MEDICINAL PLANTS

The fir is a large tree that can reach 60 feet high straight trunk and bark relatively smooth, gray, glass pyramid, stays green all year. The branches have ordered by the story straight. The fir has both male and female flowers, but on the same foot. Form plump pineapple, not more than 5 cm. Wide, long and erect on the branches, with the scales that cover the seeds. These cones do not emerge from the tree, as do those of the pines, but break down into the branches after they release mature and pine nuts and flakes, leaving bare the core of the pineapple. It breeds in fir forming most of the Pyrenees, especially in its more northern.

FLOWERING

Flowers in spring and cones mature during the following autumn. Interesting collection of buds, leaves, bark and resins.

APPLICATIONS

The buds out a resin and a core consisting of limonene and pinene. Obtain glycosides from the leaves, and also piceina essence. Cellulose found in the bark, minerals and tannins. And finally in the resin compound have the characteristic of this tree, which is the essence of turpentine: it builds up in lakes or cortical bladders during the spring and autumn, occurring liquid and although viscous, is almost as smooth as oil. Generally turpentine distilling this water vapor at a temperature not too high-you get the essence, and other compounds. The fir turpentine has always enjoyed great fame among the people of the village. It has soothing properties, expectorant and antiseptic for the respiratory and urinary tracts. In external use is rubefacient, that is, applied to the skin red and swollen, exploiting this virtue be applied to it other drugs that penetrate the skin better. We must remember that, being an essence, you must save the necessary precautions for the possible occurrence of irritation and allergies.

ADMINISTRATION

Infusion. Since the buds or leaves.
Tincture. From 10 to 20 drops of the tincture three times daily.
Extracts. You can find both the dry and the fluid, and both have identical operation. Also can be used externally in baths, inhalations, liniments, ointments or plasters.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Abietaceas
HABITAT: Pyrenees
FLOWERING: Spring
PART USED: Buds, leaves, bark and resin
CASTILIAN: Abete
CATALAN: Abet
BASQUE: Izai, zapin

USES

Balsamic Moderate, Antiseptic Moderate, Mild rubefacient.