Pinus sylvestris / Pine / Pinaceae (Pine family)

Information

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Other Names

Dwarf Scots Pine, Forest Pine, Gemeine kiefer, Norway Pine, Pin sauvage, Pine, Pine Needle, Scotch Fir, Scotch Pine, Scots Pine, Skovfyr, and Tall.

Scent

Pine has a fresh, forest-like, woody aroma.

Aromatic Properties

Pine can be burnt to purify ones home and used to decorate it with its branches to bring healing and joy. The cones and nuts can be carried as a fertility charm. To purify and sanctify an outdoor ritual area, brush the ground with a Pine branch. In aromatherapy, Pine is used in saunas, steam baths and massage blends. It shares many of the same properties as Eucalypt, and the action of both oils is enhanced when blended.

Contents

This herb contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, tannins, triterpenes, lignan and resins. There is a high concentration of monoterpenes (anywhere between 50-90%) such as pinenes (consisting mainly of alpha-pinene, but also including beta-pinene), and limonene (delta-limonene). Further a-cadinol, d-sylvestrene, borneol, bornyl acetate, dipentene, cardinene, longifolene, and phellandrene have been found.

Synergic Combinations

Pine blends particularly well with Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cypress, Eucalypt, Lavender, Lemon, Niaouli, Rosemary, Sage and Tea Tree.

Historical

Pine has a history of spiritual and inspirational significance in Scotland where, dating back to pre-Christian Celtic and Pictish cultures, it was a part of the clan totems of the Grant and MacGregor families. Sacred to the Druids Pine has been considered a symbol of Long Life by many cultures around the world. This Pine was first investigated by Hippocrates for its benefits to the respiratory system. Pine is a popular Christmas tree species because it grows to 6 feet in only 8 years. It is often used in reforestation, and also in erosion control. It is now used extensively as a fragrancing agent in many cleaning products, soaps, bath products and also as a flavoring agent in both the food and drink industry.

Plant Description

Pinus sylvestris belongs to a family of evergreen conifers that include about 90 species that grow in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. This pine grows to a height of 30 meters or more in the northern forests of Europe and is native from Western Europe to Siberia. It has a flat crown and a reddish-brown deeply fissured bark, needle-like gray-green leaves that grow in pairs, orange-yellow flowers and pointed brown cones. Pine is in leaf all year, flowers in May, and the seeds ripen from March to June.