Nux Pinea, Pine nuts

Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

Pine nuts in the shell (Adam, 2017)

Uses:

1. Benefits the Lungs, Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:

-Cough, Hoarseness, Asthma, and Tuberculosis associated with Lung deficiency.
-“those that spit filthy matter”; Hemoptysis.
-“general debility with shortness of Breath”. (Da Ming)
-“Used in cases of putrid humours in Lungs, Pus, Hemorrhage and Cough”. (Avicenna)

2. Tonifies the Qi, Benefits the Yin:

-weakness, fatigue, chronic deficiency, wasting associated with Qi and Yin deficiency.
-various chronic disorders, and disorders of the elderly.
-promotes Venery, nourishes Sperm; “taken frequently with dried fruits, are believed to stimulate the sexual desire“. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“II is a fattening drug”. (Avicenna)
-“Pine nuts are very beneficial to those whose natural strength and spirit are weakened in disease, or are consumed”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-“They increase Blood”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
-it is a general tonic. (Da Ming)
-“long term use makes one feel happy and vigorous and able to enjoy a long life”. (Li Xun)

3. Moistens the Intestines:

-Constipation in the young, old, weak or Yin deficient.
-Also useful for Hemorrhoids.

4. Strengthens Kidneys, Clears Wind and Damp, Promotes Urine:

-Strangury, Dysuria, sharpness of Urine
-Ulcers of the Kidneys
-Arthritis and Rheumatism.
-treats Arthralgia from invading Wind. (Da Ming)

5. Resists Poison:

-Poison of Henbane (taken with Wine)

Main Combinations:

1. Cough and Wheezing:
i. Pine nuts with Starch, Gum Arabic, Tragacanth, Poppy seed (as in Troches for Cough of Andromachus)
ii. Pine nuts with Bitter Almonds, Dates, Tragacanth, Licorice, Maidenhair and Orris (as in Electuary of Pine Nuts)
iii. Pine nuts with Almond, Tragacanth, Hyssop, Cinnamon, Licorice (as in Tragacanth Warming Powder)
iv. Cold-Phlegm Cough, Pine nuts with Myrrh, Saffron, Quince seed, Aniseed, Sweet and Bitter Almond, White Poppy seed, Licorice juice (as in Pills for Cold and Moist Cough of Paulus)
v. persistent Coughs, Tuberculosis, Pine nuts ground and boiled in Grape Syrup. (Dioscorides)
2. Wheezing, Difficulty Breathing. “Pine nuts, boiled and crushed until soft … taken in chicken broth, it is very beneficial for many diseases, but especially for Wheezing and difficulty Breathing”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
3, Asthma:
i. Pine nuts with Raisin, Sweet Almond, Date, Licorice, Ginger, Tragacanth, Frankincense, Mastic (as in Antidotum Asthmaticus of Nicholas)
4. To cleanse the Lungs, Pine nuts, Bitter Almond, Licorice juice, form an Electuary with Honey.
5. Coughing up Pus, Pine nuts (2 oz.), Flax seed roasted (1 oz.), Sweet Almonds (1 oz.), Black Pepper (½ oz.), Honey, sufficient to form a linctus. (Syrian “Book of Medicine“, trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913)
6. Phthisis: “Whole Pine nuts plucked from the tree, freshly crushed and decocted in raisins, are adapted to old Cough with Fever, which they call Phthisis, as three cups of the decoction are drunk daily”, Dorsetn, 1540)
7. Obstructed Urine, Heat of the Urine, Burning Urine:
i. “drunk with Raisins and Cucumber seeds, will stimulate the Urine”. (Dorsetn, 1540)
ii. Pine nuts with Grape syrup and Cucumber seed (Dioscorides)
8. To strengthen the Kidneys:
i. Pine nut, Pistachio, Date, Orchis root
ii. Pine nut, Asparagus Tian Men Dong
9. To increase Semen and promote Sexual desire:
i. Pine nuts, Sesame seed Sugar Candy, Honey. (Avicenna)
ii. Pine nut, Pistachio, Date, Red and White Behen
iii. Pine nuts with Orchis, Parsnip root, Sea Holly root, Pistachio nut, Clove and Rocket seed (as in Electuary of Orchid (Diasatyrion) of Nicholas)
10. Kidney Ulcers, Pine nuts, Rose, Poppy seed (equal parts). Beat them, make a ball as big as a Walnut and mix in 2 parts of Wine and 3 parts Water and give to drink. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
11. Gnawing pains in the Stomach, Pine nuts are taken with Purslane juice. (Dioscorides)
12. Constipation from deficiency:
i. Pine nut, Figs, Dates
ii. Pine nuts, Platycladus Bai Zi Ren (TCM)

Major Formulas:

Tragacanth Warming Powder (Pulvis Diatragacanth Calidii) (Nicholas)
Powder of Optimal Nutrition (Nicholas)
Troches for Cough (Andromachus)
Troches of Winter Cherry (Unani)
Troches of Winter Cherry (Trochisci Alkekengi) (Mesue)
Electuary of Pine Nuts (Looch de Pino) (Mesue)
Electuary For Spitting Blood (Wirtzung)
Electuary of Fruit Kernels (Rhazes)
Electuary of Ginger (Dia Zingiber) (Nicholas)
Electuary of Calamus (Diacorum) (Mesue)
Electuary for the Lungs (Lemery)
Lohoch of Poppy (Lohoc de Papavere)
Sugar Penid (Diapenidon Frigidum) (Nichoals)
Sugar Penid with Spices (Diapenidon Compositum) (Nicholas)
Antidotum Asthmaticus (Nicholas)
Pills for Cold and Moist Cough of Paulus