Pine needle tea is a traditional wild food that may impart health benefits due to its aromatic oils and vitamin C content. Try pine needle tea to relieve wintertime colds and respiratory infections. Despite its long history of use, there is no conclusive clinical evidence to support the health benefits of pine needle tea. Do not use it to replace conventional treatments and talk to your doctor before using any alternative medicines.
History
According to the Manataka American Indian Council, pine needle tea is a centuries-old healing remedy for Native Americans. When European settlers came to the continent and were suffering from scurvy due to lack of vitamin C, the Native Americans introduced them to pine needle tea. Today, Native Americans still drink pine needle tea to treat coughs and colds.
Vitamins
According to the website Practical Primitive, pine needle tea is high in vitamins A and C. A cup of pine needle tea may supply five times as much vitamin C as you would get from one cup of orange juice. According to the Mayo Clinic, recent research indicates that vitamin C may have a wide variety of health benefits including helping to treat urinary tract infections and colds and aiding the absorption of iron. There is no conclusive clinical evidence to support these benefits of vitamin C.
