Pine needles are said to have a healing effect. In this article you will find out how you can determine the jaws and what to look out for when collecting the needles.
Pine trees belong to the coniferous family and are particularly widespread in the northern hemisphere. There are over 100 different types, with three predominantly occurring in Germany: The Scots pine, the Swiss stone pine and the mountain pine. The Scots pine is the most common species in Germany.
How to recognize pine needles
Pine needles too determine, is not difficult. They always hang together in pairs and are about four to eight centimeters long. Often the individual pine needles are slightly twisted. They have a bluish or greyish green.
You can also use the cones as a guide: They are egg-shaped and about three to eight centimeters long.
Harvesting the needles is simple: pull off the side shoots with the needles. In principle, this does not harm the tree as long as you do not take too much.
Pine needle tea – how to
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Free-Photos)
What many do not know: you can not only use the needles of the pine in the form of bath additives, but also as Medicinal plants. They can especially help with diseases of the respiratory tract. Those contained in the pine needles essential oils clean the airways and help with colds Coughing up.
How to make homemade tea from pine needles:
- Use either fresh or dried pine needles.
- Cut the needles into small pieces.
- Pour one teaspoon of chopped pine needles into 150 milliliters of hot water.
- Let the pine needle tea steep for about five minutes. Then you pass it through a sieve to catch the needles.
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Pine wood: properties and uses
- Forest ecosystem: This is what defines deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests
- Fir jelly: recipe for needlepoint jelly from the forest