Pine needles have always been an important part of vibrant health – zoohousenews.com

(Natural News) For hundreds of years, indigenous peoples have used pine needles and various other compounds derived from pine trees to support strong immunity, respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological performance.

Some of the earliest known uses of pine for health date back to 1536, when the Iroquois gave pine bark and needles to Jacques Cartier to treat him and his seriously ill crew. These pine compounds provided the vitamin C that men of the time needed to treat scurvy.

Fast forward to today: Pine needles and tea made from pine needles are gaining prominence among both scientists and physicians working in the health and wellness field.

“Pine needles, particularly those of the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), are known to provide many different compounds and nutrients, including antioxidants, vitamin C, essential oils, amino acids and flavonoids,” writes Lance Schottler for The Epoch Times.

“One of the most intriguing compounds that scientists began discussing again in 2021 is the naturally occurring shikimic acid found in some species of pine — like the eastern white pine.”

(Related: Check out our previous coverage with Jeffrey Prather, who told the Health Ranger all about the health benefits of pine needles and other natural remedies for Covid during the “pandemic.”)

The main active ingredient in Tamiflu comes from pine needles

When it comes to Covid and other forms of influenza and the common cold, pine needles are a powerful but widely overlooked remedy that could have saved countless lives in recent years.

Pine needles are loaded with shikimic acid, which happens to be the main active ingredient in the antiviral drug oseltamivir, also known commercially as Tamiflu.

Tamiflu was promoted during the “pandemic” as a cure for the Chinese virus, while little or no attention was paid to the plants from which its components, particularly shikimic acid, are derived.

Shikimic acid was first discovered by Dutch chemist Johan Fredrik Eykman in 1885 and is also known in biology as the shikimate pathway. This pathway is vital and includes a seven-step pathway used by bacteria, fungi, archaea, algae, some protozoa, and plants for the biosynthesis of vitamins, folates, and the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan.

“These amino acids help in the production of neurotransmitters and compounds like serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine, dopamine, coenzyme Q10, and thyroid hormone — particularly with the help of beneficial gut bacteria,” explains Schuttler.

Another thing shikimic acid does is support healthy platelet and cardiovascular function in humans. It also supports a healthy gut and digestive system while improving the integrity and functionality of the myelin sheath, a fatty substance that surrounds neurons and acts as the “insulation” for all of their electrical communication.

“Shikimic acid is also known to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties, among other important properties,” adds Schuttler.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the chemical contaminants that plague America’s toxic food supply disrupt the shikimate pathway. Various pesticides and herbicides, including Monsanto’s infamous Roundup (glyphosate) herbicide, are enemies of the Shikimat pathway.

“The pesticide produces a number of different deleterious and notable effects, such as inhibition of key cytochrome p450 enzymes and suppression of p53 gene function. This particular gene is loosely referred to by scientists as the ‘guardian of the genome,'” notes Schuttler.

“Regarding the shikimate pathway, glyphosate targets this seven-step process by inhibiting a key enzyme called EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase). If EPSPS is inhibited, the synthesis of the amino acids necessary for the production of proteins is blocked and the plant dies.”

For the latest news on natural remedies like pine needles, visit Cures.news.

Sources for this article are:

EpochTimes.com

zoohousenews.com