The use of lemongrass berries

People value lemongrass for its special healing properties, relieving many ailments. Useful substances are found in the fruits, and in the stems, and in the leaves of lemongrass. But in folk medicine, the use of berries is more practiced. There is a simple explanation for this – lemongrass fruits have the highest concentration of nutrients, they are easier to collect and store for storage. It is important to understand what are the benefits and harms of lemongrass berries for humans.

Schisandra chinensis (schizandra) is a wild-growing woody liana with fiery red clusters of berries, growing in Primorye, Khabarovsk Territory, in China and in the south of Sakhalin. At present, cultivars of this plant have been bred, which allowed it to spread throughout almost the entire territory of Our Country.

What are the benefits of lemongrass berries

The special qualities of lemongrass have long been confirmed by many years of practice of ordinary people and research by scientists. It contains vitamins, mineral salts, tannins and tonics, essential oils, sugars and other useful trace elements that can have a positive effect on the human body. Lemongrass fruits have medicinal properties.

Valuable qualities of lemongrass berries are as follows:

• produce a tonic effect, improve working capacity, increase the endurance of the body, add strength;
• are a powerful energy;
• activate the work of the nervous system;
• increase mood;
• remove depression;
• strengthen the protective functions of the body;
• help to cope with colds;
• contribute to the adaptation of the body in critical conditions;
• useful for prolonged mental and physical stress, with a sharp change in climate;
• improve the quality of the blood;
• have a positive effect on the entire cardiovascular system;
• increase blood pressure;
• lower blood sugar levels;
• increase visual acuity, heal the eyes;
• improve the functioning of internal organs and the gastrointestinal tract;
• normalize metabolism;
• relieve hangover;
• normalize sleep.

Schizandra berries provide benefits to the human body, but they are recommended to be used with caution, only for medicinal purposes. You can fully feel the healing effect of the fruits only with regular use in small courses.

Indications for use

You can use the berries of Chinese magnolia vine for preventive purposes, but there are a number of disorders in which the fruits of the plant will be especially useful:

• colds;
• nervous disorders and depression;
• respiratory diseases;
• anemia;
• hormonal disruptions;
• hypotension;
• impotence;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• diabetes.

The use of lemongrass fruits in complex treatment with other drugs increases the chance of recovery for cancer patients, patients with hepatitis C and tuberculosis. Lemongrass extract is also actively used in skin care. It is included in the composition of tonics. Medicines based on lemongrass fruits are not addictive.

Why are fruits harmful?

Schisandra berries have the ability to activate many vital functions in the body. In some cases, this quality of a medicinal plant can lead to side effects, and sometimes even cause severe harm to human health. Usually this result occurs due to illiterate dosage. Oversaturation with lemongrass fruits can lead to the following conditions:

• nervous irritability, insomnia, depression;
• disruption of the digestive system, heartburn;
• a strong increase in blood pressure.

These symptoms quickly disappear if you reduce the amount of fruit consumed or completely stop taking them.

Contraindications to the use of lemongrass fruits

Despite the large number of useful properties in lemongrass berries, there are also contraindications to their use:

• allergy to berries;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• children up to 12 years;
• hypertension;
• arrhythmia;
• pathological diseases of the internal organs.

In order not to cause serious harm to health, it is necessary to consult a doctor before taking lemongrass fruits. The doctor will help identify possible restrictions on the use of the fruits of the medicinal plant, as well as adjust the dosage.

When to pick lemongrass berries

Lemongrass is perfectly cultivated in summer cottages. In favorable conditions, about 3 kg of fruit can be collected from one bush. The berries ripen gradually, from September to October, so it is impossible to harvest the entire crop at the same time. But all fruits must be removed before the first frost.

Fully ripe lemongrass fruits are very tender and easily damaged by touch. To avoid this, the berries are not picked separately, but the brushes are completely cut off.

Collection must be carried out carefully so as not to damage the vines. Since broken and damaged branches lose their ability to bear fruit, it is better to take scissors for cutting berry brushes.

Harvesting fruits from wild lemongrass is not always safe. It should be produced only in an ecologically clean area, away from exhaust gases and factory emissions.

How to dry lemongrass

After harvesting, the berries must be processed within the first day to prevent their decay. Lemongrass fruits are not stored fresh for a long time, they quickly disappear. Drying is considered a simple and effective method of preserving useful qualities.

Whole fruit

Cut brushes are carefully laid out in the shade, without direct sun exposure for 2-3 days, dried a little. You can hang the fruit clusters separately for the same period for the drying process.

Then the berries are separated from the stalks, plucked from the brushes. After that, they are dried in an electric fruit dryer or oven. The temperature regime should correspond to 50-60 ° С. Periodically, the berries must be stirred, preventing them from sticking together. The drying process in such conditions lasts about 7 hours. Dried lemongrass fruits acquire a reddish-brown hue (as in the photo), have an inconspicuous specific smell and a sour-bitter spicy taste.

berry seeds

Bones contain a lot of useful substances. Immediately before drying the seeds, all the juice is squeezed out of the berries. It can be preserved and stored.

Seeds are separated from the skin and the remnants of the pulp, washing under running water. Then clean seeds are laid out on cloth or paper, left to dry at room temperature. To speed up the process, the seeds are placed in an oven or electric dryer for several hours. The temperature is kept in the region of 60-70 ° C, stirred regularly.

How to use lemongrass

Dried fruits and seeds are actively used for the preparation of medicinal tinctures and decoctions, and are also often used in cooking. Despite the not very pleasant taste, it is useful to eat a small amount of fresh berries – they retain all the valuable substances.

How many lemongrass berries can you eat per day

Schisandra berries have a rather unusual taste, or rather a combination of tastes – from sour-sweet to bitter-salty (skin, pulp and seeds have a different flavor). For preventive purposes, the fruits are recommended to be consumed fresh. In order not to harm your health, it is enough to eat 2-6 pieces daily. This amount is quite enough to add vigor to the body, bypass pathologies, remove depression and nervous disorders.

How to cook lemongrass berries

Schisandra berries are very often used in cooking. At the same time, their medicinal properties do not disappear, and cooked dishes add vitality and heal the body. In industrial production, lemongrass berries are added to some varieties of sweets. Schizandra fruits and seeds are included in teas and tinctures. Compotes and jams are cooked. There are many recipes for cooking based on lemongrass berries.

How to brew lemongrass

A decoction of lemongrass fruit is the easiest way to benefit from the plant. Such a drink is able to have a restorative and tonic effect.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of dry fruits;
• 200 ml water.

Method of preparation:

1. Boil the berries for 10 minutes in an enamel bowl.
2. Infuse overnight in a cool place, then strain.
3. Add sugar if desired.
4. The decoction must be consumed during the day.

You can take a decoction not in its pure form, but as part of black tea. It can be prepared as follows.

Composition:

• 15 g of lemongrass berries;
• 1 liter of boiled water.

How to cook:

1. Pour boiling water over berries. Add black tea.
2. Insist 5 minutes.
3. Add sugar or honey.

To benefit, and not harm, from such drinks, the dosage should be strictly observed. Drinking decoctions and teas is not recommended before bedtime, so that overexcitation does not provoke insomnia.

How to make lemongrass tincture

A good result for medicinal purposes is the use of alcohol tincture from schisandra berries. This tincture can be purchased at the pharmacy, but there are ways to prepare it yourself at home. The basis for the tincture will be 70% medical alcohol or vodka. Berries can be used both fresh and dried.

Tincture of lemongrass berries on vodka consists of the following components:

• 30 g dry lemongrass berries;
• 0,5 liters of vodka.

Procedure:

1. Grind the berries, pour into a dark container, pour vodka, close the lid tightly.
2. Clean in a dark place for 2 weeks.
3. Strain the tincture from impurities.

Take 1 teaspoon three times a day before meals. The course of treatment is 14 days.

Tincture of lemon fruits on alcohol:

• 100 g dry or fresh berries;
• 500 ml alcohol 70%.

How to do it:

1. Pour berries with alcohol. Use a dark bottle. Seal with cork.
2. Remove for 10 days in a cool dark place.
3. Strain.

Before use, the tincture must be diluted with water in a 1:1 consistency. Take 1 teaspoon before meals 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 10 days.

Another tincture of lemongrass berries can be used as an external remedy for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and rheumatism. The method of treatment is as follows. Painful places are smeared with tincture 2 times a day. Evening treatment is best done before bed. The course of treatment can last up to 1 month.

You can cook a delicious and healthy vodka tincture. This is how a tincture is prepared not for medicinal use:

• 1,5 cups fresh lemongrass berries;
• 1 cup honey (sugar can be used)
• 0,5 liters of vodka.

Procedure:

1. Mix the ingredients in a jar.
2. Remove to insist.
3. Mix and shake once a week.
4. Insist 2-3 months.

The finished tincture has a dark garnet color and a pleasant smell.

Lemongrass Berries with Honey

The beneficial properties of lemongrass fruits can be greatly enhanced by adding honey to them. It turns out an excellent delicacy that gives a boost of energy for the whole day. The composition stimulates the cardiovascular system.

Method of preparation:

1. Chop fresh berries.
2. Pour honey, leave for 2 weeks.

Store in the refrigerator in a dark container. Consume by adding to tea at breakfast.

Tincture of lemongrass berries with the addition of honey also has a beneficial effect on the body. For 1 cup of tincture, 1 teaspoon of honey is required. Take 1 tablespoon three times a day before meals.

Lemongrass Berries with Sugar

This method is great for harvesting lemongrass berries for the winter. Fresh fruits are washed, dried and covered with sugar in the proportion: 1 part of berries to 2 parts of sugar. The resulting mixture is transferred to jars and rolled up with lids. In this state, the berries retain all their useful qualities until the next harvest. Store in a cool place.

Berry Juice

Juice from berries perfectly preserves all the healing properties of lemongrass. It is prepared from fresh, but previously aged 1-2 days fruits. The pressing process is best done manually to avoid crushing the seeds (this adds an unnecessary bitter taste to the juice). To the resulting amount of juice add sugar, equal to its double volume. The sugar should completely dissolve in the juice. Pour the resulting solution into dark bottles, roll up the lids.

Juice prepared in this way is stored in a cool dark place. Shelf life up to 3 years, while the juice does not sour and mold. Berry juice is added to all kinds of teas, compotes, pastries, or consumed on its own in small doses.

Marmalade

From freshly squeezed juice, you can prepare a healthy delicacy – marmalade. It won’t be difficult to make it. For marmalade you need:

• 1 liter juice from lemongrass berries;
• 2,5-3 cups of sugar;
• 3 tablespoons of pectin.

Method of preparation:

1. Add pectin to the heated juice, leave for half an hour to swell.
2. Boil sugar syrup and 150 g of juice in another bowl.
3. The swollen mixture with pectin is added to the syrup and boiled until thickened.
4. Hot marmalade is poured into prepared containers and left to solidify completely.
5. Before use, you can cut it into small pieces for convenience.

This healing sweetness perfectly helps the body in the fight against colds in the cold season. Marmalade has a very pleasant taste and aroma.

Terms and conditions of storage

For better preservation of the medicinal properties of lemongrass fruits, it is necessary to correctly observe the terms and conditions of storage.

Store dried fruits and seeds in a cool, dry place in cloth bags. Shelf life – 2 years.

Healing homemade tinctures can be stored for a long time without losing their qualities. For storage, choose a dark, tightly closed container. Keep bottles of tincture in a cool place.

Berries filled with honey are recommended to be stored on the bottom shelf in the refrigerator in a dark glass dish. The shelf life is long. But it is better to use before the next harvest.

Schisandra berries with sugar, rolled into jars under the lids. Banks are cleaned in a cool place. Shelf life – 1 year.

Juice from lemongrass berries is stored for a long time. It is rolled up in jars under the lid and cleaned in a cool dark place. The shelf life of juice in this form is 3 years.

Jam and jam remain useful for 1-2 years. Store in a dark place, the temperature does not matter (both in the refrigerator and at room temperature).

Marmalade is stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to use it within 1-2 months.

Conclusion

Having decided to take fruits for medicinal purposes, it is worth remembering once again what are the benefits and harms of lemongrass berries. Before you start taking it, you must visit a doctor in order to identify contraindications. Strict adherence to the dosage will help get rid of many problems without the appearance of a side effect.