Will I Survive This Pine Needle Tea? Ponderosa Pine Description, ID, Uses, and Thoughts on Toxicity

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Ponderosa Pine - Pinus Ponderosa
Ponderosa Pine tea is described by many people as being potentially toxic, but is it? Some studies have been done showing it has led to pregnant cows aborting calves. There is also a ling history of Ponderosa Pine use by indigenous groups where it grows, and it has a bunch of medicinal uses. In this video I demonstrate making tea and a decoction from the pine needles, and I describe why I think some of the claims of danger might not be relevant to moderate human consumption.
Toxicity Warning
Some sources indicate that large amounts of pine tea can be toxic. Extended use may irritate the kidneys. Pregnant cows that eat ponderosa pine needles may abort their calves. Pregnant women should not drink Ponderosa Pine needle tea.Please consult a local expert or a medical professional before consuming!
Ponderosa Pine, also known as Yellow Pine, Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, and Rock Pine, is a large conifer tree. Its scientific name is Pinus ponderosa. It grows to a height of 15 to 30 m with a straight trunk that can have a diameter 1 to 1.5 m thick.
Bark
The bark is orange-brown to cinnamon colour with deep fissures and jigsaw-like plates. The bark is very thick and is fire-resistant.
Leaves
The leaves are evergreen needles which are the longest of all conifers in BC. The needles grown at the ends of branches typically in bunches of three and are 10 to 20 cm long.
Cones
The cones are broadly conical and 8 to 14 cm long. There is a firm prickle at the end of the thick scales. The cones can stay intact on the branches until a fire of sufficient heat causes the scales to release the seeds to allow for new plants to grow following a fire.
Distribution
Ponderosa Pine trees form open forests in hot and dry valleys and at low to mid elevations. Ponderosa Pine grow in grasslands and on open dry slopes.
Ponderosa Pine is very tolerant of high temperatures and droughts and are shade intolerant. Mature trees are fire resistant. Ponderosa Pine are found in Southern BC, Canada, and south into Washington, Oregon, and as far south as California. They live throughout the Pacific Northwest mainly east of the Cascade Mountains, but there are some to the west of the Cascades. They can also be found in Southern Alberta.
Mature trees are fire resistant because of the thick bark and self pruning traits in which lower branches fall off. A fire that may occur in a Ponderosa Pine forest may burn along the ground but may not reach the canopy allowing mature trees to survive the fire and creating an opportunity for new growth to begin.
Fire suppression activities have led to Douglas-Fir, which is more shade tolerant, to gain a competitive advantage over Ponderosa Pine.
Food
The inner bark, cambium, is edible. Oil-rich seeds are edible. Needles can be used to make tea which is rich in Vitamin A and C.
The cambium can be eaten fresh or cooked. The seeds are edible but are time consuming to collect.
Medicine
The Ponderosa Pine needle tea breaks up phlegm, opens the sinuses, and increases secretions to help clear the lungs. It is also rich in Vitamin A and C. Some sources indicate that Ponderosa Pine needle tea is the most potentially toxic pine tea, and pregnant women should not drink this tea.
Chewing pitch was used to help the lungs with respiratory infections, coughing, and sore throats. The resin and pitch can be used for various skin ailments, and the pitch was chewed like gum.
Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!
References
Kloos, Scott. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Inc. 2017
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
Parish, R.; Coupe, R.; and Lloyd, D. Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. 2018
Turner, N. J. Food Plants of Interior First Peoples. Royal BC Museum. 2007
Wiles, Briana. Mountain States Medicinal Plants. Timber Press Inc. 2018.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I know if you do a Google search, you will likely find lots of people saying ponderosa pine is toxic. If you'd like to see some other sources that describe safe and healthy edible and medicinal uses, please check the description.

[@Seek_Him]

I love your humor! Great Video! I did see a study showing that pine needle tea was good for the spike protein the whole world 🌎 is experiencing 😳 😅 😫 😐 I've got some in my tea collection right now... hope it don't kill me...😅🤣😂🤣😅

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I'd like to hear more about pine needle tea being good for the spike protein situation. I think the world could use some help! I'm still here today after having more of the tea all week!

[@logan_black]

Extremely good point! The main difference between poison and medicine is the dosage. And the problem with some people is that they assume that if it's natural you can eat as much as you want. 😅

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I think a lot of topics are discussed in binary ways, and more nuance would be very beneficial.

[@logan_black]

​@@OkanaganGardenerandForager Yes, unfortunately, some people don't try to understand what other people are trying to say, they just get angry for no reason. ;-)

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@logan_black yes, I've noticed that!

[@user-cr7ec6tp5m]

Made and drank tea made with ponderosa pine and i survived too! 😊

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Haha! Awesome!

[@lisapatterson9297]

I made a "bath tea" using the needles, epsom salt, oatmeal, and essential oil of pine. It was very relaxing and so far I'm still here!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That sounds good. Thank you!

[@moosesteak9150]

I often use ponderosa pine needle clusters as stir sticks for Mushroom coffee or for fishing out tea bags from my tea and then I squish up the needles and chuck them into my tea or coffee. It lends a slight pineyness to whatever I am drinking without being overwhelming.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That's a good idea! Thanks!

[@emmalee478]

I'm sure glad I'm not a pregnant cow so I can enjoy this tea!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Haha! Yes, me too! Thank you!

[@melodydawn]

This knowledge is being eraced for Holistic Purposes. We all should have been taught this long ago, just like the wild Plant Mullin, for Expecorant, and Indian Tea, Squa Tea, is very delicious and is called Settlers tea, that is green and has a pine needle look, it's absolutely delicious. Making some pine tree tea tonight, thanks man appreciate it.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I agree! Thank you, too!

[@ssserotonin1373]

Love it. So yummy and I mix it with Chaga + elderberry syrup. I think it actually makes my health really good.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That sounds good! Thank you!

[@ssserotonin1373]

Will say not to do it every day if you do it for like a week though just space it out and feel how you react 🌞🤲

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

@@ssserotonin1373 good points! Thank you!

[@carriedolha788]

Any chance we can meet up sometime? I'm an Indigenous woman in Ashton Creek focusing on our Traditional Medicines.....would love to chat and learn from each other.

[@zalseon4746]

Tried it out, had an almost fruity smell when it was brewin', came out on the redder side, but it tastes pretty damn good actually

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Awesome! I guess we've both survived so far! Thank you!

[@jkt3D]

Thank you for sharing :) I love ponderosa pine needle tea

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

You're welcome! Thank you, too! It's pretty good, right?

[@scottrsr33]

I made a tea using those needles. Lets see how i go. I would have preferred the white pine just so i am not so paranoid 😅

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I'm still here to this day! I think just don't overdo it. Good luck!

[@PreppingWithSarge]

Thanks for the info!!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you, too!

[@tracycouture3955]

Thank you, I don't have any around me. But I look forward to trying a nice cup of ponderosa pine tea 🙏🇨🇦🥰

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you, too!

[@carriedolha788]

Love it BTW

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@bobbipierce3679]

Looks like I need to try the decoction I might like that better.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I thought it had way more flavour. Thank you!

[@juliehollman]

Funny and good info

[@melodydawn]

Need some lemon with it, and a shot of Jack, you deserve a follow :) 100%

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I appreciate it, and that sounds delicious!

[@Pixics]

Even if people don't consume the pine needles, I find they make really good tinder

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! I agree!

[@adventureswithdaylan7161]

I've had ponderosa pine needle tea before it tastes great I even chew on the needles every now and then for a snack I haven't had any problems. I would be curious to know what the vitamin c content is in it though compared to other types of pine needles. I've had big sagebrush tea too and that has conflicting opinions as well Some say it's edible some say it's not. It's good to be cautious though when testing edible plants some people might have allergic reactions to them. Thanks for sharing I always enjoy your knowledge and insight. By the way I found this really neat app for your phone called picture this probably one of the best plant identification apps I have ever seen. It's helped me out a lot.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you so much! Great comment! I also wonder about the level of vitamin C compared to others, and I also think it tastes great! I haven't tried that app, but maybe I should give it a shot.

[@carboncut_canada]

Arborists have to separate ponderosa pine material and not compost it around cows in the various Okanagan areas. Buckley's Original formula uses pine. There are a variety of plants that will have specific uterine systems relationships, the main caution would be if you are managing fertility much like pennyroyal tea risk factors for humans. The pitch is what we want you to harvest with deer antler in the springtime and show us how that goes.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That's really interesting! What are pitch and deer antler used for?

[@jessegreywolf]

you will get a lot more vitamin c from pine needle if you dont boil it. Vitamin c is destroyed by heat. you can also add rose hips to increase vitamin c

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Good tip! Thank you!

[@whisper8742]

So... What about yellow pine essential oil???

[@lisapatterson9297]

What is your thought on burning the sap as a resin?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I haven't tried it myself, but it sounds like it would at least smell great! Sorry, I don't know much else about that.

[@sunfish87]

I just drank pandarosa pine tea. I'll let you guys know if I die

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I hope you survived!

[@sunfish87]

I did. I made and drank it in hope that it would relieve me of my flu symptoms. Within a couple hours of drinking it, I was remarkably relieved and grateful. Good stuff.

[@VashStarwind]

I can only imagine how many pine needles a cow can eat in a day ha. Probably a few pounds of them at least lol. Im sure this would be just fine if you had scurvy and needed some vitamin c in a pinch. ha.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yes, I agree! Thank you!

[@carolynlouise6566]

❤

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thanks!

[@user-kz8mr1xu2u]

I think that is terrible that you made tea from a ponderosa pine instead of a southern yellow pine. Do you think any pine would have the same benefits? I am just getting into foraging. Plants don't scare me as much as pharmaceuticals. Enjoy your videos.

[@susanbigknife]

Could it be the orange juice of the forest?

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Oh, I like that description! Thank you!

[@Pixics]

I guess you have to be careful with the advice you give out, people are real touchy about it online. Good to know that it's toxic though.

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Yes, I agree. People definitely can be, and I hope we can all get along. Thank you!