Kalina grows in the temperate latitudes of Europe and Asia, is widespread in the European part of Russia. It tolerates freezing and drought, loves light. In the thick shade of the trees almost does not bear fruit. This shrub can easily be found on the bank of a stream, in a marshy area or on the edge of a forest. The fruit of the bush must have a bright red color. If the berries are dark, then this variety is toxic.
The fruits are harvested in autumn, after the first frost, cut them together with the pedicels, in order to preserve the juicy pulp. Cortex, which also found application in folk medicine, is harvested in the spring until the buds blossom.
Berries and bark are dried to use for medicinal broths. Berries are perfectly stored in the freezer. In cooking, viburnum is also widely used - from berries do jam, boil, fruit, kissel, used for sour cabbage, put kvass. There are recipes for marmalade, and vinegar is made from juice. As a substitute for coffee, sometimes seeds are used that exert a tonic effect on the body.
Health Benefits of Viburnum
Berries are rich in carbohydrates, acids - acetic, formic, valeric and oleic, pectins, tannins, vitamins C, A, K, R, phosphorus, iodine, magnesium and iron, potassium and other trace elements.
The benefit of viburnum red brings in treatment:
- heart diseases;
- vessels;
- diseases of the respiratory and digestive system;
- liver diseases;
- inflammatory processes in the body;
- nervous disorders and insomnia;
- headache;
- female diseases;
- colds.
Useful properties of viburnum:
- Decoction of the bark has hemostatic and spasmolytic effects, it is used for painful menstruation in women and severe bleeding. Rinse with decoction of the mouth helps with gum disease and periodontal disease.
- Fresh fruit juice is taken with the treatment of bronchial asthma, stomach ulcer. Juice has antiseptic properties. In ancient times it was used to treat acne and whiten freckles.
- The decoction of flowers and leaves of the viburnum helps with angina, removes the hoarseness of the voice, and fresh berries, ground with honey, - with cough, bronchitis and other colds.
- Broths, infusions and fruit drinks drink to strengthen immunity and with respiratory infections.
- Eczema and diathesis are treated by external application. Fresh berries are consumed as a laxative.
- Kalinous decoctions are used to wash weakened, dropping hair. In men, it prevents the formation of bald patches, strengthens the roots. In women, it prevents brittleness, hair ceases to be cut.
The benefits and harm of viburnum for hypertensives
The decoction of viburnum lowers arterial blood pressure , lowers cholesterol in the blood, so it is useful in hypertension and atherosclerosis. However, it is worth to drink it with caution - in large quantities it can cause harm.
The benefits and harms of viburnum for women
When pregnancy, viburnum can bring both benefit and harm. Reduction of hemoglobin and anemia in pregnant women is a common occurrence. Since the viburnum contains a lot of iron that helps to cope with this problem, doctors recommend drinking fruit, but only at a certain dosage. Therefore, a pregnant woman should necessarily consult with a doctor about the treatment of red kalina, the effect of benefit and harm from which may be disproportionate. Kalina increases the tone of the uterus, and its use in large quantities can lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
Contraindications to use
Due to the content of a large number of acids in berries, their use is contraindicated in people with high acidity of the gastrointestinal tract.
Contraindicated viburnum and hypotension, as a means of lowering blood pressure. Infusions of viburnum should not be taken with gout and kidney disease due to the high content of purines.
It should be noted that the use of large quantities of vitamin C , contained in fruits, can cause allergic skin rashes.