Health Benefits of Scots Pine

The Scots pine is an evergreen conifer tree that is native to western and northern Europe and Russia. The Scots pine has short, spiky needles and can grow to heights over 100 feet. It has a fresh pine needle aroma and the oil is used to scent a variety of household and personal care products such as room sprays, cleaning detergents, vaporizer liquids, and cough and cold preparations.

The Scots pine has been used for many centuries as a medicinal plant. Native Americans used Scots pine to prevent scurvy and were known to have stuffed their mattresses with pine needles to repel lice and fleas. They used pine oil to treat lung infections and added it to baths to revitalize those suffering from mental or emotional fatigue. Additionally, the needles and shoots have been prepared in various ways for use with coughs, bronchial complaints and rheumatic pain.

When taken internally, Scots pine leaves have a mild antiseptic effect within the chest. Scots pine leaves may also be helpful in reducing symptoms associated with arthritis and rheumatic problems. Essential oil from the leaves has been used to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, and for digestive disorders.

The branches and stems of the Scots pine tree yield a thick resin, which is an antiseptic within the respiratory tract. The seeds yield an essential oil with diuretic and respiratory-stimulant properties.

Resveratrol, a natural compound found in Scots pine, grapes, peanuts and other plants, has been touted as an anti-cancer agent and a phytoestrogen (acts like estrogen in the body). Resveratrol may protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease by acting as an antioxidant, anti-mutagen, and anti-inflammatory. It has also been confirmed to reduce the occurrence of skin tumors.

Researchers believe that resveratrol is partially responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of red wine. Epidemiologic and clinical studies indicate that high consumption of resveratrol-rich foods may result in reduced cardiovascular disease risk, lowered total cholesterol, and lowered LDL cholesterol. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid the use of resveratrol, be it in the use of wine as a resveratrol source or in dietary supplements containing resveratrol.

In a recent study, researchers identified a group of anti-inflammatory compounds in the bark of the Scots pine, which they believe can be developed into food supplements or drugs for treating arthritis and pain. The compounds have been identified as phenolics; a class of highly-active plant chemicals that have been tied to beneficial health effects.

Researchers believe the Scots pine extract inhibited production of prostaglandin E2 by blocking COX-2 enzyme activity, which is normally enhanced during inflammatory responses. Blocking this enzyme is the basis for some widely used arthritis medications.

Some of the phenolic compounds identified in the Scots pine extract have already been identified by scientists as potent disease-fighting antioxidants, but researchers say there are other compounds present in the extract that have not yet been characterized.