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Red elderberry is a plant common in Our Country, the properties of which cause a lot of controversy. To figure out whether a plant is beneficial or harmful to health, you need to properly study the photo and the beneficial properties of red elderberry.
Description of red elderberry
The tree-like shrub of the red elderberry can reach up to 5 m in height and has a well-branched trunk covered with light gray bark. The leaves of the shrub are oval with jagged edges and a pointed tip, arranged one after another on short petioles. Usually the leaves are bright green, but sometimes red-purple shrubs are found, the leaves of which contain an excess amount of anthocyanin pigment.
Red elderberry blooms in late May with pale yellow flowers. It is easy to recognize the plant – it exudes a rather unpleasant pungent aroma.
Where does red elderberry grow
The shrub grows wild and cultivated throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in central Our Country, Europe and North America, Canada, Japan and China.
Favorite places of red elderberry are ravines, forest edges and wastelands. In urban settings, shrubs can spawn on ruins and even on abandoned rooftops. However, more often the plant can be seen in parks and gardens, where it is planted for decorative purposes.
Is it possible to eat red elderberries
Contrary to popular belief, elderberry is not a uniquely toxic plant. Its fruits are used in cooking and are used in home medicinal recipes.
However, berries become safe only after heat treatment. Eating them raw is strictly prohibited – this leads to serious poisoning.
When the red elderberry ripens
The fruits of the shrub ripen in August – at this time, bright scarlet berries appear on the branches, collected in large clusters. In shape, the fruits resemble mountain ash, but their size is slightly smaller. In addition, the fruits of the plant exude the same unpleasant odor as the flowers.
When to Harvest Red Elderberries
The unripe berries of the plant are especially dangerous. Therefore, they are harvested only after full ripening – in the middle or end of August. Usually the berries are cut from the branches in whole clusters, and then dried in small bunches in the shade, but with good ventilation.
Red elderberry in landscape design
Ornamental red elderberry trees and shrubs are very popular in landscape design.
- In summer cottages, in parks and gardens, the plant is often planted solo – a shrub with a bright crown looks spectacular against the backdrop of green grass.
- Red elderberry looks good in combination with other shrubs, decorates flower beds. Rising above perennials, it draws additional attention to them and emphasizes the beauty of flowers.
- The shrub is used to create hedges – its crown is dense, so the plant provides reliable protection of the site from prying eyes.
- The plant is used for planting along the banks of artificial reservoirs – the shrub not only decorates the slopes near the water, but also strengthens them, protecting them from destruction.
Raspberries, currants and gooseberries will be good neighbors for a plant on the site.
Red and black elderberry: what is the difference
The most obvious difference between the two types of shrub is the color of the fruit. However, there are other differences as well.
- Black berries can be freely eaten, but red fruits must at least undergo serious processing. The fruits of elderberry of both species contain the poisonous substance sambunigrin, but in black elderberry its presence is very small, while in red elderberry it is quite large.
- Black elderberry can reach 6-10 m in height, while red elder rarely grows above 5 m.
- A shrub of both varieties blooms in the same period. But if the red elderberry smells unpleasant, then the black one exudes a rather delicate almond aroma.
The shape and color of the leaves of the plant differ slightly. The foliage of the red elderberry is usually brighter than that of the black one, but not everyone can catch the difference. The external difference between the species becomes quite obvious only in autumn, when the shrubs begin to bear fruit abundantly.
The composition and nutritional value of berries
Useful properties and contraindications of red elderberry are inseparable from each other. The composition of the berries of the plant includes not only toxic compounds, but also many valuable substances. Namely:
- vitamins E, B and A;
- organic acids;
- tannins and tannins;
- paraffin compounds;
- natural sugars;
- esters and resins;
- amino acids;
- calcium and iron, potassium and selenium;
- copper, sodium, zinc and phosphorus.
The fruits of the plant contain a complete group of nutrients. The largest share in the volume is occupied by carbohydrates – about 11 g, small shares are assigned to fats and proteins – 0,5 and 0,65 g, respectively. As for calorie content, about 100 kcal is present in 73 g of berries.
What is useful red elderberry
With careful use, ordinary elderberry can have a beneficial effect on the body. Despite the presence of dangerous poisons in the composition of fruits, in minimal dosages, berries are beneficial for internal and external use.
The benefits of red elderberry in oncology
Red elderberries contain a large amount of flavonoids and valuable organic acids. Despite the fact that the plant cannot guarantee a complete cure for oncology, its properties are beneficial in the fight against the disease. Traditional medicine believes that even toxic substances in the composition of fruits are valuable in cancer, they have a depressing effect on malignant cells.
The medicinal product from the plant is prepared as follows:
- ripe berries are poured into a large glass jar with a layer of about 2 cm;
- the same layer of granulated sugar is poured on top;
- for a month, a closed jar is cleaned in a dark and cool place.
When the medicine is properly infused, and the juice and sugar are mixed, the remedy can be used for its intended purpose. Take it on a full stomach in the amount of a tablespoon, this should be done three times a day. In total, the course of treatment lasts one and a half months.
It is strictly forbidden to exceed the indicated dosages of a natural remedy – this will not be useful, but the harm to the body will be significant.
From a spur
Medicines based on berries are used externally – red elderberry is good for heel spurs and other diseases. It is necessary to prepare such a tool:
- a liter jar is filled with ripe berries by a third, and then filled to the top with alcohol;
- the ingredients are mixed and the jar is removed for a month in a warm dark place;
- ready-made tincture is used for rubbing and compresses.
Apply the tincture to the sore spot twice a day. Red elderberry tincture helps not only with spurs, but also with many other diseases of the joints – with osteochondrosis, arthrosis, vertebral hernias.
Since the toxic properties of red elderberry can cause harm even when used externally, the remedy should not be abused. It is recommended to treat diseased areas with tincture for no longer than a week, after which you need to take a break in treatment.
At climax
Benefits are brought not only by the fruits from the red elderberry tree, but also by the flowers of the plant. With menopause for women, the properties of tincture on flowers will turn out to be valuable – the remedy will even out the hormonal background and help reduce the frequency of hot flashes. Prepare a medicinal drink like this:
- flowers fall asleep in a glass vessel;
- from above, raw materials are poured with alcohol, and it should be 5 times more than flowers;
- for 2 weeks, the remedy is insisted in a dark place and in a cool place.
For a good distribution of nutrients, the tincture should be shaken daily. When it is completely ready, it will need to be filtered and taken 30 drops three times a day.
Useful properties of red elderberry
The use of the plant requires increased caution, however, the beneficial properties of the berries and other parts of the shrub attract increased attention to the red elderberry. It is used not only for medicinal, but also for cosmetic purposes, moderately used in cooking and gardening.
The use of red elderberry in folk medicine
The flowers and berries of the plant are beneficial in a wide range of diseases. Decoctions, infusions and alcohol preparations on red elderberry are used:
- with diseases of the respiratory organs;
- with ailments of the liver and kidneys;
- with joint pain and inflammation – the plant helps well with arthritis, sciatica, rheumatism;
- with inflammatory skin ailments – eczema and psoriasis;
- in diseases of the oral cavity.
The main rule in the treatment of red elderberry is strict adherence to small dosages and short courses of therapy.
How it is used for other purposes
In moderation and dosage, the plant can be used not only for treatment, but also for beauty care. Most often, elderberry flowers are used in cosmetology, but in some recipes, the leaves and pulp of the fruit are in demand. Elderberry helps to get rid of acne and skin inflammation, regulates the oiliness of the skin and improves its elasticity.
It is useful to rinse the hair with decoctions of the plant – elderberry helps well with strands falling out.
Since elderberry is a poisonous plant, it is rarely used in cooking. In minimal quantities, it can be added to alcoholic beverages to give them a unique taste, as well as to confectionery sweets. Before being used in any dishes and drinks, the berries undergo a thorough heat treatment – under the influence of high temperature, toxic substances in their composition are partially destroyed.
Much more often they use red elderberry in the countryside – the plant effectively repels pests. At the same time, the properties of the shrub allow you to get rid of not only rodents, but also flies. With red elderberry juice, you can scrub your hands from complex impurities, just rub a few berries in your palms to make your skin completely clean.
Restrictions and contraindications for taking red elderberries
Everyone is recommended to observe the minimum dosages when using tinctures and decoctions. But with certain diseases, elderberry will have to be completely abandoned. Contraindications include:
- stomach ulcer and intestinal colitis;
- gastritis and pancreatitis;
- diabetes;
- children and adolescents;
- Crohn’s disease.
It is necessary to temporarily abandon the use of the plant during pregnancy and during breastfeeding – elderberry will only bring harm.
Symptoms of red elderberry poisoning
The berries of the bush are very easy to poison even with careful use, so you need to know what to do in case of an overdose. Poisoning is manifested by severe symptoms, which include:
- bitterness and a feeling of sore throat;
- nausea and abdominal pain;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- tachycardia, dizziness and increased salivation;
- poor orientation in space.
If such signs appear, it is necessary to immediately induce vomiting or wash the stomach with a weak manganese solution. After the toxic substances leave the body, you need to take a laxative.
Conclusion
The red elderberry is a plant with strong medicinal properties, but requires a careful approach to use. When using berries, it is important not to overdose, otherwise health will be seriously affected.
