Where is pine pollen produced? How can you tell the real from the fake? What are its effects and benefits?

Pine pollen, a traditional Chinese medicine name. In spring when the flowers have just opened, the flower spikes are picked, sun-dried, the pollen collected, and impurities removed. It has relatively high medicinal value. So, where is pine pollen produced? How can you tell the real from the fake? What are its effects and benefits?

Where is pine pollen produced?

There are many pine pollen production bases in China, the most famous of which is the Masson pine of Qiandao Lake, while the Chinese pine of Northeast and North China, and the Yunnan pine of Yunnan (also a type of Masson pine), are also major production areas.

How can you tell real pine pollen from fake?

The genuine product tastes bitter and is yellow in color, with a sweet aftertaste and the mellow fragrance of pollen when savored carefully; the fake product tastes sweet and is white in color, because a large amount of starch has been mixed in. To test by feel, place a small amount of raw pine pollen on the back of your hand and rub it lightly; it will seep into the skin, feeling fine and smooth to the touch, whereas the fake product, because its cell-wall-breaking rate cannot meet requirements, will clump and form balls; genuine pine pollen tablets are not easy to break apart when squeezed hard, while fake ones break apart relatively easily.

What effects and benefits does pine pollen have?

1. The various nutrients in pine pollen, such as protein, amino acids, minerals, enzymes and coenzymes, nucleic acids, polysaccharides and so on, all have the effect of boosting human immunity; these nutrients act in concert, together forming the functional basis for pine pollen's immunity-enhancing effect.

2. Pine pollen can directly supplement nutrition, and can also, by improving digestive function, take in nutrition from food, replenishing energy for the body, increasing endurance and eliminating fatigue. Pine pollen can also regulate the nervous system, relieve mental and work stress, and remove fatigue caused by various mental and psychological burdens. Pine pollen can lower lactic acid levels in the body, making it suitable for people with high labor intensity and heavy mental work, such as workers doing overtime, students preparing for exams, and athletes before competition.

3. The trace elements contained in pine pollen, such as flavonoids, arginine, vitamin C, E, carotene and selenium, all have the effect of scavenging free radicals in the body, and can increase the activity of the body's antioxidant enzymes, inhibit lipid peroxidation reactions, delay cell aging and prolong life.

4. The magnesium in pine pollen can both activate the enzyme system and serve as a carrier for various nutrients; flavonoid substances can significantly lower blood lipids and cholesterol; various vitamins can increase the elasticity of blood vessel walls and improve the microcirculation of the heart and brain. Therefore, pine pollen can play a very good health-care role for the cardiovascular system.