You might have just heard it here first, Steemers. Pine tree pollen is an overlooked Superfood that's free, fun to harvest - if you don't have tree pollen allergies - and can boost your testosterone levels naturally.
Pine pollen is a powdery substance which contains the male seeds of the pine tree. Yup, it's tree sperm.
A quick lesson in the birds, bees and pine trees: Pine cones are "female", and the catkins - those nubs that look like mini cat-tails - are "male". The pollen from the male enters the female pine cones, and pine tree babies are made.
Hi, I'm Jennifer Skyler - fiction writer and holistic nutrition nerd.
Finnish pagans have long worshiped the Pine tree as a holy tree, and the Chinese have used pine pollen medicinally and as nutritional sustenance for thousands of years. Pine pollen is a complete protein, has over a 100 enzymes, 30 minerals, 15 vitamins and anti-oxidants - but perhaps its most powerful benefit is that it is a natural source of testosterone & DHEA.
Low testosterone plagues both men and women in our modern world, leading to depression, fatigue, apathy, and lowered sex drive.
DHEA is a natural anti-aging hormone that our bodies stop producing much of after the age of 35. It's also a precursor for the manufacturing of testosterone in the body. (In my holistic nutrition studies, I was instructed that anyone over the age of 35 consider supplementing DHEA for anti-aging and hormone stabilization purposes.)
Unlike taking synthetic steroids, it's healthy and natural to consume plant sterols - our ancestors have done it for thousands of years. Some of the additional benefits of consuming pine pollen are cholesterol reduction, increased immunity, increased metabolism, prostate regulation, and hormonal balancing.
How and When to Harvest Pine Pollen:
Like most plants, Pines pollinate in the Spring. Keep an eye out for when the catkins begin to pollinate - you may even see a fine yellow dust appearing on your car if you park near pines.
You can actually eat the catkins! Before they start pollinating, when they're a little green, peel off the papery stuff and pop them in your mouth. They taste like crisp piney-apples. When they swell, start getting powdery, and soft, it's time to harvest the pollen.
Taking a large ziplock bag, slide it over the catkins, pluck and let the catkins drop into the bag. This ensures the capture of pollen, though be prepared - you will get pollen all over you!
Once home, empty your bag (or bags) into large baking bowls, picking out pine needles, twigs, and bugs. You can use the pine needles to make needle tea. Rescue the bugs, put them back outside.
Take the green catkins and place them in sterilized canning jars, then fill with honey. This is the best way to extract the pollen from the under ripe catkins.
Take the ripe catkins and place them in a sifter over a bowl - continuously tap and shift the catkins until you feel you've released as much pollen as you can from them. To gather all the pollen, you may need to sift the catkins multiple times. Once you've done so, you may want to use a cheese cloth to strain any remaining catkin particles out.
Pour the pollen into a sterilized canning jar, seal it, and store it in your freezer. You can use it in smoothies, or sprinkle it on your food. Use your pine pollen honey in teas, or in apple cider vinegar drinks, and congratulate yourself on your wild-craftiness.
How To Make Pine Pollen Tincture:
To get the the highest potency dose possible of pine pollen, try using a tincture. Here's how to make your own.
Add 2 parts vodka to 1 part pine pollen. Keep it sealed in a sterilized canning jar for at least two weeks - shaking the jar at least once a day. After two weeks, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth, into a glass dropper bottle. Consume 30 drops of tincture in a small amount of water, once a day.
Happy Higher Testosterone, Steemers!
With Love From Portland,
Jennifer Skyler
