Content
For medicinal purposes, flowers, the fruits of this plant are used. The unique properties of this folk remedies can replace a huge number of drugs. If you look at the list of what hawthorn treats, you can find a variety of diseases in it. Homemade recipes for tinctures, decoctions of blood red hawthorn help improve health conditions.
Useful properties of hawthorn
Explore in full chemical composition The fruits and flowers of the plant have not yet succeeded, but doctors do not doubt that the benefits of hawthorn are obvious. As a rule, it is used for preventive purposes and in the treatment of non-acute conditions. What is useful hawthorn? Doctors believe that the main beneficial features plants are in the presence of plant polyphenols, flavonoids. These elements prevent the fragility of the walls of blood vessels, help neutralize free radicals in the body, for example:
- Hyperoside. Increases the utilization of glucose, saturates the heart with potassium ions, oxygen. This helps to improve myocardial contractility, cardiac output.
- Quercetin. Reduces permeability, has an antitumor, antioxidant effect, reduces permeability, improves capillary elasticity
- Vitexin. Expands blood vessels, improves metabolic processes in the heart muscle.
- Quercetin. It is considered an excellent prophylactic for circulatory disorders in the brain, cardiovascular diseases. The intake of quercetin reduces the likelihood of cataracts.
Another useful element that affects the beneficial properties is acids. They are part of flowers, hawthorn fruits, for example:
- Olean - enhances, tones the blood supply to the heart, brain.
- Ursolovaya - has a wound healing, anti-inflammatory effect.
- Chlorogenic - helps to normalize the function of the liver, kidneys, has an anti-sclerotic, choleretic effect.
- Coffee - promotes the release of bile, has strong antibacterial properties.
Hawthorn berries contain provitamin A, carotene, vitamins E, K, C. Some varieties have the same level of carotene as rose hips or carrots. The product contains sorbitol, sugar, which are recommended for diabetes. A high index of magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium and trace elements of copper, zinc, manganese. After freezing hawthorn berries, the amount of tannins decreases, the fruits become not so tart, a little sweeter.
Hawthorn during pregnancy
For many pills, the main contraindication is the period of bearing a child. For this reason, expectant mothers are interested in whether hawthorn is suitable for pregnant women. Before taking, you should consult with a doctor who knows your medical history. The healing properties of hawthorn in this case are well revealed in the composition of tea. To achieve a positive result, you should know how to brew berries correctly.
The concentration of hawthorn should be small. This tea helps to normalize nervous system women, cope with insomnia and has no negative effect. You can prepare an infusion based on black or green tea. Another option that can be taken during pregnancy is described below. Cooking instructions:
- You need 2 tbsp. l. curdled milk / kefir, banana, ½ tsp. honey and 1 tbsp. l. concentrated infusion of hawthorn.
- Mix all ingredients.
- Beat with a mixer until foamy.
Hawthorn for pressure
The healing properties of hawthorn help to relax the walls of the vessel, which has a beneficial effect on pressure. It is recommended to take it only for those who have been diagnosed with hypertension, for hypotensive patients this remedy is contraindicated. Hawthorn tincture for pressure helps to cope with tinnitus, headaches, dizziness. It is recommended to take a folk remedy for high cholesterol, low lecithin. This will improve blood coagulation and its condition.
The medicinal properties of hawthorn tincture are enough for initial stage hypertension. In more serious conditions, additional medications will be required, which the doctor will prescribe. When you receive home remedies in the later stages of the disease, you should definitely inform the doctor about this so that he takes this condition into account when drawing up a course of treatment. This is due to the fact that a folk remedy enhances the effect of heart drugs, the doctor can reduce the dosage of drugs against this background.
Hawthorn for the heart
This plant is used in the prevention and treatment coronary disease. Hawthorn is useful for the heart due to its ability to lower cholesterol in the blood, which prevents the formation and deposition of plaques. The beneficial effect of the plant has been proven in cases of angina pectoris, the substances from the composition improve fat metabolism. ECG shows significant improvement in coronary heart disease after taking this folk remedy.
There is a positive effect under the condition of long-term, regular intake of hawthorn. It is important to drink the drug strictly according to the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Treatment should be combined with proper nutrition, in a healthy way life and medications that the doctor will prescribe for admission as part of a course of therapy. Although the remedy is considered folk, you can buy it at a pharmacy.
Hawthorn tincture - benefits and harms
Any medical preparations have a certain list of side (harmful) effects. Hawthorn tincture is no exception. With excessive use of the drug, negative consequences may appear. For this reason, it is recommended to consult a doctor before taking. Hawthorn - useful properties and contraindications are based on the characteristics of the human body, the course of the disease. The positive qualities of the plant are written in the sections above, below is a list of negative effects that may occur.
- Excessively prolonged use can lead to depression of the heart rhythm (arrhythmia).
- A large number of fruits can cause mild poisoning.
- The likelihood of spasm of blood vessels, intestines, and vomiting during treatment on an empty stomach increases. Reduce the dosage or take strictly 2 hours after eating.
- Paroxysmal pain, colic happens if you drink cold water after taking hawthorn.
- Hypertensive patients are advised not to use fruits, but flowers for the treatment of heart disease.
Hawthorn - contraindications
One of the main advantages of this tool is its harmlessness. Long-term use has a beneficial effect on the entire human body. However, the use of fruits also has some limitations, for example, there are such contraindications for hawthorn:
- Dried fruits, flowers, infusions are prohibited for children under 12 years of age.
- The dosage should be strictly observed, the recommended amount per day is 150 g of berries. Taking a large amount of the drug sharply lowers the pressure.
- It is contraindicated to drink on an empty stomach, because it will lead to intestinal, vascular spasms, vomiting, nausea.
- A contraindication is the combination with antiarrhythmic cardiac drugs.
- Slight poisoning causes the intake of unripe berries.
- The main contraindication for the use of berries is hypotension, because they will further reduce pressure.
How to brew hawthorn
If contraindications in your case do not prohibit taking, then hawthorn decoction or tincture is easily prepared at home. If you wish, you can buy a ready-made drug in a pharmacy, but if you have the components, you can make the medicine yourself. Here are some cooking examples:
- Take 1 tbsp. fresh berries (frozen for the winter are not suitable). Put in any dish, mash with a wooden crush.
- Pour the berry mass with 70% alcohol (about 200 ml).
- The mixture should be stored in a dark place for at least 3 weeks. Shake the container every day.
- Then strain the tincture into a thermos and you can start drinking.
- You need 150 g of dried fruits. Carefully check that all pieces are ground or crushed.
- Pour the ground berries with 1 liter of vodka.
- For 20 days, put the remedy in a dark place.
- Strain the infusion into a suitable container. The liquid should turn yellow-red.
Hawthorn is a tall shrub whose crown can reach up to 4-7 meters in circumference. The plant belongs to the Rosaceae family, outwardly it looks branched, with large and strong branches of brown or dark gray, dotted with long thorns, and the shape of its leaves depends on the variety. The flowers of the hawthorn are white, fragrant, collected in inflorescences. The fruits of the plant have a slightly oblong or round shape, ripe berries can be red or orange in color, they taste tart, bittersweet. The ripening period of berries depends on the variety and place of growth of the plant, most often it is September or October.
Hawthorn belongs to the group of medicinal plants. For medicinal purposes, people use its flowers, fruits, less often - leaves. The plant is widespread in the forest and forest-steppe zone. Most often it can be found on the outskirts of the forest, along the banks of lakes, rivers, near ravines, along roads. Hawthorn is a wild plant, but in the last decade gardeners have begun to plant it more and more often on their plots, since the plant has not only healing properties but also a great decorative look.
Peculiarities
Grataegus is the Latin name for the hawthorn plant. The State Pharmacopoeia (SP) in the 11th edition of 1990 in part 2 describes in detail how the medicinal raw material of hawthorn fruits looks like, what is its chemical composition and what requirements are imposed on it to determine authenticity.
On the territory of Russia, a variety of Blood-red hawthorn is used in medical practice. It is very common in the central part of the country and grows everywhere in the territories of Eastern and Western Siberia. Often this variety is used to create a green massif on city streets, in squares and park areas, and it can also be found in a wild form.
According to the Pharmacopoeia standard, ripe and dried hawthorn fruits are used in the form of medicinal raw materials. The length of the fruit can be from 6 to 14 millimeters, and the width - from 5 to 11 millimeters. The berries should be orange, red-brown or dark brown, firm to the touch, with wrinkled skin, contain 3-5 hard seeds, the taste of the fruit is tart, bittersweet. Raw materials are packed in cardboard containers or kraft paper bags of 50 grams. The shelf life of raw materials is no more than 2 years.
According to the Global Fund, in addition to the fruits of the hawthorn, its inflorescences are also used. The raw material consists of individual flowers, petals, inflorescences with pedicels. The size of the flowers should be from 10 to 15 millimeters, and the buds should be from 3 to 4 millimeters. Hawthorn flowers are packaged in 100 grams in a cardboard container. The shelf life of raw materials is at least 3 years.
Ingredients: vitamins and minerals
Hawthorn fruits have a fairly rich biologically active component of vitamins and microelements. Here is a short list of them and the amount of content per 100 grams of raw materials:
- vitamin C - 25 mg;
- vitamin P - 370-670 mg;
- vitamin A - 3-15 mg;
- vitamin E - up to 5 mg;
- fructose - 5-10 mg;
- pectin - 0.6-0.65 mg;
- coumarin and oxycoumarin - up to 3.3 mg;
- sorbitol - up to 22.6 mg;
- malic acid - 0.25-0.95 mg;
- ursolic acid - 0.3-0.8 mg;
- triterienic acids - 50-180 mg;
- coloring and tannins - up to 1.75 mg;
- trace elements - copper, potassium, zinc, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, iron, boron, selenium.
Hawthorn berries have a relatively low calorie content - 100 grams of fresh raw materials contain approximately 50-55 kilocalories. It is believed that when eating one glass of freshly picked ripe berries, it is fully provided daily requirement body in vitamins and minerals.
However, doctors warn that consuming hawthorn in large doses can dramatically lower blood pressure and increase heart rate.
Benefit and harm
To use medicinal properties hawthorn fruit in the treatment of the human body, it is necessary to take it correctly, strictly observing the dosage. Hawthorn can be used on its own or in combination with other medicines.
Useful properties of hawthorn have been used for several centuries. Most often, its fruits and flowers are taken in the following cases:
- To strengthen the muscle layer of the walls of capillaries and blood vessels, resulting in a decrease in their proliferative ability and fragility.
- The blood viscosity and the quantitative content of cholesterol are normalized and its deposition in the vessels decreases.
- The arteries and vessels of the brain and heart expand, resulting in improved blood supply and oxygenation of these organs, thereby improving overall well-being.
- Dizziness and sleep disturbances pass, physical endurance and mental activity increase.
- Hawthorn juice improves the activity of the brain and central nervous system, thereby reducing nervous overexcitability. A slight sedative effect when taking hawthorn does not cause oppression of attention and reactions, so it can be taken even by those whose activities are related to driving vehicles and working with moving elements of various mechanisms.
- The composition of the blood improves and its active circulation increases. For this reason, preparations based on hawthorn are often prescribed to older people to normalize blood circulation.
- The tone and endurance of the heart muscle improves, against which the dynamics of heart contractions normalize. Under the influence of preparations from hawthorn, heart failure decreases, different kinds arrhythmias and existole.
- Medicines prepared on the basis of hawthorn fruits gently but very effectively reduce high arterial blood pressure, which is used in the treatment of hypertension, and is also included in the treatment of conditions after myocardial infarction.
- Hawthorn is able to improve the condition in diseases of the stomach and intestines. The fruits of this shrub contain a component similar to mucus, which neutralizes the aggressive action of gastric juice in gastritis, regulates digestive processes and reduces the increased formation of gases in the intestines, and also helps to normalize stool in case of intestinal disorders - diarrhea. In addition, hawthorn facilitates the discharge of bile and prevents the occurrence of hepatic colic.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties, and is also a prophylactic agent for the development of cancer.
- It is a good diuretic, removes toxins and free radicals from the body, accelerates metabolic processes.
- Stimulates the production of collagen, thereby maintaining youthful skin and joint mobility.
- Normalizes blood sugar levels. Hawthorn berries are rich in fructose and people suffering from metabolic disorders and diabetes are allowed to take drugs based on this plant.
Reviews of herbalists and homeopaths indicate that under the influence of preparations from hawthorn berries, patients experienced allergy manifestations, women felt better during menopause, and the number and intensity of pain attacks decreased with migraine headaches.
Hawthorn fruits are a fairly strong biologically active drug that, if used improperly, can bring not only benefits, but also harm. An uncontrolled, unreasonably long period of using drugs from hawthorn can cause depression of the heartbeat and the activity of the central nervous system, which manifests itself in the form of apathy, drowsiness.
It has been noticed more than once that if, after taking fresh hawthorn berries, you drink a glass of cool water, a stomach spasm may occur or intestinal colic will begin. If more than one glass of fresh hawthorn fruit is consumed, nausea and vomiting may occur.
Before using hawthorn, you should consult with your doctor to determine the dosage and duration of the use of preparations based on this plant.
Contraindications
The list of conditions in which the reception and action of hawthorn is undesirable is as follows:
- the first trimester of pregnancy - you can take it only if there is evidence and strictly under the supervision of a doctor;
- children's age up to 12 years;
- tendency to allergic reactions and individual intolerance;
- tendency to low arterial blood pressure;
- vegetovascular dystonia with bouts of dizziness;
- condition after a recent traumatic brain injury;
- tendency to slow heart rate (bradycardia).
When using preparations made on the basis of hawthorn fruits, doctors advise not to abuse the dosage, and also not to take them on an empty stomach, since the risk of unwanted reactions from the body in this case increases.
Release form
Hawthorn berries can be harvested in the fall on their own or purchased at any pharmacy chain. Pharmacies sell hawthorn in the following dosage forms:
- dried berries in packaging;
- dried flowers in packaging;
- herbal tea, which contains hawthorn fruits as the main ingredient and may contain other additives depending on the scope of such a drink; usual packaging of herbal tea - 100 g;
- hawthorn extract in capsules is considered a biologically active food supplement (BAA) and is produced by various pharmaceutical factories, one of which is Pharm Product;
- lozenges with syrup from the juice of hawthorn berries;
- alcohol tincture;
- liquid hawthorn extract;
- medicinal syrup - may consist only of hawthorn berries or contain components of other medicinal plants, for example, hawthorn syrup with chokeberry.
At home, you can prepare preparations from hawthorn fruits in the form of infusions, decoctions, alcohol tinctures, cook jam and make syrups.
Instructions for use
It is best to take hawthorn after a meal. There are several ways to do this.
- Hawthorn berries can be brewed with boiling water to obtain an infusion or decoction, which is taken warm in half a glass three times a day.
- From ripe fruits, you can cook jam, jam, make jelly or a vitamin drink - you can drink such products from pressure and to raise the general tone.
- Instead of black tea or coffee for heart disease, you can brew hawthorn berries, while getting a fragrant drink that brings benefits and pleasure.
- Hawthorn tincture is made on alcohol or vodka, infusing the berries for 3-4 weeks, and then taking a few drops as directed by the doctor.
Doctors recommend not to combine remedies made from hawthorn with drugs used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. If you use both drugs together, with a high degree of probability there will be a sharp drop in blood pressure, severe dizziness, lethargy and drowsiness will appear.
Application during pregnancy
During pregnancy, hawthorn-based preparations should be taken with great caution. Most often they are used for heart rhythm disturbances, increased emotionality, spasms in gastrointestinal tract and susceptibility to hypertension. Women preparing to become mothers take hawthorn in fresh, in the form of juice, syrup, decoctions and infusions. Alcohol tinctures are contraindicated for pregnant women. Hawthorn helps even if a pregnant woman eats a few berries before going to bed - this will help her fall asleep faster and recuperate. In the morning future mom will feel a surge of strength and will be in a great mood, feeling completely rested.
Often, during the bearing of a child, a woman suffers from intestinal colic and stool disorders. Reception in small dosages of hawthorn berries helps to cope with this problem.
In addition, it has been noticed that against the background of taking hawthorn, the immune forces of the body improve, which is especially important during seasonal colds, since the berries of this plant contain a large amount of ascorbic acid.
It is noticed that hawthorn removes excess fluid from the body well, being a diuretic. This property can be useful for those women who suffer during pregnancy from fluid retention, manifested in the form of edema. In addition to this property, hawthorn has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the kidneys and prevents the formation of inflammatory processes in them.
Often during pregnancy, women notice varicose veins in their legs. This may be due not only to the bearing of a child, but also to their physiological tendency to expand the venous walls. Taking hawthorn, you can achieve a good tone of the veins and blood vessels and avoid the manifestation of this disease.
After childbirth, when a woman's body is weakened by a long period of gestation and the process of childbirth, hawthorn will help to quickly restore strength, replenish the necessary vitamin and mineral balance in the body of a nursing mother. In addition, it was noticed that against the background of taking the berries of this plant, the function of lactation improves.
cooking recipes
In folk medicine, there are a fairly large number of various recipes with hawthorn fruits. To prepare a decoction, infusion or jam, you can use fresh, frozen and even dried berries. Here are some recipes that you can use to prepare delicious and healing remedies at home:
- Decoction of hawthorn. To prepare a decoction of dry berries, you need to take them in an amount of 50 grams and pour water in a volume of 500 milliliters. The broth should be brought to a boil over low heat and literally after 1-2 minutes remove the container from the stove. The broth is covered with a lid and allowed to brew for about 2-3 hours. You can take a glass three times a day after meals with hypertension.
- Alcohol tincture. Take 30 grams of fruits and inflorescences of hawthorn and fill them with alcohol in a volume of 100 grams. The composition is closed with a tight lid and infused for 3-4 weeks in a dark and cool place. From time to time the contents of the container must be shaken. Next, the tincture must be filtered, poured into a clean bottle and used 25-30 drops immediately before meals three times a day. The tincture is useful in cardiac arrhythmia, and also as a vascular tonic.
- Medicinal balm. This remedy is prepared on the basis of hawthorn with the addition of other ingredients. Take two tablespoons of dried hawthorn and wild rose berries, add half a teaspoon of ground elecampane root and pour 500 milliliters of vodka. After 30 days, the composition is filtered and sugar syrup is added, cooked from 100 milliliters of water and 100 grams of sugar. The syrup and tincture are mixed and allowed to brew for another 7 days. Take a teaspoon three times a day.
- Compote. Hawthorn can be prepared for the winter if you make compote from its ripe berries. Take liter jar, lay the berries sorted and scalded with boiling water so that they occupy about 2/3 of the container. Now you need to make a syrup for pouring - it is prepared at the rate of 300 grams of sugar and one liter of water, the composition is brought to a boil and the berries are poured with hot syrup, 3-5 grams of citric acid are added to the syrup. Next, the jars are sterilized and the lids are rolled up. Compote can be drunk in a glass three times a day.
- Berry puree. Ripe berries need to be boiled a little in water until they soften. Then the berries are thrown back on a sieve and wait for all the water to drain. Next, the berries need to be crushed by rubbing them through a fine-mesh sieve. You can add sugar and citric acid to the puree. The mass is brought to a boil and packaged in glass jars. Next, the jars are sterilized and the lids are rolled up.
- Dried berries. The sorted berries are laid out on a baking sheet and placed in an oven with a temperature of no more than 60 degrees. The oven door must be left ajar to allow the moisture to evaporate. During the drying process, the berries must be mixed. The end of drying will be at the moment when the fruits become dense and with wrinkled skin. When pressed, the skin should spring back. It is important not to overdry the berries during the drying process to such an extent that when pressed they would scatter into dust, since such raw materials are unsuitable for further use.
When consuming hawthorn fruits, it must be remembered that they can be eaten no more than 150 grams per day, or it can be 150 grams of a product made from these berries.
If you want to harvest hawthorn berries yourself, in this case you need to wait until they are fully ripe, and this happens in early October. For collection, try to choose a sunny day without precipitation. Do not pick berries near motorways, as they contain salts of heavy metals and other harmful impurities. The same applies to areas bordering industrial facilities - raw materials collected in such a place are potentially hazardous to your health.
Experienced gardeners advise everyone to plant a hawthorn bush in their area. The varieties "Siberian", "Prickly", "Altai", "Pear-shaped" have proven themselves well. The plant is unpretentious and does not require special specific care, but it has an excellent decorative appearance from spring to late autumn and will generously give you a harvest of useful berries.
For the benefits and use of hawthorn, see the following video.
Hawthorn is a genus of deciduous shrubs and small trees that belong to the Rosaceae family. The plant, whose age can reach 300 years, is widespread in Eurasia, mainly in the territory between 30 ° and 60 ° north latitude. An unpretentious shrub is found in light forests, on the edges and glades. Hawthorn is an excellent honey plant. The fruits (berries) of the plant, popularly known as "cock spur", "lady" and "glod", can be eaten. On the territory of our country there are 15 species.
Since ancient times, folk healers have attached particular importance to the properties of Hawthorn. In Chinese medicine, berries began to be used as a remedy several thousand years ago. In Russia, from the flowers and fruits of a unique shrub, healers have also been brewing medicinal potions for the treatment of various ailments for a long time. During the reign of the great reformer Peter I, the medicinal properties of Hawthorn were officially recognized, the plant was entered into a special register and began to be grown in the “pharmacy gardens” established by the sovereign order.
In modern official medicine, blood-red hawthorn, Altai prickly, small-fruited, single-pistil and some other species are used, sometimes quite outwardly different from each other.
- atherosclerosis;
- arterial hypertension (high blood pressure);
- nervous fatigue;
- digestive disorders;
- gastritis;
- esophagitis;
- liver pathologists;
- some pathologies of the kidneys;
- spasms of blood vessels;
- spasms of smooth muscles;
- angioedema;
- hyperthyroidism (hyperfunction of the thyroid gland);
- dyspnea;
- cardiac edema;
- rheumatism;
- epilepsy;
- headaches of vascular origin;
- dizziness;
- stagnation of bile;
- frequent urination;
- violations of the discharge of urine;
- fever;
- viral infections (herpetic lesions);
- muscle pain (myalgia);
- radiculitis;
- sciatica;
- lumbago;
- ulcerative lesions of the digestive system (in particular, a stomach ulcer);
- intoxication (with poisoning);
- asthma;
- urolithiasis disease;
- renal colic;
- fungal skin diseases (dermatomycosis);
- dropsy;
- some hematological diseases (blood diseases);
- insufficient production of breast milk;
- elevated blood cholesterol levels (for the prevention of coronary heart disease and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques).
Important:With increased pressure, preparations from flowers are more effective.
In case of poisoning, tea helps very well, which includes dried hawthorn berries, rose hips, tansy flowers, as well as the roots of elecampane and Baikal skullcap. A healing drink allows you to quickly remove toxic compounds from the body.
Some Popular Hawthorn Recipes
The recipe for an aqueous extract of hawthorn, recommended for neurosis and high blood pressure
For 4 parts of dried hawthorn berries, take 4 parts of motherwort herb and 1 part of chamomile flowers. 1 st. Pour a spoonful of the collection with 200 ml of boiling water and insist for 2 hours in a thermos or a container tightly wrapped in a towel, then cool and strain. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day before meals.
Hawthorn fruit tea recipe for arrhythmia and angina pectoris
Pour 20-30 whole hawthorn berries and a handful of rose hips into a thermos. Pour 1 liter of boiling water, close tightly and leave overnight. Take 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day one hour before meals.
Recipe for a tincture of hawthorn flowers, indicated for hypertension and angina pectoris
For 4 st. spoons of plant substrate take 40 ml of a 40% solution of ethyl alcohol or vodka. Leave the container in a dark place for 2-3 weeks, during which the tincture must be shaken periodically. Strain the finished product. Take 25-30 drops 1 hour before meals, diluted with water first.
Recipe for a healing infusion for prevention and therapy
In the evening, take 3 parts of dried Hawthorn flowers, and 4 parts each of St. John's wort and motherwort grass. 1 st. brew a spoonful of the collection with 200 ml of boiling water and insist all night (preferably in a thermos). Drink 100 ml 3 times a day before meals.
Recipe: "Male" infusion to improve potency
Take 1 part of dry Hawthorn flowers and peppermint herb, 2 parts of Veronica officinalis herb and 3 parts of highlander and fireweed (willow-herb). Pour 1 tbsp. collection spoon of 200 ml of boiling water and leave for half an hour. Drink a third of a glass before meals.
Contraindications to the use of Hawthorn
The list of contraindications for Hawthorn is small.
Phytopreparations based on it should not be taken if a person has:
- individual intolerance;
- hypotension (low blood pressure).
Side effects
Excessively long-term use of infusions and decoctions of Hawthorn in high doses can lead to a strong decrease in blood pressure and arrhythmias. Taking drugs on an empty stomach often causes vomiting, spasm of blood vessels and spasms of the smooth muscles of the digestive tract.
The use of hawthorn berries in very large quantities can cause symptoms of mild poisoning (headaches and dyspeptic disorders). Intestinal colic often appear if you drink the fruits of the plant with cold water.
Hawthorn during pregnancy and lactation
For women who are preparing to become mothers, Hawthorn is an excellent source of vitamins, trace elements and other beneficial substances that strengthen the body. It is not recommended to use alcohol tinctures during childbearing, since ethanol, even in small quantities, has a pronounced toxic effect on the fetus.
Good day, dear readers!
In today's article, we will consider with you such a wonderful thing as hawthorn, as well as its medicinal and other useful properties, use, contraindications, composition and treatment of hawthorn. So…
Hawthorn (lat. Crataegus)- a genus of deciduous, rarely semi-evergreen small trees or tall shrubs, belongs to the Rosaceae family.
The medicinal properties of hawthorn were used by the inhabitants of ancient China and Asia. Hawthorn was taken to eliminate loose stools, and later they noticed its property to have a therapeutic effect on the cardiovascular system.
Other names: Glod, lady-tree.
Hawthorn begins to bear fruit after about 15 years, and lives for more than 300 years. There are cases when the height of the plant reached 6 m. It grows slowly, but resistant to drought and frost. Blossoms in May-June, fruits ripen in August-September.
According to various data, the genus to which the hawthorn belongs includes from 200 to 1000 species, the most famous of which is the blood-red hawthorn, which is most often used for medicinal purposes.
For harvesting flowers, you need to choose dry sunny weather in late spring or early summer. Dry them in the shade.
Mature hawthorn fruits are harvested in autumn, when the foliage crumbles and the fruits are perfectly visible on bare branches. After collection, they should be scattered on tin trays in a thin layer and put in a hot, but not hot oven. Stir from time to time, then remove the burnt ones, and pour the dried ones into a cloth bag or plywood box. Properly dried raw materials can be stored for up to 8 years without losing their medicinal properties.
Chemical composition of hawthorn
The medicinal properties of hawthorn are due to its rich composition.
The hawthorn contains:
- vitamins,;
- fructose;
- sorbitol;
- essential oils;
- starch;
- phytosterol;
- pectin;
- organic acids (ursolic, oleanic and chlorogenic);
- saponins;
- : , manganese, and .
Hawthorn is very useful for diabetes, because. it can normalize blood sugar levels.
Also, this plant is widely used in cosmetology - masks, in which it is included, make the skin more elastic, rejuvenate and improve the functioning of blood vessels.
Hawthorn - medicinal properties
The use of hawthorn is advisable for the following diseases and pathological conditions:
- in neurology - epilepsy;
- in gastroenterology -, and;
- in cardiology -, angioedema, transferred;
- diseases of the liver and kidneys;
- , chronic fatigue;
- swelling;
- violations , ;
- to raise immunity;
- for prevention,;
- for .
Hawthorn has the following beneficial properties:
- antispasmodic;
- antibacterial;
- anti-inflammatory;
- vasodilating;
- cardiostimulating;
- antitumor;
- sedative;
- choleretic;
- normalizes the heart rhythm;
- tones the heart muscle;
- ensures sufficient supply of oxygen;
- relieves excitability and fatigue of the heart;
- normalizes blood clotting;
- regulates cholesterol levels.
Hawthorn - contraindications for admission and harm
The benefits and medicinal properties of hawthorn are numerous, but, unfortunately, there are a number of contraindications that you need to familiarize yourself with.
Contraindications to taking hawthorn:
- individual intolerance;
- pregnancy and lactation;
Hawthorn overdose
Before taking hawthorn, you should consult your doctor. Also, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations of the doctor and measure in use. medicinal plant for treatment.
Symptoms of an overdose of hawthorn:
- violation of the heart rhythm (which is very dangerous for people with heart disease).
Important! With signs of an overdose, you should immediately stop using hawthorn and consult a doctor!
Hawthorn flower tea. Take equal proportions of large-leaf black tea and dried hawthorn flowers, mix. The resulting mixture, take 2 tbsp. spoons, pour into a teapot, pour 200 ml of boiling water and cover. After 3-5 minutes, the tea leaves are ready, you can add and to tea to taste.
Hawthorn fruit tea. 3 art. spoons of hawthorn fruit pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave to brew in a thermos for 30-40 minutes.
Decoction of hawthorn. 2 tbsp. spoons of hawthorn fruit pour 0.5 liters of boiling water in an enameled container. Hold on low heat for 5-7 minutes, turn off, cover and leave for 5 minutes.
Infusion of hawthorn flowers. Brew in a thermos 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dried hawthorn flowers 1 cup boiling water. After 2 hours, strain, drink 3-4 times a day before meals, ¼ cup.
Infusion of hawthorn fruit. 1 st. pour a spoonful of hawthorn fruit with boiling water in a thermos and leave for 2 hours. Take 3 tbsp. spoon before meals 3-4 times a day.
Alcohol tincture of hawthorn. Such a tincture can be bought at a pharmacy, or you can cook at home. Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dried flowers or hawthorn fruits and pour 1 glass of good quality vodka. Keep for 1 week in a glass and closed vessel (jar, bottle) in a dark place, shaking occasionally. Strain through several layers of cheesecloth. Take 20 to 25 drops, slightly diluted with water, 3-4 times daily before meals.
Hawthorn jam. Such jam can be eaten only for medicinal purposes, and not instead of goodies, control the amount eaten so as not to harm the body. Wash the ripe hawthorn berries well and peel the stalks, remove the seeds (put on rubber gloves on your hands, because the hawthorn will stain the skin). For 2 parts hawthorn berries, take 1 part sugar. Sprinkle the berries with sugar and leave for 30 minutes. Put the candied berries on the smallest fire until boiling, when it boils, add heat to medium and cook for another 5 minutes, removing the foam. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid and leave to cool. After 8-12 hours, put the jam on a small fire again and after boiling for 5 minutes, boil over medium heat. Leave to cool again. Then, after 8-12 hours, repeat the same steps and pour the hot jam into sterile jars and close the lid. Store jam in a cool place. This jam can be eaten at 0.5 tbsp. spoons 2-3 times a day half an hour before meals or one hour after meals.
Bath with hawthorn. Mix hawthorn leaves and grass in equal proportions. 6 art. spoons of the mixture, steam with 10 cups of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes over low heat. Leave to brew for a couple of hours, strain and add to the bathroom with water. Such a tonic bath will relieve fatigue after a busy day and bring the body into tone.
Hawthorn treatment - recipes
Vitamin infusion. Take 2 tbsp. spoons of hawthorn and wild rose, rinse and pour into a thermos. Pour 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Strain, drink instead of tea throughout the day in small doses between meals. You can add honey to taste.
Hypertension. 1 st. pour a spoonful of hawthorn flowers with a glass of boiling water and leave overnight in a sealed container. Take 1 glass an hour before meals for a month.
Mix 3 parts of hawthorn flowers and add 2 parts of chokeberry fruits and 1 part of sweet clover. Brew 1 tbsp. spoon collection in a glass of boiling water in a thermos and leave overnight. Take 1/3 cup one hour before meals.
Phlebeurysm. Take 1 part hawthorn berries, flowers, oregano and kidney tea, 2 parts each and motherwort. At night, brew 1 tbsp. collection spoon with a glass of boiling water. Take 0.5 cup one hour before meals.
Atherosclerosis. 1 st. Pour a spoonful of fruit with a glass of boiling water in a thermos. Let stand 2 hours. Take 1-2 tbsp. spoons an hour before meals.
Prevention of coronary artery disease, stroke. Mix 2 parts hawthorn fruit and 1 part chokeberry fruit and carrot seeds. Brew 3 tbsp. tablespoons of the mixture 1 liter of boiling water, leave to brew for 3 hours. Take 0.5 cup 6 times a day.
1 st. a spoonful of crushed hawthorn fruits, pour 0.5 liters of water and simmer for 30 minutes, adding 2 tbsp. spoons of sugar. Take 1 tbsp. spoon an hour before meals and at night. Store in refrigerator.
Poor sleep, insomnia. Brew 1 tbsp. a spoonful of hawthorn fruit with a glass of boiling water in a thermos. Leave for 1 hour. Take 3 tbsp. spoons 3-4 times a day an hour before meals.
Heart failure. 1 cup fresh or freshly frozen hawthorn fruits, wash, chop and add 1/3-¼ cup of water, heat to 30-40 degrees and squeeze the juice. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 2-3 times a day 1 hour before meals for 2-3 weeks.
and . Mix 1 part of hawthorn flowers and peppermint, 2 parts of Veronica officinalis, 3 parts of willowherb flowers and knotweed. 1 st. brew a spoonful of collection with a glass of boiling water, leave to brew for 20-30 minutes. Take 1/3 cup one hour before meals.
Headache. For headaches, take an infusion of hawthorn fruit or hawthorn in combination with willow tea, mixed in equal parts. Brew 1 teaspoon of hawthorn or mixture with a glass of boiling water (you can add a pinch of peppermint). Drink 0.5 cup before bed.
Peace, health and goodness to you, dear readers!
For a long time, hawthorn has been used as an effective folk remedy in the treatment of many pathologies. The uniqueness of the shrub lies in the fact that the active substances simultaneously act on different systems. Hawthorn berries have not only beneficial properties for women, but also have a number of contraindications. Let's consider this issue in more detail.
Composition of hawthorn
The composition of the fruit includes a large number of useful substances. All of them have a beneficial effect on the body:
- vitamins: A, C, E, K, group B, D;
- micro and macro elements: zinc, calcium, fluorine, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, copper, phosphorus, silicon, chromium, potassium, manganese, selenium, iodine, iron, boron;
- acids: citric, ursolic, coffee, tartaric, malic, grape, salicylic, succinic;
- starch;
- pectin;
- alimentary fiber;
- sorbitol;
- carotene.
From organic substances, there are esters, tannins, flavonoids, antioxidants, glycosides.
The calorie content of berries does not exceed 53 Kcal per 100 g. Therefore, they can be safely added to diet food. The composition does not include fats, proteins. Of the carbohydrates, fructose is present, due to which people with a high content can consume the berry.
Useful properties of hawthorn
Hawthorn berries are used in traditional medicine since ancient times. Initially, it was used as an astringent for gastrointestinal disorders, but over time, scientists have identified more useful properties.
The benefits of hawthorn fruit:
- They dilate blood vessels, so that oxygen particles freely penetrate the organs.
- Normalize blood pressure. Allowed to use at low and high rates.
- Normalize the process of blood circulation, heart rate.
- They reduce the level of harmful, having a strengthening effect on the walls of blood vessels.
- Calm the nervous system, bringing the pulse back to normal.
- Helps improve sleep quality.
- Stops diarrhea by preventing dehydration.
- Remove pathogenic microflora from the gastrointestinal tract.
- Eliminate migraine, headache, dizziness.
- Increase the body's defenses.
- Normalize the hormonal background in women.
- Eliminate hot flashes, excessive sweating during menopause.
- Relieve symptoms of vegetative dystonia.
- Regulate blood sugar levels.
For women, hawthorn berries exhibit beneficial properties and have a number of contraindications. What is the harm of shrub fruits for the body:
- When taken regularly, it lowers blood pressure.
- It should be used with caution during pregnancy, with menopause.
- They can provoke an exacerbation of diseases of the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract.
- Breastfeeding can cause allergic reaction The child has.
- Cannot be taken with medicines from.
Drinks made from hawthorn berries can provoke gag reflexes. It is not recommended to use in case of urticaria, weakness, dizziness. Signs indicate individual intolerance.
Daily intake
Hawthorn berries have an unusual taste, bright aroma. Fruits are recommended to be eaten daily, but not to exceed the daily allowance.
The daily dose is 150 g. Tea, compote, smoothies are prepared from hawthorn.
Did you know that hawthorn berries help in the treatment of various diseases?
Vote
The use of hawthorn
fresh berries hawthorn for a woman (useful properties and contraindications, see above) are useful for internal and external use. Vitaminized drinks are made from them, as well as facial skin care products. We offer to consider several detailed recipes.
For treatment
Depending on the type of disease, hawthorn berries (see above for useful properties and contraindications) are taken differently for women. Do not exceed the dosage.
home cosmetics
Hawthorn berries are widely used in cosmetology. What benefits do they have for the skin?
- Reduce the risk of premature aging, depletion of the walls of the blood vessels of the skin.
- Stimulates the production of salicylic acid.
- Prevent the appearance of inflammatory processes.
- Suitable for all skin types.
- Eliminate acne.
- Soften the epidermis.
- Align the complexion, remove age spots.
Hawthorn berries (for useful properties and contraindications, see the article) for women in cosmetology, it is recommended to use a course of 3 weeks, every 6 months. Consider several options for homemade masks.
Bonus
Hawthorn berries for women (see the article for useful properties and contraindications) are simply necessary.
- With proper use, medicinal fruits help to improve the condition and get rid of many pathologies.
- Daily rate for female body is 150 g.
- Excessive intake can lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure.
- During pregnancy, the fruits are consumed after consultation with a gynecologist.
- Fresh berries favorably affect the condition of the skin.
Hawthorn - a unique shrub that helps to heal from the inside and improve appearance. Proper use of the fruit will alleviate the condition in many pathologies and eliminate the occurrence of an overdose.
