Pine trees [songshu] are usually healthy omens. In China, if you have pine trees on property, they are symbols of immortality and your long life. The Chinese god of longevity is often depicted as sitting under a pine tree. If you somehow manage to sip pine juice or sap consistently, it stops you from getting old.
Pine nuts, also called piñón pinoli or pignoli, are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus). They have a lot of calories. One estimate is 900 calories per cup. Chinese folklore recognizes pines as a marker of friendship in problem times. This is because pines hold onto their leaves all year round. An unusual Daoist figure, Wu Chuan is depicted in Chinese art. He is holding pinecones.
A folktale suggests Wu Chuan studied the secret of longevity. While creating this secret, he lived on the pinecones. Wu Chuan finally figured this out and offered the longevity secret to his Emperor. The Emperor turned it down, but other groups adopted it. They became immortal.
Native American tribes used pine oil in ceremonies and for good health. The Mohegans made a white pine tea to ease coughs and colds. The Tewa wrapped pine juice cloth around their throats if they got laryngitis. Various California tribes used pine pitch for rheumatism. Mescalereo Apache concocted a ceremonial drink from the inside bark of the Western yellow pine.
There is an interesting legend on how Native American tribes originated. Apparently once upon a time, all people lived under the earth. Then someone planted a pine seed. A squirrel climbed up the sprout. The squirrel kept chirping, so the seedling kept growing. The below earth people climbed out. They gathered around the growing pine tree. Mockingbird arrived and magically made the earth people into Navaho and many other tribes. This is therefore the origin of today’s Native American tribes.
The Navaho used pine gum to anoint their dead at funerals. They smeared some pine gum on their bodies as a mark of respect. Pine gum is used by Native Americans to keep wounds from getting infected. I have searched for the recipes but so far have not found them. Sorry.
