Interest in the properties of pinolenic acid have led some researchers to explore methods of increasing the amount of this fatty acid in pine nut oil. Subsequent research showed that, in addition to suppressing appetite, pine nut oil also can reduce LDLs, yielding further health benefits. Pine nut oil also contains a high concentration of free radical scavengers, which help reduce oxidative damage that can lead to peptic ulcers or gastritis, according to clinical studies in Russia and China. As a result of such studies, pine nut oil is now considered a remedy for these conditions in both countries.

Triglyceride composition

One analysis of the triglyceride composition of pine nut oil showed the following composition

Pine nut oil has drawn recent attention for its medicinal properties

Many plants have traditional medical uses. Ethnobotanists and pharmacognacists catalog and study these plants and uses. This is a list of some of the more common medicinal properties that are ascribed to plants.

• Anti-catarrhal -- eliminates or counteracts mucous conditions

• Anti-coagulant -- prevent coagulation of blood

• Anti-histamine -- reduce or eliminate allergic effects mediated by histamine

• Anti-emetic -- relieves vomiting

• Anti-inflammatory -- reduces inflammation

• Anti-microbial -- kills or slows the growth of microbes

·         Anti-bacterial -- kills or slows the growth of bacteria

·         Anti-fungal -- kills or slows the growth of fungi

·         Anti-viral -- kills or slows the growth of viruses

·         Anti-parasitic -- kills or slows the growth of parasites

• Anti-pyretic -- prevents or reduces fever by lowering body temperature

• Anti-spasmodic -- suppresses smooth muscle contractions

• Astringent -- shrinks or constricts body tissues

• Carminative -- anti-spasmodic, used particularly against cramps of the digestive tract

• Cholagogue -- promotes the discharge of bile from the system

• Demulcent -- acts as a protective barrier on irritated or inflamedtissue

• Diaphoretic -- increases perspiration

• Diuretic -- elevates the rate of bodily urine excretion

• Emetic -- induces vomiting

• Emmenagogue -- stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus

• Expectorant -- loosen mucus from the respiratory tract

• Hepatic -- strengthens or regulates the secretion of bile

• Laxative -- promotes defecation

• Nervine -- has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system in some way

·         Sedative -- depresses the central nervous system, causing calmness, relaxation and similar, stronger effects

• Tonic -- strengthens and improves specific organs, systems, weaknesses or the body as a whole

• Stomachic -- tones the stomach, improving its function and increasing appetite

• Vulnerary -- used in healing or treating wounds

Alternative medicine is defined as "any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain". Complementary medicine is defined as "any of the practices of alternative medicine accepted and utilized by mainstream medical practitioners". The

term complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an umbrella term for both branches. CAM includes practices that incorporate spiritual, metaphysical, or religious underpinnings; non-evidence based practices, non-European medical traditions, or newly developed approaches to healing.

The list of therapies included under CAM changes gradually. If and when an approach regarded as "unproven therapy" is proven to be safe and effective, it may be adopted into conventional health care and over time may cease to be considered "alternative".


Public use in the US

The NCCAM surveyed the American public on complementary and alternative medicine use in 2002. According to the survey:

• 50 percent of U.S. adults age 18 years and over used some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

• When prayer specifically for health reasons is included in the definition of CAM, the number of adults using some form of CAM in 2002 rose to 62 percent.

• The majority of individuals (54.9%) used CAM in conjunction with conventional medicine.

• Most people use CAM to treat and/or prevent musculoskeletal conditions or other conditions associated with chronic or recurring pain.

• "The fact that only 14.8% of adults sought care from a licensed or certified CAM practitioner suggests that most individuals who use CAM prefer to treat themselves."

• "Women were more likely than men to use CAM. The largest sex differential is seen in the use of mind-body therapies including prayer specifically for health reasons".

• "Except for the groups of therapies that included prayer specifically for health reasons, use of CAM increased as education levels increased".

• The most common CAM therapies used in the USA in 2002 were prayer (45.2%), herbalism (18.9%), breathing meditation (11.6%), meditation (7.6%), chiropractic medicine (7.5%), yoga (5.1%), body work (5.0%), diet-based therapy (3.5%), progressive relaxation (3.0%), mega-vitamin therapy (2.8%) and Visualization (2.1%)