Blackberry leaves - useful properties and contraindications

Blackberry called perennial shrub, which is a thickets, the branches of which look in all directions. This plant is very similar to raspberries: the leaves have thorns, it blooms with the same small flowers. The berries are also collected as if from beads, but have a dark blue color. They begin to collect by the end of the summer or at the very beginning of autumn.

This type of plant grows in mountainous areas, in fields, along roads and near rivers. Like raspberries, blackberries have many healing properties. But in her private farmstead, in contrast to the raspberry relative, it is not often possible to meet her. Gardeners are frightened off by the spines, and the thickets of this plant are hard to handle. But our ancestors were not so picky and found many uses for this berry bush. In the people it is called "black raspberry".

In folk medicine, all parts of this shrub are used: fruits, shoots, leaves and rhizome. Preparations based on its components are also used in official medicine. They can be found in pharmacies. This teas, and herbal, creams and dietary supplements.

Preparation of raw materials

Despite the fact that people are accustomed to using mainly the fruits of blackberry, its leaves also have healing powers. The best time to collect is the flowering period. At this time there is the greatest accumulation of useful substances. It is best to choose young, but already formed leaves.

The fermentation process lasts a long time. Collected leaves spread a thin layer on a flat surface. Next, hold them with a rolling pin. Then all the leaves need to be rolled into tubes and put them in a glass jar. After a few days the leaves turn black. They will need to be removed and dried. You can dry them in a natural way or in an oven, at a temperature of no more than 40 degrees. Next, the leaves are crushed and poured into a jar for storage.

It is possible to store both in boxes, and in fabric sacks. The main condition is the lack of moisture. The shelf life of such a fermented mixture is 3 years.Medicinal properties do not change throughout the entire storage period.

Composition

Blackberry leaves contain:

• A large number of flavonoids.
• Organic acids.
• Essential and organic oils.
• Tannins.
• Minerals and trace elements: potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, phosphorus.
• Tannins.
• Fructose and sucrose.
• Amino acids.
• Glucose.
• Anthocyanins (anticancer substances that protect cells from internal mutations).
• Vitamins of group B, E, A. But of particular value is a huge content of vitamin C.

Such a rich and rich composition does not make high-calorie blackberries. It contains 34 kcal per 100 grams. product. This is much less than in grapefruit (35 calories) or watermelon (38 calories).

Medicinal properties

1. Blackberries are not in vain called natural aspirin. Salicylic acid has been found in its berries and leaves, which is able to fight microbes. Thanks to these properties, in the times of the Roman Empire, a blackberry leaf patch was used to heal wounds.
2. Phytoestrogens contained in the plant can affect breast cancer.
3. The plant has anti-inflammatory, anti-edema and anthelmintic action. Helps in the absorption of many vitamins (for example, C). Increases the body's defense and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
4. Prolonged use of freshly prepared juice rejuvenates the body and reduces the risk of developing cancer due to polyphenolic formations that release the human body from free radicals.
5. Even in ancient times, the green parts of this plant were used against diabetes mellitus and various kinds of inflammations of the urinary organs.
6. For women, blackberry tea is indispensable for menstrual pain, if there is an irregular cycle, and during menopause.
7. The prepared mixtures stabilize blood pressure and improve blood quality.
8. Herbal tea with blackberries will prevent colds, lower the temperature and strengthen the body during viral infections. It is believed that it is useful to use with neurotic diseases and problems with shortness of breath, as the inflammatory process stops in the respiratory tract.
9. Children are recommended to give blackberry juice or weak tea once a day.In addition to stimulating immunity, it serves to raise the level of hemoglobin and better absorption of iron.
10. Tannins help with diarrhea, as they have an astringent effect. They remove toxins from the digestive organs. Slow bleeding.
11. The leaves are rich in miritillin (natural insulin). Blackberry leaf tea is useful to drink with diabetes, they lower the sugar content. He also normalizes and regulates metabolic processes in the body.
12. It is especially useful to use berries and blackberry leaves for pregnant women, but this should be done in small quantities and in the absence of contraindications. This will replenish the body with essential vitamins, will give a boost of energy and positive.
13. Shrub greens treat sore joints, rheumatism, arthritis.

Important! Using traditional medicine, do not exclude drugs and methods of treatment prescribed to you by doctors.

Leaf tea

To prepare drinks you can use not only individual parts of plants, but also make a dried mixture of berries and leaves. To do this, 1 part of the berries take 2 parts of the leaves. All this fray and lay in a fabric bag.Dried for several days. You can use it as usual brewing. It is impossible to resist the aroma and taste of such a drink!

Mixtures are prepared in the same way with other medicinal plants. Two teaspoons of dried leaves are brewed in a glass of boiling water for 15-20 minutes. Then the leaves are removed and tea can be drunk. To improve the taste, you can add lemon.

Blackberry jam

Such a delicacy is boiled from ripe fruits and leaves. It attracts with a rich purple color and indescribable aroma. And the leaves add jam bitterness. If you wish, then dessert can be supplemented with lemon or quince useful for the body. According to the recipe, for cooking jam you will need: 2 kg of blackberries, about 200 grams. young leaves, 1l. water, 2 kg of granulated sugar. Rinse the berries and leaves. Let the water drain. Leaves to boil in water for 20 minutes. After this time, remove the leaves. Two glasses of sugar dissolved in two cups of broth, cook syrup. Run berries into it and boil for 10 minutes. Boil is not much. After that, cool to a comfortable, room temperature. Then boil again and add the grated lemon in it, you can with a peel.Cook for about 10 more minutes. Put the finished product in jars and screw tight. So they can be stored for several years.

Folk decoction

It is used as a diaphoretic and effective diuretic. It is prepared in the ratio of 1 to 10. It helps with gastric bleeding and dyspepsia, skin rashes. To do this, the gruel of the leaves impose in the form of a compress. So remove eczema, versicolor and purulent boils.

1. From cough. To prepare a cough drink, you need to take an equal amount of dried blackberry leaves, coltsfoot leaves, lindens and raspberries. Brew in the usual way. For more benefits, you can add natural honey. This infusion will contribute to the separation of sputum, relieve cough, sweat.
2. For healthy hair. If you wash your hair with broth at least 2 times a week, this will accelerate hair growth and give it a thickening.
3. With indigestion. A collection of mint leaves, blackberries, inflorescences of chamomile and raspberry will help. Everything is taken in equal portions and brewed. On the glass lays no more than 2 small spoons of the mixture. Insist 10 minutes.
4. When bleeding (hemorrhoids, gastric). Approximately 10 grams is taken per 200 ml of water. young shoots and leaves. All this needs to be brewed.
5. With inflammations of the throat and gums. It is useful to do a mouthwash and throat infusion, or use it as a daily rinse.
6. Infusion from nervous disorders (can be used during menopause). Two tablespoons of dried leaves pour 0.5 liters. boiled water. Cover tightly with a lid and leave for 6-7 hours. Then strain through a sieve and place in the refrigerator. Apply 1 ст4 cups, 4 times a day. Continue treatment until all symptoms of nervous exhaustion disappear.
7. Infusion to strengthen the body's defenses and enhance immunity. One tablespoon of carefully dried leaves just need to pour a cup of boiling water. Next, cover tightly and let it brew for 20 minutes. Prepared infusion divided into 3 parts. Take one, 3 times a day.
8. A remedy for poisoning and inflammation. One tablespoon of dry and crushed leaves to pour in a thermos. Pour 200 ml boiling water there. Let it brew for 3-4 hours. Infusion strain from suspensions.Keep refrigerated. Take 3 times a day for 100 grams. before meals. Treatment is carried out before the removal of the inflammatory process. It usually takes 10 days.
9. Fresh leaves are widely used in cosmetology. From the green "black raspberry" are advised to make masks for hair growth and strengthen the roots. Balms fight with oily skin on the head. A decoction of the leaves brightens the skin.

Contraindications

• Do not use without consulting a doctor.
• A contraindication is the children's age (up to 3 years).

Also, it is necessary for people with allergies, intestinal and gastric disorders, chronic diseases of the bladder and in the postoperative period to abstain from therapy with the help of blackberry leaves.

Moderate use is recommended for people with high acidity (acetone), suffering from kidney disease.

Note! If you have serious or chronic diseases, before using drugs that contain blackberries, or using berries and juice in its pure form, consult your doctor. Uncontrolled use or individual intolerance to the product can lead to nausea, vomiting and even poisoning!

Blackberry is a very useful plant, whose components can be used not only for satiation and in delicacies, but also as an effective therapeutic agent with a wide spectrum of action. Blackberry based tea calms the nervous system and strengthens the body's defenses. The bath with the addition of leaves also has a healing effect.

The naturalness of this environmentally friendly product, its taste (use in cooking), a huge spectrum of action, simplicity in the preparation of raw materials, tinctures and drinks, availability is the smallest list that we can compile in favor of the use of blackberry and its components. For centuries, traditional methods of treatment have saved all generations of people. Therefore, forgetting about this branch of medicine will be not only a great folly, but also a manifestation of disrespect for the traditions of the ancestors, disregard for the gifts of nature.

Video: collecting blackberry leaves