The Quiet Medicine of White Pine

Here in the Northeast, we are blessed with deep pine forests, and White Pine is plentiful. Fragrant and resinous, it is one of the few herbs we can harvest even when the snow is deep on the ground.

Meeting House Herb Farm sits just a few miles from the ocean in Scarborough, Maine. We have several White Pines on the farm that I visit often. Two are still young and hold the potential to become the tall, impressive trees White Pines are known for. Some of the tallest trees in our forests, White Pines feel both steady and expansive.

My favorite White Pine, though, lives in Deer Isle, Maine. Years ago, its main trunk was broken. Instead of dying, the tree grew two strong limbs in its place, and each of those limbs sprouted what looks like an entirely new tree. Every time I visit, I am reminded that life’s challenges do not weaken us. They shape us. They ask us to grow stronger, more creative, and more uniquely ourselves.

White Pine is my go to herb for coughs, especially when blended with Elecampane root and Marshmallow root. Making White Pine tea is one of my favorite winter rituals. It is fragrant, simple, and deeply nourishing. All it requires is correctly identifying White Pine, sustainably harvesting the needles, and gently simmering them on the stove for about 20 minutes. Rich in vitamin C, White Pine feels like stored sunshine during the darker months of the year.

To identify White Pine, look for needles grouped in bundles of five. Always five.

I especially love White Pine extract blended with Elecampane and Marshmallow as both a throat spray and a cough syrup.

White Pine Cough Blend

2 parts Marshmallow extract
1 part White Pine extract
1 part Elecampane extract

Add honey for extra throat coating and soothing support.

White Pine needles can also be harvested and dried for later use. Simply chop the needles into small pieces, dry them for two to three days, and store for a tisane. It makes an easy pine flavored winter drink that is both comforting and rich in vitamin C.

This month, we are featuring White Pine in our Apothecary Box. It is not too late to sign up. We ship on Friday.

Inside this month’s box you will find dried White Pine from our Nurture Farm partner Spirit Brook, White Pine Extract from Meeting House Farm, and White Pine Oil, one of my personal holiday favorites.