The benefits and harms of mountain ash for the human body

Rowan is a small tree of the Rosaceae family, and its fruits are widely used in cooking and medicine, mainly folk. The benefits and harms of mountain ash are due to its rich composition, it has been used for many centuries for medicinal and prophylactic purposes, but with some diseases it can harm a person.

This plant is often used for decorative purposes, as feed for livestock and poultry, and the processed fruits are suitable for the confectionery industry and the preparation of soft and alcoholic beverages.

Since mountain ash has a specific bitter taste, it is not eaten raw, but it is often added to the composition of potent medicines, jams, marshmallows, honey and many other culinary delights. Let’s find out more about this plant and why people need it.

The use of mountain ash

• It is effectively used as a choleretic agent. The choleretic properties of mountain ash are due to the presence of sorbic acid and sorbitol in its composition. These substances are excellent against viruses, fungi and bacteria. As a result of experiments on animals, it was found that sorbitol breaks down fatty deposits in the liver. Also, with the help of this substance, which, after entering the body for several hours, has a laxative effect, mountain ash is recommended to be consumed by patients suffering from chronic constipation, which are accompanied by diseases of the biliary tract. Therefore, mountain ash is very useful for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract;
• Helps prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Due to the amygdalin and sorbitol contained in the fruits of mountain ash, it is very useful for blood vessels. Amygdalin enhances the body’s resistance to oxygen starvation and prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis, but supplements its action with sorbitol, which regulates the level of cholesterol in the blood;
• Helps in the treatment of hemorrhoids. Due to the hemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties, rowan berries are often used as compresses, ointments and tinctures for the treatment of hemorrhoids;
• With the help of pectin, it binds some carbohydrates in the intestines. This can be achieved by making a powder from mountain ash, which is recommended for people suffering from overweight and diabetes mellitus. The presence of sorbitol, as well as carotene and xylitol, which are sugar substitutes, makes mountain ash absolutely safe for diabetics. Pectin substances also help to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body, normalize bowel function in case of disorders, improve digestion and, to some extent, slow down the development of cancerous tumors. The flavonoids contained in the plant, which stimulate the metabolism in the body, also contribute to weight loss;
• It has a healing effect. So, decoctions from the plant can be used for rinsing with scurvy, and ointment-gruel is effective for healing purulent abscesses. To prepare it, the fruits must first be washed with running water, and then pounded with a wooden mortar. With the help of such an ointment, you can accelerate the healing of wounds, eczema, dermatitis and bruising;
• Accelerates the treatment of colds. Both fresh and dried berries can be used to make tea with diaphoretic and diuretic properties – this helps to bring down the high temperature and improve the patient’s well-being;
• Excellent resistance to fungi. This is due to the presence of phytoncides in mountain ash, which are excellent antibacterial substances. To prepare an antifungal agent for external use, it is necessary to grind the fresh leaves of the plant and apply to problem areas on the skin, and then bandage it. This bandage needs to be renewed daily;
• Normalizes the work of the nervous system. The mountain ash contains a huge amount of vitamin P, which is especially good at preventing depression, which is common in the autumn. Vitamin PP relieves symptoms of increased fatigue and unreasonable irritability, enhances sleep;
• Increases visual acuity. The plant contains an abundance of carotene, according to this indicator, it is even ahead of some varieties of carrots. And this element, as you know, allows the use of mountain ash to maintain the normal functioning of the eyes and prevent diseases that lead to visual impairment;
• With the help of vitamins A and C, it strengthens the walls of blood vessels. By preventing vascular fragility and permeability, you protect yourself from many vascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, or thrombosis. Moreover, mountain ash improves blood formation and blood circulation, enhances blood clotting, normalizes heart function, improves blood quality and relieves anemia;
• Relieves swelling. Rowan decoctions have choleretic and diuretic properties, quickly and painlessly relieving heart and kidney problems, accompanied by edema. The same decoctions are recommended for use for splitting and removing stones from the kidneys and liver;
• Improves women’s health and beauty. Rowan juice is widely used for cosmetic purposes. Many beauticians recommend freezing mountain ash juice in ice cubes, which can then be used to rub your skin. This product constricts the blood vessels that protrude onto the surface of the skin. Masks from this plant will help whiten skin and restore its natural, radiant appearance, and rowan berries can be applied to warts to remove them. For women aged red rowan is recommended to relieve the symptoms of menopause;
• Increases immunity. Rowan enhances the protective functions of the body and accompanies the prevention of vitamin deficiencies. It restores the strength of an organism exhausted after serious illnesses or operations, relieves general fatigue. This is due to the fact that the plant retains nutrients well in the body, therefore it saves energy and human strength;
• Prevents the proliferation of pneumococci. In this regard, mountain ash helps to cope with respiratory diseases;
• Bitter substances contained in berries increase the secretion of the digestive glands. This promotes rapid digestion. But these components also reduce the negative effects of radiation on the body and prevent oxygen starvation;
• Reduces the risk of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The presence of phosphorus and calcium makes mountain ash an excellent remedy for the prevention of rheumatism and arthritis, as well as reducing pain in these diseases. To do this, you need to drink half a glass of plant juice daily;
• Increases the acidity of gastric juice. So, this product is useful for people suffering from low acidity gastritis.

Rowanberry damage

Although this berry has a large number of medicinal properties, it, like other products, has certain restrictions on its use in food.

• Contains a large amount of organic acids. Due to the fact that the use of mountain ash increases the acidity of gastric juice, it is prohibited for patients with gastritis associated with high acidity. Also, this plant is not recommended for ulcerative lesions of the stomach;
• Has a laxative effect. For this reason, it is better not to eat mountain ash for people with diarrhea;
• May cause side effects. The plant contains parasorbic acid, which acts as an antibiotic, increasing the risk of side effects in people who are overly addicted to fruit. However, this acid is destroyed if it is subjected to heat treatment;
• Overeating berries can cause an increase in blood pressure. Yes, in general, mountain ash reduces high blood pressure, but only if there is enough of it. By the way, because of this property, it is not recommended for hypotonic patients;
• Cases of individual intolerance are possible. For allergy sufferers, taking mountain ash can cause skin rashes, itching and nausea;
• With extreme caution, it is worth using the plant for people with poor blood clotting, heart ischemia and those who have suffered a stroke or heart attack.

And do not forget that the benefits and harms of mountain ash largely depend on the environmental conditions in which it germinated. Only the reliability and cleanliness of the collection site will be able to guarantee the presence of all useful substances in this plant. Buy rowan only from trusted suppliers, or start growing it yourself.

Nutritional value and chemical composition of Rowan

Video about the benefits and harms of mountain ash