Black Spruce
Latin Name: Picea mariana
French Name: Black Spruce
English Name: Black Spruce
Botanical Family Name: Abietaceae or Pinaceae
Origin: Quebec, Canada
Harvest time: January to December
Distilled Parts: Fresh twigs & needles
Organoleptic Characteristics: Fresh twigs & needles
Components: Bornyl acetate, camphene, α-pinene , δ3-carene , β-pinene
Origin
Black Spruce is a majestic conifer ranging in height from of 8 to 25 meters. These trees look after our Canadian forests from coast to coast, because this conifer grows where other species cannot grow. Favoring moist, sandy or peaty soils, this tree covers North America mainly from Canada’s Far North to the edge of the low Arctic tundra, as well as the northeastern United States. Its twigs are rough and its frayed bark is reddish brown when young and darker when mature. Its greyish-green needles are straight and tight along its branches. Its fruit is a small purple cone that changes to light brown. Of the forty varieties of spruce, it is the most resistant to very cold climates. It can withstand up to -60 degree Celsius temperatures according to some studies. Without its biggest enemy, which is fire, this tree could live up to 280 years.
History
Native people have been using many medicinal plants from the boreal forest for thousands of years for healing purposes. This knowledge is generally held as a form of oral tradition. Cree from the woodlands used Black Spruce as an anti-diarrheal medication by making infusions from the cones. At other times the needles and cones were used to treat diabetes. For burns, they made balms from Black Spruce resin and chewed on cones to relieve toothache.
The Montagnais used it to prepare infusions for sore throats and coughs. Amerindian children chewed the resin to keep their teeth white. They attributed powerful anti-scurvy properties to black spruce.
Used mainly to build settlers’ dwellings, the tree was also used to brew spruce beer, made from the needles, cones and molasses. Under the pretext of preventing scurvy, this beverage flowed freely at clergy parties!
In 1772, the English physician, Henry Taylor, discovered a method to extract the essential oil from the spruce and recommended it for respiratory diseases. Dr. Taylor is also the founder of the first distillery in Québec City.
Benefits
Black Spruce essential oil to help your energy metabolism and your body. In synergy with Pine Scots essential oil, it helps the endocrine system. It is welcome from premenopause. Apply a few drops in the morning to the adrenals and lower back to help fight fatigue and fatigue.
Its anti-inflammatory property accompanies you in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of the Achilles tendon, sciatic nerve, sprains and others. Just gently massage a few drops of Black Spruce and Wintergreen mixed with St. John’s Wort oil on the affected area, 2 to 3 times a day for pain in the lower limbs.
Essential oil aromatherapy properties
Physical
- Skin system: anti-inflammatory at the initial stage, brings sedation, relaxation and soothing, antibacterial. Dry acne and eczema, purulent acne, scabies, cutaneous parasitosis
- Digestive system: appetite stimulant, digestive, eupeptic affect, stomachic, intestinal antispasmodic with analgesic action, antifungal, relax solar plexus knots. Systemic yeast infections (candida), anti-parasite (Giardia lambia, hookworms)
- Endocrine system: mimetic cortisone (hypophyso-cortico-adrenal axis and pituitary-ovarian axis) Hot flashes, fatigue of the adrenal glands, asthenia.
- Immune system: aerial antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, adrenal gland tonic. Immunodeficiency.
- Respiratory system: bronchial antispasmodic, pulmonary decongestant, antioxidant, bronchial anti-inflammatory, mycobacterium of tuberculosis, antitussive and expectorant. Bronchitis, cold, sinusitis, cough, asthma.
- Nervous system: relaxing, neurotonic, regulates serotonin (the happiness hormone). Promotes sleep and calms chronic pain.
- Osteo-articular system: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, decongestant.
- Genitourinary system: spasmolytic for knotted pelvic and sacral plexus, inflammatory prostatitis.
Psychic
- Releases serotonin: this has the effect of acting as a natural antidepressant, increasing the feeling of well-being and inner calm and increasing empathy.
- Psycho-tonic
- Anxiolytic
Uses
Intestinal (candida) and cutaneous mycoses, intestinal (hookworm and lambliasis) and cutaneous parasites, acne, psoriasis, eczema, bronchitis, sinusitis, catarrh, asthenia, solar plexus spasm, muscular rheumatism, arthritis, prostatitis (inflammatory), immunodepression.
Contra-indications
Avoid use during the first three months of pregnancy and in cases of thyroid or adrenal disorders; long-term pure topical application may cause redness if the product is oxidized.
References
- Festy Danièle, Ma bible des huiles essentielles, Guide complet d’aromathérapie, Montréal, Éditions Caractère, 2009.
- Site officiel : Ressources naturelles Canada.
- Franchomme, P., Jollois, R,. Pénoël, D., L’aromathérapie exactement, Encyclopédie de l’utilisation thérapeutique des huiles essentielles, fondements, démonstration, illustration et applications d’une science médicale naturelle, Bayeux, Éditions Roger Jollois, 2001. Hydrosols : The Next Aromatherapy, 2001.
- http://www.wikiphyto.org
- Frère Marie-Victorin, Rouleau Ernest, Brouillet Luc et collaborateurs, Flore laurentienne 3e édition, Gaëtan Morin Éditeur ltée, 2002.
- Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 1998.
- Mathieu Jacques, L’annedda, l’arbre de vie, Québec, Les Éditions du Septentrion, Les cahiers du Septentrion, 2009.
- Werner Monica, Von Braunschweig Ruth, L’Aromathérapie, Principes, Indications, Utilisations, Paris, 2007.
- Baudoux Dominique, L’Aromathérapie, Se soigner par les huiles essentielles, Bruxelles, Edition Amyris, Douce Alternative.
- Schafer, D. and W. Schafer (1981). « Pharmacological studies with an ointment containing menthol, camphene and essential oils for broncholytical and secretolytical effects. » Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research 31(1): 82-86.