Spruce Pitch, Photo credit: Holly Schubert
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SPRUCE RESIN:
Is a full spectrum healing compound, with the benefits of essential oils plus the healing phytochemicals found in the whole sap (oleoresin) naturally produced by the trees from their own healing. Accounts of medicinal uses of coniferous resin can be sourced to ancient Egypt, where resin salve was used to treat burns. In Nordic countries, Finnish Lapland, ointment prepared from the Norway spruce resin has been used for centuries to treat acutely and chronically infected wounds and sores. She has been revered by Indigenous populations throughout the Boreal Forest, to treat skin boils, burns, inflammations, sores, and wounds. Spruce resin ointment has long been used in Scandinavian countries. In Finland today, spruce resin and unsalted butter is still very popular, for healing wounds and ulcers. Native Americans chewed spruce resin, and introduced it to the early American pioneers. It was sold commercially through to the early 1900s. General stores across America carried spruce chewing gum, purchased for a penny or two. Popular brands were Kennebec, Yankee Spruce, 200Lump Spruce, American flag. It was a thriving industry with nationwide distribution. It was sold commercially in the 19th c, by John B. Curtis, called State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. |
Spruce gum has been used medicinally by the Dene culture (common Athabaskan word for 'people', forming the Athabaskan speakers of Alaska across Northern Canada), to heal deep cuts and sores. For the Teetl’it Gweich’in, of the gwich’in (or Kutchin) people, the Athabaskan First Nations people of Canada and Alaska who live mostly above the Arctic circle, they call chewable Spruce gum dzih kwan (dzih = gum, kwan = clear), and the soft spruce gum dzih ant’at dzih = gum, ant’at = sticky.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES:
Therapeutic Actions:
Antimicrobial, antifungal, wound - healing, and skin regeneration enhancing properties.
Nature:
Emotionally grounding, calming, elevating, and comforting.
Plant Constituents:
Hydrocarbon secretion: resin acids (diterpenes): abietic, neoabietic, dehydroabietic, pimaric, isopimaric, levopimaric, sandrakopimaric, and palustric acids; and Lignans: pinoresino, lariciresinol, matairesinol; and p-hydroxycinnamic acid.
"Resin is a strong inhibitor of interleukin 1-beta, matrix metalloproteinase-3, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the inflammation process, and the anti-inflammatory potential of components of resin is even superior to that of 0.5 uM dexamethasone (MD Biosciences, Inc., Glasgow, UK)." "Refined Spruce Resin to Treat Chronic Wounds: Rebirth of an Old Folkloristic Therapy", by Janne J. Jokinen, MD, PhD, and Arno Sipponen (orthopedic surgeon). Read the full article here.
Therapeutic Actions:
Antimicrobial, antifungal, wound - healing, and skin regeneration enhancing properties.
Nature:
Emotionally grounding, calming, elevating, and comforting.
Plant Constituents:
Hydrocarbon secretion: resin acids (diterpenes): abietic, neoabietic, dehydroabietic, pimaric, isopimaric, levopimaric, sandrakopimaric, and palustric acids; and Lignans: pinoresino, lariciresinol, matairesinol; and p-hydroxycinnamic acid.
"Resin is a strong inhibitor of interleukin 1-beta, matrix metalloproteinase-3, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the inflammation process, and the anti-inflammatory potential of components of resin is even superior to that of 0.5 uM dexamethasone (MD Biosciences, Inc., Glasgow, UK)." "Refined Spruce Resin to Treat Chronic Wounds: Rebirth of an Old Folkloristic Therapy", by Janne J. Jokinen, MD, PhD, and Arno Sipponen (orthopedic surgeon). Read the full article here.
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MEDICINAL USES:
Spruce pitch protects the tree from a wide range of plant pathogens, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, archaea, and parasites. The lignans in resin have anti-oxidative properties; additionally research is investigating if the lignans change through microbial metabolism (and other processes) into components that have hormone like properties. It is speculated that these lignan-originating phytoestrogens may contribute to cellular regeneration and accelerate wound healing.1 SKIN: Spruce pitch excels in treating infected or noninfected, acute or chronic, surgical or nonsurgical wounds and pressure ulcers. Topical use; 10% resin salve. 6 months. |
Photo credit: White wolf pack
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In Vitro and in vivo, resin is antibacterial, active against S. aureus methicillin - resistant (MRSA); and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) species, and Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Trichophyton tonsurans. As ointment, oil, and salve, Norway spruce resin has been used for centuries in Nordic countries and Finnish Lapland to treat acutely and chronically infected wounds and sores, localized bacterial and fungal infections, pressure ulcers, punctured abscesses, uppurating burns, onychomycosis, and paronychia.
Additionally, it moisturizes, increasing the suppleness of skin.
Additionally, it moisturizes, increasing the suppleness of skin.
Old Tjikko graced with snow
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RESPIRATORY: Rub salve on chest and back to help relieve coughs, colds, congestion, bronchitis, asthma. Helps to open breathing passages, reduce irritating and dry coughs, deepen the breath, calm the mind, encourage restful sleep.
Pitch can be chewed as gum, as hard pitch to be processed for long term storage, or enjoyed as soft pitch on site. MUSCULATURE: Rub on tired and sore muscles and joints; helps to stimulate surface blood flow, helping to remove toxins, and invigorate tired muscles, ease aches and pains, reduce swelling and inflammation in joints, and reduce the pain of sprained and strained muscles. |
CANCER TREATMENT: In 2015 CBC featured an article about Catherine Boucher, a native of Yellowknife (TRIBE?) who attributes Spruce pitch gum to cure her of rare cervical cancer. Diagnosed in 2003, she accounts hearing her late grandfather whisper in her ear "telling me to use spruce gum". She harvests the mature dried tree resin, freezes it, and pulverizes it to a powder. She ate 1 tbsp crushed resin every 12 hours, and within 6 months the doctors told her her cancer was shrinking. She continued with the spruce gum and avoided surgery; and has been cancer free since 2008. Read the full article here.
HARVEST: Harvest in the late winter while trees are still dormant and beginning to awaken. As with any medicine harvest far from industrial areas and main roads. Examine the trunk for scars in bark or branches that have been removed. Shows evidence of fire, lightning, frost, wind, bears, porcupines, insect damage, or manmade marks from tree harvesting activities.
Offer a deeply sincere prayer of gratitude and the intention for the harvest. Use a strong knife to scrape away the sap, and ensure that there is a substantial layer remaining over the tree's wound, to prevent pathogens and fungal invasion. Often the same wound can be sustainably harvested repeatedly over a few years.
Clean tools with vegetable oil. Clean stained clothing with isopropyl alcohol, followed by soap.
DOSAGE: Massage Resin salve to affected area, and cover with gauze bandage if necessary.
Contraindications:
Generally regarded as safe.
Localized allergic contact dermatitis occurs in 1-3% of population; If allergic reaction occurs, discontinue use.
Safe for animals and children.
Pregnant women use caution. Pine pitch has been noted as possible cause of miscarriage.
HARVEST: Harvest in the late winter while trees are still dormant and beginning to awaken. As with any medicine harvest far from industrial areas and main roads. Examine the trunk for scars in bark or branches that have been removed. Shows evidence of fire, lightning, frost, wind, bears, porcupines, insect damage, or manmade marks from tree harvesting activities.
Offer a deeply sincere prayer of gratitude and the intention for the harvest. Use a strong knife to scrape away the sap, and ensure that there is a substantial layer remaining over the tree's wound, to prevent pathogens and fungal invasion. Often the same wound can be sustainably harvested repeatedly over a few years.
Clean tools with vegetable oil. Clean stained clothing with isopropyl alcohol, followed by soap.
DOSAGE: Massage Resin salve to affected area, and cover with gauze bandage if necessary.
Contraindications:
Generally regarded as safe.
Localized allergic contact dermatitis occurs in 1-3% of population; If allergic reaction occurs, discontinue use.
Safe for animals and children.
Pregnant women use caution. Pine pitch has been noted as possible cause of miscarriage.
Photo credit: Survivalist Blog
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BASIC SPRUCE OIL:
Use as massage oil or as base for Salve. This yields a potent, fragrant, whole oleo-resin holistic medicated oil. 1:2 suggested ratio of sap to oil: 300 g fresh pliable spruce pitch (and / or pine and fir) 600 mL of olive oil 1) In water bath, gently heat oil and pitch until dissolved. 2) Pour into a jar; leave to settle 1-2 days. 3) Carefully pour off clearer liquid, leaving sediment on bottom. I use this sediment in my daily abhyanga Ayurvedic oil massages before I shower. The sediment is a nourishing exfoliation. |
To the clearer oil add one gel cap, 400 IU to each 250 mL of medicated oil as precaution against rancidity.
My salves typically last for 2-3 years before starting to go rancid.
Add essential oils to assist in its medicinal benefit:
For respiratory issues, add Rosemary, Eucalpytus, Peppermint
For muscle rub, add Wintergreen, Birch
Recipe gratitude and blessings to: apothecarysgarden.com
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BASIC SALVE RECIPE:
In hot water bath, gently heat oil. Add grated beeswax, about 1/4-1/3 of the volume of oil. Heat and stir until beeswax is melted. Check consistency: add a drop to a plate, place it in fridge. Adjust wax / oil as necessary to desired consistency. Remove from heat, cool somewhat, and add Essential oils. If using a blend of E/O, mix blend prior to adding to salve. Bottle and label. Do not put on lids until completely cooled. |
Photo credit: Amber
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BASIC SPRUCE LINIMENT:
For external topical use only. Apply liberally to muscle aches and pains: 1 cup spruce, pine and/or fir needles 1/4 cup spruce pitch 2 cups witch hazel or rubbing alcohol Mix all together. Infuse for 6 weeks in a dark place, shaking daily. Once infused, strain liquid through cheesecloth. Bottle and label. |
Photo credit: Amber
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PITCH CHEWING GUM:
Eat directly from the tree; or to make a spruce gum that stores and transports well:
1) Harvest solid resin (soft resin won't work for this purpose). It takes 2-4 years for the sap to harden. Yellow, brown, cream, pink colors ok. Expect to lose about 25% of the pitch during processing, for it sticks to everything it comes in contact with.
2) Place resin in a canvas bag; use a mallet, pulverize the resin to sandlike texture.
Pick out pieces of twigs and bark, or sift through a screen.
3) Prepare a pan: Shallow pan, not too wide. Standard bread pan ok.
Line a cheesecloth over the top to serve as a strainer, and secure it with tape on both sides.
4) In a pot devoted to spruce pitch processing, cover the bottom with about an inch of pulverized spruce pitch. Add fresh water to make a thick soupy mix. Slowly, gently heat to a boil (NB pitch is flammable - use awareness!!). As water comes to a boil, the gum will begin to melt and float on top. Heat until all the resin is liquefied. Remove from heat, and quickly pour into prepared pan. Cool 30 min.
5) Remove the cheesecloth, and pour off the water. What remains in the pan is a sheet of Spruce gum. Use hard object and crack it out of the pan. Break into bite sized pieces, dust them with slippery elm bark powder to keep them from sticking together.
Store in a cool, dry place.
6) Enjoy: the gum is very brittle and will crumble easily. Hold it in your mouth 30 seconds, then start chewing - it will soften into a nice pink gum.
Recipe gratitude to https://beverleygray.com/2012/12/12/tree-medicine/
Eat directly from the tree; or to make a spruce gum that stores and transports well:
1) Harvest solid resin (soft resin won't work for this purpose). It takes 2-4 years for the sap to harden. Yellow, brown, cream, pink colors ok. Expect to lose about 25% of the pitch during processing, for it sticks to everything it comes in contact with.
2) Place resin in a canvas bag; use a mallet, pulverize the resin to sandlike texture.
Pick out pieces of twigs and bark, or sift through a screen.
3) Prepare a pan: Shallow pan, not too wide. Standard bread pan ok.
Line a cheesecloth over the top to serve as a strainer, and secure it with tape on both sides.
4) In a pot devoted to spruce pitch processing, cover the bottom with about an inch of pulverized spruce pitch. Add fresh water to make a thick soupy mix. Slowly, gently heat to a boil (NB pitch is flammable - use awareness!!). As water comes to a boil, the gum will begin to melt and float on top. Heat until all the resin is liquefied. Remove from heat, and quickly pour into prepared pan. Cool 30 min.
5) Remove the cheesecloth, and pour off the water. What remains in the pan is a sheet of Spruce gum. Use hard object and crack it out of the pan. Break into bite sized pieces, dust them with slippery elm bark powder to keep them from sticking together.
Store in a cool, dry place.
6) Enjoy: the gum is very brittle and will crumble easily. Hold it in your mouth 30 seconds, then start chewing - it will soften into a nice pink gum.
Recipe gratitude to https://beverleygray.com/2012/12/12/tree-medicine/
