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Useful properties and use of black elderberry in traditional medicine
Black elderberry: plant description
The black elderberry is a tall shrub or small tree. The shrub differs from others in its bark, which has a grayish-brown color. The plant is strewn with many small yellow lentils. The long and opposite elderberry leaves have a complex structure. Each leaf consists of 5-7 leaflets, which have a pointed ovoid shape.
Fluffy, creamy-white elderberry flowers are collected in large inflorescences. The fruits of the plant are drupes of black and purple color. Flowering of the plant begins in May and lasts until July. The fruits ripen by the beginning of autumn.
Where does elderberry grow?
Elder grows in the subtropical and temperate climatic zones of the world. The only place where it can not be found is South and Central Africa. Elder grows in places where nettles are distributed, where there are a lot of quinoa, as well as a great place for elder – landfills. On the edge of the forest or in the meadows, you can also see this poisonous, but at the same time medicinal plant. The smell of elderberry is unpleasant, which is why animals do not approach it.
Rarely, but still, elderberry is found in mixed and coniferous forests. Some people breed elderberry specifically in their parks and gardens.
elderberry breeding
Elderberry is propagated in three ways: by seeds, layering and cuttings. Seeds are sown in the fall and germinate by spring. A year later, the seedlings are calmly planted in a permanent place. Propagation by seeds is suitable only for species plants.
In order to get new elderberry bushes of your favorite species, it is necessary to cut and root the green cuttings of the plant in the summer. Be sure to treat the cuttings with a substance that stimulates root formation before this.
Undoubtedly, the best way to propagate elderberry is through layering. With this method, the following is done: new shoots are bent down, and then they need to be laid in the grooves. A year later, these shoots should be separated from the mother plant.
When it comes time to plant elderberry, you need to be careful. For example, it is not necessary to deepen the root collar of a seedling: it must be planted at ground level. Before planting, it is necessary to prepare the soil, for which you should mix peat (1 part), sand (1 part), soddy soil (2 parts) and humus (2 parts).
elderberry flowers
Black elderberry flowers are considered very valuable. They contain the following substances: essential oils, choline, rutin, malic, valeric, and caffeic acid. Elderberry flowers are used to prepare infusions and decoctions that have a diaphoretic and antibacterial effect on the human body. That is why medicines from elder flowers are used for colds, flu, respiratory diseases and sore throats.
Infusion of elderberry flowers. To prepare it, you need to pour 1 tablespoon of flowers in 200 ml of boiling water and put this mixture on a small fire for a quarter of an hour to simmer. Then we cool, wring out and take it hot. One-time intake of infusion – 100 ml, daily it should be taken 2-3 times before meals. This infusion is excellent for rheumatism, arthritis and gout.
Useful properties of elderberry
Elderberry inflorescences contain many useful substances, namely organic acids, essential oil in a semi-solid state, choline, carotene, tannins and paraffin-like substances, sambunigrin glycoside and sugars.
Elderberries are rich in ascorbic acid, resins, glucose, free acids, tyrosine and coloring matter.
Fresh elderberry leaves are also very valuable. They contain aldehydes, tannins, alkaloids, essential oils and vitamins C and B. The leaves of this plant have a laxative diuretic effect. Young leaves have a tonic property. Steamed elderberry leaves are used for inflammation, diaper rash, boils and burns.
In addition, elderberry bark also has beneficial properties. A decoction prepared on its basis helps with kidney disease and skin diseases. The same decoction is used in the form of lotions and for taking baths for arthritis and rheumatism.
The use of elderberry in folk medicine
In folk medicine, elderberry is used to treat various diseases.
Elderberry has an antimycotic effect on the human body. A decoction of the bark of the plant is used as a laxative, diuretic in the treatment of kidney disease, diabetes and neoplasms.
A decoction of the leaves is taken both inside (for gout and diabetes mellitus) and externally (for skin diseases, tumors, colic and hemorrhoids).
A decoction of elderberry flowers is used as a diuretic for myocarditis, heart disease. Decoctions of flowers are used in the form of drops and inhalations for sinusitis, rhinitis and respiratory diseases.
Infusion of elder fruits. It is necessary to take 10 grams of dry fruits and insist 2 hours in one glass of chilled boiled water, after which the infusion must be filtered. You need to take this remedy 150-200 ml once a day every day. This infusion helps with constipation.
Infusion of elderberry bark. Take 5-8 grams of bark and pour a glass of boiling water over them. Leave the infusion in a thermos for 5 hours, strain. Take this medicine for swelling or inflammation of the kidneys, half a cup 5-6 times a day.
Infusion of collecting herbs with elderberry. To prepare it, you will need elderberry, sage, mallow flowers (all 20 grams each). Stir the ingredients. Take 20 grams of this mixture, pour a glass of boiling water over them and leave to infuse. Then strain the composition. Apply this infusion for rinsing the mouth and throat with inflammation of the mucous membrane.
Infusion of elder flowers. It is used for wiping and washing the face. You need to take a handful of black elderberry flowers and insist them in 500 ml of boiling water for 20 minutes.
A decoction of elderberries. It is necessary to take 30 grams of berries and pour them with one liter of boiling water, then put on low heat for 10 minutes. After that, remove the broth and insist 45 minutes. Of course, we are surviving. Apply the remedy for neoplasm or diabetes.
Decoction of elderberry roots. Take 30 grams of black elderberry roots and boil them in 500 ml of water. Use the decoction warm, making douching for cervicitis, colpitis and other inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs. Douching should be done when 2 days have passed after menstruation. 2 days before the onset of menstruation, treatment should be stopped. You can continue it after menstruation until complete recovery.
Elderberry juice
For juice, flowers or ripened elderberry fruits are taken. Raw materials need to be squeezed out – and the juice is ready. It is useful to take it for nervous pain, rheumatism. The dose depends on the tolerance of elderberry juice by the human body, it can be 30–200 ml. But before taking the juice, it must be mixed with the same amount of honey. Take elderberry juice half an hour before meals.
Contraindications to the use of elderberry
During pregnancy, it is better not to take elderberry at all or take it, but under the supervision of a doctor. If the child is less than 12 years old, then he should be treated with elderberry with caution. Dosages must be strictly adhered to. If the dosage is exceeded, then this will lead to vomiting, nausea. Given the fact that elderberry medicines have a diuretic and laxative effect, they should not be taken by diabetics and ulcers.