Probably few people know this, but the bird cherry is extremely useful for treating various diseases, and its smell helps to get rid of ticks. The fact is that in the flowers and leaves of this plant contains a huge amount of substances with antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. And even a bouquet of several sprigs of bird cherry will help to clear the air in the apartment and destroy harmful microbes.
General characteristics
Prunus is a deciduous, fast-growing tree of the rose family, which can reach 8-15 m in height. It blossoms in May, bears fruit from July to August. Cherry berries are small (the size of a pea), as a rule, astringently sweet. Inside each fruit hidden inedible bitter bone. But not only is it bitter, it also has toxic properties.
This tree is very common in Europe, North Asia and North Africa. Within Europe, the bird cherry grows from the northern part of Scandinavia, starting from the shores of the Arctic Ocean, and up to Italy, Spain and Portugal. Although, I must say, in the coastal region of the Mediterranean and in the west of France the bird cherry is most likely not seen. But this tree with a gentle aroma pleases residents of Ireland, England, Croatia, Bulgaria, northern Russia, the Caucasus, Western Siberia and even the Himalayas. There is this culture in North America, in particular in Alaska and in some northeastern regions of the United States, in eastern Canada. The favorite places of bird cherry trees are the banks of streams, wet forests, as a rule, with alkaline soil, although it is often possible to see the culture on the acidic soils of mountain regions.
And although the most famous is the common bird cherry, but there are many other varieties of this culture, each of which also has certain advantages. For example, white bird cherry is an excellent “raw material” for honey. By the way, this type of honey is known as an excellent source of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, cobalt, vitamins C, E and R. Cherry fragrant in folk medicine is used to treat the respiratory system. Red bird cherry, which has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties, is no less useful. The berries of this variety are considered useful for the treatment of digestive organs, as well as bronchitis.
Useful Properties
The results of scientific studies indicate that the dark cherry berries are rich in powerful antioxidants, which makes the fruits incredibly useful for humans. It is known that cherry berries contain a huge amount of anthocyanins, the concentration of which even exceeds the content of these substances in cranberries. Phytoncides contained in a plant endow it with antimicrobial, diuretic and choleretic properties.
Fruits and leaves contain organic acids, in particular malic and citric, glycosides, tannins, vitamins E, A, C and P, essential oils. A high concentration of tannins was found in the bark of the tree, which makes it useful for preparing medicinal decoctions and tinctures against inflammation. By the way, herbal bark decoction is used to treat conjunctivitis, and alcohol tinctures are used to treat radiculitis. Also in the bark and leaves of the plant contains hydrocyanic acid and benzoic aldehyde.
And another interesting fact. The rich composition of organic acids in the composition of different parts of the bird cherry makes this culture useful for restoring the correct acid-base balance in the human body.
Studies indicate that the bird cherry:
- has astringent properties;
- regulates the bowels;
- improves the functionality of the stomach;
- lowers blood cholesterol;
- has anti-inflammatory abilities;
- strengthens the capillaries;
- stimulates immunity;
- has bactericidal properties;
- is a diuretic and diaphoretic agent;
- removes metal salts from the body;
- prevents gout, arthritis, rheumatism.
Use in folk medicine
The bird cherry has been used in different countries as a medicine since ancient times. For example, the North American Indian tribes used it for the treatment of respiratory organs. The bark of the plant is used to improve appetite, as an astringent, to accelerate blood circulation, and also as a sedative. Cherry tinctures in folk medicine were used to treat fever, cough, and colds, and ulcers, wounds, and places of burns were washed with decoctions of tree roots. Berries and bark of a bird cherry in phytotherapy are known for their ability to relieve abdominal pain and reduce bleeding, including after childbirth. Broths from different parts of the bird cherry are useful for heavy and painful menstruation, diseases of the liver and eyes.
Folk and traditional medicine uses cherry-based drugs to achieve a sedative and tonic effect, in case of diseases of the stomach, pancreas, intestines, as well as heart pain.
The benefits of berries
Tincture of berries of bird cherry has pronounced antiseptic properties, which makes it useful for treating sore throat, stomatitis, caries. The benefits of the berries of this culture are also noticeable in the treatment of inflammatory processes, including in the organs of the female reproductive system. A douching decoction useful for genital infections.
The benefits of berries for the digestive system are also known. A decoction of fruits, rich in ascorbic acid, certain minerals and organic acids, is an effective medicine against diarrhea, intestinal infections and indigestion. Also, some herbalists advise drinking sweet compote from cherry berries as a sedative and as a stimulant of male potency. In addition, cherry berries have analgesic properties. And this ability made them a folk remedy for toothache. It is enough to attach a few berries to the tooth to relieve pain.
Since ancient times, folk healers have advised to take fresh juice of berries of bird cherry with honey (a teaspoon for half a glass of juice) to strengthen the immune system and normalize metabolism. Unsweetened decoction of the berries treated infections in the gastrointestinal tract, scurvy.
The benefits of leaves and bark
Everyone knows that plantain should be applied to the site of injury. But few know that the leaves of bird cherry have a similar effect – they relieve pain and reduce swelling. Bird cherry leaves can also be used to treat respiratory diseases, with some disorders of the cardiovascular system. This part of bird cherry contains rich reserves of flavonoids, which have a beneficial effect on the capillaries, and therefore on the entire circulatory system. The greens of this tree are suitable for preparing infusions and decoctions.
The decoction of the bark has a powerful diuretic effect, which makes it useful for various disorders of the urinary system, with nephritis. But excessive enthusiasm for decoction or infusions from the bark of the bird cherry can provoke diarrhea and painful sensations in the digestive organs.
Bird cherry has analgesic, diuretic, antipyretic and sedative properties. Infusions from it are used to treat colds and fever. In addition, our ancestors used decoctions of bird cherry as a remedy for pediculosis.
In folk medicine, teas and alcohol tinctures from young branches of bird cherry are used to treat rheumatism, dermatosis, furunculosis, gout, diarrhea, periodontal disease, caries.
Bird cherry color: dangerous and useful properties
White flowers of bird cherry, oddly enough, at the same time can be both good and bad. Blossoming bird cherry is a source of some essential oils that act on people as sedatives. But at the same time, during the flowering period, the bird cherry releases amygdalin, which is split into small particles in the air, including hydrocyanic acid, which in large portions can cause serious poisoning. You should also remember that a large number of phytoncids contained in the flowers, can provoke dizziness or allergies to the aroma of bird cherry.
In addition, the healing decoction of fragrant flowers in ancient times was used as one of the most effective means for washing and healing wounds and ulcers. This remedy treated conjunctivitis and, they say, even stopped the development of gangrene.
And cherry flowers are useful for the normalization of metabolism. To improve metabolism, it is advised to prepare a remedy from dried flowers. For this 1 a tablespoon of dried flowers should be poured a glass of boiling water and insist half an hour. After that, strain and take three times a day before meals on a tablespoon.
How to properly procure
As already understood, different parts of the tree are used as a remedy: flowers, leaves, berries, and even bark. But in order for the raw material to retain its healing properties, it is necessary to be able to properly harvest it. The bark, for example, is most useful for harvesting in early spring (the main thing is to collect the bark before the tree starts flowering, at this time it contains the maximum possible amount of useful substances), the flowers – as soon as they open, the berries are only completely ripe, and the leaves are picked in june Herbalists advise harvesting bird cherry only in dry weather, moreover, either in the early morning or late afternoon. But only the bird cherry that grows in ecologically clean regions, away from industrial areas and roads, is suitable as a medicinal raw material.
Flowers, bark and leaves are dried in the open air, but in a place protected from direct sun. Fruits begin to dry no later than 4 hours after harvest, until they begin to deteriorate. And the electric dryer or oven is best suited for this purpose (but the temperature should not exceed 50 degrees). Well dried berries and bark can be stored for up to 5 years, flowers and leaves – a year.
How to prepare a medicinal decoction and tincture
A decoction of berries, leaves or bark of bird cherry retains almost all the healing properties of this culture. To prepare the broth, you can use a mixture of different parts of the plant or take them separately.
Berries for medicinal use harvested during July-August. A decoction of them is prepared in proportion 1: 10. For each glass of fresh berries take 10 glasses of boiling water. Cook the broth over low heat for no longer than 20 minutes, then insist at least another 2 hour.
To prepare the alcohol tincture, you will need 50 g of bird cherry bark and a glass of vodka. After insisting for 2-3 weeks, the product can be used to disinfect wounds and rub rubbed joints and back. To treat gastric disorders, it is good to drink a tincture of cherry berries. This medicine is prepared from 150 g of berries and 500 ml of vodka, insist 2 weeks. The finished product is taken for digestive disorders 5 drops three times a day before meals.
Warning
Cherry seeds and leaves contain prussic acid, which in large quantities is a strong poison. It is this substance that gives the plant a bitter taste. But the use of berries in an adequate amount will not harm a person, since prussic acid is present in fruits in a small amount. In addition, this substance in micro doses is considered useful for digestion and improving the functioning of the respiratory system. There are also suggestions (not confirmed scientifically) that hydrocyanic acid may be useful for the treatment of cancer. But it is important to know that the line between the allowed dose and the overdose of hydrocyanic acid is very blurred. Excessive substance can lead to dysfunction of breathing and even death.
But still, precisely because of the presence of prussic acid, the bird cherry is strictly prohibited for pregnant women, since under the influence of this substance, fetal developmental disorders can occur.
What else is useful
The black berries of bird cherry are used to make wines, juices, jams, syrups, jelly, and toppings for baking. And coffee is prepared from carefully dried and crushed berries into flour (the drink is brewed in the same way as regular coffee, drink with sugar and milk). But in any case, it is strictly forbidden to use berries with seeds.
The leaves, bark and berries of this tree are used for the production of natural dyes. Green leaves are obtained from leaves and bark, and dark gray or brown-red from ripe fruit. And masters of joinery appreciate bird cherry for its wood – hard, heavy, durable, which is easy to work with.
In the people, the bird cherry tree is known as forest phytosanitary, and all because the phytoncides contained in the plant repel pests. This plant is extremely useful for human health. Many call it a universal medicine. And drugs, as you know, should not be abused. And do not forget about this, brewing tea from bird cherry.
