SPRUCE OINTMENT AND OIL SPRUCE SALVE AND FOLK MEDICINE SCIENTIFIC FACTS AND ARTICLES ACTIVES AND INGREDIENTS USAGE INSTRUCTION BUY ONLINE
 

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH:

Spruce resin salve (ointment) made made from Norway spruce (Picea abies) or other spruce species is used for centuries around the world as part of traditional folk medicine for treating infected wounds and ulcers. Lapp people from northern Finland are one of the most known society for using spruce resin remedies nowadays [1].

Medical doctors and scientists under the supervision of dr. Arno Sipponen made extensive research about healing properties of spruce salve (prepared traditionally) in series of different experiments [2]. They were interested mainly on fact if beneficial properties of spruce resin are just rumors or truth. Interest for research on this field was raised due to the facts that classical treatment methods such as cellulose polymer gauzes are often unsuccessful and expensive [3].

Novel research which included usage of spruce resin salve on patients in 11 different medical health centres in Finland confirmed its significant role in faster recovery of skin wounds and pressure ulcers [4-5]. Approximately 40 patients were randomly chosen for therapy with traditionally prepared spruce resin salve (resin group) or  cellulose polymer gauzes (sodium carboxymethylcellulose hydrocolloid polymer) (control group). Pressure ulcers are areas of skin with superficial or deep tissue damage caused by pressure, shear, friction or a combination of these. It is more common with the people with limited mobility (diseases or old age). Pressure ulcers are difficult to treat, and there is, as yet, no ‘gold standard’ for their treatment. The inclusion criterion for research was grade II–IV pressure ulcer. Exclusion criteria were a life expectancy of less than 6 months or a malignant disease. The primary outcome measure was complete healing of the ulcer within 6 months. Secondary outcome measures were partial healing of the ulcer, and successful eradication of bacterial strains cultured from the ulcers at study entry. All ulcers healed in 94% in the resin group and in 44% patients in the control group. During the 6-month therapy period, only 6% of all ulcers was not healed in the resin group, although there was much improvement. Correspondingly, in the control treatment group 44% of all ulcers were  healed and 9% of ulcers in the control group became even worse during the follow-up.

 


Comparison of pressure ulcer healing between resin salve group patients and cellulose polymer gauzes group patients.

     

Traditional resin salve is significantly more effective in the treatment of infected and non-infected severe pressure ulcers than cellulose polymer gauzes.

     

Spruce resin antimicrobial (and antifungal) properties were studied against certain human bacteria important in infected skin wounds [6-7]. Resin excretion obviously provides trees with protection against bacterial and fungal infections. The resin salve exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against all tested Gram-positive bacteria but only against Proteus vulgaris of the Gram-negative bacteria. Interestingly, the resin inhibited the growth of bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), both on agar plates and in culture media. The resin itself did not show any growth of bacteria or fungi when tested in various growth media (blood agar, chocolate agar, Sabouraud-dextrose agar, FAB medium). Nor was there any microbial growth when resin had been stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature for more than 2 years.

 


SEM image of MRSA.

 

The study directly confirmed antimicrobial activity of the resin salve and provided objective evidence of its antimicrobial properties. The scientists also believe that spruce resin take an active part in skin regeneration with its compounds. It gives some explanations why the traditional use of resin salve is experienced as being effective in the treatment of infected skin ulcers and healing of other similar skin injuries.

 

 

Literature:

1. A Sipponen, et al., Drug Metabolism Letters, 2007, I; 143–145
2. J. Lohi, et al.,  Haava, 2006, 3; 10–13
3. E. Eriksson, et al., Finnish Medical Journal, 1999, 54; 921–925
4. A. Sipponen, Journal of Wound Care, 2007, 16; 72–74
5. A. Sipponen, et al., British Journal of Dermatology, 2008, 158; 1055–1062
6. J.L. Rios, et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2005, 51; 80–84
7. M. Rautio, et al., APMIS, 2007, 115; 335–340

 
 
 

Recommended scientific articles:

Sipponen A, Jokinen JJ, Sipponen P, Papp A, Sarna S, Lohi J.
Beneficial effect of resin salve in treatment of severe pressure ulcers: a prospective, randomized and controlled multi-center trial.
British Journal of Dermatology 2008;158:1055-62

Sipponen A, Rautio M, Jokinen JJ, Laakso T, Saranpä P, Lohi J.
Resin salve from Norway spruce – a potential method to treat infected chronic skin ulcers?
Drug Metabolism Letters 2007;I:143-5

Rautio M, Sipponen A, Peltola R, Lohi J, Jokinen JJ, Papp A, Carlson P, Siponen P.
Antibacterial effects of home-made resin salve from Norway spruce (Picea abies).
APMIS 2007;115:335-40

Sipponen A, Jokinen JJ, Lohi J.
Resin salve from the Norwegian spruce tree: a "novel" method for the treatment of chronic wounds.
Journal of Wound Care 2007;16:72-74