11/26/2025
🌲 Winter is the best time to collect pine resin. Once the temperatures drop, it makes the resin hard and easier to break off. Otherwise, it is sticky and gooey, and makes an absolute mess. 😅
🩹 Pine resin is essentially the tree's "Band-Aid. When a tree receives an injury or damage such as a broken branch or gash, it begins to secrete resin, which is a sticky substance that contains antiseptic and antiinflammatory qualities. The resin promotes healing and create a barrier over the injury, protecting the tree from invading bacteria, fungus and insects.
💪 In survival situations, pine resin can be used in the same way, as a waterproof antiseptic band-aid for wounds. Once you harvest it, heat it slightly over a fire or heat source until it becomes pliable. Apply it to the wound and leave it. For a non-emergency situation, pine resin can be harvested then melted down in oil to make salves.
PINE RESIN SALVE
~ 1 cup pine resin (crushed)
~ 1 cup olive oil
~ 1/4 cup beeswax
~ Double boiler
1. Pine resin is extremely hard, so it's recommended to place your chunks in the freezer for a few hours then place them in a ziploc bag and crush them with a hammer. This is going to help melt and disperse it better in the oil. Of course this is optional, but it will make this process easier.
2. Add oil, beeswax and resin to your double boiler and heat on low until the resin and wax have melted completely.
3. Pour into jars and allow it to cool. Use as needed on cuts, scrapes and minor wounds.
✌️ PRO TIP
Sometimes the resin can get stuck on the bottom of the pan. My recommendation is to designate a double boiler for its purpose.
⚠️ SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Pine, spruce and fir trees are good candidates for making remedies with the resin. When used topically, pine resin salve is considered safe. If you have prior health concerns, or your pregnant and nursing, speak to your doctor first.
NOTE: Because the resin is produced when the tree is injured, only harvest from down branches or a freshly injured tree. Do not purposely damage the tree to get the resin, otherwise the last thing you will receive is it's good medicine.
