Medicinal Monday - the Majestic Ponderosa Pine

This time of year the scent of pine trees is in the air. Ponderosa pine trees were revered by many Native American communities and were used in many ways for building material and medicinal purposes to ceremonial practices depending on the culture of the tribe itself.

About Ponderosa Pine

This tree thrives in a relatively dry climate with rocky soil because of its ability to acquire and conserve water.  The ponderosa pine has deep roots that penetrate the ground to find moisture.  It is found in the western United States and Canada from British Columbia southward through 16 U.S. states. A variety of this tree, scopulorum is found in the Rocky Mountains south to Mexico and west to the Great Plains to Texas.  Interestingly, the thick bark of the ponderosa pine tree is known to be fairly fire resistant and can survive low-intensity fires.

The ponderosa pine is a large coniferous pine (evergreen) that has orange-red bark in broad plates with black crevices when it is mature, younger trees have blackish-brown bark.  There are five subspecies of this tree and it goes by several names in addition to ponderosa pine including bull pine, blackjack pine, pumpkin pine, yellowbellies, and western yellow pine.

Another distinguishing characteristic of this pine tree species is its needles that can be identified by needle length and groupings.  On a mature tree, the needles are 10-28 centimeters long in groups of two or three and encased in a papery sheath. Female cones are large and woody and male cones are orange to yellow in color and found at the tips of the branches in small clusters.  The tree blooms every two years; it flowers April - June in the first year, and in the second year, the cones mature between August and September.

Medicinal Uses

The Nez Perce Native Americans used the green needles for dandruff, the pitch of the pine tree was made into an ointment and used for back pain and rheumatism. The Cheyenne used the pitch of the pine tree to hold hair in place and the gum was used to treat scabby skin and sores. The Flathead made a poultice of pitch and melted animal tallow and used this to treat back pain. The Okanagan-Colville made an infusion of dried buds for an eyewash; they also made a decoction of tops of the needles and used it to treat high fevers.  The Paiute used a poultice of dried chewed pitch to treat boils, and, the Shuswap used the needles and pitch to remove underarm orders.  The Navajo used a compound decoction of needles as a cough medicine and for a bad fever.

Seeds and inner bark were eaten.  Seeds were also crushed and used as a thickener for soup or was made into a meal and used to make bread.  The resin was sometimes chewed as gum to freshen breath.

Ceremonial Uses

 The Navajo removed the cones with seeds as a ceremonial medicine and the needles were used as a ceremonial emetic in "Night Chant" medicine.  Many Native American communities used the boughs of the ponderosa pine in sweat lodges for muscular pain.  The Okanagan-Colville would spread the pine needles on the floor of a sweat-house to fight off witchcraft.

Practical Uses

The bark of the ponderosa pine was used to make baskets and the needles were used to embellish them.  The wood was used to make timber and building material.  The wood of the tree was also used for fires.  A green dye was obtained from the needles and a blue dye was made from the roots. Pitch was obtained from the tree and used for waterproofing and as a wood preservative.  The Diegueno used the bark to make shelters. Single logs were used to make dugout canoes that were hollowed out with fire. This tree was an important building material for many Native American communities.

Did you know...

Fire- seasoned snags of the ponderosa pine provide a habitat for small mammals such as woodpeckers and other cavity-nesting birds.

The ponderosa pine tree was designated as Montana's official state tree in 1949.

Ponderosa Pine is the most widely distributed type of pine tree in the United States.

Ponderosa Pine has been successfully introduced to Europe.

The tallest ponderosa pine tree according to the National Register of Big Trees lists is 268 feet tall and is located in Portland Oregon.

Ponderosa is Latin for "having great weight" and refers to the impressive size of this tree.

About Institute For American Indian Studies

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonquian Village.  Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.