SPRUCE

Spruce has high concentrations of vitamin C, K, Magnesium, potassium, carotenoids.

The needles of the spruce make a good expectorant cough treatment.
Orally, spruce is used for bronchitis, the common cold, fever, inflammation of the mouth & pharynx, muscular & nerve pain, arthritis, as an antibacterial & for tuberculosis.
Topically, spruce is used for inflammation of the respiratory tract, arthritis pain, nerve pain & for feelings of tension.
It is also used topically as a counter-irritant & to improve circulation & as a bath additive for individuals who are mentally ill.

Spruce contains prebiotic substance that will encourage the growth of good bacteria in your intestinal tract.

When the tree is tapped, the pitch makes an excellent turpentine with powerful healing properties. 
After creaming the skin with a greasy ointment you can apply turpentine against rheumatic pains of joints & muscles. You need to keep an eye on the treated areas to prevent burns.
As an inhalation you can use turpentine against asthma & infectious diseases of the respiratory tract.
Turpentine is also used internally to kill worms & other parasites & it strengthens the production of digestion juices.
The internal use of turpentine is difficult, because the kidneys can be affected from this.
The Burgundy pitch from this tree treats gonorrhea, leukorrhea, bladder infections, scurvy & is great for cleansing the system.
Externally, good for wounds, ulcers & sores. 

When you put a little bit of turpentine in a bath you can strengthen the blood supply & therefore provoke the healing of badly healing wounds.
A turpentine bath can also treat rheumatic pains & gout.
Resins are used as ointments & baths to improve blood circulation in the joints & limb, such therapy is especially recommended for people suffering from rheumatism, joint & back pain.

For bronchitis try a vapor bath of young shoots.
Either the shoots or needles can make calming additive to baths.

Dried spruce needles can be used in herbal medicine as a cold remedy. The needles can be boiled & made into a tea that is high in vitamin C.
A tea using young shoots, taken warm, promotes perspiration, reducing fevers.

PRECAUTIONS:

The turpentine has a burning effect on the skin.
In higher doses it can provoke vesicles & inflammations.
Therefore it is important to be very careful when using turpentine.

The oils & resins of various conifers can be irritating to sensitive kidneys. If you get a lower back pain from consuming too much spruce shoot syrup, slow down.

Don't drink the spruce tea for longer then 3-4 weeks. If you do need another course, then take a break for 7-10 days.

RECIPES:

The leaves & branches are used in making spruce beer & in nonalcoholic beer. The gum is used in incense, perfume, medicinal salves, adhesives, etc.
Fresh shoots can be frozen or dried for later uses as a tea, bath or steam.

Infusion: steep 1-2 tsp shoots in 1 cup hot water for 5-10 minutes.
Sweeten with honey or sugar.

Decoction: add 1/4 cups shoots to 1 l cold water & let stand for several hours. Bring to a boil briefly, then let stand for 15 minutes.
Take 1/2 cup a day.

Bath Additive: add 1 cup strong spruce needle decoction to a full bath.

Tincture:

5-10 parts of vodka
1 part of spruce needles or shoots
Leave to stand in glass jar for a week, shake once every day.
Strain.
Use as a compress for hip rheumatoid arthritis & other rheumatic diseases.

Tea:

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the 1 tbsp of fresh spruce shoots.
Steep for 10-15 min.
Drink 1/2 - 2 cups, warm over the day.

or

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the 1 tbsp of spruce shoots, cover & steep 4-6 h.
Strain & drink in small sips over the day.

Bath for Nervous Exhaustion, Cardiac Enlargement, Leukorrhea:

Boil 2 kg of spruce shoots in 3-4 l water.
Strain into the bath water 34 C.
Soak for 20-30 min.

Cough Syrup: alternate layers of young shoots with layers of sugar.
Fill a glass jar this way right to the top, seal & leave near a sunny window.
The syrup will be ready when all the plant material has broken down.
Strain through a cloth, bottle & store.

Spruce Beer:

2 l fresh spruce tips, packed
4 l water
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 tsp yeast
Simmer spruce tips in water for 1 hour.
Strain out spruce, then stir in sugar & let cool to lukewarm.
Add yeast, let stand 1 hour.
Funnel into sterilized bottles & cap tightly.

Store bottles on their side to encourage sealing.

Spruce tea:

1/2 cup of dried spruce needles
2 cup water
Boil for 20 min.
Leave for 2 h.
Strain.
Add the amount of evaporated water, boiled.
Drink during the day for bronchitis,inflammation of respiratory tract,asthma.
In case of tonsillitis try gargling with this tea.

Spruce Smoothie:

handful of fresh spruce shoots
handful of blueberries
1 banana
5-6 dandelion flowers, yellow bits only
1 cup of apple juice

Spruce Smoothie with Kiwi:

2 handfuls of fresh spruce shoots
3 kiwis
2 bananas
2 cups of pineapple juice
half of the lime, juice

Spruce Smoothie with Strawberries:

handful of fresh spruce shoots
1-2 bananas
1 orange
200 g strawberries
1 cup of fruit juice or coconut milk

Spruce Pesto:

50 g of fresh spruce shoots
25 g hazelnuts
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp Parmesan
4 tbsp olive oil
Blend the spruce shoots, hazelnuts, garlic with little bit of oil.
Add cheese & rest of the oil & blend quickly again.
Delicious & healthy pesto spread for bread, tortillas baked with pesto & cheese on top or mixed into pasta..

MAGIC:

Spruce stores a large amount of energy.
The wood is good for bargaining with Earth elementals as they especially like spruce wood.

It amplifies healing & can calm emotions.

Spruce needles are a perfect addition to your prosperity incense, herb pouch, or even put a few in your wallet or checkbook to draw money to you.

Bundle spruce needles into sachets or herbal pillows to protect against illness.

A staff made of Spruce is excellent when you need direction.

The spirit of the spruce tree holds great knowledge about healing, especially in relation to the metaphysical causes of disease. Spruce's spirit is very protective, gentle & beautiful. Its energies can help you detoxify your system & balance your own energy.
It is not unusual for those who attune to the spirit of spruce to find that there follows an increase in animals within that environment.

Spruce stimulates dreams & provides guidance & focus through those dreams.