Uses of Pine Tar Ointment

For decades pine tar has been used as a cure-all for a number of external ailments, and is byproduct of the distillation of the wood from pine trees. According to the Psoriasis-Aid website, the Food and Drug Administration banned pine tar as an over-the-counter treatment for skin conditions like dandruff, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. However, this ointment still has other uses and benefits.

Foreign Objects

• Pine tar ointment can also be used to draw out splinters, insect stingers or shards of glass. Apply pine tar ointment liberally to the affected area, and wait for the ointment to work its magic. According to Wellsphere, pine tar is a counter-irritant that stimulates blood flow to a particular area, cuing a response from the immune system. Within 48 hours, the foreign object will come to a head and fall out.

Hoof Care

• Agriculturalists use pine tar to soften the hooves of farm animals, particularly horses. Pine tar ointment can be used to clean hooves, and is an antifungal and anti-germ agent. Pine tar also helps retain moisture and aids in new hoof growth, and can be used as a treatment for a split hoof or a hardened frog, which is the elastic, shock-absorbing pad on the sole of the hoof.

Chronic Coughing

• Inhaling the vapor from pine tar ointment can ease a chronic cough in some. Pine tar ointment stimulates and irritates the mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes, and promotes mucus excretion. The ointment can also be used to treat chronic laryngitis or other bronchial infections, according to Henriette's Herbal.