A few years ago, I took a trip up to the coastal wilderness of Northern California to meet with Native American elder, Dennis Martinez.
Born of O’odham and Chicano heritage, Dennis has spent his life educating both native and non-native people in the practices of indigenous reforestation and the wild medicines that grow in the Klamath Mountains. His deep wisdom and gentleness made learning from him easy. I was intrigued from the moment he opened his mouth.
We spent the entire day walking through the woods, discussing the medicinal plants that were used for generations by the tribes of the Pacific Northwest.
There was plenty of herbal knowledge shared that day, but I want to highlight two sacred trees that Dennis showed us — because tree medicine is often overlooked…
Let’s start with “The Tree of Life”.
1.) Oak Medicine
The oak tree, specifically the red oak and white oak, were so important to the first people of California and Oregon that they called it “The Tree Of Life”. Those in the know still rely heavily on these majestic trees for their abundance of health benefits, and for food.
Walking up to a large oak, he turned to me and explained, “Each plant has its own pace, its own way of living from year to year and producing nuts, seeds, and fruit – many of which are good food and medicine.”
Acorns:
When we entered Dennis’ house, one of the first things I noticed was a big basket of acorns by the door. He explained that all acorns are edible and delicious when prepared the right way. They were planning on grinding these up into a nutrient dense acorn flour and making bread from it. Growing up, we were told in school that this bountiful, everyday nut was inedible, even poisonous – yet another chapter that the modern world appears to have gotten wrong.
Oak bark:
The bark of the oak tree has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal qualities. For indigestion and bowel problems, the fresh bark is charred and made into a “charcoal soup” that alleviates the symptoms. A decoction of the bark is used to treat throat infections, kidney infections, and kidney stones.
Because of their styptic properties, the leaves and bark of the oak are made into infusions and used to treat burns and cuts.
2.) Pine Medicine
During our medicine walk, Dennis pointed out a few different pine trees and gave us the download on the myriad uses that this forest dweller has to offer.
The pitch:
Scraping off a bit of the sticky ooze from the bark, he explained that this delicious smelling pine pitch has powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Dennis often uses this as quick wilderness first aid for cuts, slivers, and burns.
The bark:
The inner bark can be eaten as a survival food in times of severe hardship or if you are lost in the woods for an extended period of time. It can also be used as an expectorant to lubricate the respiratory tract and ease a bad cough.
The needles:
But the most cherished part of the pine, at least by Dennis, is the needle. He explained that the young pine needles are a great source of vitamin C, A, E, and a host of B vitamins. They also have strong antimutagenic, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, which help in preventing the growth of cancer cells.
Dennis told us a few stories of western explorers who were bedridden on ships, dying of scurvy, who were saved by indigenous healers with spruce needles. He also said that during the Spanish influenza the folks who ate pine needles didn’t become ill, and the ones who didn’t did.
Dennis shared a ton of forest medicine wisdom that day, but as we were investigating a wild tobacco plant he said something off-hand that reassured me that he wasn’t giving away too much of his sacred ancestral wisdom.
Staring up into the trees, Dennis said, “There are certain plants obviously that can’t be shared with the masses, but these are not them. If they were, I wouldn’t be talking about them. They may be exploited and they’re that valuable. They’re both culturally valuable and commercially valuable – a combination that can lead to bad things.”
He told us that for a westerner to ever gain access to those types of secrets, they need to spend a lifetime building trust with the tribes again. A trust that was violated too many times to be given back lightly.
The oak and the pine. Two trees that most of us think we know, but perhaps we’ve only scratched the surface.
Stay curious,
Nick Polizzi
Host of Healing Kitchen: Let Food Be Thy Medicine
& Founder of The Sacred Science
169 Responses
Thank you for sharing this article Nick. I agree that trees are sacred. Working with people, it is quite common for people to disregard the sentience of trees. Your connection to the indigenous people is helping people re-learn what we have, as a Western culture, forgotten.
He also said that during the Spanish influenza the ones who ate the needles didn’t become ill, and the ones who didn’t, did. Are you talking about pine or fir needles here??
Thank you for this information. I feel honored that it was shared by the elders and I look forward to gaining more knowledge. We have a very large, old oak in our front yard. I don’t know what sort of oak it is..perhaps a “European oak…
fabulous….love your experiences and sharing………………..thank you…………………..
oops…. “Fun fact: The word “tannin”, which we commonly associate with wine, actually comes from the German word for oak tree – “tanna”. The bark of the oak is loaded with tannins which are thought to play a large role in their medicinal effects. ” “Tanna”, ie. “Tanne” is the German word for a FIR TREE, not Oak. “Eiche” is the German for Oak….Great Article!!!
type your comment here…”O, Tannenbaum…”
Thank you. The pendulum has swung and many are in desperate need of taking control for their health with the knowledge of uses of what nature abubdantly provides. You do outstanding work.
Through the time i have noticed,that Latvian elders have had the same knowledge,that Native americans has (I am llatvian origin)
It is absolutely amazing!,how nature works!Nevertheless I am married to medical doctor,when ever i have health problem,I turn for help to the Nature remedies and it never fails…
Just this week, several tree spirits shared their medicine with me. I hope you continue this series!
Thanks Nick..and thank you to Dennis also for bringing forth the knowledge.
Blesaings,
Lori
Hi nick. Firstly, I’m glad Dennis did not share too many important details although I was ‘dying’ to know. :).
Secondly. The word Tannin in Hebrew is Crocodile. Just a though. 🙂
Hi Nick
I’m really glad he didn’t share too much information. Better safe than sorry.
Also, the word Tannin in Hebrew means Crocodile.
Just a though. 🙂
I was recently river rafting on the Klamath River. What a beautiful place. The guides from”River Dancers” were wonderful, and passed on much indian lore from the area, and were very respectful to both the surrounding invironment and the native traditions.
I am very interested in hearing more from you , Nick.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. If there is more of this to come, I can’t wait!!
Wonderful article!
Hi Nick. Thanks for your article. I’m writing and illustrating a series of books entitled “Secret Voices from the Forest: Thoughts and Dreams of North American Trees” and am currently beginning work on Volume Three: The East. Do you have access to any information of a spiritual, mythological or physical nature, from an American Indian standpoint, about trees that are native to the eastern half of North America? Thanks.
Yeah, who doesn’t want to sit high up on a branch of the oak tree 😉 Never knew one could eat the acorn; would be interesting to try, just like one can make tea with pine needles. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this beautiful post. I also have always felt wounded by the impact our colonial culture has had on these people who so sacredly live with the earth. May we all learn. Blessings.
Nick Thanks for this article on the Pine and Oak trees!
I always look forward to Sacred Science postings!
Melissa
Love reading all this great knowledge….
Thanks
Would you give me the scientific names of both species? One can not trust the common names, it can lead to fatal mistakes. Thanks.
Would you give me the scientific names of both species? One can not trust the common names, it can lead to fatal mistakes. Thanks.
Your work and your passion to honor the true wisdom-keepers on our planet, always inspires me. I’m so honored to know your work and to spread the word!
I feel a sense of awe having read this. And am grateful to the Elder.
Your articles bring light to my day. I am so glad there are people around with knowledge of our plant brothers and sisters. The collective guilt can be hard yet we’re all one and I imagine your interest andknowledge that has led to this career choice has ancient routes of knowledge and healing.
Such invaluable and inspiring knowledge – thank you Nick, for sharing with us. Would be great to know how to best prepare these God-given gifts for use. Very much looking forward to further posts. Grateful thanks also to Dennis Martinez for generously sharing some of this ancient knowledge. Blessings, Margie
Thank you for sharing this wonderful information 🙂
Thank you so much for your work and for making it available ! I look forward to it and refer to it often !
Thank you for sharing, well done what an experience. I went to Ecuador 18 mths ago again amazing experience. Blessings Dawn
Thx for posting…… I’ve heard many great things for pine tree tea. It’s healing properties are profound. I have several around my house. I will make some today. I’m sorry he’s very secretive about his knowledge. It could help some many. I guess I have a different view on helping . But everything is in its own timing how we can be comfortable to bring it forth. Much love.
The native Americans were very open and helpful to generations of white settlers, but this attitude was not returned, which is why their culture is suffering today. The elder prioritises protecting the plants and trees from exploitation, and sadly from experience, has many reasons to be cautious.
I think Amy said it well. The indigenous people of this country have been so disrespected and taken advantage of that trust is hard to come by. I am glad that they are holding these secrets sacred. If they didn’t, then most likely what is happening in the rain forests would happen in Northern America. We’d see the assets and start strip mining all the resources and then they would be depleted for future generations.
Kathy, I too agree with Amy. and thank the folk sharing with us. We too in New Zealand and particularly Australia, where our Native/indigenous remedies were quashed and disrespected. However they are now being recognized — oddly firstly in culinary dishes ! Many of us treasure and use our native medicinal plants thanks in part to a French Nun who trained in Ireland and compared her knowledge to what the Maori women used, in remote settlements. As the Europeans brought so many plants here too we are interested in what we can do with oaks and pines– several varieties of each grow extremely well in NZ We too were told acorns are poisonous !
Thank you …good to know..
What a gift to learn all that is forgotten
Love to know if there is something natural for Lymes disease, other than antibiotics over a long period of time.
Here in Australia it is not even recognised but it’ is here in a big way.
Some government people and medico’s need to get their heads out of the sand.
Thanks Nick for keeping us informed, you are a blessing with hope.
Hi Mary, I know of a woman in Oregon who managed her Lyme disease to non-detectable using a plant called teasel.
This is fascinating and most useful in knowing what has been standing right beside us
Always, can also medicinally support our well-being. Thank-you.
Also, how can I contact Nick Polizzi regarding a ‘health-related’ film?
Awesome! I’m sharing your article on my FB Page, Secrets of Ancient Wisdom!…
Thank you so much, such valuable info.
Thank you so much for continuing to share all this amazing information with us
Get those others back in the amazon jungles for MORE TRUE TEACHINGS.
Get those others back in the amazon jungles for MORE TEACHINGS on ‘origins’ and medicinal vertues of our eco-systems. Thanks to Mexico.
Thank you Nick for such a valuable information.
Great article!! We must not let this kind of wisdom die out. Total respect for the elders. Will we ever be in a position to regain their trust? Its so sad what was done to them.
Dear Nick,
Thank you so much for this wonderfull article ! And many thanks to Dennis to share some of his knowledge with you and with us !
I am always reading your articles with great interest.
Thank you for this post. I grew up in NE United States. Since I w a child I loved walking in the woods. In MA and Southen VT. I found great peace and happiness. I love the smell of the trees and moss. presently, I live in Florida. The foests and plants don’t smell the same!
Thank you Nick for this wonderful piece of information. Your articles are a light until the world.
Just a great bid thank you for stepping up and into this kind of experience. Glad you are on the planet right now. 🙂
Thank you for sharing I am a holistic Healer hope to read much more x
Thanks for sharing. I’m going to be sure I know how to ID these trees and give them thanks for their gifts. As a westerner with the same feeling of guilt and anxiety you describe, I would love to spend a lifetime learning from the tribal people all over the world. True wisdom.
That’s awesome!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!! God Bless You Nick!!!!
i would just specify for the pine that there is one tree that people might mistake for a pine that shouldn’t be eater. The yew tree, which has small, spruce-like needles that fan out flat instead of round like a true spruce. Those ones are toxic! Pictures might be nice to go with this descriptions 🙂
Thanks
Sorry, as in close-ups of what would be picked. Thanks!
Very interesting. The state tree of my home state, Colorado, is the Blue Spruce. The state tree of my current state, California, is the Oak. My life seems to be guiding me toward Native American heritage. I so respect that life and those people. Thank you for sharing this, Nick.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you Dennis, but mostly thank Elder Dennis for trusting enough to share this information, I enjoyed the article and look forward to more.
Trees are a huge part of my life. I am much more connected to them than humans. It is very good to know that there are still native elders carrying the ancient living wisdom of nature. We will all be in a position to access this knowledge again very soon.
Thank you for the lessons.
Just want to say thanks. I dig Native American traditions and medicine. I wish I could experience the world more through their eyes. Cool teachings. Thanks again.
thank you for this very inetresting articles. I would like to learn morer about the plant medicines of the northern hemisphere . As i am in the UK that would be of particular interest. Does ajnyone know where I can obtain the relevant information and learn from the plants.
Thank you! I very much enjoyed and appreciate this article. This is my passion, to learn, live, heal, teach the real ways of healing as our Ancestors did.
Pine needle tea, while an excellent source of vitamins, should not be consumed by pregnant women as it will cause spontaneous abortion. Pine tar, if consumed, may disrupt menses in humans and affect the heat cycles of animals. I learned this from my grandmother who was an herbalist and natural healer.Be well.Patrick
Much gratitude
I wish I had every kind of tree in my yard. They are so beautiful. Thank you for teaching us what each tree does for us.
Awesome information thank you so very much
Thank you for sharing and bringing back some forgotten memories.
This knowledge is not exclusive to native Americans, it seems, as this article reminded me of a childhood Summer holiday in Austria. I was invited by the local children to join them gathering the new shoots of the pine trees. We walked straight up the mountain, with no real tracks to follow, which was a big adventure for me as I dared not do this without them for fear of getting lost.
The bag, filled with fresh pine shoots, was handed to their grandfather, who was a highly regarded herbal healer for local livestock and people in those days. I am sure he has passed away a long time ago, but who knows there may still be some people around in Austria today, that have the knowledge he had?.
I am originally from Ukraine, we used pine brunches in sauna with wet steam as a massage and to make a fermented drink full of vitamins.Great article as usual,thank you.
Thank you for these blessing
With discernment honor and respect to all living beings I share this medicine info. May we live in harmony with Earth
Check out the Censored Cancer Cures of Dr. John R. Christopher http://www.choosehealthnow.biz
You have to do a lot of processing to leach the tannin out of acorns before they are fit to use.
Thank You for noticing “THE STANDING PEOPLE”,CLOSE RELATIVES OF OUR “EARTH GARMENTS” (Human from “HUMUS” Bodies)..along with the wild creatures, ALL ARE WONDERFUL CARETAKERS FOR INFANTS, TODLERS AND THE CHILDREN OF MAN. I OWE MY LIFE LITERALLY TO MOTHER EARTH, THE STANDING PEOPLE, LOCAL FLORA FAUNA & MY SPIRIT GUIDE UP THRU AGE 5 yrs. And then DESPAIR age 9. Separating Infants, Children, indeed “Human Beings” from the LIVING PLANET MOTHER AND FAMILY BLOCKS ACCESS TO OUR BIRTH RIGHT.! THE CORE KNOWING THAT EVERY ONE OF US IS ” A BELOVED CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE”(THE SON/DAUGHTER OF MOTHER/FATHER GOD)!
Thank you Nick for sharing your valuable work with the elders and imparting their wisdom and guidance to us of the Western world. The ancient ways and sacred communion with the earth are the healing information that is required for Humanity at this time and I am Grateful to have your emails as a reminder of all that we have forgotten as the Human Race. Thank you !
I LOVE trees knowing we have a symbiotic relationship with them in order to breathe. Isn’t it a shame that because of past ignorance and fear our generation on both sides are reaping the fallout from it. Such beautiful knowledge that could save us all could be lost to all but a few. I also acknowledge the sacredness of such knowledge and the reasons why it is safeguarded. I yearn for the day when we can all trust each other again when truth falls from everyone’s lips for the benefit of all. We live in sad times but am ever hopeful. Thank you for the information we have been given
One of those plants is probably Ginsing which is being dug up by poachers on private land in North Carolina mountains!
Thank you for your interesting blog. I live in Torbay England and believe that trees can feel a persons psyche .
Great information Nick
Thank you for sharing Dennis’ wisdom with us. I, too carry guilt for what atrocities were inflicted on the Native Americans by those coming to the new lands. I met a gentleman in the Taos Pueblo who told me that the past was gone and can’t be changed. It is how we move forward that is important.
Thank you ! With Love and Gratitude . Madeline
WOW.I almost by-past this article. glad I didn’t.thanks for sharing
Great info, thanks so much for sharing. This does make perfect sense because in the natural wirld all creatures are fed by the earth.
Blessingsp
Please share with me what are the medicinal properties in turpentine, which comes from thepine tree?
Trees are good to us and for us.
Thank you for Nick for that. Even more thankyou to Dennis Martinez for sharing your ancestral wisdom. After all that has happened over the decades. I totally respect that information and you.
Love and light
Thank you for sharing that. I’m 67 and have always been fascinated by the awe inspiring knowledge these ancient peoples had.
To eat acorns you must leach the tannin out of them first. If you eat them with the tannin in you will get sick. You can find many ways to leach the tannin on the internet.
I am not a spammer.
I admire your work. The information is always very good.
Thank you for sharing I/we have known since I can remember passed from generation to generations all our ancestral relations
Thanks so much Nick, for sharing this valuable information. Thanks and blessings to the One’s who entrusted you with it. I am truly grateful for people like you who have the consciousness required to protect and preserve natural medicine(s).
Thank You!
this is wonderful information—-I respect the wisdom of not giving too much information as they will be exploited—this has been done too many times —- the pharmaceutical companies’ greed and control is not a good thing!!!!!
thanks Nick for your continual wonderful sharing of wisdom.
This is beautiful too, however we are in Australia and we have various species of Oak and Pines.
Do you have more detailed ,clearer photos please, so we can indentify the correct one, as it is possible we have the same here.
all abundant blessings for you,
Suz
Thank you for the information. I know that all trees are sentient beings, and sacred. I share your underlying sense of guilt for my ancestors (Anglo-Saxon, aka. WASP), who have wrecked such havok around the globe. We are living in a time when many secrets will become known, not only helpful ones, such as those you share here, but also the shameful truths oozing out from under the endless lies that have endeavored to hide them. Best I end this. Thank you and bless you
Thanks for sharing! This reminds me of Carlos Castaneda’s “A Seperate Reality” where he visits the shamans of the Iroquois Native Americans. I love this stuff! Keep up the great work!
it seems to me that you have posted the picture of a spruce, not of a pine. Even if they are part of the same family, “pinaceae”, and many mix them up, they are very different, in their appearance, character and effects.Can you please confirm which tree is it, the article refers to?
Thanks!
For some reason, my broswer is only showing an actual pic for the banner, and the rest are just showing image names: the “pine” image is named “douglas pine”
–I’ve never heard of a “douglas pine,” but I do know of a “Douglas fir.” The firs produce flat needles (won’t roll between your fingers), while the spruces produce square needles (will roll between your fingers).
Thanks Native American Indian Dude for all of your knowledge
Thank you for sharing. I truly enjoyed this article.
is it true the only real cedar tress are in cedars of Lebanon park in Tennesee and the juniper tree is called a cedar tree
isn’t true the only real cedar tree is in Tennesee at the cedars of Lebanon state park and people mistake the Juniper tree as the Cedar tree
Hi there, I’m working on a children’s story and I need a picture of a tree to inspire me. Can you please tell me what type of tree is shown in the photograph on your cover page.
Thank-you, Jennifer
Okay, you say “red oak” and “white oak”–that’s specific enough, but then you got on to talk about “pine” and then refer to “spruce” needles. Are you just using “pine” generically to mean “conifer/evergreen”? Or are there specific types of pine (white, jack, etc.) that are better than others?
Nick. You are a true Quester and Wisdom Keeper! Keep on exploring the truth in the trees. Fellow tree hugger. Robert
Great article, thx. I’m writing a book that includes certain Native American references and can’t seem to find a native word or term for the white oak tree. Anybody? Thank you
Where is the oak tree? I would love to visit it.
Dear Heart: what a blessing to learn such beautiful Tree Knowledge. Thank you and thank you, Dennis Martinez, for sharing this wisdom. Trees are so sacred, so wise.
All Love,
Padme Atea
How I wish you could record on video , one of those forest walks where trees are pointed out and their uses would be discussed.
What information do you have on the willow oak.
The O’odham nation is just over a mountain range from me here in Arizona, along the Mexican border. How did Dennis end up in the PNW?
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION
Hi Nick,
Is there a herb that would help my COPD…Thankyou..
I look forward each day to read what Nick has written. I’m an 85 yr young woman divorced and lived my life as a vegetarian. I believe in oils. Anything that is mentioned in the Bible, as far as I’m concerned, is good for the body.
Thank you, Nick and Dennis! These days I just can’t get enough of learning about tree wisdom, so thank you for sharing. Not long ago I was listening to the Feed Your Wild podcast with Vanessa Rodriguez who was in conversation with Laural Virtues Wauters. It almost knocked me off my chair when Laural said that the etymology of the word “god” is “the sound of the wind in the trees”! 🙂 I believe an Oak was involved in the original telling of this story. Anyway, isn’t that wonderful? God is Nature. Nature is God. We are Nature.
I have always loved trees. When I was a child and living near the Welland ship canal in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, lots of poplar trees had been planted, 3 rows deep, along the canal bank. One day I saw that the trees closest to the canal were all being removed. I was so upset that I went home crying. My Mom scolded me for crying.
Thank you for sharing. This information is wonderful. Makes me think about how wonderful it would be to have a treehouse.
Trees are very grounding, and can help us connect with Mother Earth .
Simply sit or stand at the base of the tree of your choice , with your spine leaning against the tree, intend and ask the tree for it’s help.
Allow the tree to absorb any unbalanced energy, draw it down in to it’s root system, then ask Gaia to transmute this energy, and clear your auric field.
It works ! 😊
Great story on the trees. Tree of Life great motif found in many cultures all around the world. Touba Senegal and the tree of life story there is very unique see book by Eric Ross “Sufi City”.
Very interesting are some people making supplements out of these ideas?
I think that the ponderosa pine tree is the only pine that can’t be consumed.
It lightened my heart to see your photo of the majestic Oak Tree! Continued success in your work, your spirit lightens so many.
Nick,
I am wondering if you know of any books that share all the trees that can be infused into oils to make medicinal oils? I really want one source or just a couple sites, people who know and or books I can find the tree oil lists in. I just made cottonwood/balm of Gilead this weekend and don’t want to miss any of the spring growth of trees that I can infuse here in the Pacific Northwest.
Thanks
“Olive leaf” healing.
“Hawthorne Extract” blood pressure.
“Saw Palmetto” prostate, hair & fingernail growth.
Nick, YOU are Awesome!!!!!!! Thank you so much for such wonderful important sharings! I love love love that ancient tree at the top of this article. Do you know any way I could get a color picture of it to blow up?
Thank you for all you do for all of us!!!!!! Judy Blankenship (hmjb10@bellsouth.net)
great artic;e I make pine needle tincture and will now try the oak trees
Amazing Nick, is it possible to get the guide to prepare acorns ? ❤️
Thanks for posting . I like to learn more about ancient medicine .
I too call trees my “brothers and sisters” depending on the tree. Ancient wisdom keepers so willing to share that wisdom. In 2005-2008, on a Mesa in Taos, NM began planting native trees. I was 56 at the time. By hand, each tree had its own dripper. People would stop and ask me what I was doing, shake their head, drive away. Some understood. 1400 trees hand cared for. I LOVE them, I miss them. I know they continue to nourish our planet.
Additional wonderful author and read is Diana Beresford-Kroeger ‘To Speak for the Trees’. She is also a botanist, medical biochemist, and advocating for a global bioplan, highlighting ‘shy trees matter.’
Thank you for this information. I relish learning about the medicinal uses of plants. I’ve made tinctures to cure my pets. I will treasure this information.
Sending Love and Light
Lovely recipes. Thank you. 😊
I had read somewhere else about pine needles protecting people from the Spanish flu. I did a little research and found that they are rich in antiviral compounds as well as vitamins. Pine needle tea is delicious. I had been drinking it off and on for years and daily since the present pandemic began. I have stayed healthy, not even a cold or flu. Of course, I take other precautions against COVID as well.
Want to read about an Ojibwa Indian cure for cancer, using tree bark and a few other locally grown weeds? Pick up a copy of Clinic of Hope the Rene Caisse story….otherwise known as Canada”s cancer nurse.
Yes, called Essiac Tea (inverse of Caisse). This forward-thinking nurse learned of indigenous remedies to help with this condition. Herbs used are Burdock root, Kelp, Sheep sorrel, Red clover, Slipper elm bark, Turkish rhubarb root, and Watercress.
Yes thanks very much great article, keep up the good work !
I enjoyed reading about trees.I am a spiritualist and love to hug trees ,if you connect with them and put your ear on the trunk you will hear it’s heartbeat.Years ago when I had moved from a deeply spiritual place where I was connected to nature ,feeling the beauty and joy of Mother Earth daily I felt cut off and that’s when I found my woods.I would walk my dog every day to the wood ,hug my trees give them Reiki ,see the sun twinkling through branches in the breeze and just be.After a while as I stepped into the woods I felt its energy wrap itself around me just like stepping into a church ,I found peace and joy ,then one day as I walked amongst the trees and flowers I saw the whole floor of the wood covered in tiny purple balls of energy ,the elementals I feel so blessed and privileged for this phenomena that I will never forget.
i hope you’ll do something on all the nutbearing trees in the “americas” or on all continents, for that matter.
Hi Nick,
I just read your email about trees, particularly interested in the needles. I am spritually very drawn to trees. I have a progressive form of Leukemia which has both dysplastic and proliferative features. I want to utilize the power of trees to help me beat back this Cancer. I am also on a micro chemo protocol. If any tree products or other natural products can help me, please advise.
At first view I recognised the Angel Oak near Charleston South Carolina. I is truly the sacred tree.
Thank you Nick for sharing your knowledge on the medicinal healing properties of trees & their leaves. I have experienced healing by boiling the leaves of a guava tree & drank the boiled water as a tea stopped symptoms of diarrhea.
Thank you, Nick. The tree in the photo, Quercus virginiana (aka Live Oak), is on Johns Island in SC and is named the Angel Oak. I used to visit it often for wisdom and inspiration.
Thank you Nick. Your article reminds me of many things my Elders shared and taught me.
There are sacred places in the mountains, valleys, coasts, deserts all over Mother Earth, who is a sacred alive living conscious celestial planet being. When I was young my Elders would say to me “this is the only place in the world that this medicine grows” and then share how to live in good relationship. As an adult I have been invited to visit other sacred places, and found the same medicine growing. These “sacred places” are worlds within this world. I have come to learn that some medicines grow in many places in the world and some only grow in specific regions or hemispheres of Mother Earth. The reasons for the teaching of “only place in the world” is because the potency, smell, taste and personality of a medicine is relational to the particular world (ecosystem and region) the medicine lives and grows – like human beings – each unique, yet of one human family and because yes, there are some medicines that only grow in the north or central, or southern regions of Mother Earth and she placed them there for specific reasons.
Another reason my Elders said “only place in the world” and taught about living in good relation, is to learn respect and good relationship with the medicine’s whole interconnected world.
One of my grandmothers had good relationship with many many different Tree, plant, animal and mineral people – I never counted all the many little and big different pouches, bags, bowls and containers she had in her apothecary. She said “to take good care of your family, all you really need is about 13 moons of good relations that live within your sacred world”.
Today I remember whole worlds that are no longer there, that have been gobbled up, paved over, over harvested or turned into a govt park or recreational resort. Elders remind us to protect Mother Earth’s many sacred sites. Sacred sites or worlds are like “organs and systems” of Mother Earth’s nature body. They are an interconnected web of life, interconnected to our DNA, nervous system, blood, organs, intelligence, energy, feelings and spiritual Nature. Trees of Life at the center of the Hoop of Life is relational to it’s sacred place and world.
Hi everyone,i believe the healing power of plants i grow up with my aunt in a very remote area and saw different kinds of her potted plants and each of those plants has it’s use in different kinds of illnesses,i was only in my elementary that time when there is pandemic of flu but my aunt just toke leaves from her plants and use it as medicine effective though,i think we just need more info how to use it and how to apply it to our body,simple,using right herb according to it’s usage.
There is scientific evidence to support the use of pine needles for flu and coronaviruses. They contain shikimic acid, an ingredient in Thera Flu. Most conifers are edible, including pine, fir, and spruce, but ponderosa pine, yew, Norfolk, and Australian pine are poisonous. Drink pine tea every day and stay healthy.
The Indians used white oaks to make flour not red ones, because the acorns contain a lot of tannin and they are too bitter to use except in times where that was all you had.
it’s so annoying when people throw “pine” around like every conifer is a pine. It always leaves me wondering , “Do you mean ‘a needly conifer,’ or do you mean PINUS nnnn?”
The oldest tribe on the planet- Trees
“He explained that all acorns are edible and delicious when prepared the right way.”
Please specify what is “the right way”?
“They were planning on grinding these up into a nutrient dense acorn flour and making bread from it. ”
Please specify the steps in making the “acorn flour”. Thanks.
Love it
Thank you to you both for this generous share. I imagine alot now already, but we use macerated young pine needles and sugar to make pine honey, that can be put in hot water as an expectorant or throat soothing remedy.
Most of the modern so called medicines come from plants .The curative elements ,once determined, once determined and extracted were then chemically manufactured most of the time ,not taking into consideration the synergistic curative value of the whole plant .
Thank you Nick, for bringing out the old knowledge of the plant and tree medicines that were so heavily relied upon by our ancestors.
I have spent the last couple 3 decades in the Klamath River basin in The Siskiyou mountains mountains.
There are indeed many medicinal secrets hidden in these beautiful and rugged lands
I have learned of some of these from my Karuk elders.
Not about medicine, just my 6 year old great grandson, who out of the blue said this as we we’re dropping him off at school. “Grandma, don’t you just love trees”, I said “yes”. He said “i just want to hug them all and don’t want them to be cut down”. I guess maybe it was medicine, for my heart and soul.
Dear Nick
It would be helpful indeed if you gave the botanical names for these trees. That way there’s less to no confusion for foreign people.
Thanks, Andrea.
Hi Nick, Thank you for all the wonderful posts. Healing and Wise.
I need too detoins my body I,80 yrs old thank you,GOD BLESS YOU!!
I need too detoins my body I, am 80 yrs old thank you,GOD BLESS YOU!!
Love the tree article
That magnificent tree at the top of your post looks like a live oak that grows in Central Park in New Orleans. Am I correct? And thank you for that great info!
Thank you – Beautiful… The trees are our allies – Hopefully we can be theirs too.
Retired but a career fixing the unsustainable problems created by applying my own approach to his wisdom you pass the knowledge to those that never allow money or self interest to drive the agenda. But give them the ability to become part of the solution. As money & self interest always end like the Titanic or the reason we have lost. Most of our fish. So may I ad to look after burns, small cuts, scrapes. Grow an Alvaro planet. Best and most affordable clear bandage going. Easy to grow & maintain& give as a gift to those you think have open mines the nature medicine.
Great info. I live in the Pacific Northwest. I know people who’ve made bread and flour from our native white oaks. However, I have read that the most common pine tree here, the Ponderosa pine, has needles that are poisonous.
YES!
YOU HAVE IT RIGHT!
DR.GEM, N
D. CRA SAVANT.
Trees have been with me since childhood. I hug them and it gives a lot of strength. They are living organisms and need to be treated with huge respect as they connect both to heaven and earth and send soothing whispers through their leaves, barks and roots. The spiritual impact they are giving are an abundance of wisdom just by staying close to them.
Forest bathing is awesome or as the Japanese says -Shinrin Yoku
The Angel Oak, John’s Island close to Charleston S.C.
I have a family picture from the 60’s, before the fence went up. We sat on the branches.
Good memory. Thank you.
Thank you for this valuable information. I live in the area of Mobile AL, “the city under the trees”. Most of those trees are oaks and pine. I have always wondered what to do with all those acorns that the squirrels don’t eat.
Great!
Not all Pines are beneficial. Ponderosa pine needles are toxic. Its mostly the White Pine tree that can be used for infusions. Being more specific would be helpful.
Beautiful medicine and stories, thank you — !
Grazie infinite per queste preziose informazioni . Anche io amo la natura e gli animali ,e da sempre ho la passione per le erbe e le uso per curarmi .