Happening right now in northwestern Louisiana and also probably the entire South is the beginning of the few weeks of time each Spring when everything is covered in a fine layer of yellow dust. In an attempt not to be vulgar, I will just say that we are breathing in the reproductive…. stuff…of male pine tree sex organs. Which is really just about the wildest thing I’ve ever really thought about.
These are the male reproductive organs of this Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)
Pine pollen is powerful food and medicine in its own right. I’ve written about it a little before here https://redearthwildcrafted.wordpress.com/2017/01/27/pine-tree-medicine/comment-page-1/ and am currently composing a deeper dive (stay tuned- this week!!) That said, my respiratory system hates it! I sat down to do a little breathwork practice to open up my airways and to help shift my emotional state out of self-pity for my immune response this time of year. This really helps me, especially in conjunction with regular washing of my nasal cavity with saline spray. I know, I know- neti pots. I don’t love using them, and I find the majority of the benefits I achieve with saline nasal spray. I thought perhaps someone else might want to do this practice, too. I hope you give it a try and let me know how it goes.
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