Pine cones are used when they are young, with a size of 3-5 centimeters, because with their further maturation they take on a woody shape and lose their healing properties.
Young cones contain essential oils, they're rich in vitamin C, contain healing aromatic resin and a number of antioxidants. They have an alkaline effect. All this makes them an excellent ingredient for preparing a powerful tincture to improve hypothyroidism and to strengthen the immunity, especially in winter.
Tip: Pine needles, young twigs, young cones, resin and bark have healing properties. The needles are used fresh, because drying causes the loss of vitamin C. It is little known that the healing properties of the needles are increased by 80% if the needles are broken or cut into smaller pieces.
There are 2 ways of making the pine cone syrup, alcohol and no alcohol syrup.
INGREDIENTS for alcoholic syrup:
- 1.7 kg of young green cones
- 1 kg of sugar
- 1 liter of grape brandy (rakija)
Preparation:
- Put all the ingredients in a large glass jar to stand in the sun for 40 days.
- Then drain and store in a glass bottle and keep in the fridge on a dark place.
Use 1 tablespoon per day during winter. It's not thick as the non-alcoholic syrup.
Ingredients for NON-ALCOHOLIC syrup for strengthening immunity
- young green cones
- water just to cover them
- sugar in ratio 1:1
- Pour water over your cones (as much as you have) to be covered, and then boil them for 20 minutes in a closed container. Leave to stand for 24 hours.
- The next day add sugar in a ratio of 1: 1 and boil as a plain jam, 30 minutes should be enough. Then drain and store syrup in glass bottles or jars.
- Take one teaspoon of honey three times a day to strengthen the immune system, in any form of cold, angina, flu and respiratory diseases
