Pine Pollen: Ancient Medicine for a New Millennium

by Stephen Harrod Buhner, Daniel Vitalis (Foreword)

Although the Western world has been undergoing its greatest herbal renaissance in over a century, the medicinal actions of trees are often overlooked, perhaps none more so than pine. Given the drive for a new herb-of-the-day that will simulate excitement in the general populace (e.g. rhodiola, maca), it is astonishing that pine has been unrecognized for so long. This is particularly perplexing since the pollen of pine trees has been used for millennia in China and Korea as both food and a particularly powerful tonic and adaptogen, especially for the elderly. The fairly recent realization that it is a powerful phytoandrogen (that is, a plant that contains testosterone) has probably done the most to stimulate contemporary interest in the herb. The pollen’s androgenic actions are due to a number of substances, not just the testosterone and other male steroids it possesses. In short, pine pollen is a potent, complex, source of natural androgens, including testosterone, and androgen mimics. It is a great nutritional source, especially of amino acids, vitamins and minerals and is an excellent general tonic for the human body, useful in preventing or alleviating a number of conditions common to aging.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

58 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 7, 2012

About the author

Stephen Harrod Buhner is an Earth poet and the award-winning author of ten books on nature, indigenous cultures, the environment, and herbal medicine. He comes from a long line of healers including Leroy Burney, Surgeon General of the United States under Eisenhower and Kennedy, and Elizabeth Lusterheide, a midwife and herbalist who worked in rural Indiana in the early nineteenth century. The greatest influence on his work, however, has been his great-grandfather C.G. Harrod who primarily used botanical medicines, also in rural Indiana, when he began his work as a physician in 1911.

Stephen's work has appeared or been profiled in publications throughout North America and Europe including Common Boundary, Apotheosis, Shaman's Drum, The New York Times, CNN, and Good Morning America. Stephen lectures yearly throughout the United States on herbal medicine, the sacredness of plants, the intelligence of Nature, and the states of mind necessary for successful habitation of Earth.

Stephen has served as president of the Colorado Association for Healing Practitioners and as a lobbyist on herbal and holistic medicines and education in the Colorado legislature. He lives in New Mexico.

from
http://www.gaianstudies.org/Stephen.html
and

http://www.storey.com/author.php?ID=5...

Reviews

[Elior Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous herbal book by SHB

I have long heard of the phyto-androgen aspect of pine pollen, but did not realize the many other benefits of this plant food. I was unaware of it's ability to lower bad cholesterol while raising good cholesterol levels, not was I aware of the anti-cancer benefits of this plant food. I was also surprised to learn about the typical use of pine pollen for skin conditions and anti-aging. This short book also taught me the difference between the use of the tincture vs powdered pine pollen.

As always, Stephen Harrod Buhner teaches with humor and personal stories along with scientific data, historical information, and an overview of folk knowledge about this plant food/medicine across cultures.

If you are interested in pine pollen at all, as food, medicine, or as a beneficial supplement for your garden, read this.

[Thimón Sahuleka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book does exactly what it wants to do. It informs the reader about pine pollen and their benefits for human health while dropping occasional facts that never fail to blow the readers mind. From trees that light themselves on fire, practical solutions for obscure but prominent health problems (Anorgasmia being one that struck a chord with me specifically), to a scientific in depth explenation of the importance of androgens in the body, this book has it all.

A good,compact and occasionally really funny rerad.
Buhner never fails to dissapoint.
Would recommend.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent monograph on the history of pine pollen, its uses/benefits and the science behind this fascinating gift from nature. Many thanks to Daniel Vitalis and Surthrival.com for reprinting a book that must have had a very small initial printing as it was difficult to find, to say the least. I highly recommend this to anyone seeking to improve their health and add another amazing plant to their foraging/wildcrafting repertoire.

[Ms V A Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informative & well researched read

I loved this book. It is well researched with an excellent reference list. It is also written without too much jargon. Just the right mix of science and stuff

[Beth Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening information

This was an easy read full of useful information. We have many pines on our property and have always dreaded "pollen season". Now, I can't wait for Spring so I can harvest pollen!

[Jonathan Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting little book. Half of it talks about the reproductive processes of pines, and the other the health benefits of their pollen.