I ate this “toxic” tree #foraging #pine #myths with @OrionAon

[martinemartin]

You can actually make a really nice, mildly fizzy drink from pine needles.

[ahiyahysrayl]

My goats love eating pine needles and it doubles as a natural dewormer.

[FeralForaging]

It was always surprising to me that every pine except for Ponderosa pine would be edible. It’s rare to see a single anomaly like that within an entire genus. What wasn’t surprising was discovering that it isn’t true at all. The chemical in question is isocupressic acid, and I would be willing to bet that it’s in many members of the Pinophyta division as we see it in Pines (family Pinaceae) as well as Juniper and Cypress (family Cupressaceae).

The origin of this myth is several studies that found pine and other evergreens to act as an abortifacient in cattle. The erroneous conclusion is that this must also mean it’s toxic to humans. There are many examples of foods that are toxic to other mammals but not humans. Chocolate being toxic to dogs is a well-known instance.

Cattle have an entirely different digestion system from humans as well. Their rumen allows them to digest and process grass, a feat impossible for humans.

All that to say, if you are pregnant, it would be wise to avoid consuming members of the Pinophyta division that may contain this chemical. I have found zero toxicology reports in humans stemming from the genus Pinus. Also, my friend Orion from @OrionAon has eaten this tree extensively without issue!

I would love it if you shared this video so others can learn more about this myth!

[mirageangel]

I remember eating the pine nuts from ponderosas as a kid. Now I have 6 kids who eat the ponderosa pine nuts every fall. When I read last year that ponderosas are poisonous, I was quite befuddled! Haha!

[spacecadet]

I mean, if you are pregnant and all you can find to eat are pinus ponderosa needles, then I think you might have bigger things to worry about than whether or not it's mildly toxic.

[galavizK]

I literally make tea from these pines in winter, very good ❤

[jiminslostjams]

Wow I’m early! just wanted to thank you for helping the world learn about plants! My goal for the future is to have a fully self sustainable house/lifestyle and learning about foraging has been and will be a great help

[kpepperl]

If I'm pregnant... I'm staying the heck home 😅... i got no spare energy to be hiking up somewhere and chewing on pine needles 😅

[bombhills]

I live in a ponderosa forest and have been trying to clear this up for a bit now. I harvest the pollen from the ponderosa, but was still unsure about the needles for consumption. Thanks for helping clear this up. I wonder if the needles have vitamin c like the other pine trees? And how about the pine nuts from ponderosa? I eat grey pine nuts every season but not sure about the ponderosa pine nuts. I think I've heard not to eat them but wondering if its a similar situation as the needles

[Magpiemill]

I thought of you biting into the whole tree when you said you would eat it even though I know it's unreasonable.

[arwen-_-E.M.P.]

I appreciate the work you put into this video,
And I also appreciate the fact that you seem
To be very knowledgeable when it comes
To the plants that grow here in America!

These are very fun, educational, and useful,
Videos that you make! Keep up the good work!

[apeasant]

I love hearing more info on why some people avoid things. Thank you man

[CavemanCody]

I made a video on this some years ago and this was a subject I ran into when doing my double research and I did list it as poisonous too if I believe. This is good to know and I'll have to make a update myself.

A pretty common theme with learning about wild herbal plants is that very few are considered "safe" not because some are necessarily poisonous but because we don't know/haven't done the research to confirm or deny for sure.

[mirageangel]

Reminds me of a pineapple plant we got my adult daughter from WalMart. Tag said it was an ornamental mini and not edible. Some research said it was toxic. Some said it would burn your mouth and throat. I messaged a nursery and asked if it was damaging or just unpleasant tasting and they said it was more the "yucky" kind of inedible. So of course when it ripened, she (we - she shared) ate it. It was a little paler, a little blander, and a little less acidic than an eating-pineapple. All in all a fun adventure and nobody suffered so much as a stinging tongue from it, which is better treatment than I get from eating-pineapples. 10/10 would eat again.

[lindboknifeandtool]

That trees seed is activated by forest fire lol it’s nuts

[taylorbaileyasd]

""""avoid"""" wink wink

[zinnia]

I really like your content. it appears to be truthful and not propaganda. thanks!

[nicksmith]

I like making pine needle tea. It's really citrusy and it mixes well with other folk medicine that I use like usnea. Boil both of them together in the tea is quite good, usnea is good for all kinds of stuff it's a natural antibiotic and so on so forth

[Cantcan]

It would be a Coloradan that tried that 😂

[plainlogic]

The Loblolly, from my neck if the woods, is considered toxic. It contains hormone like compounds that is known to cause miscarriages in cattle.