We’ve all heard of scurvy and know the disease that causes spotty skin, spongy gums, bleeding and death can be prevented by consuming Vitamin C regularly.  What do you do once your stockpile runs out?  If you live in a climate that supports citrus, your concern is mild - but what about those of us living in colder climates?

Native North Americans didn’t suffer from scurvy although their diet consisted largely of wild game and corn.  The reason is they regularly consumed pine tree bark and pine needle tea.  Pine nuts are not the only useful part of the pine.  Fresh green needles, steeped in boiling water for a few minutes make a tea that contains 8 times as much ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) as orange juice.  Pine is an astringent, antiseptic and expectorant.

Native Americans also consumed the soft, white inner bark found under the woody outer layer of bark on the tree.  It can be eaten raw, in slices or dried and ground up into a flour.

The more I learn about the benefits of pine trees, the more I realize how lucky we are here in North America where pine is plentiful in almost every climate zone.  Next time I feel a cold coming on I plan on trying a cup of pine tea.