Useful properties and contraindications of fir needles, resin, bark

What are the benefits of fir?

The coniferous fir tree belongs to the Pine family and has huge reserves of valuable substances in its composition. Thanks to this, it has a positive effect on the body, namely:

• relieves inflammation and reduces tissue swelling;
• has a strengthening and immunomodulatory effect;
• accelerates recovery processes;
• has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system and helps with pulmonary diseases;
• regulates the production of gastric juice and is beneficial for digestive ailments;
• stimulates cardiac and vascular activity;
• cleanses the body of toxins, toxic substances and poisons.

In folk medicine, not only fir cones and needles are used, but also other parts of the plant - buds, resin, bark. The chemical composition of different parts is quite different, so when studying the beneficial properties of fir, you need to understand what kind of raw material we are talking about.

Useful properties of fir needles

The beneficial properties of fir needles are most often used in recipes, since this raw material is easy to collect in large quantities. The chemical composition of fir needles contains antioxidants and vitamin C, vitamin A and phytoncides, essential oils and beta-carotene.

Decoctions and infusions based on fir needles are used to treat heart, vascular, and viral diseases. Fir needles are used in the treatment and prevention of pulmonary diseases; they are used for bronchitis and pneumonia, bronchial asthma and tuberculosis.

Another useful property of the raw material is that pine-based products promote rapid healing of wounds; they not only disinfect, but also restore tissue.

Medicinal properties of fir resin

Resin is the resinous mass secreted by the bark of coniferous trees. Fir resin consists of 70% resin, and the rest is essential oil - about 30%. This is much more than in all other parts of the plant.

The healing properties of fir resin are due to its powerful antiseptic effect. It is used primarily for treating scratches and wounds, cuts and burns, ulcers and boils. Pharmacies sell solutions of fir resin with a concentration of 5%, 25% and 30%; they can be used not only externally, but also internally. The medicinal properties of fir resin are used in the treatment of varicose veins and osteochondrosis, colds and inflammatory infections, gastritis and dental ailments.

Medicinal properties of fir bark

Dried fir bark is a valuable source of tannins, essential oil, resin and camphor oil. It contains valuable substances santhen and borneol, bornyl acetate and painless. Decoctions and tinctures based on the bark are used to treat scurvy and vitamin deficiency; they provide effective help for toothache and migraines.

Also, the properties of fir wood help with high blood pressure. Products based on raw materials help remove toxic substances from the body, so the bark can be used to cleanse the blood and tissues.

Medicinal properties of fir cones

Young fir cones contain ascorbic acid and tannins, tocopherol and carotene, and essential oil. Most often, cones are used in the treatment of joints; their properties relieve inflammation and pain in rheumatism, arthritis, radiculitis and osteochondrosis.

Fir cones are used both internally in the form of decoctions and externally. For example, you can make foot baths based on fir cones - the beneficial substances will penetrate the tissues through the skin and have a quick calming effect.

Medicinal properties of fir buds

Fir buds, which appear on tree branches in April, contain an impressive supply of vitamins E and C, as well as a huge amount of antioxidants. Kidneys are highly valued in the treatment of colds and inflammatory diseases, and their properties also help improve the condition of skin and hair.

Raw materials help to renew the body and strengthen protective functions, so consuming buds is useful if the immune system is weakened or during the period of recovery from an illness.

The genus and its representatives

Olga Nikitina

The genus Fir (Abies) belongs to the pine family (Pinaceae) and has about 50 species, growing mainly in the temperate and subtropical mountains of Europe, East Asia, Africa and North America.

At one time, Carl Linnaeus somewhat complicated the study of this coniferous species, since he classified pines, spruces and firs into the same genus. And only much later, taxonomists identified firs, which differ in many morphological characteristics, into an independent genus. But grateful descendants forgave the famous Swedish naturalist for his inaccuracies, since we still use his ingenious binary system for identifying species.

Fir is a powerful evergreen tree, reaching a height of 60–100 m, with a diameter of 2 m, with a beautiful cone-shaped crown and a straight trunk, which is often poorly cleared of branches, so it seems that the crown begins at the ground. The trunks are covered with gray bark, in some species smooth and thin until old age, in others thick and roughly fissured.

The needles are fragrant, two-colored: dark green shiny on top, with two whitish stripes on the bottom, which gives the fir a special chic, it looks very elegant, bright and does not look as gloomy as spruce.

The cones are located vertically upward on the shoots, like candles, so during fruiting the fir looks like a kind of candelabra. True, this spectacle does not last long; when fully ripe, the cones crumble, and only the stems remain on the shoots.

Fir wood is soft, white, without resin ducts. The resin is found in the bark in special small containers (nodules), from which the so-called Canada balsam is extracted, mainly from the balsam plant, which grows in Canada.

The root system is taprooted and goes deep into the soil.

Fir is shade-tolerant, but feels better in full light; in the early years of life it requires partial shade. In the first decade it develops slowly, then growth accelerates and continues until old age. This breed prefers fresh, fertile, well-drained soil and high humidity.

Fir is propagated mainly by seed in autumn or spring, and its garden forms are propagated by green cuttings, which are rooted in greenhouses, or by grafting. It also reproduces well by layering.

It is recommended to plant fir in semi-shaded places with a distance between plants of 4–5 m in alleys, 3–3.5 m in loose groups, 2.5 m in dense plantings. Moreover, the root collar should be at ground level, but since subsidence and compaction of the soil occurs after planting, it is necessary to plant the plant to a depth at which the root ball is 10–20 cm above ground level. It is especially important to remember this when planting large trees.

Fir prefers a soil mixture consisting of clay, leaf soil or humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:3:1:1. When planting, it is necessary to add complete mineral fertilizer (250–300 g of nitroammophoska) and up to 10 kg of sawdust in each hole. Optimal soil acidity is pH 5.5–6.0.

Kemira Universal (150 g/m2) is used as top dressing 2–3 years after planting, combining the application of fertilizer with spring digging of the soil to the depth of a spade bayonet.

Watering is carried out 2-3 times per season at the rate of 1.5-2 buckets per tree, and in dry and hot summers it is necessary to spray the crown with water in the evening hours.

Fir forests in Russia are formed by ten species of fir. The forests formed by Siberian fir have the greatest distribution in terms of area and economic importance in terms of timber reserves.

Siberian fir (A. sibirica) has a wide range and naturally grows in the northeast of European Russia and Siberia. A slender tree with a narrowly conical crown reaches a height of 30 m. The needles are quite short, soft, and narrow.

Long-livers include p. Nordmann , or Caucasian (A. nordmanniana), living 600–700 years. This species in the mountains of the Western Caucasus forms pure stands of fir forests or grows in a mixture with eastern spruce and eastern beech. In favorable conditions it can reach 80 m in height and more than 1 m in diameter. The luxurious, powerful crown turns free-standing trees into real forest giants.

or kidney-scaled species has the largest range . Tree up to 30 m high, with a dense cone-shaped crown. The trunk is covered with light gray smooth bark. A characteristic feature of this species is the needles, which have two bright white stripes at the bottom and rounded meat-red buds. Compared to other types of fir, it grows quickly, but is less durable, lives 150–180 years, and tolerates urban conditions satisfactorily.

In the south of Primorsky Krai, in the east of China and Korea, A. holophylla grows. Unlike other fir trees, it has a thick, coarsely cracked bark and dense, hard, prickly needles. This fir is quite light-loving and very frost-resistant, and is not damaged even in the harshest winters.

Korean fir (A. koreana) is characterized by its relatively small size (it reaches a height of 15 m) and a wide cone-shaped crown. This winter-hardy species looks especially impressive during fruiting, when young bright purple cones appear on shoots covered with short needles.

A large number of firs growing in North America have been introduced into many regions of our country. Balsam fir (A. balsamea) is a slender tree up to 25 m high, with a regular cone-shaped dense crown. A distinctive feature is the superficial root system, which makes this fir a windfall. It is very similar in appearance to Fraser's p. (A. fraseri), and is significantly superior to it in winter hardiness. Unlike previous species, concolor tolerates urban conditions well and also has very impressive bluish-green needles. These three North American species and their varieties are the most popular in our landscaping.

It is impossible not to mention firs of Mediterranean origin, such as Spanish fir (A. pensapo), Greek fir (A. cephalonica), Numidian fir (A. numidica), and Cilician fir (A. cilicica). These are magnificent stately trees with a beautiful strictly cone-shaped dense crown. Short, dense needles directly spaced from the shoots make them look like green pipe cleaners. They are especially good in alley and row plantings, which is why they have long been used to decorate gardens and parks in the southern regions.

Fir is shade-tolerant and prefers fresh, fertile, well-drained soil and high air humidity.

Pretty fir Himalayan fir Spanish fir Unicolor fir 'Violacea' White fir Balsam fir

What does fir help with?

Fir treats symptoms of a wide range of ailments. Healing remedies based on fir are used:

• for colds - runny nose, cough, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis;
• for viral and fungal infections;
• for joint ailments - arthritis, sciatica, radiculitis, osteochondrosis, rheumatism, during the healing period of fractures;
• for skin diseases and injuries - diathesis and dermatitis, acne and cuts, burns, boils, diaper rash and bedsores;
• for toothache and headache;
• for angina pectoris and hypertension;
• for infectious diseases of the oral cavity - stomatitis, periodontal disease, caries.

Products based on the plant have a relaxing and calming effect, so the benefits of fir are in demand in the treatment of neuroses and insomnia.

Rules for procurement of raw materials

Since almost all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes, useful raw materials are collected throughout the year. Namely:

• Fir buds are collected when they appear on the branches - at the end of March or April;
• conifer needles from young shoots are cut twice a year - from June to August or from October to February;
• tree bark can be harvested throughout the year, but it is better to do this in early spring, when juices are moving rapidly along the trunk, and the tree can release maximum nutrients;
• Resin can be obtained throughout the warm season - the main thing is that the air temperature at this time is not lower than 16 degrees;
• Mature fir cones are collected in September and October - before they begin to fall off naturally.

Fir resin and young buds are most beneficial when fresh. The needles are used both dried and fresh, depending on the recipe. But the bark needs to be dried; this is done in the air, spreading the crushed raw materials in a thin layer in a shaded place. Drying increases the benefits of fir bark and also extends the shelf life.

Step-by-step instruction

To plant seedlings correctly, you need to perform several simple operations:

1. A hole for planting is prepared 1.5 months before planting. Standard dimensions are 60×60×60 cm, then its dimensions are adjusted to suit the root system of the seedling.
2. 20–30 liters of water are poured into the dug hole.
3. After the water has been completely absorbed, the bottom of the hole is dug up using ½ bayonet of a shovel.
4. Next, a layer of broken brick or crushed stone (5–6 cm) is laid on the bottom.
5. Pour the second tier of soil mixture into ½ hole, which uses humus, clay, sand and peat in a ratio of 3:2:1:1. Nitrophoska (200–300 g) and sawdust (10 kg) are additionally poured into it.
6. Allow two weeks for the soil in the hole to shrink, then plant.
7. The roots of the tree are placed so that the root collar is flush with the ground. The best option is to place the roots on an earthen mound, then straighten the root system and fill the hole with the prepared earth mixture and compact it well.
8. The planted tree must be watered.

The use of fir in folk medicine

The medicinal properties and contraindications of fir are used for dozens of different ailments. Based on wood parts, needles and resin, plants make useful infusions, decoctions, extracts and oils; if used in accordance with recipes, the properties of the coniferous plant will have a healing effect.

Fir tincture

An alcoholic tincture based on pine needles and young fir buds has powerful beneficial properties. In large quantities, it can cause damage, but when used correctly, it perfectly helps with respiratory and joint ailments - rheumatism and arthritis, tuberculosis and pneumonia.

Make the tincture as follows:

• young buds and fir needles are carefully crushed and poured into a glass vessel in a volume of 150 g;
• pour 500 ml of vodka into the raw material, cork it, shake it and put it in a dark, warm place for 2 weeks;
• Every 3 days the container is shaken, and when the tincture is completely ready, it is filtered and poured into another container.

Fir tincture should be consumed three times a day on an empty stomach in the amount of 1 large spoon. For joint diseases, rubbing and compresses with pine tincture are beneficial; they have a warming and analgesic effect.

Important! When using fir tincture internally, do not exceed the norms recommended in recipes, otherwise the remedy will cause harm due to the high alcohol content.

Fir infusion

You can prepare a healthy water infusion from fresh or dried fir needles. Its properties will help in the treatment of gastritis and ulcers, atherosclerosis and inflammatory diseases. Fir infusion is used for cystitis in women and prostatitis in men, for kidney and gallbladder diseases, for hypertension and high cholesterol.

Preparing fir infusion is very simple. To do this you need:

• grind fresh pine needles in a blender, meat grinder or by hand;
• pour a large spoon of raw material with 200 ml of warm water;
• Cover with a lid and leave in a dark place for 3 hours.

After this, the fir infusion needs to be stirred, filtered and squeezed out the soft pine needles through gauze. Use the remedy three times a day on an empty stomach or immediately after meals, 2-3 sips.

Fir decoction

Another valuable remedy based on fir needles is an aromatic decoction, which is especially beneficial for anemia, vitamin deficiency and a tendency to frequent colds. To prepare it you need:

• rinse fir needles in the amount of 2 large spoons thoroughly, pour a glass of boiling water;
• put on the stove for 20 minutes over low heat;
• Allow the broth to cool and brew for half an hour.

Drink the decoction in the amount of 1 glass per day, and this volume should be divided into 2-3 servings.

You can prepare the product in another way - in a thermos. To do this, pour 500 ml of boiling water into 5 large spoons of fir needles, seal the thermos tightly and leave overnight, and filter the drink in the morning. It is used in the same way as a classic decoction.

Important! The benefits and harms of fir decoction depend on the amount of use; the product is highly concentrated, and violation of the recommended dosages can result in harm.

Fir tea

For insomnia, neuroses, stomach ailments and a tendency to edema, it is useful to drink fir tea - or rather, a medicinal mixture consisting of dried fir needles and fermented fireweed tea.

• The raw materials are mixed in equal proportions and poured into a teapot in the amount of 2 small spoons.
• Fir and fireweed are poured with hot water, but not boiling water, and left to brew for 10 minutes.
• If desired, honey is added to the drink to increase benefits and improve taste.

If you drink fir tea for at least 2-3 weeks, the condition of the nervous system will noticeably improve, and insomnia will go away. Tea will also have a beneficial effect on sore throat and rhinitis, psoriasis and sinusitis, headaches and joint pain.

Attention! Tea with fir increases heart rate, so it should be consumed in limited quantities, no more than 1 cup per day and no more than three times a week.

Fir honey

Fir honey is a tasty and healthy delicacy - it has a vascular-strengthening and immunostimulating effect, helps with edema and tumors, colds and infections. The delicacy is produced mainly in the Mediterranean - in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and France. The raw material for its production is not pollen, but the so-called honeydew, or honeydew, which is produced by insects that feed on fir sap.

Honeydew fir honey differs from ordinary honey in its darker color, resinous aroma and less sweet taste. It contains a large amount of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals.

Real fir honey can be purchased in specialized stores. However, if you wish, it is possible to make a delicacy at home that is as close in properties as possible to honeydew honey. To do this, crushed fir needles must be placed in ordinary flower honey for several months and wait until they impart all the beneficial properties to the bee delicacy.

Honey is also made from fir buds at home - the raw material is boiled for a quarter of an hour, then infused for a day, and then mixed with sugar in equal proportions and boiled for another 1.5-2 hours. The resulting product has a lot of useful properties, but is more of a syrup and cannot fully replace honeydew honey.

Fir kvass

Fir kvass is a healing drink that helps with digestive disorders and nervous ailments. Kvass is prepared using copper water, and the recipe looks like this:

• a liter of clean water is boiled in a copper vessel until half of the original volume remains;
• when the water has half boiled away, add a new portion of water to 3 liters and pour 2.5 cups of fir needles with this mixture;
• add 100 g of honey or sugar to the drink and stir thoroughly;
• after the product has cooled to 25 degrees, add 10 g of dry yeast.

The kvass is left to ferment for a day, and then filtered and poured into glass jars or bottles. You need to store kvass in the refrigerator, otherwise it will quickly spoil. Since a carbonated drink can be irritating to the stomach, you should drink kvass only after meals and in small quantities, half a glass three times a day.

Fir water

Healing fir water, which I also call Florentine, is extracted in the process of obtaining fir essential oil and, in fact, is a by-product of distillation. However, the colorless liquid has a rich composition, which contains polyphenols, minerals and flavonoids. The positive effect of the healing properties of fir water is observed in a wide range of diseases - from conjunctivitis to radiation sickness.

The easiest way to purchase high-quality fir water is at a pharmacy. However, a product with similar properties can be prepared at home. For this you will need:

• pour 100 ml of warm water into a bottle;
• add literally 3 – 5 drops of fir oil to it;
• Close the cap tightly and shake the bottle vigorously for 10 minutes.

Fir water can be used both internally and externally. For douching and rubbing, 100 ml of Florentine water is usually used three times a day, and 30 ml of the product can be taken orally three times a day. It is important not to exceed dosages, otherwise the beneficial properties of water can easily turn into harm.

Fir oil

Fir essential oil is used for infectious diseases, skin ailments and injuries, and diseases of the respiratory system. The oil contains cineole, pinene and borneol, and therefore has a pronounced antiseptic effect. Its beneficial properties are in demand for colds and bronchitis, pneumonia, prostatitis and cystitis, toothache and inflammation of the gums, arthritis and rheumatism.

You can buy high-quality essential oil at the pharmacy, but it should be used in very small quantities. For example, for a sore throat, you need to add only 2 drops of fir oil to salted water with honey; the same amount of product is used to lubricate the tonsils, for a strong cough, for rubbing joints and as part of cosmetic face masks.

It is impossible to make real fir oil at home - this requires special equipment. But you can prepare a similar remedy:

• pour olive oil over the needles and young fir buds and leave in a water bath for 4 hours;
• squeeze out the raw materials, pour fresh pine needles into the container and fill it with the resulting oil;
• keep the mixture in a water bath for another 4 hours and cool.

The beneficial properties of homemade oil will be lower than that of pharmaceutical oil, but such a remedy will also be effective in the treatment of joint ailments and inflammation.

Fir extract

Fir extract, which is obtained from the spring young needles of the plant, has beneficial properties. Externally, the extract looks like a dark brown viscous substance with a bitter taste; the product contains resins, tannins, phytoncides and tocopherol in large quantities.

It is impossible to make an extract at home, but it is not difficult to buy it at a pharmacy. The healing agent is used to strengthen blood vessels and improve blood composition, to disinfect tissues and cleanse cuts and purulent wounds.

For internal use, fir extract must be diluted with water - add half a teaspoon of the product to a glass of water. Baths with fir are also beneficial; you only need to add 150 g of concentrated extract to the collected container.

Healing balm of natural origin

The existence of many diseases prompts people to look for reliable drugs to strengthen their immunity. A healing fir balm has become a wonderful help in the hands of experienced healers. It is a liquid of uniform consistency, dark brown in color.

Active use of fir balsam stimulates a number of processes in the body:

• cleanses lymph;
• improves metabolism;
• removes toxins;
• replenishes the content of calcium, iron and magnesium.

Fir extract is a unique filter that protects the intestines from harmful microbes and toxins. It is recommended to take it for fractures to speed up bone healing.

It is better to take the balm before meals 3 times a day.

People who are struggling with excess weight use the balm to reduce appetite, improve metabolic processes and cleanse the body. Since the drug is considered a fairly powerful remedy, it is taken in moderation. Doses should be determined by the attending physician.

In addition, many have appreciated the benefits of fir honey, which contains a whole arsenal of useful elements. Organic acids, vitamins, enzymes and mineral salts reliably guard our health.

Fir in aromatherapy

Since fir essential oil has bactericidal, antifungal and antiviral properties, it is often used to scent rooms. A few drops of oil are added to a special aroma lamp, and the pleasant pine smell in the room not only has a calming effect on the nervous system, but also helps get rid of colds and respiratory ailments.

Fir purifies the air and eliminates pathogens, prevents mold from appearing in the house, and reduces the amount of dust. Inhaling a tonic aroma helps with insomnia and headaches, chronic fatigue and muscle weakness.

The smell of fir in an apartment brings benefits and harm - with moderate use, essential oil will have a positive effect, but an overdose may cause migraines. It is not recommended to use fir for aromatization if you have allergies; in addition, you should not add more than 4-5 drops of oil to treat a small room.

Fir during pregnancy

The beneficial properties and contraindications of fir are determined individually. During pregnancy, the use of the plant should be approached with caution. It is strictly not recommended to use any fir-based products internally; the plant is classified as embryotoxic and can seriously damage the fetus, especially in the early stages.

Pregnant women can treat cuts and bruises with fir oil; they are allowed to lubricate inflamed gums with fir-based products or add oil and decoctions to warm baths.

But aromatherapy should be approached with caution; for many women, even the aroma of fir causes severe nausea during pregnancy. While the room is being aromatized, it is better for a woman to leave the room and return to it only when the smell weakens.

Botanical description

Fir is a monoecious plant, evergreen, heat-loving and shade-tolerant. Its root system is powerful, pivotal, and goes deep into the ground. Fir bark in young years is thin and smooth, but with age it becomes thick and cracked. The crown is cone-shaped, starting right at the base of the trunk - this is what distinguishes fir from other coniferous trees. Fir branches are arranged ring-shaped and horizontal, fir leaves are flat, entire-edged soft needles, narrowed at the base into a short petiole.

Fir needles do not acquire a dirty red hue in winter, as happens with many other conifers; each fir needle is decorated with two white stripes on the bottom. On reproductive branches the needles are pointed, on vegetative shoots they have a slightly notched or rounded tip. Male flowers look like earrings of cones, and female flowers are ovoid, cylindrical or ovoid-cylindrical, with cones sticking up (another difference between fir and other conifers, whose cones usually hang). Female fir cones consist of a rod on which cover scales sit, inside which there are fruit scales bearing two ovules. Fir trees are pollinated by the wind.

When fir seeds ripen, the scales on the cones become woody and fall off, releasing the winged seeds and leaving only the stems on the tree. In cultivation in one place, fir can live up to three hundred years.

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Contraindications

Despite all the beneficial properties, treatment with fir poses a danger in certain diseases and conditions of the body. Contraindications for fir are:

• tendency to seizures and epilepsy;
• acute phase of peptic ulcer or gastritis;
• allergy to components present in fir;
• children's age up to one year.

Small children should not use fir internally - only external use of oil and decoctions is allowed, the same applies to pregnant women and nursing mothers. It is forbidden to use fir-based products at the same time as drinking alcohol - this will only cause harm.