Viburnum beneficial properties, benefits and harms of calories

Our ancestors always seemed to know about the healing abilities of viburnum. They gave us ancient recipes, which mention not only juicy bright red berries, but also their seeds, leaves, flowers, and even bark. This gift of nature can get rid of many diseases, it has tonic properties and rarely causes allergies.

General characteristics and useful components

Kalina is a beautiful shrub with white flowers, honey plants and bright scarlet berries. The shrub reaches the 1,5-4 meter and is most often seen in the forest, although it takes root well in the gardens. More than 120 species of this plant are known, which are common in Eurasia, North Africa and the Americas. There are poisonous ones between them, like in the Caucasus. But the most famous representative of this family is Viburnum opulus, or red viburnum. The fruits of this plant, our ancestors used as a natural paint, and to give the fabric a dark green shade, it was immersed in a decoction of viburnum bark.

Fruits ripen quickly, have a bitter-sweet, slightly tart flavor. The most delicious, fragrant and healthy viburnum berries become after the first frost. At this time, their vitamin composition, they are not inferior to the black currant or chokeberry.

The chemical composition of berries is vitamins A, C, P and E, organic acids, antioxidants, pectin, tannins, volatile and glucose. Thanks to pectins, viburnum is considered useful for digestion, and the unique substance viburin, which actually is responsible for the bitter taste of berries, is indispensable for the cardiovascular system. The fruits of this plant are able to provide a person with good portions of iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, iodine, copper, phosphorus, as well as acetic, valerianic, oleic and formic acids.

Many useful components are rich not only in berries, but also in leaves and shrub bark, therefore they are also used in treatment. For example, to eliminate dermatitis or bleeding. As for the seeds, they are rich in many healthy fats, and the snow-white flowers of viburnum are not only a source of delicious aroma, but also many minerals. This part of the plant has a beneficial effect on the work of the vocal cords. Roots, bark and leaves are rich in tannins and tarry substances, organic acids and ascorbic acid. They have a strong antispasmodic effect. In addition, they are known for their immunostimulating, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, astringent, diuretic abilities.

100 g of berries contain about 26,3 kcal, 7 g of carbohydrates and there are no fats and proteins.

Useful Properties

These excellent bright red berries help lower blood sugar levels and are therefore considered beneficial for people with diabetes. They also improve digestion, have diaphoretic and diuretic abilities. Berries are also useful for kidney diseases, edema, high cholesterol and improper fat metabolism. Kalina is recommended for people with reduced immunity, diseases of the heart, blood vessels, with unstable blood pressure, nervousness, insomnia and many other health problems.

In traditional and traditional medicine, this plant is remembered when it is necessary to heal:

• inflammatory processes of various origins;
• colds and viral illnesses;
• bleeding gums;
• diseases of the digestive organs;
• stagnation of bile;
• hypertension;
• neurological disorders;
• edema;
• gallstones;
• low acidity gastritis;
• bowel disorders;
• hemorrhoids;
• skin diseases;
• excessive sweating of hands;
• malignant tumors;
• inflammation of the appendages;
• PMS symptoms in women.

How to harvest viburnum

Kalina likes wet pine forests, where there is a shadow. Also, it can often be seen among other bushes near water bodies.

The bark should be harvested in April – immediately after sap flow. Succulent shoots are also harvested in early spring. Flowers – from May to June, but only those that are fully bloomed. Berries can begin to harvest in September, but after the first frost, they are not so bitter and more saturated with vitamins. Berries should be cut in whole clusters so as not to damage the flesh.

You can make stocks of this useful plant in different ways. The most useful berries are fresh, so freezing is considered the healthiest way to harvest. But also ripe fruits can be dried or rubbed with sugar.

Drying is also recommended with whole buds in a cool ventilated place for 7-9 days. After this step, the remaining liquid is removed in an oven at a temperature of approximately 50 degrees Celsius. Store dried fruits in linen bags in a dry, protected from the sun room.

Do not lose their benefits of berries, covered with sugar. To do this, fill a third of the jars with washed berries, and top them with a thick layer of sugar (but do not fill the jar completely and do not tamp it). To remove bitterness, berries can be dipped in boiling water.

Vitamin Recipes

Kalin juice

Juice from these berries can be prepared in two ways. The easiest is to squeeze out the liquid through the gauze folded into the 4-6 layers. Such a product in tightly closed cans can be stored for a long time, but only in the refrigerator. And the longer such a product is stored, the less bitterness remains in it. If you add sugar to the drink and bring it to jelly consistency, then it can be kept even at room temperature.

For the second method of preparing viburnum juice, you need 0,5 l of water and viburnum and 100 g of sugar. Pour the fruits with water and cook for a short time over low heat (until cooked). After squeezing, add sugar and boil again. Distribute to clean banks.

To strengthen immunity

If you grind 100 g of viburnum, lemon zest, 200 g of aloe and peeled walnuts, and then add honey and a little butter to the mixture, it will turn out to be a very useful tool for strengthening immunity. Take this medicine in a tablespoon every time after eating.

A decoction of the bark against colds

Viburnum bark has many healing properties.

And one of them is the treatment and prevention of diseases of the respiratory system.

To prepare the folk remedy, you will need 2 tablespoons of crushed bark, which you need to boil over low heat (10 minutes), and then insist after another 15 minutes. Strain, add 10 drops of sea buckthorn oil, 1 nightingale honey. Drink half a glass for 25 minutes before meals.

Cold remedy

Mix in equal proportions (1 tbsp. L.) Viburnum bark, thyme, chamomile, mint. Add a glass of boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain, add a little honey and a glass of fresh viburnum juice. Drink half a glass for half an hour before meals.

With bronchitis and pneumonia

Mix 1 tablespoon of wild rose, viburnum, chamomile, marigold. Pour 5 cups of boiled water and simmer over low heat for 4-6 minutes. Insist at least 6 hours. Consume 1 tablespoon before meals.

With angina

Prepare the infusion from a mixture of berries and flowers of viburnum (in equal parts), pour boiling water, wrap and infuse 4 hours. Wash your throat with a warm liquid using 5-6 once a day.

RџSЂRё RіRёRїRμSЂS,RѕRЅRёRё

Mix in equal shares of motherwort, valerian root and young stems of viburnum. Add a glass of hot water to the mixture and boil for 2-3 minutes. Take in small portions.

Kalina in cosmetology

In cosmetology, berry juice is most often used. They are useful for oily skin prone to rashes. Also, viburnum juice is an effective remedy for freckles. For their clarification, it is necessary to wipe the face twice a day with a cotton pad soaked in healing juice. The same product will help get rid of age spots. But for this, it is not enough just to wipe the face, masks from viburnum juice will come to the rescue. For 10 days, apply a cloth soaked in viburnum juice on the face. 

After each procedure, thoroughly lubricate the face with a nourishing cream.

Recipes kalinovyh masks for face

1. Mix Kalin juice and egg whites in proportion 1: 1. The course of treatment is 3 weeks. Apply daily, hold for approximately 30 minutes. The effect is lighter skin.
2. Mix a tablespoon of the unripe fruits of viburnum (pre-knead) and a teaspoon of honey. Apply to face and leave on 30 minutes. Rinse your face with warm water, slightly acidified with lemon juice. After applying the cream with a nourishing effect.
3. Add a little viburnum juice to the face cream. Apply daily with a thick layer. Remove residues in 40 minutes with a paper towel.

Contraindications and possible side effects

Since the berries have a hypotensive effect, people with low blood pressure cannot be abused. Also, without the advice of a doctor, Kalina should not be consumed by persons prone to the formation of blood clots in the bloodstream and increased blood clotting. You should not get involved in berries for people with gout, because the fruit contains a lot of organic acids. Prohibited viburnum with kidney disease, increased acidity of the stomach, during pregnancy.

Kalina is an amazing plant. But in order to fully experience its healing properties, it is important to understand how to properly harvest and use berries and the means from them.