Pine resin is abundant in coniferous forests. Certain trees secrete this liquid as part of a healing mechanism. You can very easily find it slowly dripping from tree bark cracks and you can also harvest it using a knife.
It’s a viscous, sticky substance that has various uses, especially in survival situations due to its antisepctic and powerful regenerative properties.
The largest amount of resin is produced by pine trees, spruce trees and the Christmas tree.
By using a knife, you will be able to remove the bark away and then collect the resin. Use a bucket to collect the liquid.
Now, let’s see exactly how you can use the pine resin in survival situations:
1. As food
Pine resin is very rich in vitamin C and is edible. This makes it a great survival food. Since it has antiseptic properties, you can also consider it as nature’s toothpaste.
2. As a water proof sealant
Boil the resin and then mix it with rendered animal fats and oak charcoal (or ash) to create a water proof sealant. Apply it on cloth items, boots, house roof, bucket or any other item you might find it necessary. You can also waterproof canoes with this mixture.
3. To stop the bleeding
Injuries can spell disaster in survival situations. If you ever cut yourself by accident, apply some pine resin it on the cut and gently press against it. Hold it in place for an hour or so, and then peel it off. Apart from the fact that it stops the bleeding, it also prevents the germs from infecting the wound, since it has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. It will also help heal the wound much faster.
4. As a powerful adhesive
To make an incredibly powerful glue, boil the pine resin and use it to stick together whatever broken item you are in need of.
5. As an anti-rheumatism ointment
To obtain an effective ointment against rheumatism, use the following ingredients:
- 2-3 tablespoons of pine resin
- 1 tablespoon animal fats (after rendering the fat [i.e., heating up the fat to a simmer until the water in the fat is eliminated and you no longer see bubbles forming up] mix it up with the pine resin and the beeswax, while it is still hot)
- 1 teaspoon beeswax (optional): this will add consistency to the ointment and when applied onto the skin, the beeswax will form a protective barrier, which is particularly useful for the burnt skin; prepare to include it in the anti-rheumatism cream, by heating it up (the beeswax’ melting point is 62 degrees Celsius or 143.6 Fahrenheit).
While it is still hot, mix the fat with the beeswax and the pine resin, then strain the composition (as resin can still contain a few pieces of bark) in a jar and let it cool off. For a complete anti-rheumatism treatment, apply the ointment on the skin for 30 days; it will have the same effect on your skin as the pine resin has on the tree (i.e., help close wounds and restore damaged tissue).
Other Survival Uses
It is also useful in treating bruises, burns, sprains, strains, fractures and even help reduce the pain induced by the foot bunions.
What’s more, it will help you cure the mange, dermatitis and eczema, due to its antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
Moving on to the more tabu part, pine resin can also be used to treat haemorrhoids. The resin can be easily molded into the shape of a suppository. In the middle of nowhere, this composition can really help you solve your health problems. Don’t hesitate to use it.
Caution!
Some people are allergic to this natural medicine, so before attempting to use it for any kind of treatment, apply it to a small area on your skin, as a test. If it starts itching and the skin turns red, it’s most likely you are allergic. In that case, you should avoid it.
It is also good for healing wounds and scrapes to small animals and birds.
we use to place a dab of it on a rock and lite it to burn off somethig, then chew it like gum. It wasn’t bad, must have been healthy!