Did you know that you can use pine cones for respiratory system support, simply by putting them in a pot of water and simmering on the stove?
This is a practice I have done for years and I was thrilled to hear it expanded upon during Sean's class last night on Forest Medicine for the Respiratory Tract.
The best cones to use will have the white dried resin on them, which will be released with the heat that comes from the hot water. What I learned last night that I did not previously know, that the resins of trees contain diterpenes. These are sticky and are too heavy to be airborne on their own, like the other aromatic terpenes.
There is an energetic signature of sorts to this. These diterpenes are sticky and thick....and by releasing them into the air through the steam process, they can actually break up sticky and stagnant stuff in the lungs and respiratory tract.
And no, the same effect is not achieved through tincture or tea. It's a direct contact through inhalation into the tissues of the lungs that is most effective.
So find those pine cones. Toss them into a pot, add water, bring to a boil, lower it to a simmer and allow to simmer away through the home. Alternatively, you can do a good ol steam inhalation, by removing from the heat and putting a towel or blanket over the pot and then join the pot with your head, underneath the blanket and inhale the steam for 5 to 10 minutes.
This is a very easy way to work with pine for the respiratory tract that costs very little.