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Cornel: the benefits and beneficial properties of dogwood. Video
Dogwood is a small tree or shrub with bright red fruits. Thanks to this feature, the plant got its name, because in translation from the Turkic languages the word “kyzyl” means “red”. It grows in the southern regions, in the steppe or foothills, beginning to bear fruit at the age of 10.
Cornel: useful and healing properties
Dogwood berries are very tasty and healthy. They are used both fresh and dried. They are used to make compote, jelly, jam, make excellent homemade wine and brandy drink. The berries, leaves, flowers and bark of the plant are also used for medicinal purposes.
Why dogwood is very useful
There are many species of dogwood, but on the territory of Russia, mainly ordinary dogwood grows, the fruits of which are oblong purple-red berries from 1 to 4 centimeters long. They contain a lot of vitamin C. In terms of its content, dogwood is significantly ahead of, for example, black currant. Also in the berries of this plant there are vitamins A and PP, a number of trace elements necessary for the body, many organic acids.
Cornel is widely used in cooking. Cornel jam is rightfully considered one of the most delicious. Filling for sweet pies, sauce for meat dishes, all kinds of drinks – this is not a complete list of the purposes for which you can use dogwood berries.
Since ancient times, dogwood, as well as preparations made on the basis of its leaves, flowers and bark, have been used in the treatment of various diseases. They help lower blood pressure, have anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, increase immunity, eliminate heartburn, normalize digestion and metabolic processes in the body. Regular consumption of dogwood in food significantly reduces the risk of developing urolithiasis, since it enhances the excretion of uric and oxalic acids from the body. As you can see, the list of useful properties of dogwood is very wide!
Considering that this plant is widespread, bears abundant fruit, and its berries have excellent taste, it becomes clear why the dogwood is so widely used for culinary and medical purposes.
A characteristic feature of the plant: its fruits can be harvested even after the first frost, their taste and healing qualities are not reduced by this. And many dogwood lovers claim that the taste of frozen berries becomes even better.
How dogwood is used for medicinal purposes
You will need: – dry dogwood berries; – dogwood flowers; – dogwood bark; – boiling water; – gauze swab or a strip of clean cloth; – barley or wheat flour;
Dogwood decoction is good for sore throat, scarlet fever, measles, indigestion. It also increases appetite, strengthens the immune system. To prepare it, 3 tablespoons of dry dogwood berries must be poured with 300 milliliters of boiling water, then boiled over low heat for 30 minutes, immediately drain and bring to the original volume by adding hot water. The broth is taken 3 times a day, 100 milliliters. Then a new portion is prepared.
The same broth can be used in the treatment of abscesses, ulcers. It is moistened with a gauze swab or a strip of clean cloth, applied to the damaged area of the skin and bandaged. The procedure must be repeated twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, until a persistent improvement occurs.
Decoctions and infusions of dogwood leaves have a noticeable diuretic and choleretic effect, effectively help in the treatment of various diseases of the intestines, liver and gallbladder. Also, these decoctions and infusions can help with headaches.
A decoction of dogwood flowers has long been considered a good medicine for fever. Also in folk medicine, it was used to treat abscesses. To do this, the broth was mixed with flour (barley or wheat) until a steep pasty mass was formed. Small cakes were formed from it and applied to the abscesses, fixing with strips of fabric.
This method of pulling abscesses is still popular in the regions where dogwood grows.
A decoction of dogwood bark has an excellent anti-inflammatory effect. It is also used for rinsing the mouth for bleeding gums or stomatitis, as well as for preventive purposes and for fresh breath. A doughy mass from a mixture of a decoction of dogwood bark and flour perfectly pulls abscesses, boils (as is the case with dogwood flowers).
In a word, this is a very useful plant that is quite capable of replacing an entire pharmacy. However, with all the indisputable advantages of dogwood, it must be remembered that both its fruits and preparations made from its leaves, flowers and bark have contraindications. For example, the use of dogwood is undesirable for those people who suffer from stomach ulcers, gastritis with high acidity, inflammation of the duodenum, and increased nervous excitability. Those who have problems with insomnia should also not use dogwood, at least in the evening, since it has a pronounced tonic effect. After all, then insomnia will only get worse. Cases of individual intolerance to dogwood have also been noted, although very rare.