Fir
Profile
| Latin Name | Abies alba |
| Chinese Name | Not Known |
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Note | Middle |
| Aroma | <Soft> Spicy, Pinelike |
| Color | Clear |
| Parts Distilled | Needles (sometimes branches) |
| Regions | Yugoslavia, Austria, Switzerland, France, United States & Canada |
| Taste | Sweet Nature: Cooling |
| Affinity | LU/KI |
| Major Chemical Constituents | Monoterpenes (santene, pinene) |
| Skin Type | NIA |
| Dosage | 6% dilution |
TCM Categories
Functions
- Tonify Lung qi and assist the Kidneys in qi reception, wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma
- Expels damp Bi obstruction and damp-phlegm
- Clear damp heat in the Lower Heater
Indications
- Kidney Not Grasping the Qi with Damp Phlegm (KI-3, GB-25, BL- 23, SP-9, ST-36, ST-40)
- Damp Bi Obstruction in the Upper Limbs (Ah-shi, SP-9, SP-6, ST-38, GB-21)
Topical Applications
- Apply as liniment for damp Bi obstruction (see above).
Specific Protocols
- 6% dilution of Fir (50%), Sweet Marjoram (30%), and Rosemary (20%) for deficiency in the Sinew Channels (GB-21, GB-31, SI-18, CV-3, GB-13, GB-22).
Actions
- Expectorant,
- Vulnerary (used in the healing of wounds),
- Analgesic
Contraindications & Cautions
- None
Notes
- Clear Heat & Dry Dampness (Lower Heater)
- A lot of the needle oils have LU and KD affinity
- Can increase urination due to its drain-damp function
- Resolves dampness by draining; it drains and moves quickly, so expect increased rhinorrhea and urination
- Especially good for damp Bi obstruction in the upper limbs
- Helps someone be in their physical body in the moment
- The strength and will to live in each moment, coming back to what is true and valuable in the moment
- Helps when the kidneys cannot grasp lung qi due to phlegm obstruction. Strongly clears damp phlegm in the lungs, possibly even more than eucalyptus
- Good for white perfuse mucous
- Douglas Fir is preferred: gentle, good for children
- One of the strongest oils to clear damp phlegm in the lungs