White Pine's Invitation
my February Herb of the Month story
Hi all -
I am catching up on posting my Herb of the Month writings. Here is a little story to illustrate the invitation and gifts of pine.
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Pinus strobus – white pine
Family: Pinaceae
Energetics: warm, dry, tonifying
Taste: pungent, bitter, sour
Medicinal parts: leaves (needles), resin
Affinities: respiratory and immune systems
Actions: aromatic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, vulnerary, exhilarant, stimulating expectorant, anticatarrhal
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White Pine’s Invitation
What would White Pine say if she were introducing herself to you?
Imagine meeting Pine in the forest.
As you enter the forest on this cold winter’s day, White Pine’s evergreen branches stretch tall above your head.
She stands among her pine relatives—some older and taller, some younger and no taller than your knees.
They welcome you into their shelter; their sweet aroma surrounds you.
You take a deep breath, and the tension melts from your shoulders.
A smile slowly spreads across your face until you can’t help but grin and laugh out loud. You are delighted by how easily your worries fall away as joy rises instead.
Pine invites you to walk beneath her branches. The ground is blanketed with her fallen needles, and you discover that she has gifted you some branches from yesterday’s storm.
White Pine tells you that she is glad you’ve come here to acknowledge her beauty and receive her gifts. She invites you to connect with her plant relatives and work with them mindfully.
Pine reminds you that your grandmothers, many generations ago, stood beneath her branches to receive the wisdom of plant medicine. “We, the pine trees, are among your oldest and tallest herbal allies. We have been living for hundreds of years.”
Now, imagine that your great-great-great-grandmother is standing here with you beneath the towering evergreens.
Grandmother shows you how to identify white pine by the needles, which grow in bundles of five, each 2–5 inches long.
She teaches you that it’s better to visit pine after the storms and collect fallen branches, rather than to break the branches from the tree.
She explains that working mindfully with plants means caring for them as well.
Becoming an herbalist isn’t just about the medicine—it’s about nurturing the plants that offer it.
Together, you walk home, where you gently push the broken ends of the branches into the snowbank outside the kitchen door.
Here, in the snow, pine will stay fresh, and the needles will remain green. As long as they stay fragrant and vibrant, they are still medicinal.
You collect enough needles for tea and go inside to set the kettle on the stove.
Grandmother invites you to sit at the kitchen table with her, placing a hot cup of white pine tea before you.
The steam rises, and again you sigh, smiling.
Together, you sip the tea and savor its gentle evergreen flavor.
Warm inside the kitchen on this cold winter day, Grandmother explains the gifts of pine.
As you drink, it’s easy to feel pine’s warm, dry, tonifying energy.
The chill of winter fades as warmth spreads through your body.
The tea is aromatic, with a pungent, slightly sour, and bitter taste.
As your breathing deepens, you recognize pine’s affinity for the respiratory system.
The tartness is a clue to the ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that supports your immune system.
Grandmother explains that pine tea can be used as a wound wash or a mouthwash— pine is astringent, antiseptic, and antimicrobial.
A pine steam relieves coughs and congestion, acting as a stimulating expectorant.
Pine needles can also be infused into oil, which can be rubbed over the chest or back.
Even pine resin can be used topically to support wound healing.
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I hope you enjoyed my story about our herbal ally pine. As always, be sure to learn about any plant look-alikes as you learn to identify an herb.
- Cautions for pine -
Look for white pine by checking the number and shape of the needles. Many Pinaceae plants are safe to work with. Avoid the Yew tree, which has single flat needles and red berries. It can be deadly.