Contents
Useful properties and use of red and black currants
Useful properties of currant
Currant, along with delicious taste, is incredibly beneficial for the body. It is currants that are called a storehouse of vitamins. The berries of this unique plant contain provitamin A, essential vitamins B and P, as well as pectin substances that are important for the body, healthy sugars, phosphoric acid, carotene and essential oil. Currant leaves contain a large amount of magnesium, phytoncides, manganese, silver, sulfur, lead and copper.
About 20 berries are enough to meet the average daily requirement of an adult organism for ascorbic acid. The use of currants avoids problems with the cardiovascular system and, moreover, prevents cancer. In addition, these berries have been proven to have an amazing ability to prevent diabetes and maintain visual acuity for many years.
The leaves and berries of this plant are used to effectively treat diseases of the liver, kidney stones and respiratory tract. With atherosclerosis, the use of berries is simply an indispensable remedy. It should also be noted that currants perfectly increase a person’s immunity and his resistance to colds.
Currant leaves. The leaves of the currant bush have a tonic and antiseptic properties due to the content of tannins and biologically active substances, vitamins and essential oils. The leaves of this shrub contain more vitamin C than its berries, so they are used for gout, gastritis, and also for cardiovascular ailments. Traditional medicine strongly recommends the use of decoctions for eye diseases and various dermatitis.
currant berries are a combination of vitamins and various trace elements that give them unique healing properties. The acidity of currant fruits of various varieties can vary significantly. Berries contain malic, citric and oxalic acids. In addition, the fruits contain a large amount of fiber indispensable for the body. When the berries ripen, the level of sugar content rises, and the content of pectin substances decreases markedly. The presence of carotenoids in berries is very small, but they are rich in vitamin E.
Currant buds. This shrub is characterized by a uniform arrangement of buds. The currant bush has 3 types of buds – vegetative, dormant and flowering. Dormant specimens form at the base of the branches and germinate when the branches are damaged. Growth buds are laid in summer. Often there are mixed kidneys. They can develop as the beginnings of generative and vegetative organs.
The use of currants
Such a useful plant as currant has been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times. With an increase in body temperature, it is recommended to use fruit drinks, compotes and jelly from berries. Moreover, these drinks help to restore strength after a long or difficult illness. With bronchitis, currant juice in combination with honey is effective. Decoctions and infusions made from currant leaves have an incredibly wide spectrum of action. They are often used to treat rheumatism, hypertension, as well as diseases of the kidneys and such a vulnerable bladder. With strokes, redcurrant juice is prescribed.
Currant juice. Excellent currant juice has unique healing properties. It has a tonic effect on the human body. Along with this, currant juice has hemostatic characteristics. The irreplaceable vitamin P, found in freshly squeezed juice, helps maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, and is also able to lower blood pressure, having a mild antispasmodic and anti-edematous effect.
With peptic ulcer and gastritis, this drink is very useful. It is also prescribed for serious diseases of the urinary tract. Thanks to vitamin C, currant juice alleviates the course of respiratory diseases, relieves headaches, improving overall well-being.
Currant oil. Currant oil is obtained from the seeds of the fruit by known cold pressing. The resulting product resembles a viscous oily liquid that has a bright yellow color. The oil is rich in various fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid, which determines its high value in the field of pharmaceuticals and cosmetology. In addition, this product contains vitamin C, antioxidants and flavonoids.
Such nutrients endow currant oil with rejuvenating, regenerating, antitumor and anticancer properties. It should also be noted that currant oil helps to neutralize the action of free radicals. The antiviral effect of this agent is recommended for the effective prevention of serious diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
Currant recipes
It is no secret that currants have an incredible healing effect on gastritis, stomach ulcers, atherosclerosis, anemia, kidney disease, and also in cases of metabolic disorders.
Phytoncides contained in this beautiful shrub are surprisingly active against microscopic fungi, Staphylococcus aureus, pathogens of diphtheria and dysentery. An unsurpassed water infusion is able to increase the antimicrobial activity of penicillin, biomycin, tetracycline, and other well-known antibiotics by 10 times.
Delicious currant juice effectively destroys such influenza viruses as A and B. It should be noted that preparations from the leaves, fruits and buds of the bush have a diaphoretic, diuretic, as well as antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects.
Decoction of currant. Such a very effective remedy helps with bleeding gums, hypertension and other ailments. Baths from a decoction of the leaves of the plant are prescribed for all kinds of skin diseases. To prepare such an effective remedy, you need to take 2 tablespoons of berries per 200 grams of water and cook for 15 minutes over low heat in an ordinary enamel bowl, stirring thoroughly. This decoction will help people who have recently had the flu or acute respiratory infections. Take the remedy 2 tablespoons before meals 4 times a day. Such a course of treatment with currant broth is 3 weeks.
Currant infusion. This tool is designed to free the body from excess amounts of purine and uric acids. In addition, it can be used as a mild laxative. To prepare the infusion, take 50 grams of currant leaves, 50 grams of viburnum leaves and fill them with 1 liter of water. This tincture can also make lotions for eczema. With tuberculosis of the lymphatic system, the following infusion can be made: 3 tablespoons of a mixture of crushed leaves must be poured with 500 mils of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours, then gently strained. A remedy is prescribed for 100 grams 4 times a day for 1 month. With anuria and kidney stones, you will need to pour 20 berries with two full glasses of boiling water, then insist in a thermos for at least 6-8 hours. it is recommended to take the remedy 1 tablespoon 6 times a day at regular intervals.
Currant tincture. For high-quality tincture, it is necessary to collect leaves and unblown buds of the presented shrub in dry weather in mid-spring. They should be thoroughly washed in a colander and then dried on a towel. The prepared raw materials must be tightly packed in a glass container and poured with vodka. It will take one day to insist. After straining, the tincture is incredibly fragrant.
Varieties of currant
Currant varieties are so diverse that they are subject to division according to biological characteristics and morphological characteristics that are directly related to the origin. Initially, species diversity can be divided into two significant groups – wild grouse and black currant. Depending on the origin itself, four main subgroups are represented: Siberian, European, hybrid and individual descendants of the wild grouse currant. Each species has rather pronounced signs of the original group, despite the ways of origin.
Red currants. Red currant is an excellent tool for quickly lowering blood pressure. The high content of coumarins prevents increased blood clotting, preventing heart attacks. It is this shrub that includes a substantial amount of pectin substances, due to which harmful substances are removed from the human body. Red currant berries can be called a natural anti-radiation agent.
Fruit drinks from these fruits perfectly quench thirst, are able to suppress the gag reflex, and also have amazing antiseptic properties. For expectant mothers with toxicosis, such a drink will help to significantly improve the condition. In diabetes mellitus, currant is used as a very effective remedy for a noticeable improvement in metabolism. Also, do not forget that the juice of berries increases efficiency, improves appetite and enhances the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.
Currant black. Extraordinarily useful blackcurrant fruits are the most valuable natural sources of substances necessary for the body. The use of such a useful product has a vasodilating and antispasmodic effect, strengthens capillaries, and also boasts an anti-inflammatory and anti-sclerotic effect. Blackcurrant is often prescribed for migraines and pains of vascular origin. It contributes to the appearance of cheerfulness in the body, and also perfectly fights insomnia and overwork.
Since ancient times, in folk medicine, this shrub has been used to restore metabolism and normal bowel function. In addition, it has been proven that such currants reduce the risk of cancer. Fresh juice without sugar is surprisingly useful for inflammatory processes in the stomach, for diarrhea and colic, for diabetes and liver diseases. With sore throat, you can gargle with diluted blackcurrant juice.
Contraindications to the use of currants
Due to the high content of unique phenolic compounds and vitamin K, the use of currants is contraindicated in thrombophlebitis. Also, do not take it with increased acidity of the stomach. In some children, currant juice can cause allergic reactions.