Pine oil provides a pile of profound health benefits in skin and hair care as well. Discover more about pine oil and why it’s a favorite essential oil in aromatherapy.
Pine (Pinus sylvestris) grows in the European part, in Siberia, in northern Kazakhstan. Essential oil obtained from pine wood and green resin by stripping with steam. From one ton of green materials it is possible to get 3-4 kg of pine essential oil. The finished liquid is colorless, has a light, fluid texture and a deep resinous aroma.
It is believed the pine plant originated in Austria and Russia and spread in different parts of the world.
Because the pine tree can withstand both cold and relatively dry conditions, it grows easily and well in many different places.
Native Americans used pine trees in several ways. They chewed the needles to ward off scurvy, and stuffed the oil-rich needles in their mattresses to discourage lice and fleas.
The needles contain quite a lot of vitamin C, so it was a useful remedy for hunters if they were short of the vitamin.
Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine used Pine in the treatment of pulmonary conditions and established its healing effects on the respiratory system. Pine oil was recommended by the ancient physician Pliny for treating respiratory and lung problems. The Native Americans chewed the needles of the Pine tree to defend against scurvy. They also used the clean-scented Pine needles on their bed to ward off fleas, lice and bed bugs. The highly ornamental timber of Pinus pinaster also known as Maritime pine was used in making furniture, building frames, panels, internal flooring, veneers, particle board etc. The pinecones are also used as Christmas decorations.
Effects & Actions of Pine Essential Oil
Effects of pine oil on internal organs and systems
- anti-bacterial
- anti-microbial
- neuralgic
- antiseptic
- antiviral
- expectorant
- stimulant (adrenal cortex, lymphatic, nervous and cardiovascular system)
Impact of pine oil on psycho-emotional sphere
Essential oil of pine relaxing effect on the physical and psychological level. It helps overcome pessimism and acquire believe in themselves. Pine oil is able to eliminate the aggression and impulsivity, reduce anxiety and stress.
It gives an energizing, invigorating feeling. Pine plant oil is also useful for people suffering from loss of concentration and loss of memory. Regular massage with pine essential oil lends mental clarity
Impact of pine oil on human bio-energy field
Essential oil of pine helps get rid of bad destructive power. It opens new energy flows and helps to comprehend itself.
Usage of Pine Oil in Cosmetology
Pine Oil in Skin Care: Essential oils can make great natural acne treatments that work fast. And because it can fight bacteria and fungus, pine oil may be useful with a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis, warts, boils, athlete’s foot, eczema and itching.
Pine Oil in Hair Care: Pine oil is rich in proteins and Vitamin E. Vitamin E, as you know, is good for increased hair growth. It also keeps the scalp clean and free from dandruff. Selenium and omega 3 fatty acids present in pine nuts help in making the scalp strong and healthier.
Pine nut oil is good for treating hair loss and thinning of hair. Zinc, biotin and Vitamin B6 present in pine nut can prevent hair loss. So, if you want strong, thick and healthy hair use pine oil regularly. It is also rich sources of proteins and this is good for protecting the hair from damage. It also helps to keep the hair healthy, strong and lustrous.
Domestic use of pine. Cleans and disinfects the air in rooms and eliminates the smell of nicotine.
Use in cooking. Fresh and dry pine needles used for the preparation of therapeutic pine tea.
Pine Oil Benefits for Health
As a detoxifying ingredient and natural disinfectant, pine oil is commonly used in massage oil blends, household cleaning products and air fresheners. It can stimulate blood flow and help decrease swelling, tenderness and pain within sore muscles or joints associated with inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory: Pine oil has been used to fight free radical damage and chronic inflammatory responses that can lead to pain or swelling and even contribute to chronic diseases, including arthritis and cancer.
Headache Killer: Because it can help decrease toxins in the air or around your home that can trigger sickness or headaches, pine oil is one of the great headache remedies. It’s also useful for reducing stress and lifting your mood, which are other causes of migraines or PMS-related headache symptoms.
Pine Oil to Prevent Allergy: Pine can effectively fight fungi lurking in the air, it’s been shown to lower the presence of toxins that can cause difficulty in breathing, allergic rhinitis, watery eyes or flu-like symptoms. To naturally reduce seasonal allergy symptoms, diffuse pine nut oil throughout your home or inhale it directly from the bottle.
Pine Oil to Eliminate Bronchial Infections: Because of these infection-fighting abilities, aromatherapists frequently employ essential pine oil to help fight off lower respiratory infections such as bronchitis. Article published by The University of Maryland Medical Center reviewed research on pine oil’s effects on bronchitis and concluded that some scientific studies support essential pine oil’s use in fighting off bronchial infections. Steam inhalations provide the best treatment method for this illness. Add a few drops pine essential oil to two cups steaming water and inhale the vapors. Just be sure to close your eyes so you don’t burn them.
Pine Oil Fights Cancer: According to the article “Polyphenol-rich extract from Pinus sylvestris L. bark–chemical and antitumor studies” published in 2014, investigating the chemical composition and antitumor effects against HeLa cells of pine extract derived from Pinus sylvestris L. bark showed positive anti-cancer activities. Analysis of pine oil helped researchers identify several other key constituents, including taxifolin, taxifolin-hexoside and several procyanidins. Pine bark extract exhibited a high cytotoxicity against HeLa cells (a type of cell involved in human cervical cancer) and revealed the ability of to induce apoptosis, or self-destruction of harmful cells.
Pine Oil to Reduce Muscular Pain: While pine frequently gets used to help fight off an infection, it can help you in other areas too. It also helps to relieve muscular aches and pains. You can use pine oil in either a massage oil blend or add a few drops to a bath. Because pine oil can irritate your skin, in either of these applications you need to first dilute it with another carrier oil.
Pine Oil to Enhance Metabolism: Due to the properties increase the metabolism of pine oil is useful for treating various problems of the gastrointestinal tract. The diuretic effect of pine oil helps to remove excess water from the body, and with it the toxins, salts and toxins. This capacity oil has a positive effect on the activity of the kidneys, because they have lost the need to filter the toxins more than once.
How to Use Pine Oil?
For treatment of asthma, colds, influenza, bronchitis, coughs (including smoker’s cough), or a sore throat: use 2-3 drops of essential oils for hot inhalation. You can also use 4-5 drops in aroma lamp or 4-6 drops in a bath.
For injuries, cuts, eczema, psoriasis, scabies, ulcers and other skin irritations: mix 2-3 drops of pine oil to 30 ml of base oil. Apply the mixture on the affected skin.
Cellulite fighter: mix 4-6 drops of essential oil and 30 ml of base oil. The resulting mixture of massage to massage the cellulite affected areas of the skin. One can also use 8-10 drops per bath.
If you have problems with digestion: use 2-3 drops evaporation aromalampe or aromamedalone.
To prevent depression, loss of strength: evaporate 2-3 drops of essential oil in aromalampe.
To reduce hair loss and brittle hair: mix 10 drops of essential oil of pine and 15 ml of vegetable oil of almond kernels. Apply the mask on the scalp and hair. Leave on for 30 minutes and then wash with shampoo.
Contraindications in usage of pine oil
- Pine oil has a low human toxicity level, but it can irritate skin and mucous membranes.
- It has also been known to cause breathing problems in large doses, so use with caution.
- Internal consumption of pine essential oil poses a danger to human kidneys, so it should not be given to people who are suffering from kidney disorders.
- Always use pine essential oil in a diluted form when adding to lotions or other skin applications.
- Mix with a carrier oil if you are using pine oil for aromatherapy or aromatherapy massage.
- Small children and elderly people should not be given pine essential oil since it may cause hypertension.
Blends well with: eucalyptus, all citrus, myrtle, sandalwood, juniper, vetiver, lavender, cedar, lemongrass, rosewood, cypress, rosemary, thyme, tea tree.
References:
- Phenolic extractives from the bark of Pinus sylvestris L. and their effects on inflammatory mediators nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. ( Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry)
- Polyphenol-rich extract from Pinus sylvestris L. bark–chemical and antitumor studies
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bronchitis
