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Barberry is a juicy scarlet and purple-red oblong berry. We know it for the unique spicy aroma and pleasantly sweet and sour taste.
Firstly, barberry is a shrub plant that grows mainly in mountainous areas. People widely use it in cooking. We found barberry berries a response in folk medicine, cosmetology, aromatherapy, and perfumery. This is how widespread the use of these berries is in life. Of course, there is a completely logical explanation for this demand. Thus, the properties of barberry berries are very diverse and mostly positive.
Barberry berries: properties
Consider why barberry is so attractive to us. It is a shrub evergreen with succulent curly leaves. The barberry has protective thorns on the branches. The plant blooms with bright yellow, orange, and pink flowers. They exude a delightful aroma. However, it is not the qualities we appreciate and love in a barberry shrub. The main thing is berries! Barberry bush bears fruit with small elongated berries. Usually, the harvest is prosperous, and the plant is literally covered with juicy red fruits. The berries are attached mainly to the bunches.
The berries are firm with thin, dense skin. Besides, if you break one berry, a sticky, sweet-sour scarlet juice will flow out of it. And the aroma is just delightful! It is not for nothing that barber notes are included in many perfumeries and aromatic medicinal compositions. Surely everyone remembers the aroma of caramels “Barberry” from childhood. It is this sweetness that distinguishes the berries of the plant in question.
Barberry: useful properties and contraindications
The sweet and aromatic barberry has a wealthy composition. After all, the vitamins, trace elements, and bioactive substances in these berries are beneficial for the human body.
The following chemical elements are a part of barberry:
- vitamins A, B, K, C;
- carotenoids;
- pectin;
- tannins;
- organic acids;
- tar and ash;
- alimentary fiber.
The nutritional value of berries is as follows:
- proteins – 0 g;
- fats – 0 g;
- carbohydrates – up to 8g;
- water – 85%.
- For 100 grams of product – 30 Kcal.
These are truly dietary berries, in which there are nothing superfluous but only valuable components that nourish the human body with strength and health.
The benefits of berries
Barberry berries are having a lot of medicinal and preventive properties. These benefits are truly significant for the human body.
The following positive effects are observed as a result of the use of berries and barberry juice:
- strengthening the immune system, enhancing the body’s defenses against viral, bacterial, and fungal infections;
- increased blood clotting, stabilization of the hematopoiesis process;
- improved appetite, improvement of the digestive tract;
- cleansing the body of toxins and toxins;
- improving performance, mood;
- increasing the resistance of the nervous system to stress;
- muffling pain, relieving spasm.
These are only the main, but not exhaustive, characteristics of the action of barberry berries. Besides, the benefits of eating the fruits of this plant are versatile, multifaceted. And the bonus is a pleasant taste and aroma. Such a drug is much more pleasant to use than medicinal herbs, distinguished by bitterness, astringency, and too original aroma.
Contraindications
Of course, with all the variety of positive qualities, barberry berries are not flawless. There are several situations in which the fruits of the plant have negative effects.
The following contraindications are considered conditional or absolute:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- diseases of the kidneys and other organs of the urinary system;
- gallstone disease;
- profuse bleeding during menstruation, menopause in women;
- severe depression of the nervous system;
- individual intolerance to the product;
- children under 5 years old;
- some types of hepatitis.
The fact is that the use of barberry berries can cause a number of negative reactions from the human body:
- dizziness, nausea;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- nosebleeds increased recurrent bleeding in women;
- lethargy, lethargy, drowsiness;
- swelling, urticaria;
- vascular tone, uterine tissue in pregnant women;
- convulsions.
Of course, such undesirable consequences arise under an unfavorable combination of circumstances and in the case of a significant excess of the consumption of berries.
You should also definitely consult with a specialist about the admissibility of eating barberry berries in the case of chronic diseases.
If there are no contraindications, then it is important to follow the specific norms for using these berries in cooking. And the use of barberry recipes is important to coordinate with your doctor.
Barberry: application
Barberry is a plant with plenty of beneficial properties. Of course, given so many positive properties, it is difficult to ignore the possibility of using barberry fruits in various spheres of modern human life. And, of course, barberry berries are used in more than one or even two directions. Let’s take a look at some of the uses of fragrant and tasty berries.
Cooking
Perhaps, in cooking, people use barberry berries most actively and in a variety of ways. They add berries or juice themselves to a variety of dishes. For example, dried barberry is a great seasoning for rice and rice-based dishes. The berry goes well with vegetable and salad mixes. It’s good to add barberry in broths, soups. The aroma of barberry has an intense sweetish note. It gives the dishes a spice and creates a magical combination of acidity, sweetness, refreshing fruity aroma.
And how the barberry berries are in demand in the confectionery industry! It is an irreplaceable sweetness and aroma that will perfectly complement the taste of compotes, juices, jams, confitures, pastilles, and other sweet culinary inventions. Traditionally, people make lollipop candies from barberry juice. This component acts as a great addition to biscuits and other types of bases for making pastries and cakes. Barberry juice is good to use in creams and fondants. Often, people make marmalade, jelly, marshmallows based on this berry.
Very often, you can find drinks that contain berries or barberry juice. All kinds of lemonades, juice drinks, iced teas, etc., contain parts of this berry. Finally, the warming herbal tea with the addition of dried barberry berries is tasty and healthy.
Recipes
Barberry juice
Ripe barberry berries should go through boiling in water and pressing. The resulting juice is sterilized in small bottles (0.25, 0.5 l). People use barberry juice instead of vinegar in the preparation of jelly and sauces.
Barberry juice for ice cream
Grind the barberry berries in a stone cup, put them in a large jar for 2 days, then strain the juice through a flannel without squeezing the berries. Pour the resulting juice into bottles, cork, grind. Store in a cool place, in winter – in a dry basement, tipping bottles with necks in dry sand. In winter, this juice is great to prepare syrup, kvass, jelly, and serve it with ice cream.
Ethnoscience
You can often find the berries of this plant as part of homemade recipes for preparing remedies for various diseases. For instance, it is good for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory processes. Sometimes people use this product to treat diseases of the biliary tract and liver. In some cases, barberry juice helps to cope with colds. It also helps to solve the problem of blood clotting. This product is good for stabilizing blood pressure. The berry has a beneficial effect on tooth enamel and protects the gums. Products that contain barberry products improve the work of the heart muscle and strengthen blood vessels. By using natural barberry juice, you can prepare an antipyretic agent. Finally, with this product, you can reduce the level of pain, eliminate weakness and nausea.
However, this entire positive list is fair and justified only when traditional medicine recipes are used on the recommendation and under strict supervision. It is not safe to self-medicate and independently prescribe medications based on this herbal component!
Cosmetology
Cosmetologists have long appreciated the beneficial properties of this plant. People add Bbarberry and its juices, extracts, extracts to various caring creams and elixirs. As an additive, some elements of the plant are acting as a component in decorative cosmetics. Anti-aging, cleansing cosmetics may also contain components of the plant. Quite often, barberry is present in hair cosmetics. The aroma and content of vitamins in this product are precious. Therefore, cosmetics with barberry in the composition are pleasant to use and effective.
Perfumery and aromatherapy
Many women adore the hints of barberry in perfume. This is well known to the masters of aromas! This is why this lovely sweet fruity scent is found in a wide variety of perfumery compositions.
The aroma of barberry has a positive effect on the human body. Stress is relieved, the nervous system relaxes, the production of the hormone of joy is enhanced. Still, the aroma of barberry is a scent from childhood! So fresh, spicy, sweet, and “candy”! This smell will definitely improve your mood, whet your appetite and form a positive energy background for the rest of the day. At last, his is why the barberry note is valued and actively used by aromatherapists.
Check out this video with more benefits of barberries:
