree oil (just add a few drops). Wipe your face 3 times a day. The effect is not long in coming.
4. With the use of resin, the number of wrinkles is significantly reduced, the skin is smoothed. Natural nutrition gives the skin a healthy look. If it is difficult to abruptly abandon your favorite cream, you can add a few drops of gum balm to it. The result will be noticeable almost immediately.

Masks are also made for the face:

1. Take 2 tablespoons of honey and the same amount of 5% gum balm, mix everything. Apply to cleansed skin, leave for 5 minutes. Then rinse with warm water.
2. You can apply a warm (by no means hot) 5% pine balm to the neck and face, cover with a cloth or towel dampened with warm water. After 7-10 minutes, rinse with water. In a warm state, resin is better absorbed into the skin and nourishes it.
3. For eyelashes it’s also worth making a mask: melt 1 part of pine resin in a water bath with 3 parts of burdock oil. Gently lubricate eyelashes. After 30 minutes rinse with warm water. Eyelashes will become noticeably thicker and longer.
4. Rubbing 5% turpentine oil is useful for the lips, first massage the lips with a brush in light circular motions. It is also useful to apply a mask of gum oil and honey on the lips 1: 1 for 10-15 minutes.

Weak and brittle hair can also be easily cured. Before washing, massage the roots with your fingers dipped in 5% pine balsam. After applying balm for the entire length of the hair. To better absorb the balm, you can hold your hair over the steam and rub it. Wash your hair after 20 minutes. Zhivitsa renews hair cells along their entire length, balm nourishes and moisturizes the scalp. Hair grows healthier and grows better. A mask of pine balsam and aloe juice has a positive effect on hair. It stops hair loss, reduces brittleness and strengthens hair.

Lotion based on gum balm will effectively take care of the beauty of the neck. It can be stored in the refrigerator for some time. You need to mix 5 tablespoons of 5% turpentine balsam, lemon juice, egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of vodka. Apply lotion with a cotton pad to the neck and the area around it for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with water.

The skin of the hands requires a special attitude, as it is constantly under the influence of detergents and cleaners, wind, rain, frost. Before using the balm, it is necessary to make contrasting baths for the hands, alternating cold and hot water. Then rub into the skin of the hands a 5% turpentine balm with massage movements, starting from the fingertips. After rubbing it is useful to massage the hands. If small cracks appear on the fingers, you should lubricate them with 25% pine balsam at night and put on cotton gloves.

For brittle nails, it is recommended to rub a 25% turpentine balm into them. The more often this happens, the better.

Foot care can be carried out according to the standard scheme, as someone is used to, only funds should be replaced with turpentine balm.After any water treatment, the balm should be rubbed for as long as the skin of the legs can absorb it. Cracks on the heels are eliminated as follows: you need to mix 25% gum balm with honey in a 1: 1 ratio, apply it to a tissue, attach to the heel, cover with cellophane and fasten with a bandage. After hair removal, it is recommended to lubricate the skin with 5% pine balm.

Balsam baths are also beneficial for the body. It is necessary to collect a water bath with a temperature of 36–37 ° C and add 10-15 drops of turpentine balsam to it, stir. The temperature should be comfortable for the body, not hot and not too cold. Taking a bath with pine balm will not only be a pleasure. Minor lesions on the skin will drag on, it will become softer and absorb beneficial substances. A bath will strengthen the nervous system, normalize sleep. Together with balm, you can use salts and various herbs.

The same bath can be done separately for the legs or for the hands. Only for the feet should draw a little cooler water, and for the hands - warmer.

Contraindications

In resin, as well as in preparations based on it, there are practically no contraindications. The only contraindication is intolerance to the resin and its components. To find out the person’s reaction to the resin, a small amount should be applied to the back of the forearm. If after some time redness and itching do not appear, then there is no allergy. You can safely use pine resin and its products externally and consume it internally.

It is not recommended to use gum for children under 10 years old, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

In various renal diseases, resin is also contraindicated.

Industrial processing of gum

Turpentine and rosin are obtained from gum in industry. Pine resin is processed according to standard technology. There is only a slight difference in the parameters due to differences in the density and viscosity of the constituent resin.

At the time of collection, the pine resin consists of 35% terpene hydrocarbons, which are called turpentine. The decrease in turpentine content occurs when it comes in contact with air during preparation for loading and transportation to the processing plant. With the loss of turpentine, the resin freezes and becomes a barras. This complicates the processing process, negatively affects the quality of the final products. They try to process Barras together with resin, adding it in small quantities.

Processing of resin is carried out in two stages. At the first stage, the resin is cleaned of impurities and water, turpentine is obtained. At the second stage, terpentine is divided into resin acids and volatile terpene hydrocarbons, or turpentine. In this process, acids are fused with other non-volatile constituents of the resin. The resulting product is called rosin.

Cleaning

Zhivitsa contains water and various large and small impurities. With poor-quality cleaning, rosin not only changes its color, but also degrades the quality. At medium temperature, impurities cannot be separated from the resin. Its viscosity is reduced by heating. Then impurities are filtered off, water is removed by settling.

Zhivitsa, in which about 14% of turpentine, has a higher density, so the water settles on top. With a proportion of turpentine 25% at any temperature, the resin is lighter, and the water will be below. If turpentine contains more than 25% turpentine, the density of water and terpentine are almost the same in value, they are separated for a very long time.

In turpentine, which is brought to the plant, the content of turpentine is about 18%, so it is impossible to separate the water by settling. It is necessary to increase the temperature and increase the difference between the density of the resin and water. The density of water is easily increased by adding salts, the density of resin is reduced by adding turpentine or another solvent.Then the settling process will help separate the water.

Boiling

The process of separation of volatile and non-volatile components of pine resin is called boiling.

Separation of turpentine from terpentine should be carried out at the lowest possible temperature. After cleaning, some impurities may remain in the turpentine. At high temperature, they will begin to decompose. The process of decomposition of the components of rosin will begin at a temperature above 200 ° C. Decomposition products will give turpentine a pungent odor and change its color, and rosin - a dark color and stickiness. Pure turpentine boils at 156 ° C, but the content of resin acids leads to an increase in this temperature.

The separation of turpentine will increase the acid concentration and boiling point in the remaining turpentine. Therefore, the allocation of turpentine from terpentine is not possible at ordinary atmospheric pressure. Of the different methods, the one that is easiest to choose was chosen: separation with water vapor. It is based on the fact that the boiling temperature of a mixture of non-reacting liquids is significantly lower than the boiling temperature of the liquids individually. A mixture of water and turpentine boils at 96 ° C. Rosin turns out to be of higher quality and has a light color.

Application

As before, and now rosin is used for soldering. When soldering various parts from copper and its zinc alloys, it is especially effective. Rosin, when melted, leads to the dissolution of oxide films. It is not resistant to moisture, therefore, after soldering, it must be washed off so that there is no increased corrosion of parts and joints in contact with it.

After industrial processing of rosin, products are obtained that are used for gluing in the production of paper and cardboard. Rosin is used in the manufacture of rubber, artificial leather, paints, glue, mastics, insulating compounds. Rosin, combined with glycerin, is widely used in soap making.

In addition to industry, rosin has found application in other areas. Musicians rub her bows of stringed musical instruments. In billiards, using rosin, they reduce the sliding of the tip of the billiard cue. In sports, this product is used when practicing on the uneven bars and horizontal bars, so that the grip is fixed well, and the hands do not slip. Weightlifters rub her hands for better traction. Pointes of ballet dancers also rub with rosin to reduce slipping. Climbers also often use rosin.

Pine forests have long turned into scenic vacation spots, beloved by citizens. In them, without violating the established ecological situation, they erect sanatoriums, build rest houses and tourist camps. Sanatoriums are intended for people with respiratory problems. The air there is fresh and clean, contains volatile substances that kill microbes. Pines are planted in parks and squares. The evergreen needles look very beautiful against the background of yellowed or still unblown trees.

The benefits of this tree are undeniable. Magic resin can cure many diseases, helps replace doctors and cosmetologists and remain beautiful and healthy for many years.

Photo of pine resin