Medicinal Monday - Multi- Purposed Pine Nuts

As we are in holiday mode with the winter solstice behind us it is always interesting to learn how Native Americans celebrated these cold winter months. According to a recent article in The Smithsonian, the Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico mark the winter solstice as their New Year. It is haamaaha when stories are told and people arrive with piñones or pine nuts to share. The piñones nut comes from the Pinus Edulis tree that has a rich medicinal history. 

About Pinus edulis or Twoneedle Pinyon

The pinyon or pinon tree grows in southwestern North America, primarily in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.  This tree can grow up to 65 feet tall with a tapering trunk up to 24 inches in diameter. The bark is brown-red in color, the needles are bundled in two and the seed cones are ellipsoid in shape and yellowish to red-brown in color.  Seed cones mature in two years and seeds are ellipsoid shaped and brown in color.

Only the seeds of the pinyon pine are known as pine nuts or piñones and only the trees of this genre produce seeds large enough to be a source of food. These nuts have been harvested since about 600 CE but were never a staple food source because harvests occur every two to seven years.

In 1878, the famous naturalist, John Muir reported that Native Americans knocked cones off pinyon trees and stacked them putting brushwood on top and set them on fire. Burning them scorched off the sticky resin coating on the cones and loosened the seeds. Each pinyon cone produces ten to thirty seeds that could be stored for two or three years in pits. 

Medicinal & Ceremonial Uses

In addition to enjoying the nutritional value of the nuts of this tree, it also has a long list of medicinal uses. The pitch was used for skin problems and cuts. The Apache use heated pitch to remove facial hair, the Hvasupao, Hopi, Keres, and Tewa use a poultice of melted gum on small cuts, and the Zuni use powered resin mixed with lard for skin infections. The Apache and the Navajo Ramah burn the needles and inhale the smoke to treat colds. Pulverized dry buds are used to treat earaches. Needles are eaten along with an infusion of twigs by the Zuni and Apache White Mountains to treat venereal disease.

The Hopi applied gum to their foreheads to protect them against sorcery,  the Navajo painted pitch all over their bodies and used the pine needles in a ceremonial "War Dance" and the Navajo Ramah used a decoction of wood and needles as a ceremonial emetic. The Navajo spread pitch on the forehead and under the eyes of people in mourning, and the Hopi of Arizona put pitch on hot coals and used the fumes to smoke people and clothes after a funeral.

Culinary & Practical Uses

Native Americans found ways to use virtually every part of this tree.  The nuts were a valuable food source and were eaten both raw and roasted.  They could be ground into flour and made into cakes, or gruel that was mixed with berries.  The Havasupai of Arizona put pinyon sprigs into cooking pots to improve the taste of meat. Pinyon wood is valuable for house construction because it is resistant to wood-eating beetles. Furniture such as cradles, tools, and toys are made from the wood of this useful tree.

Did You Know

The Pinyon hay takes its name from this tree that forms a very important part of its diet.

The Pinus Edulis is the State Tree of New Mexico.

The children of the Kawaiisu tribe in California wore cracked pine nut shells as ear ornaments.

The pinus edulis pitch was used in making dyes, paints, gluing turquoise jewelry and waterproofing baskets.