The Healing Properties of Trees

One of the most fascinating discoveries ever made is the existence of medicine in nature. We are all familiar with the concept of eating healthy, nutrient-dense foods as ‘medicine’ that helps our bodies function and heal. But have you ever considered the healing properties of trees? In this blog I look particularly at the healing properties found in trees such as pines and conifers, and how they can provide an array of antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antiparasitic properties.

 

Suramin

Pine needles have long been known for their healing properties and during the long winter months in Scandinavian countries people have regularly consumed pine needle tea. The direct mild extract is a good source of vitamin C and other nutrients.

The needles from the Eastern white pine tree (Pinus Strobus) has long been used to prevent colds and flus and has been found to contain Alpha-Pinene, Beta-Pinene, Beta-Phellandrene, D-Limonene, Germacrene D, 3-Carene, Caryophyllene, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It is believed to have other health benefits such as antiviral and antiparasitic properties.

It also contains shikimic acid, a molecule that is also found in star anise. Star anise is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to successfully treat respiratory illness for thousands of years.

More recently, a specific compound in pine needles has drawn attention in the medical community.[1] The compound suramin has been shown to inhibit the replication of the coronavirus spike protein[2] and to contribute to the reduction of platelet aggregation in the blood, potentially preventing blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.[3] Suramin was first used to treat diseases like African sleeping sickness and the Zika virus.[4]

If you would like to make pine needle tea, it is very simple! You can seep a handful of chopped pine needles in a pot of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. Leave the needles in the water until it has cooled then strain the water ready for drinking.

Warning: Make sure you use the Eastern White Pine tree which has long thin needles in bundles of five. Be careful not to consume any part of the Yew tree which also has long needles – look out for the red berries on the Yew tree and the long, flat needles that are single (not in bundles).  You can find more information about how to identify different trees by downloading plant identification apps.

 

Salicin

Salicin is also found in trees, this time in the bark of a willow tree.  Salicin is an alcohol that contains a compound called β-glucoside and it has properties similar to aspirin. Native Americans were known to chew the bark of the willow tree for pain relief and over hundreds of years people have reported it to be effective for chronic pain and inflammation.

You can read the story of how aspirin developed from the bark of the willow tree in this article titled ‘The Aspirin Story – from willow to wonder drug’ where it is described as ‘one of the biggest pharmaceutical success stories of the last century’. [5]

Salicin was isolated from white willow bark in the 19th century as there was a movement away from using raw plant materials. Pharmaceutical companies preferred to use pure chemical extracts and employed chemists to isolate the compounds that would provide therapeutic effects. Many of these compounds were then synthetically reproduced in labs. Aspirin is the most famous example of synthetic drug development for a global market.[6]

For people wanting to use more natural alternatives to aspirin, willow bark can also provide long-term pain management. Willow bark has been used in recent studies and has been linked to symptom relief in patients with arthritis,[7] as well as anti-inflammatory effects.[8] According to a 2020 study from the University of Kent, Willow bark also contains miyabeacin, a compound which can be effective against throat, breast, and ovarian cancer cell lines.

Willow bark is available as a supplement. If you are buying an extract supplement, make sure the standardized salicin level is between 15-25%.

You can also take it as a tincture or drink it as a tea. The benefits are that it can give many of the benefits of aspirin without side effects such as excessive thinning of the blood, gastrointestinal issues or nutrient depletion.

 

DMSO

DMSO is another fascinating medicine found in pine trees. It is a naturally occurring sulfur compound called dimethyl sulfoxide. As a byproduct of wood pulp, it has been used as an industrial solvent for many years. It has also been used for its diverse pharmacologic actions and healing properties. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and as a diuretic, cholinesterase inhibitor and a vasodilator. DMSO is even approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

People who have used DMSO report that it can stop pain, deliver treatments across the blood-brain barrier, help with chronic pain such as arthritis, reduce inflammation and swelling, increase blood to the area and stimulate healing. Using DMSO is not for everyone because it has a distinctive smell like strong garlic and many people report tasting it within a few minutes of applying it to the skin.

You can watch a segment on DMSO when it was featured on 60 Minutes in the US. It aired in 1980 and highlight ed is therapeutic potential through anecdotal evidence and patient experiences.

Over the past 40 years there have been over 10,000 articles on the biological implications and 30,000 articles on the chemistry of DMSO. Articles highlighted potential beneficial pharmacological effects of DMSO such as improvement of blood flow; restriction of toxic Na+ and Ca2+ entry into cells; blockade of thrombosis caused by tissue factors; reduction of intracranial pressure; and prevention of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation that can lead to atherosclerosis of the coronary and cerebral circulation.[2]

DMSO has been successfully used to treat chronic pain and musculoskeletal injuries including arthritis, headaches, neck and back strains and restless leg syndrome. DMSO relaxes skeletal muscle and reduces inflammation. For many people, it is an effective and very safe painkiller including for conditions such as fibromyalgia and for tension headaches or sinus headaches. In particular, DMSO has been used to treat complex regional pain syndrome, as shown in this review from 2005 that concluded it was the least likely to cause harm.[1]

DMSO can improve sensory-motor function and level of consciousness and helpful in reducing neurologic disability after ischemic stroke. One of the most interesting uses of DMSO is in the management of strokes (including brain bleeds), heart attacks, and spinal cord injuries. You can read a summary of research and anecdotal evidence here.

When a person is having a stroke it is difficult to know if it is ischemic or hemorrhagic. But DMSO can be used immediately on both. It has been used effectively to treat ischemic strokes with no risk of worsening a hemorrhagic stroke. The most serious result of a stroke is that brain tissue deteriorates rapidly once its blood supply is lost. DMSO can be used as soon as one suspects a stroke and can both prevent brain tissue from dying and help heal damaged brain tissue during recovery.

Other studies reported that patients with Raynaud’s syndrome had their symptoms eliminated with DMSO and that patients with diabetic circulatory impairments such as peripheral neuropathy or diabetic ulcers also saw improvements.

While DMSO’s toxicity is extremely low, it must be used carefully. If you would like to use DMSO you must follow careful instructions using a proper dilution and application process. It is important to use medical or pharmaceutical grade DMSO and application must build up gradually.

DMSO needs to be diluted with distilled water or used with castor oil and it MUST be applied to clean skin. As a strong solvent, it passes through the skin and into the blood quickly and carries with it whatever is on the skin.  So make sure there are no toxic creams of perfumes on your skin.

Alternatives to DMSO are turpentine 100% pure gum spirits (pine sap) or pine needle essential oil.

 

Finally, the healing power of trees is also found in spending time walking in nature. The Japanese concept of ‘forest-bathing’ or shinrin yoku captures this. Relaxing among trees and observing nature can reduce blood pressure and stress levels, as well as boost the immune system.

As you can see form this blog, trees are amazing sources of health and healing. It makes sense why ‘tree-huggers’ exist! And there is evidence to suggest that hugging a tree actually does make you happier and healthier. Studies suggest that lower cortisol, regulate stress, slow racing thoughts and heart rate, and boost peace and tranquility.[3] As the weather gets warmer and we spend more time outside, you can also get close to nature. I hope you take the chance to feel the earth beneath your feet, the texture of the bark, the stability of the trunk, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the smell of the leaves and sap, and see for yourself if you feel better afterward!

 

With every blessing,

Emma

Emma Maitland-Carew – Registered Nutritional Therapist

Dip.ION, mBANT, CHNC Registered Practitioner, ILM Accredited Wellbeing Coach

Certified Live and Dried Blood Analysis, Metabolic Balance® Coach, HeartMath Coach, Accredited Wellbeing Coach

 

 

[1] Yin, W. et al. (2020). Structural Basis For Repurposing A 100-Years-Old Drug Suramin For Treating COVID-19. bioRxiv preprint. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.06.328336.

[2] Salgado-Benvindo, C. et al. Suramin Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Cell Culture by Interfering with Early Steps of the Replication Cycle. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 64(2020)

[3] Xu, H. Eric, Wanchao Yin, Xiaodong Luan, Zhihai Li, Leike Zhang, Ziwei Zhou, Minqi Gao et al. “Structural basis for repurposing a 100-years-old drug suramin for treating COVID-19.” (2020).

[4] Albulescu, I.C., Kovacikova, K., Tas, A., Snijder, E.J., and van Hemert, M.J. (2017). Suramin inhibits Zika virus replication by interfering with virus attachment and release of infectious particles. Antiviral Res 143, 230-236.

[5] Desborough MJR, Keeling DM. The aspirin story – from willow to wonder drug. Br J Haematol. 2017 Jun;177(5):674-683. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28106908/

[6] See ‘The Story of white willow bark and Bayer aspirin’ at https://crookedcrows.com/story-of-white-willow-bark-and-bayer-aspirin/

[7] Lin CR, Tsai SHL, Wang C, Lee CL, Hung SW, Ting YT, Hung YC. Willow Bark (Salix spp.) Used for Pain Relief in Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Life (Basel). 2023 Oct 14;13(10):2058. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10607963/

[8] Le NPK, Herz C, Gomes JVD, Förster N, Antoniadou K, Mittermeier-Kleßinger VK, Mewis I, Dawid C, Ulrichs C, Lamy E. Comparative Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Salix Cortex Extracts and Acetylsalicylic Acid in SARS-CoV-2 Peptide and LPS-Activated Human In Vitro Systems. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jun 23;22(13):6766. https://www.healthline.com/health/willow-bark-natures-aspirin#chemical-composition

[1] Quisel A, Gill JM, Witherell P. Complex regional pain syndrome: which treatments show promise? J Fam Pract. 2005 Jul;54(7):599-603. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16009087/

[2]Stanley W. Jacob and Jack C. de la Torre, ‘Pharmacology of dimethyl sulfoxide in cardiac and CNS damage’ Pharmacological Reports, 2009 https://if-pan.krakow.pl/pjp/pdf/2009/2_225.pdf

[3] Donovan, G. Butry, D. Michael, Y., Prestemon, J., Liebhold,A., Gatziolis, D., Mao, M. (2013). The Relationship Between Trees and Human Health: Evidence from the Spread of the EAB. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 44(2):139-45.