Buckthorn bark: medicinal properties and contraindications

A buckthorn is a small shrub or undersized tree with black fruits called wolf berries. The bark of the woody part of the plant has the most effective action - it contains the maximum amount of useful substances. Most often, the buckthorn bark is used as a laxative agent - it gently relaxes the intestines, strengthens its perilastatics, dilutes the feces, facilitating their natural excretion. A distinctive feature of buckthorn bark - it gives a delicate and soft relief. A person will get rid of constipation without pain in the stomach and colic. However, the healing properties of this plant are not focused only on the laxative effect. Buckthorn bark can affect many organs, eliminating various diseases.

Medicinal properties of buckthorn bark

Buckthorn bark is harvested in spring when the trees begin to come to life.For the collection is better to choose not large, but younger trees. Cut off the bark with a sharp knife and scatter it on paper in a cool and well-ventilated area. At times, the bark needs to be poured, and stirred, so that it will dry out evenly. Remember, fresh bark can be dangerous - its decoction causes nausea and vomiting. But the bark, lain year or dried for an hour at a temperature of 100 degrees, will have a soft medicinal effect.

The composition of this raw material is very rich in all sorts of useful components. Buckthorn bark contains tannins, succinic and malic acids, a large amount of ascorbic acid, anthraquinones, various essential oils, antraglycosides, alkaloids and pectins. Because of this, the buckthorn bark has the following healing effects.

1. Laxative. As noted, the laxative effect is one of the main properties of buckthorn bark. Easing is caused precisely by antraglycosides, which enhance perilstatics, the intestine begins to actively push fecal masses to the exit. To prepare a laxative decoction, you need to chop the buckthorn bark and pour boiling water over it - about a teaspoon of raw material into a glass of boiling water.Cover the container with a lid, warm it up, let it brew. Then you need to strain the broth and drink in small sips. Expect that the laxative effect will be achieved in 8-12 hours after drinking the decoction, depending on the individual characteristics of the organism. Therefore, it is best to drink the medicine in the evening, so that it acts in the morning. Remember, buckthorn bark can be addictive - the intestines will simply stop working independently. Therefore, it is impossible to take buckthorn for more than a month. It is better to alternate the decoction with other types of laxatives.
2. Hemorrhoids. Buckthorn bark is part of many hemorrhoid drugs. For complex treatment, it is necessary to take the bark both inside and outside douching. Krushina reduces inflammation, reduces hemorrhagic bleeding and the size of the bumps. This allows you to get rid of discomfort and discomfort. In addition, due to the softening of the feces, hemorrhoids are less injured, which does not cause pain.
3. Liver. Buckthorn bark is part of many fitosborov to cleanse the liver and maintain its normal operation.Prepare a decoction or tincture of bark, use the medicine every day on an empty stomach. This will help you support the liver in case of hepatitis, food and alcohol poisoning, long-term drug treatment, etc.
4. Edema. Broth bark well removes excess fluid from the body, relieves swelling of various origin - renal, cardiac, etc.
5. Slimming Buckthorn bark is actively used for weight loss. Getting rid of excess weight and centimeters is achieved by reducing puffiness, cleansing the intestines, speeding up the metabolism. If you drink the bark for a week all the time, the absorption of calories in the intestines worsens, you eat, but you do not get fat. This is a real way to lose weight by one size, when an important event is on the nose, and you do not fit in a dress. However, it is important to understand that one cannot get away from the fat reserves and the long-term use of the buckthorn will not relieve these deposits. Moreover, prolonged ingestion of the decoction can lead to real problems - addiction and constipation against the background of cancellation.
6. Gout. Buckthorn is very effective for gout. Prepare a decoction - two tablespoons of crushed bark for three liters of boiling water. When the broth cools down, it is necessary to lower the legs.Buckthorn removes uric acid, relieves pain and swelling.
7. Skin diseases. Buckthorn is very effective against various skin diseases. Prepare buckthorn decoction and moisten a piece of clean bandage in it. Attach lotion to affected skin. After 10-15 minutes, itching, redness and swelling will pass, the inflammation will gradually subside. External use of buckthorn is effective for psoriasis, eczema, lichen, seborrhea, fungal infections of the skin.
8. Climax. Buckthorn bark stimulates the production of female sex hormones - estrogen. It helps women during menopause. Of course, this does not stop the onset of menopause, but greatly facilitates the process. Regular consumption of buckthorn helps get rid of hot flashes, insomnia, headaches, etc.
9. Diabetes. Buckthorn improves metabolic processes in the body, it improves the endocrine system, reduces blood sugar levels. Broth is often prescribed for diabetes.

Buckthorn bark is also useful in diseases of the genitourinary system, a decoction stimulates the production of bile with its deficiency. This treatment is effective for removing worms, reducing the acidity of the stomach, against dizziness.

Previously described how to cook a decoction of buckthorn bark.But if you have a long-term treatment, it is better to prepare an infusion of alcohol - it is more convenient to use and longer stored. Bark need to fill a bottle of dark glass, fill the contents with vodka or alcohol. Leave the container in a cool and dark place, periodically shake the vessel. After a couple of weeks, the composition must be filtered and put into the fridge. Take 10-20 drops, diluted in water.

Buckthorn Beauty

In cosmetology, not laxative is used, but fragile buckthorn is a slightly different kind of wood. The name is given to the buckthorn due to the excessive fragility of the branches - they do not bend, but break with a crunch. Broth bark has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. It allows you to fight against acne and acne. For oily skin, you can wipe your face with alcohol tincture of the bark. If the skin is dry, you can make lotions. From a clean cloth cut the oval face, make holes for the eyes. Dampen a cloth in warm broth and apply to the skin. The mask can be refreshed as it dries. In no case do not reuse the fabric - it accumulates microbes and bacteria, which the buckthorn pulls out of the upper layer of the epidermis.After the first procedure, you will notice that the puffiness has subsided, acne has become much less noticeable, the inflammation has decreased.

Another excellent property of brittle buckthorn is a rejuvenating effect. Broth stimulates the production of natural collagen. From the broth, you can freeze cubes, which should be wiped face in the morning and evening. With the regularity of the procedure, after a month you will notice that the skin of the face has become more elastic and elastic, the oval of the face has tightened, the wrinkles become less pronounced. Buckthorn is added to many anti-aging skin care products.

Buckthorn bark is also used as a natural hair dye. It gives curls a chestnut or brown hue. Dark hair will turn red in color, which will be visible only in the sun, and light colors will get a copper-golden shade of hair. For staining you need to prepare a strong broth of buckthorn - three tablespoons of bark for half a liter of boiling water. Insist broth for a long time - at least three hours, so that the dye pigment gets from the raw material into the water. Apply the broth over the entire length of the hair, wrap and leave for an hour.After the first procedure, the shade will be weak, but will intensify if you repeat the staining several times in a row. Buckthorn is a real and safe way to change hair color.

Contraindications

Like any other plant and medicine, buckthorn has a number of contraindications. Since the decoction has a laxative effect, the medicine cannot be used for diarrhea and any other conditions associated with rapid defecation. If you have a weak intestine that is prone to developing diarrhea, you should not consume buckwheat once again, even for the treatment of other diseases. Krushina is not recommended for oral administration during pregnancy - this may unexpectedly affect its course and the development of the fetus in the womb.

A decoction of buckthorn bark can not be taken orally with colic, narrowed lumen, "acute abdomen", intestinal obstruction. Any serious violation in the structure of the gastrointestinal tract is a reason to consult with your doctor about this method of treatment. External use has no specific contraindications, but when first used, you must carefully monitor the reaction of the skin in order to recognize allergies.

Judging by the historical notes of the ancient physicians, the laxative property of the buckthorn bark was noticed as early as the 14th century. Even then, people struggled with constipation in a similar way. Unfortunately, the modern slow-moving rhythm of life and nutrition, based on fast carbohydrates, leads to frequent disruption of the bowels. Use natural relief products - treat correctly!

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