The benefits and effects of pine needles are reflected in several aspects.

Pine needles are the needle-shaped leaves of plants in the pine family (Pinaceae), with common sources including Masson pine, Chinese pine, black pine, Korean pine and other tree species. They stay evergreen year-round and carry a fresh pine-resin fragrance, and they are widely distributed across the mountainous areas of China, where people have long had the habit of gathering and using pine needles.

In traditional experience, pine needles are often used to boil water as a tea substitute, to make a decoction for external washing, or to make medicinal pillows. Folk belief holds that they refresh the mind and relieve fatigue, and some people wash with pine needle water to soothe skin discomfort. In terms of composition, pine needles contain volatile oils, flavonoids and other plant active substances, which are considered the source of these traditional uses. However, these claims mostly come from folk experience, the specific effects still need to be viewed with caution, and efficacy should not be claimed at will when promoting them.

Today the uses of pine needles are more diverse. Besides being brewed as tea, they can also be processed into pine needle powder, pine needle essential oil, pine needle pillows and other daily products, and some farmers also add pine needle powder as a supplement to livestock and poultry feed. In addition, pines stay evergreen and have a tall, upright form, making them important tree species for afforestation and landscape greening in their own right; fallen pine needles that cover the soil surface and slowly decompose also help to a certain extent in retaining soil moisture and increasing organic matter.

Several points need attention when using pine needles. Collect them from clean forest areas far from roads and factories, and avoid areas that have just been sprayed with pesticides; after bringing them home, wash them thoroughly and dry them fully, and when drinking or applying them externally it is best to start with a small amount and watch how the body responds. It should be stressed that pine needles are a traditional folk material and cannot replace proper medical treatment, and pregnant women, children and people with sensitive constitutions had best consult a professional before use.