Why Taos Red Willow Institute functional Medicine, New Mexico’s Gift of Piñon Trees Trementina (piñon wood sap), was used to make a very important antibiotic an unguento (ointment) named encerada.
- By Eddie Campos Special to the SUN
A perfect El Rito piñon tree (center) decorated by nature with golden brown pina (cones) laden with nuts, a picking container full of “brown gold” piñon nuts (right), a bag of aged dry trememtina to be used in retablo mixture (bottom right), naturally perfectly aged llena blanca (white wood) coveted by those in the know (bottom left), and two containers of encerada antibiotic unguento.
Food was always a priority and the gathering of these delectable nuts was valued as they could be preserved for some time. Rich in oil and carbohydrates and of course, flavor, they provided a good source of food.
Trementina (piñon wood sap), was used to make a very important antibiotic an unguento (ointment) named encerada. It is made with trementina, osha and some beeswax as main ingredients. It was used to treat skin wounds, scrapes, scratches and minor skin cuts.
Its healing properties are so effective that it rivals some of the modern healing ointments. My family keeps a container of the ointment to treat minor scratches and cuts. Its wonderful piñon smell is something we do not mind.
Comments