Pine buds

Pine buds have long been used for culinary purposes and can be used as they are in salads, combined with vegetables or cooked - baked in bread and meat.

Pine buds are often used for their nutritional value. 100 g of dried pine seeds provide a high calorie intake of around 670 kcal, but are also high in protein (14%) and essential fatty acids (68%). In addition to the above, pine nuts are an important source of micronutrients such as magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, copper, vitamin E, vitamin K and B vitamins.

In Italian cuisine, pine nuts are also known as pinoli and are an essential ingredient in pesto sauce. Pine buds can also be used to make cakes and biscuits.

For medicinal purposes, pine buds can be used as they are, but they are also available in the form of pine bud teas, pine bud tinctures and pine bud syrup.

Pine buds are used to prevent certain cardiovascular diseases by helping to maintain normal cholesterol levels. If you suffer from mixed dyslipidaemia, hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridaemia, it is recommended that you seek medical advice and continue your lipid-lowering treatment if recommended.

Pine bud syrup - Available alone or in combination with other ingredients such as fir buds, it can be administered in certain respiratory conditions to reduce coughing and promote expectoration. These preparations can be administered to both adults and children, but it is best to read the label of each product carefully.

Pine bud tea - This preparation contains pine buds. To prepare the tea, it is recommended to use 200-250 ml of boiling water and add one teaspoon of pine buds. Wait 10-15 minutes, then strain the water to remove the pine buds. The resulting product can be sweetened with honey, sugar or any other sweetener. Pine bud tea can be consumed two to three times a day to reduce coughing in certain acute inflammatory respiratory conditions, but also as a diuretic in certain kidney conditions such as pyelitis or urethritis.

Pine bud tincture - Pine bud tincture contains pine bud extract and ethyl alcohol in varying concentrations. In certain cases, the hydroalcoholic form is preferred due to its high absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Pine bud tincture is used in certain respiratory conditions (cough, bronchitis), urinary tract conditions (cystitis, urethritis, pyelitis) and can also be used as a nasal decongestant. Used externally, pine bud tincture can have a calming, anti-irritant and soothing effect, but it can also be used to reduce the unsightly appearance of scars. However, pine bud tincture is contraindicated for people with known kidney, liver (especially alcoholic cirrhosis) or chronic heart conditions due to its alcohol content. It is also contraindicated during pregnancy, breastfeeding and for children under the age of 18.

To find out which form of pine buds (tea, tincture, syrup) may be beneficial for your health and whether or not you can use this dietary supplement, it is recommended that you seek medical advice before use.