Black spruce was widely used as a primary ingredient for wound and bite healing balms for many years, largely as a result of the oil’s strong antimicrobial and antiviral properties. These properties are derived from the component a-Pinene, which is heavily present in black spruce. A study in 2019 found that pinenes display significant antimicrobial activity, which allows them to fight a number of microorganisms that spread diseases and cause bad odours.