SPRUCE RESIN AND OTHER INGREDIENTS IN SMREKOVIT PRODUCTS
Author: Matic Konc
SPRUCE RESIN
7000
years ago, the use of spruce resin in folk medicine was proven.
80
different organic compounds constitute spruce resin.
40,000,000
years, the cellular structures of the insect trapped in the spruce resin are preserved.
Spruce resin is a thick liquid product of the spruce tree. It is produced through specialized structures located both inside the trunk and on its surface. Its chemical composition began to be revealed only with the development of spectrometry and chromatography, and the knowledge of the mechanisms by which the trees discharge it, the development of electronic microscopy and its application in botany. It consists of over 80 different organic compounds. Today, we know that the resin of conifers consists of an evaporative part predominantly of monoterpenes (α-pinen, β-pinen, limonene), which play an important role in the defence against insects and pathogens and of the non-evaporative part consisting of ditrepenic acids (abietic acid and others). The mechanisms of the medicinal effects attributed to spruce resin are the result of a combination of substances in the spruce resin. (1)
HISTORY OF THE USE OF SPRUCE RESIN
HIPPOCRATES
Hippocrates is one of the most prominent figures in medicine and has the nickname, "the father of scientific medicine". In his works, he described methods of using spruce resin that were successfully used by doctors until the Middle Ages.
FATHER SIMON AŠIČ
Father Simon Ashič, a famous Slovenian priest and herbalist, also wrote in his works about the effects of spruce resin on muscles, body resistance and skin diseases, rashes and wounds.
IBN SIBA
Ibn Sina was a Persian scholar and is one of the greatest thinkers and doctors of the golden age of Islam. He wrote 450 works. He lived between 980 and 1037. In his works, he also wrote about the healing effects of spruce resin.
NATIVE AMERICANS
Native Americans chewed spruce resin when they had a sore throat and other problems in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. From them, John B. Curtis got the idea and made the first commercial chewing gum from spruce resin in 1848. Native Americans also used preparations from spruce resin to treat cuts and abrasions.
In 5000 B.C., the ancient people of today's Finland enjoyed spruce resin. This was discovered by Finnish archaeologists in 2007. Between 460 and 370 years before Christ, the father of medicine, Hippocrates, described in his works the methods of using spruce resin that were successfully used by doctors until the Middle Ages. (2) The writings of Pliny the Younger, a Roman politician, spokesman and writer, dating from the years 61 to 113 before Christ, also say that the peasant women of ancient Rome do not wear amber necklaces only as ornaments, but as a medicine for increased glands and sore throats and gullet (amber is a polymerized resin). Similarly, the Persian physician Ibn Sina attributed healing properties to spruce resin at the beginning of the 1st millennium (2). Records from the beginning of the 16th century mention how the Prussian duke Albert Brandenburger sent medicine from hardened spruce resin to Martin Luther to treat kidney stones. (2) A preparation made from spruce resin and butter for treating wounds was prepared in Finland. It was used by Native Americans for the same purpose (9), and they also chewed the spruce resin when they had a sore throat and other problems in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. It was from the Native Americans that John B. Curtis got the idea to develop the first commercial chewing gum from spruce resin in 1848. (4) In the 1970s, the Canadian chemist Henry R. Gray began to produce Grays’ Syrup from the red spruce resin that was very effective against coughing, cold, loss of voice and inflammation of the throat and bronchi.
7000 YEARS OLD SPRUCE RESIN WITH TEETH IMPRINTS
In 2007, Finnish archaeologists found a spruce resin with teeth imprints at an archaeological site. The find dates back to 5000 B.C. Ancient people in the area of today's Finland enjoyed spruce resin for a variety of problems such as sore throat and problems in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.
THE FIRST CHEWING GUM FROM SPRUCE RESIN
In 1848, the American businessman John B. Curtis got the idea to make chewing gum from spruce resin, beeswax and added flavors from the Native Americans who chewed spruce resin. He succeeded in producing the first commercial chewing gum and named it "State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum".
USE OF SPRUCE RESIN IN LIVESTOCK
Until 1971, in the Gorenjska region, people produced a preparation from spruce resin, called "stinker". In some Slovenian regions, the pure resin of conifers, mainly fir, larch and spruce, was called "pilpuh". The preparations were used for the treatment of boils, wounds, arthritis and many other problems, and were also extremely successful in treating mastitis in cows.
In the Slovene area, farmers used spruce resin to treat mastitis in cows, to treat wounds and various diseases in livestock and humans. In Gorenjska, the product was called "stinker". It was packed in bottles, and it got its name from its distinctive odour. Until 1971, it was made by the Sodja family from Nemški Rovt in Bohinj. The price of the preparation was comparable to the price of spirits. The children of the Sodja homestead sold it in the villages of Bohinj, and bought shoes with the money they earned. In some Slovenian regions, the pure resin of conifers, mainly fir, larch and spruce, was called "pilpuh". They collected fresh drops of resin and used it to treat boils, wounds, arthritis and many other problems. In Lesce in Gorenjska, there was a very famous herbalist, "Prežle", who placed the black spruce resin on various parts of the body, thus treating pain in the spine and a number of other problems. The Slovenian herbalist, Father Simon Ašič (10), also wrote about the effects of spruce resin on the muscles, physical resistance and skin diseases, rashes and wounds.
In the folk medicine of the modern era, the tradition was preserved and spruce resin has been used for the treatment of abrasions, arthritis, boils, burns, colds, tuberculosis, cough, diarrhea and other digestive disorders, headache, sore throat, rheumatism, tumours and wounds. (8)
SCIENTIFIC FACTS ABOUT SPRUCE RESIN OINTMENT
BACTERIA
The preparation from spruce resin, spruce resin ointment, made in the traditional Finnish way, was tested in 2007 and worked as bacteriostatic agent for all tested Gram-positive bacteria and Proteus vulgaris, a Gram-negative bacteria. A very important finding is that it also has bacteriostatic effects on highly resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and VRE.
FUNGUS
Finnish scientists also tested the anti-fungal effects of spruce resin ointment in 2011. They found that the spruce resin acts strongly against all dermatophytes (fungi that cause most of the fungal skin infections in humans) as well as against Candida Albicans.
WOUNDS AND BEDSORES
In a six-month study conducted in 11 medical institutions, they compared the treatment of bedsores with a traditional preparation from spruce resin, a traditionally prepared spruce resin ointment, and a medically recognized hydrogel. During the study, 92% of the patients were healed in the group treated with the spruce resin ointment, and 44% in the second group.
The efficacy of traditional preparations such as spruce resin ointment from spruce resin and butter used in Finland for the treatment of wounds and ulcers has prompted scientists to conduct a series of studies on this complex natural product:
In a six-month-long study (Sipponen et al., 2007) performed in 11 health facilities, they compared the treatment of bedsores with a traditional preparation from spruce resin, a traditionally prepared spruce resin salve, and a medically recognized hydrogel. During the study, 92% of patients were healed in the group treated with the spruce resin preparation, and 44% in the second group. (5)
The same researchers tested the antimicrobial function with the same spruce resin ointment using routine microbiological methods. The preparation was bacteriostatic against all tested Gram-positive bacteria and against Proteus vulgaris, which is a Gram-negative bacteria. A very important finding is that it has a bacteriostatic effect even on highly resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and VRE. (6)
The Bosnian researchers Kalaba, Đurđevič Milošević and Marjanović Balaban (2009) also investigated the antimicrobial activity of the spruce essential oil. They found that spruce essential oil works on the bacteria Salmonella Enteritidis and Escheriche Coli, Baciullus subtilis and Stphylococucus aureus more efficiently than antibiotics used to treat infections with these bacteria (11).
In 2011, the aforementioned Finnish researchers also checked the effectiveness of spruce resin against fungi. They found that the resin acts strongly against all dermatophytes (fungi that cause the majority of fungal skin infections in humans) as well as against Candida Albicans. (12)
SPRUCE RESIN
7000
years ago, the use of spruce resin in folk medicine was proven.
80
different organic compounds constitute spruce resin.
HISTORY OF THE USE OF SPRUCE RESIN
Bosvelija je manjše drevo ali grm, ki raste v suhih predelih tropske Afrike in v Indiji. Drevo izloča smolo, ki jo s pomočjo železnega orodja postrgajo z devesa, ali pa pod drevesa nastavijo palmove liste in z njih nato poberejo kaplje smole.
Smola bosvelije ima podobno delovanje kot smola iglavcev. (15) Na drugi strani pa bistveno redkeje povzroči alergično reakcijo na koži od smole iglavcev, kar potrjujejo tudi znanstvene študije (14).
HISTORY OF THE USE OF SPRUCE RESIN
7000 YEARS OLD SPRUCE RESIN WITH TEETH IMPRINTS
In 2007, Finnish archaeologists found a spruce resin with teeth imprints at an archaeological site. The find dates back to 5000 B.C. Ancient people in the area of today's Finland enjoyed spruce resin for a variety of problems such as sore throat and problems in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.
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THE FIRST CHEWING GUM FROM SPRUCE RESIN
In 1848, the American businessman John B. Curtis got the idea to make chewing gum from spruce resin, beeswax and added flavors from the Native Americans who chewed spruce resin. He succeeded in producing the first commercial chewing gum and named it "State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum".
USE OF SPRUCE RESIN IN LIVESTOCK
Until 1971, in the Gorenjska region, people produced a preparation from spruce resin, called "stinker". In some Slovenian regions, the pure resin of conifers, mainly fir, larch and spruce, was called "pilpuh". The preparations were used for the treatment of boils, wounds, arthritis and many other problems, and were also extremely successful in treating mastitis in cows.
Smola bosvelije je omenjena v številnih starih besedilih. Cenile so jo številne civilizacije in je bila nekoč skupaj z zlatom in slonovino uvrščena med največje dragocenost za trgovanje in menjavo. Prva omemba uporabe smole bosvelije kot zdravila je na Ebersovem papirusu, staroegiptovskem besedilu o zeliščih, spisanem okrog leta 1500 pred Kristusom. Zgodnji egipčanski mit opisuje smolo, kot da predstavlja solze egipčanskega boga Horusa (sina Ozirisa in Izide).
Kasnejša besedila grškega in rimskega izvora opisujejo trgovino s s smolo bosvelije v Rim, na Kitajsko in v severno Afriko. Tako je na primer Celzus (2. stoletje) priporočal uporabo smole bosvelije za zdravljenje ran, Ibn Sina, perzijski zdravnik iz 11. stoletja pa pri vnetju in okužbi sečil. V Keniji se smola bosvelije uporablja za obloge ran in se, zmešana s sezamovim oljem,jemlje za zmanjšanje izgube krvi v urinu zaradi okužbe s parazitskim črvom shistosomiazo. V Indiji se smola bosvelije pogosto uporablja pri zdravljenju vnetnih stanj, vključno s Crohnovo boleznijo, artritičnimi boleznimi in astmo, zato je bilo v zvezi z njenimi protivnetnimi lastnostmi opravljenih največ znanstvenih raziskav. Na Kitajskem je bila smola bosvelije sestavni del številnih zdravil za modrice in okužene rane. (15)
HISTORY OF THE USE OF SPRUCE RESIN
V smoli bosvelije je bilo identificiranih že več kot 200 organskih spojin. Starodavno tradicijo uporabe smole bosvelije za zdravljenje vnetnih stanj so uspešno potrdile številne raziskovalne skupine, ki so se osredotočale predvsem na delovanje bosvelijske kisline, vendar številne raziskave tudi pokažejo, da je učinkovitost surove smole bosvelije večja, kot njenih prečiščenih sestavin, kar kaže na to, da je protivnetno delovanje smole rezultat sinergijskega delovanja več različnih snovi iz smole, enako kot pri smrekovi smoli.
Sloves smole bosvelije kot imunomodulatorja je našel podporo v številnih študijah, in sicer tako njenih surovih izvlečkov kot čistih spojin. V dosedanjih kliničnih raziskavah, izvedenih na smoli bosvelije so dokazali predvsem njeno obetavnost pri zdravljenju astme, revmatoidnega artritisa, Crohnove bolezni, osteoartritisa kolena in kolagenskega kolitisa, se pa njene lastnosti še vedno aktivno raziskuje. (15)