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Spruce resin salve is a traditional wound treatment method that has gained new popularity again after clinical studies in the 21st century. The pure coniferous resin from Norway spruce is antimicrobial against a wide range of bacteria and fungi and positively associates with progressive healing of the wound. The improvement is not limited to the healing of the infected wounds only, suggesting that the resin has positive influences on mechanisms that play a role in wound repair.
History
The first reports of using resins or rosins in medicine are from antiquity. Resins have been used for nearly every kind of human disorder and disease. First medical publication of the use of coniferous resin in medical practice in Finland is from 1578. Swedish physician Benedictus Olai wrote about natural resin in treatment of old leg wounds in the first medical textbook of the Swedish kingdom. Elias Lönnrot presented the first recipe for resin salve in the Flora Fennica book 1866.
Biological effects
Natural resin is a complex composition of components such as resin acids, lignans and coumaric acid. The levels of these components are dependent on what type of coniferous tree resin it is and when it is collected i.e. fresh physiological resin or matured resin collected from trunk of the tree In vitro studies have shown that natural resin is strongly antimicrobial against a broad spectrum of common bacteria, fungi and yeasts. The antimicrobial effect is based on resin acid that breaks down the cell wall and the cell membrane and because of that the cell can no longer produce energy and eventually it dies. Microbiological studies have proven that resin is also effective on antibiotic resistant microbes (MRSA & VRE). Spruce resin affects both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Reducing the bacterial and fungal contamination of the wound is generally known to improve the wound healing. In clinical tests, (Abilar 10%®) Resin salve has shown to improve wound healing and reduce pain on various wounds including pressure ulcers, complicated surgical wounds and diabetic foot ulcers.
Contra indications
Persons allergic to resin acids should not use these types of product since it may cause them to develop a topical skin rash. One unselected general population study of 793 Danish adults in 1992 shows a prevalence of colophony allergy of 0.4% in men and 1.0% in women.
References
- Sipponen A: Coniferous resin salve, ancient and effective treatment for chronic wounds – laboratory and clinical studies. Academic Dissertation 2013. University of Helsinki
- Sipponen A: Coniferous resin salve, ancient and effective treatment for chronic wounds – laboratory and clinical studies. Academic Dissertation 2013. University of Helsinki.
- Lönnrot E and Saelen T. Flora Fennica 1886
- Metsälä H. Gummerus 2001
- Sipponen A and Laitinen K: Antimicrobial properties of natural coniferous rosin in the European Pharmacopoeia test. APMIS 2011;119;720-724
- Sipponen A et al: Beneficial effect of resin salve in treatment of severe pressure ulcers: a prospective, randomized and controlled multicentre trial. Br J Dermatology 2008;158:1055-1062
- Sipponen A et al: Natural coniferous resin salve to treat complicated surgical wounds: pilot clinical trial on healing and costs. Int J Dermatology 2012;51:726-732
- Nielsen N H, Menne T. Allergic contact sensitization in an unselected Danish population. Acta Dermato-Venereologica 1992: 72: 456–460