Spruce is a plant growing to a height of 30-60 meters.
The average diameter of the stem is about 2 meters.
The bark of the tree is thick and red brown or gray.
The tree has many roots, which are close to the ground surface in damp areas.
Consequently, trees easily fall during storms.
Leaves are dark green and shiny needles, which can hang onto the tree for 5-10 years.
Spruce seeds ripen within one year.
You should collect spruce cones.
Folk medicine uses new tops of spruce branches - buds.
When collecting them in early spring, you should make a cut right at the woody base of the bud.
Unripe cones should be collected starting from June till September.
You can get resin (balsam) and bark during the juice circulation phase, when it is easy to peel it off.
Cones, buds, bark and needles should be collected in wood felling area.
You should get resin from the trees, which are intended for felling.

1. All parts of spruce contain essential oil, resin, tannins, flavonoids and mineral substances.
   New tops and cones contain essential oil (0.
   15-0.
   35 percent).
   Cones contain up to 6.
   7 percent tannins, the bark contains 8-16 percent tannins, but needles - up to 10 percent.
   Needles, in addition, contain up to 0.
   8 percent ascorbic acid.
   Resin consists of resin acids and essential oil called fir turpentine oil.
   Spruce resin contains more resin acids in comparison to pine resin.
   Fresh resin has a fresh-honey-like consistency.
   The evaporation of the turpentine oil results in the formation of colophony.
   Fir resin and colophony are used in the production of various salves and plasters.
   
2. The plant has bactericidal and antispasmodic qualities.
   Moreover, it has the ability to regulate metabolism and improve blood circulation.
   
3. In order to strengthen your body and prevent C-avitaminosis, you should make a drink from the needles in early spring.
   Wash the needles and reduce them to small pieces.
   Infuse granulated needles with boiled water (proportion 1:5 or 1:10).
   Add citric acid or Japanese quince juice to improve the taste and ascorbic acid to stabilize the drink.
   Drink two thirds of a glass of the solution before meal.
   
4. Infuse 30 grams of granulated green cones and buds with a liter of milk.
   Boil the mixture to get a decoction.
   Drink the whole decoction within a day in several equal portions to deal with scurvy, bone pain, various skin diseases, chronic dry cough, bronchitis, rachitis, gallstone and nerve pain.