Silver Fir – Uses & Health Benefits

Silver fir

The silver fir (Abies alba), also known as noble fir and silver fir, is a coniferous tree from the fir genus and the pine family. It has been used as a medicinal and medicinal plant since ancient times.

General overview

The silver fir (Abies alba) is also known as noble fir and silver fir. The tree can be up to 600 years old, but is considered the most pollutant-sensitive tree in Germany, so that the population in the local forests has decreased significantly in recent decades. In its external appearance, the silver fir resembles the Norway spruce. It can reach a height of between 30 and 60 meters. The main branches descend from the trunk in false whorls. The smaller branches, on the other hand, are arranged in a spiral.

The crown of the silver fir can vary in shape and depends, among other things, on the location and the local light conditions. While young trees tend to develop pointed crowns, the growth in height of older trees is reduced. This creates the so-called stork’s nest crown. The needles of the silver fir are about three centimeters long and three millimeters wide. Here, too, the shape and size vary depending on the age of the tree and the position of the needles. The top of the needles is colored dark green, the underside of the needles is pale green in color. The silver fir flowers from April to June and then forms cones. These ripen in September and October and are green-brown in colour.

Occurrence and cultivation

The silver fir is widespread in central and southern Europe. For example, the fir can be found in Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria and the Balkans. The fir prefers oceanic and temperate continental climates. It can be found both in the lowlands and in the mountains. For example, it grows in the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria at an altitude of 2900 meters.

Application and effect

The needles, shoots, seeds, cones and resin of the silver fir are used medicinally and medically. An essential oil is extracted from the needles and young twigs of the silver fir using steam distillation . This consists of 80 to 90 percent monoterpenes such as limonene and alpha-pinene. The silver fir is the only coniferous oil with such a high pinene content.

It also contains esters and sesquiterpenes. Monoterpenols occur in trace amounts. The oil smells fresh, clear and similar to turpentine. It has a strong antiviral and antibacterial effect and is therefore one of the most effective essential oils for room air disinfection. Especially in combination with citrus oils, silver fir oil can drastically reduce the number of germs in the air.

The active ingredients of the oil stimulate the immune system and thus strengthen the immune system. Furthermore, the essential oil also has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect . It stimulates blood circulation in the skin and tissues and thus unfolds its warming properties. On the psychological level, the oil has a strong mood-enhancing effect. It strengthens the spirit and elevates inwardly. A clarifying effect on the mind can also be observed.

What does silver fir help against?

importance to health

The silver fir has been used medicinally for many centuries. In medieval herbal medicine, the tree was a symbol of power and strength. The resin was then used to accelerate wound healing. It was also used to treat rheumatism. The resin was chewed to strengthen and protect teeth and gums . In the 16th and 17th centuries, the so-called pine beer was known and popular. It was given to prevent scurvy.

The herbalist Sebastian Kneipp recommended a fir tea made from fresh shoots for colds with coughs and tough mucus. An oil was made from the cones, which was used to treat bruises, conjunctivitis and sore muscles. The indications for silver fir are still very similar today. A main area of ​​application for the oil is colds and illnesses associated with coughing.

Due to its antiseptic properties , the oil prevents the spread of the disease triggers. It can also be used preventively during the cold season. Taken as a cough medicine, the silver fir relaxes the respiratory tract . At the same time, the fir has an expectorant effect, so that stuck mucus can be coughed up better and breathing is made easier. Inhaling silver fir oil can relieve a stuffy and mucous nose .

Another major area of ​​application for silver fir is muscle pain and rheumatic pain. The silver fir is used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, sore muscles and muscle tension.

Traditionally, fir oil is also used as a skin-protecting agent. Due to the astringent effect, the oil is suitable for treating skin injuries, wounds and insect bites.

Furthermore, the oil can be used in the treatment of psoriasis, pimples, itchy skin, scabies and wounds. However, the oil should never be used pure, but always diluted externally with a fatty oil.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *