Alaskan Pine Trees

I have been asked several times for more information on trees. There are a lot of trees in Alaska, but the variety may not be as much as the lower 48. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t useful. This list is by no means exhaustive and it will not include trees that grow here but aren’t native. But recently I had one follower ask for a post about trees. Well, after starting the research, I decided that you get TWO posts one pines! This one (and the next one, and the one on leafy trees) is for you Serk!

First of all, a general food use for most trees in Alaska is the inner bark. If there is one that cannot be used,  I will list it with that plant. You’ll see that a lot of the pine trees have similar uses. These include: needles good for colds, good for keeping away scurvy, good for wounds, and muscle pains. Some have specific uses that others don’t, so I will go over that for sure.

Pines

Spruce – Picea glauca, P. sitchensis, P. mariana, P. sitchensis, P. engelmannii

Food use: Jason and I have used the pitch as a gum, which helps freshen breath. Consistency-wise, it is kind of crunchy at first, but at some point with the chewing going on, it suddenly turns into a gum-like consistency. A lot of people are familiar with spruce tips. They have a distinctive color and shape in the springtime. The ones most people collect are from the white spruce, P. glauca. The tips appear on all spruce, but are smaller on the P. mariana. I haven’t tried it myself, but a lot of people make spruce tip jelly. The inner bark can be eaten raw, boiled, or dried and ground into flour. Young cones can be dried and ground into a spice. Furthermore, Alaska Winter Ale uses spruce tips in its brew. The recipe supposedly came from something found in Captain Cook’s journal.

Medicinal use: If you have an upset stomach, ulcers, mouth sores, or sore throats an infusion of the inner bark is for you! In addition, if you want to add some kick to that tea, add the pitch and make it a syrup for coughs, colds and congestion. You can make a tea out of the tips specifically for lung congestion. I have used a mixture of spruce tips and rose hips to help with a cough of mine that wouldn’t go away.

Cautions: If you are pregnant, do not use spruce for medicinal purposes. Use the tea in moderation. Additionally, spruce oil, like any essential oil, can cause rashes with those who have sensitive skin.

Subalpine fir – Abies lasiocarpa

Food use:  Because the needles are high in vitamin C, and they can be harvested throughout the year, the tea is a great way to keep scurvy away! The ground inner bark was used by natives as an additive to other flours. Similarly, the cones were ground and mixed with fat.

Medicinal use: The resin (pitch is a little bit more liquid, resin is harder in consistency) can be used to clean your teeth. A tea of the resin can be used for a gargle to help with mouth or throat infections. The bark made into a decoction is excellent for colds and flu. A tea made of the needles is good for coughing, to induce sweating, treating fever, and has laxative properties (makes you go poo). Also, the needles can be put in your shoes to avoid foot odor.

Cautions: The tea should be of limited use and never in large doses. Due to the potent oils, it can cause skin reactions. And in large doses has an emetic effect (meaning it makes you throw-up).

What?! Only two pine trees covered in this post?!!!! COMEON! WHATSGOINGON?

I am going over a lot of information and don’t want to overwhelm you! I’m already over 700 words! In order to keep my posts nice and diges-tree-ble (:P), I keep them short. That way you have a chance to mull them over. I’ll cover the other three pine trees next week.