Inner bark - raw or cooked[2, 94, 105, 161, 257]. It can be used fresh or dried. It is mashed into a pulp and made into cakes then baked[94]. Harvested in early spring, the taste is not unpleasant, but it develops a strong taste of turpentine as the season advances[2]. The inner bark is ready to harvest when the male cones are producing pollen[257]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails. Sap - collected in spring and used as a drink[161, 177]. Seed - raw or cooked[257]. A gum is made from the pitch obtained from the trunk. It is allowed to harden and used for chewing[257]. A vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are released from the pulpwood[200].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


Beach pine was widely employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it especially for its antiseptic and healing properties on wounds, infections etc, and also for its beneficial effects upon the chest and lungs[257]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic, rubefacient, vermifuge and vulnerary[4, 257]. It is a valuable remedy when taken internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and can be used both internally and externally in the treatment of rheumatic affections[4, 257]. It is also used in treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints[4, 257]. Externally it is used in the form of liniment plasters and poultices in treating a range of skin complaints, wounds, boils etc[4, 257]. A decoction of the young shoots has been used in the treatment of stomach pains[257]. The young buds have been chewed in the treatment of a sore throat[257]. The inner bark has been eaten as a blood purifier, diuretic and cathartic[257]. A decoction has been used as a tonic and in the treatment of coughs, colds, consumption and gonorrhoea[257].

A tan or green dye is obtained from the needles[168]. The roots have been braided by the N. American Indians to make a rope[226]. The needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of some plants, including wheat[201]. A pitch obtained from this tree is used for waterproofing canoes, baskets, shoes etc and as a glue[64, 99, 226, 257]. It has also been used to preserve wood, baskets etc[257]. The pitch is not a commercially important crop[64]. Oleo-resins are present in the tissues of all species of pines, but these are often not present in sufficient quantity to make their extraction economically worthwhile[64]. The resins are obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood[4, 64]. In general, trees from warmer areas of distribution give the higher yields[64]. Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin[64] and is separated by distillation[4, 64]. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc[4]. Rosin is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc[4]. Pitch can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood preservative etc. Wood - straight but coarse-grained, light, hard, strong, brittle[60, 82]. It varies from light and soft to hard and heavy[229]. Easily worked, it is used for general construction, posts, poles, pulp etc[60, 82, 99, 171, 226, 229]. It makes a good fuel, burning well even when green because it is rich in pitch[99, 226].

Special Uses