Meet the Plants: White Pine, Herbal Benefits, Folk History & Forest Remedies

Meet the Plants: White Pine
A Soothing Giant of Breath, Grief & Resilience

There’s something about the presence of White Pine that slows the breath and softens the spirit. Here in the Northwoods, she stands tall and constant through every season, offering her green needles even in the depths of winter, and scenting the air with a resinous calm after spring storms.

Though she’s been in my periphery for years, I’ve only recently begun to truly work with her. This past winter and early spring I started gathering her thick golden sap, what many call pine pitch or resin. I’ve infused some into oil and set some aside with the intention of crafting pine tar soap and healing salves. The scent alone feels like medicine grounded, forest-rich, and deeply soothing.

Just recently, I’ve also begun learning how to collect her pollen, those soft yellow clouds that drift from her catkins, full of vitality and subtle strength. This is a new relationship, but one I already know will deepen over time.

A Glimpse into Her History

White Pine (Pinus strobus) has a long-standing legacy in North America. Among the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), she’s known as the Tree of Peace, symbolizing unity between the Five Nations. Her straight trunk and towering form made her sought after by settlers for ship masts but long before that, Indigenous peoples worked with her as food, medicine and ceremonial ally.

Pine needles, bark, resin and pollen have all played a role in traditional medicine, offering respiratory support, wound healing, emotional grounding and spiritual cleansing.

 Herbal & Traditional Uses

• Respiratory support - Needle tea is rich in vitamin C and used to ease congestion, coughs, and seasonal discomfort.

• Expectorant & antimicrobial - Resin and inner bark can help loosen mucus and clear the lungs.

• Topical support - Pine pitch has been applied to splinters, wounds and infections as a drawing salve.

• Emotional grounding - Energetically used for grief, tension and heaviness in the chest.

• Preparations - Infused oils, salves, teas, resin balms, tinctures (especially of pollen or catkins), pine tar soaps and steams.

“Pine doesn't shout her medicine, she offers it quietly, to those who know how to listen.”

Why I Work with Her

White Pine is slowly making her way into my apothecary. I’ve begun gathering and infusing her resin for salves and pine tar soap, a throwback to old world remedies for skin conditions, bug bites and sore muscles. Her scent is deeply calming and evokes the forest in all seasons.

The pollen is new for me this year and I’m excited to explore its potential as a vital tonic in tincture form. For now, I’m letting her guide the process, learning through observation, scent and slow, steady work.

⚠️ Myth vs. Truth or Safety Notes

• Not all pines are created equal - Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is generally safe for internal and topical use in modest amounts. Avoid Ponderosa Pine and some other species during pregnancy.

• Harvest with respect - Gather fallen needles or naturally exuded resin. Never strip bark or overharvest from a single tree.

• Patch test resin - Pine resin is potent and can be sensitizing. Always test before using in a salve or soap.

Final Thoughts

White Pine has been here all along, quietly offering breath, clarity, and strength. Now that I’ve begun working with her hands on, from resin to pollen, I’m discovering just how generous she truly is. She’s grounding, reliable and rich with possibility.

 

Simple White Pine Recipes & Formulas

White Pine Needle Tea (Lung-Supporting Infusion)

A simple and beautiful way to work with pine.

Ingredients

• 1-2 Tbsp fresh or dried Eastern White Pine needles, chopped

• 8-10 oz hot water

Instructions

1. Roughly chop the needles to release their volatile oils.

2. Pour freshly boiled water over the needles and cover.

3. Steep for 15-20 minutes.

4. Strain and sip slowly, especially during colds or heavy emotional days.

Optional: Add a few slices of ginger or a bit of honey for warmth and extra support.

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White Pine Steam (For Congestion or Grounding)

This old-fashioned method clears the sinuses and calms the nervous system.

Ingredients

• 1 cup White Pine needles or small twigs

• Optional: 1 tsp dried thyme or a handful of mint

Instructions

1. Add herbs to a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water.

2. Drape a towel over your head and breathe deeply for 5-10 minutes.

3. Keep your eyes closed-pine oil can be strong!

Great for colds, allergies or simply grounding yourself at the end of the day.

 

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Pine Needle Soda (Wild Fermented, Vitamin-C-Rich)

Bright, citrusy and lightly fizzy. This makes a beautiful winter to spring tonic.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh Eastern White Pine needles, chopped

• 1/2 cup organic cane sugar or honey

• Zest & juice of 1 organic lemon

• 1 quart (4 cups) filtered water

• Optional: a few slices of ginger or a sprig of rosemary

• A clean glass jar or bottle with lid

Instructions

1. Rinse and roughly chop the pine needles.

2. Combine needles, lemon zest/juice, sugar (or honey), and water in a jar. Stir well to dissolve.

3. Cover loosely with a cloth or lid left slightly ajar. Leave at room temperature to ferment for 2-4 days.

4. Stir once daily. When you notice bubbles and a light fizz, strain and refrigerate.

5. Chill and serve over ice. Use within 5-7 days.

🌿 Refreshing, immune-supportive, and lightly forest-sweet, like sipping sunshine through the pines.

 

🌲 Green Pine Cone Jam (Forest Spoon Medicine)

This unusual preserve comes from Slavic and Northern European folk traditions, where young green pine cones are simmered into a rich, resinous, spiced syrup.

Important: Only use small, green, immature pine cones (usually gathered late spring/early summer). They should be soft enough to pierce with a knife.

Ingredients

• 2 cups young green pine cones (from Pinus strobus)

• 2 cups water

• 2 cups sugar or raw honey

• Optional: 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cardamom pods, or 2 slices fresh ginger

Instructions

1. Rinse pine cones and place in a saucepan with water.

2. Simmer gently for 30-45 minutes until cones are tender and fragrant.

3. Add sugar and spices (if using). Simmer uncovered on low until syrup thickens, another 1–2 hours. Stir occasionally.

4. Strain or leave the cones in, depending on preference.

5. Pour into sterilized jars and refrigerate. Use within a few months.

Traditionally taken by the spoonful for sore throats and coughs, or drizzled over yogurt, pancakes, or cheese plates.

 

Pine Pollen Tincture (Vitality & Endocrine Support)

Made with male catkins when they’re full of pollen.

Ingredients

• Fresh pine catkins full of pollen (harvest gently)

• 100-proof vodka or other high-proof alcohol

Instructions

1. Fill a clean jar about 3/4 full with catkins.

2. Cover completely with alcohol and label.

3. Shake daily for 4-6 weeks, then strain and bottle.

Traditionally used in very small doses (5-10 drops), pine pollen tincture is valued for hormone balance, energy, and immune vitality.

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White Pine Needle Cough Syrup

Warming, soothing, and rich in forest-scented comfort

This syrup supports the lungs, eases congestion, and calms dry or irritated coughs. White Pine pairs beautifully with warming, antimicrobial herbs like ginger and thyme.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh or dried Eastern White Pine needles, chopped

• 1-2 tsp dried thyme or mullein (optional for added respiratory support)

• 1 Tbsp sliced fresh ginger or 1 tsp dried ginger

• 2 cups water

• 1 cup raw honey (or maple syrup for vegan version)

• Optional: lemon juice (1 Tbsp) for flavor and vitamin C boost

Instructions

1. Combine pine needles, ginger, and any optional herbs with water in a small pot.

2. Simmer gently (don’t boil) for 20-30 minutes until liquid is reduced by about half.

3. Strain and cool until just warm.

4. Stir in the honey and lemon juice if using. Mix well.

5. Pour into a clean glass jar or bottle and store in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

Dosage: Take 1-2 teaspoons as needed for cough or sore throat. Can be taken every few hours or added to warm water as a tea base.

Tastes like sweet pine woods with a hint of spice-comforting, aromatic, and deeply soothing.

🌿 Image Use Notice
Many of the images on this blog are my own original photography, taken during my herbal work and seasonal wanderings. Others are drawn from a licensed image library. All photos are shared here for inspiration and education only, please do not copy, download, or reuse any images without written permission. Thank you for honoring the time, energy, and spirit woven into this space.