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Phytotherapy is an effective way to maintain immunity. The health benefits of certain plants are also recognized by official medicine. One of the most effective folk remedies is rosehip for immunity. Properly prepared teas, decoctions, infusions help to survive the season of colds, viral infections “without loss” and strengthen the body as a whole, providing protection against other diseases. However, even such seemingly harmless remedies have contraindications, so you can’t “prescribe” them yourself on your own – you need to consult a doctor.
Useful properties of rose hips for immunity
This is a medicinal plant, all parts of which are widely used in folk medicine. A general strengthening effect for the body as a whole and the benefits of rose hips for immunity are provided by “shock” doses of vitamins, macro- and microelements.
The plant is a “record holder” in terms of the content of vitamin C. Its main sources are lemon, cranberry and black currant, but the concentration is much higher in rose hips (650 mg per 100 g). It also contains other vitamins necessary to maintain immunity:
- A – activates metabolism, necessary to maintain visual acuity;
- E – strengthens the body’s defense against the effects of negative environmental factors and free radicals, helps to preserve youth for a long time;
- group B – without them, the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is impossible, they restore and maintain a healthy appearance of the skin, hair, nails.
How to cook and drink rose hips for immunity for adults
There are many recipes for preparing rose hips to maintain immunity. But it is worth remembering that this is far from a harmless remedy. Therefore, you can not “assign” yourself infusions, teas, decoctions on your own. Take them only after consulting a doctor. Also, a bad idea that does not contribute to strengthening immunity would be the abuse of funds, an increase in the recommended duration of the course of administration.
Tincture
Rosehip tincture to increase immunity is made only from ripe fresh berries. They should be fairly soft to the touch, a uniform red-orange color. Collect them as far as possible from “civilization”, especially from highways, industrial enterprises, large cities.
To prepare the tincture, you will need a glass of fruit and 500 ml of vodka (or diluted with water to the desired concentration of ethyl alcohol). The berries are cut in half, transferred to an opaque glass container and poured with vodka. The vessel is clogged, left in a dark, cool place for 30-40 days, the contents are vigorously shaken daily.
Rosehip tincture for immunity is taken three times a day 10-15 minutes before meals. A tablespoon is enough.
Infusion
General rules for the preparation and use of infusion for immunity:
- Use water whose temperature does not exceed 85 °C. Boiling water destroys almost all vitamin C.
- Infuse the liquid for at least three hours. It is better to wait 8-12 hours, having prepared a drink from the evening to the morning.
- Take a maximum of three glasses of infusion, more or less evenly distributing it throughout the day. The maximum duration of the course of treatment is three weeks. To prevent problems with immunity, a glass is enough daily in the morning on an empty stomach (about an hour before breakfast).
For the infusion, you need 100 g of fruits and 0,5-1 l of water. The concentration of the finished product depends on its volume. The berries are washed, passed through a meat grinder or crushed in a blender, poured with hot (70-85 ° C) water. The resulting mixture is stirred and poured into a thermos. Or simply insist in a saucepan, covering it with a lid and wrapping it with a towel.
Rosehip decoction for immunity
For the preparation of a decoction, both fresh and dried rose hips are suitable. A glass of berries is cut or turned into porridge with a kitchen hammer, pour 500 ml of cold water and put in a water bath. It is important not to let the liquid boil. Bringing to a temperature of 70-80 ° C, after 15-20 minutes the broth is removed from the heat, filtered and infused for 2-3 hours. The entire portion should be drunk during the day, in between meals.
Tea
Properly brewing rosehip tea for immunity is extremely simple. Berries are added to large-leaf black or green, herbal tea in the desired proportion. Usually 3-5 pieces per tablespoon of leaves are enough. Then it is brewed in a teapot. They also drink it as a simple tea, 3-4 cups a day.
To vary the taste of the drink, you can add other components useful for immunity to the rosehip:
- Fresh or dry blackcurrant, mountain ash, viburnum, hawthorn. Berries are mixed in equal proportions.
- Nettle leaves, slices of fresh carrots. The first ingredient is taken half as much. Carrots – about the same as rose hips.
- Dry lingonberry and black currant leaves. Their mixture (both components in an arbitrary proportion) and tea leaves are taken in equal volume.
- Fresh ginger. For a tablespoon of tea leaves and 3-5 rose hips, a piece of peeled and finely chopped root weighing 5-7 g is enough. The finished drink turns out to be quite spicy, it is recommended to sweeten it with honey.
- Chamomile, linden, marigold flowers. They can be taken either individually or in a mixture. Here it is desirable to do without tea leaves.
In general, most of the plants used in traditional medicine can be added to rose hips. They are combined depending on what effect you want to get. Tea with rosehip, sage and calendula not only strengthens the immune system, but also stops inflammation, with oak bark and lingonberry leaves gives an antibacterial effect.
Syrup
Syrup is the best way to maintain children’s immunity. Due to the sweetish, pleasant taste, there are no problems with its intake. It is prepared from the skin ground in a meat grinder or blender. Approximately 100 g is poured into 150 ml of water, brought to a boil over low heat, after half an hour removed from the stove. Then add 100 g of sugar, stir until all the crystals are dissolved.
The finished syrup is filtered, poured into a suitable container, stored in the refrigerator. The liquid is quite thick, this is normal. Take a tablespoon a day before lunch or dinner.
How to give children for immunity
The maximum daily dose of such funds for a child under the age of ten is half the adult norm. To maintain the immunity of adolescents, it is increased to 3/4 of this volume. The regimen is the same as for adults. Drink decoctions, infusions, teas, syrup can not be longer than three weeks in a row. Otherwise, problems with the gastrointestinal tract are very likely.
If rose hips are given to a child to prevent colds, he does not have pronounced problems with immunity, 100 ml of decoction or infusion per day is enough. Half a serving is drunk about half an hour before breakfast, the second – 1,5-2 hours before bedtime.
Противопоказания
There are a lot of contraindications for taking rose hips. In the presence of any of them, such remedies for immunity must be abandoned, despite all their benefits:
- Individual intolerance. Rosehip is a strong potential allergen. The negative reaction manifests itself individually – from mild itching, redness, rash to severe swelling and breathing problems.
- Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to gastritis, colitis, ulcers (especially in the acute stage), rose hips should not be taken with increased acidity of gastric juice, a tendency to heartburn.
- Any pathology of the cardiovascular system. These include thrombophlebitis. Due to the high concentration of vitamin K, the fruits “thicken” the blood. With caution and only after consultation with the attending physician, rose hips are taken for immunity in case of hypotension. For those who suffer from hypertension, such drugs are a categorical taboo. They also increase blood pressure, possibly even cerebral hemorrhage.
For those who are aware of their tendency to allergic reactions, it is worth trying rosehip products for immunity for the first time in minimal doses.
Rosehip contains a high concentration of organic acids, therefore, if it is abused, tooth enamel suffers, caries develops, and corrodes the mucous membrane to ulcers. To avoid this, it is recommended to drink decoctions, infusions, teas through a straw and immediately rinse your mouth thoroughly.
Conclusion
Rosehip for immunity is extremely useful. This effect is provided by the vitamins, macro- and microelements contained in it in a high concentration. Decoctions, infusions, teas prepared from wild rose are an effective general tonic. Of course, the health benefits depend on whether the remedy is done correctly and whether it is abused. There are also contraindications, this should also be taken into account, having previously consulted with a doctor so as not to harm yourself.