Holly mahonia: edible or not, the benefits and harms of berries, how to take

Holly mahonia is an evergreen shrub native to North America. The plant has successfully spread throughout Eurasia. It is valued not only for its decorative appearance, but also for its useful properties. The use of holly mahonia berries includes the preparation of medicines and various dishes.

Are the berries of the holly mahonia edible or not

Holly mahonia bears oblong fruits, up to 1 cm long and up to 0,8 cm wide. They have a blue-black color and a bluish coating on the surface. Inside there are 2 – 8 seeds. The taste of the berries is sweet and sour.

The scope of the use of holly mahonia berries largely depends on whether they are edible. The fruits are completely safe for humans and animals. They are used fresh, dried, subjected to heat treatment. Before you start taking it, be sure to take into account the norms of use and contraindications.

The composition and calorie content of berries

The medicinal properties of holly mahonia berries are explained by their composition. The product is rich in vitamin C, organic acids, tannins. In addition, the fruits contain strong natural pigments. They give a red tint to drinks and foods.

Berberine, which belongs to the alkaloids, was found in the roots of the plant. The substance has an antibacterial effect and inhibits the development of cancer cells.

The composition of the berries of the holly mahonia includes useful minerals:

• copper;
• manganese;
• sodium;
• zinc.

The berries of the shrub are low-calorie. The nutritional value per 100 g of the product is 30 kcal. This amount contains 8 g of carbohydrates. Fats and proteins are completely absent. Therefore, berries are often added to the diet.

Medicinal properties of holly mahonia

The fruits of holly mahonia are used as a general tonic. The product has medicinal properties. Berries help in the prevention and fight against many diseases.

Useful properties of holly mahonia:

• pronounced choleretic effect;
• the plant helps to get rid of constipation;
• improves the condition of hemorrhoids;
• restores the work of the bone marrow, including after chemotherapy;
• normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system;
• improves blood composition;
• fights psoriasis and other skin diseases;
• activates metabolism;
• activates immune properties;
• lowers the level of bad cholesterol;
• relieves inflammation;
• destroys viruses and pathogenic bacteria.

The use of mahonia in folk medicine

Various parts of the culture have found use in folk medicine. Plants make useful decoctions and infusions from roots, leaves, flowers and berries. It is recommended that you consult your doctor before taking these medications. The specialist will prescribe the rate and frequency of use of drugs.

Medicinal properties of mahonia berries

You can use the berries of the holly mahonia to treat rheumatism, constipation, diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys and liver. The product has a positive effect on the entire body: it tones and strengthens the immune system.

Fresh berries are added to the daily diet. After harvesting, they are dried or frozen for the winter. It is not recommended to wash the crop or keep it in high humidity. To maintain immunity, dried fruits are added to muesli or another breakfast.

To preserve the beneficial properties of fruits, they are processed. The easiest way is to grind the raw materials manually or process them in a blender. The resulting mass is mixed with sugar, laid out in containers and put in the refrigerator. Daily intake – no more than 5 tbsp. l. In addition, jam is prepared from holly mahonia. The most useful option is with the addition of celery stalks, red currant juice and Ivan tea.

Ingredients for making holly mahonia jam:

• ripe berries – 1 kg;
• stalks of celery – 100 g;
• granulated sugar – 1 kg;
• red currant juice – 0,2 l;
• dry flowers of Ivan-tea – 100 g.

Recipe for the use of holly mahonia berries:

1. Red currants are processed in a juicer or manually. The resulting liquid is poured into a saucepan and put on fire. Gradually add sugar to the juice.
2. Celery is peeled and cut into cubes.
3. Flowers, berries and petioles are poured into the syrup.
4. The mixture is brought to a boil, after which the foam is taken into account.
5. The jam is kept on low heat for 5 minutes.
6. The mass is left for 1 hour until ready.
7. Ready jam is poured into jars.

Medicinal properties of mahonia flowers

The most common use of holly mahonia flowers is in the treatment of gout. An infusion is prepared from raw materials, which helps to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Recipe for infusion for the treatment of gout:

1. Pour 1 tsp into the container. dried flowers of holly mahonia.
2. Raw material is poured with 2 cups of hot water.
3. The container is covered with a lid and left to infuse for 2 – 3 hours.
4. The finished infusion is filtered.

In order for the flowers of the holly mahonia to show medicinal properties, they should be taken three times a day. Drink 1/3 cup before meals.

For the treatment of diarrhea and rheumatism, an infusion is prepared from the flowers of the plant. Such a tool normalizes metabolism and metabolic processes. The daily intake is no more than 10 drops before meals.

Recipe for tincture of holly mahonia flowers:

1. To prepare the tincture, take 10 g of dried flowers.
2. The raw material is placed in a dark glass dish.
3. Flowers pour 100 g of vodka.
4. The remedy is insisted in a dark place for a month. It is protected from direct sunlight.

Useful properties of mahonia bark

The healing properties of the bark of the holly mahonia help fight diarrhea, dyspepsia, and gout. Tincture from this component improves the condition in diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys, rheumatism.

The procedure for preparing tincture from the bark of holly mahonia:

1. Take the crushed bark of a bush and vodka in a ratio of 1:10.
2. The components are placed in a darkened glass container and sealed.
3. The product is kept in a dark and dry place for a week.

Before taking the tincture is diluted with water. 5-15 drops are enough for ½ cup. The drug is taken daily before meals.

A decoction based on the bark of holly mahonia is effective for irritable bowel syndrome. It is also used as a topical treatment for psoriasis and other skin conditions.

Recipe for a decoction of the bark of a shrub:

1. Place 3 tbsp in a container. l. crushed bark and pour it with a glass of hot water.
2. On medium heat, the pan is kept for 20 – 25 minutes. The liquid is not brought to a boil.
3. The container is removed from the stove. The resulting broth is filtered.

The decoction is taken orally 2 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals. For external use, a more concentrated agent is prepared: 1 g of dry raw materials are taken for 200 liter of water. The broth is prepared for 30 – 40 minutes. It is filtered, and then used for compresses on the affected skin.

The benefits of mahonia roots

Useful properties and contraindications of the mahonia plant also apply to its underground part. In America, an extract is prepared from raw materials, which stimulates metabolism, slows down the aging process, and normalizes the functioning of blood vessels and the heart. The tool helps with dysbacteriosis, inflammation of the biliary tract.

At home, tea is prepared from the roots. The sequence of its preparation:

1. For 0,2 l of water, take 5 g of dry rhizome.
2. Raw materials are poured into water, which is boiled for 10 minutes over low heat.
3. The product is left to cool, after which it is filtered.

The resulting tea is taken daily before meals in the amount of ½ cup. The tool strengthens the immune system and improves metabolic processes in the body.

The use of mahonia fruits in cooking

In cooking, holly mahonia berries are widely used. They make tasty and fragrant sauces for main dishes. The most popular way is to cook adjika from ripe fruits. Other ingredients are added to taste: black pepper, garlic, sugar, cinnamon, suneli hops. Such adjika goes well with meat dishes, sausages, fish, side dishes.

Dried berries are a great alternative to dried fruits. They are added to pilaf, fillings for pies and other pastries. Grated fruits are used as an independent dessert for tea. In addition, other confectionery products are added to the mass. In summer, it is diluted with water to obtain a vitamin fruit drink. You can add lemon zest, mint leaves, honey to it.

Due to the content of pectin, mahonia is used for home canning. Not only jam is obtained from the fruits, but also thick jams. Natural pigments found in berries give a rich burgundy color to jelly, juice, compote, and wine.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

Magonia holly produces numerous bright yellow flowers. They are located in upright branched inflorescences. The buds open in early May. The flowering period takes one month. Occasionally blooms again in October

Mahonia flowers are harvested in early to mid-May, when the buds are fully bloomed. They are cut off by hand or cut with secateurs. Withered flowers are not used for medicinal purposes. Raw materials are scattered on a sheet of paper and dried in heat. After 1 – 2 weeks, the flowers are poured into a jar or other container, after which the product is removed for storage.

To use holly mahonia berries, it is important to know the rules for their collection. Be sure to use only ripe fruits that have a dark blue color. Mahonia berries ripen in late summer – early autumn, depending on the weather conditions in the region. The first fruits are removed in early August.

Magonia is harvested in early September. The berries stay on the branches for 5 months. At the same time, their taste and useful properties do not deteriorate. After harvesting, the fruits are dried, sprinkled with sugar or frozen.

Mahonia roots are harvested in early spring, before the start of the growing season. The shrub gives a lot of root growth, which is convenient to use as a raw material. It is allowed to transfer work to the fall. Often the rhizome is cut off during transplantation. The plant tolerates this procedure without problems.

The cut roots are cleaned from the ground and divided into parts 10-12 cm long. They are left for 1-2 weeks in a warm, ventilated room. Raw materials are protected from moisture and direct sunlight. When the roots dry out, they are removed for storage.

In folk medicine, bark is used from a young magonia at the age of 3-4 years. Such raw materials contain a maximum of useful substances. Young bark is pink-grey. On an old shrub, it is distinguished by a brown tint with longitudinal stripes. To remove the bark from the shoots, make two semicircular cuts at a distance of 10-15 cm. Then carefully remove the resulting strip. Raw materials are stored in a dry and dark place.

Limitations and contraindications

Before eating berries, you should remember that mahonia has benefits and harms, like any other product. The daily norm for an adult is 15 – 45 fruits. If this measure is exceeded, adverse symptoms appear: diarrhea, nausea, weakness. It is recommended to stop taking berries for the next few days.

From the use of holly mahonia are in the following cases:

• period of pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• idiosyncrasy;
• chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Conclusion

The use of holly mahonia berries is possible for various purposes. This includes the preparation of healing decoctions and infusions, pastries and other dishes. Useful properties are possessed not only by fruits, but also by leaves, flowers and roots of a bush. Before taking funds from mahonia, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications and consult a doctor.