Black rowan: what it helps with and what it treats, what can be done and how to take it. Chokeberry - benefits and contraindications

Chokeberry chokeberry - a thunderstorm for hypertension and anemia

The homeland of the chokeberry is the eastern part of North America (Canada), where it occupies a vast territory with diverse natural conditions from Ontario in the north to the Florida Peninsula in the south, covering the Atlantic Lowlands, the Appalic Mountains and the Central Plain. It was cultivated there long before the arrival of white people. The Delaware and Dakota Indian tribes used the juice of its fruits to treat skin burns and make flour. Chokeberry was brought to Europe at the end of the 19th century and quickly gained recognition as an interesting ornamental plant that decorated streets, gardens, parks and public gardens. Despite the fact that the existence of chokeberry in Russia was known at that time, it was still not cultivated. After extensive laboratory research and clinical trials, the beneficial properties of chokeberry could not leave researchers indifferent. And in 1961, the USSR Ministry of Health authorized the use of fruits and natural juice of chokeberry for medicinal purposes to treat anacid gastritis, atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Beneficial properties of chokeberry

Chokeberry (or as chokeberry is also called) is a small densely branched deciduous shrub with a flexible, not very thick, easily bending trunk up to 1.5-2.5 m high, a medicinal plant of the Rosaceae family. Flowers are collected 10-35 per inflorescence - corymb. The flowers are white, less often pink. It blooms in May - June, the fruits ripen in August - September. The fruits are edible, dark brown or black-purple, with a light waxy coating and dark ruby pulp, spherical berries with a diameter of 8-10 mm. The weight of one fruit is up to 1.3 g. The fruits are collected in clusters, with 8 dark brown seeds. The fruit pulp is dark red, the juice is dark ruby.

The beneficial properties of chokeberry are due to the content of vitamins A, C, B1, B2, E, P, PP, carotene, manganese, copper, boron, iodine, magnesium, molybdenum, iron, anthocyanates. Chokeberry fruits contain sugars, folic, nicotinic, malic and other organic acids, riboflavin, phylloquinone, tocopherols, cyanine, pyrodoxin, thiamine, tannins and pectin. The fruits of chokeberry (as well as feijoa fruits) contain a lot of iodine, so they are useful for diffuse toxic goiter. Amygdalin, coumarin and other compounds were also found in the pulp of the berries. Quercetin derivatives, large amounts of neochlorogenic acid, rutin and hyprozide were found in the leaves and flowers of chokeberry. Dried chokeberry berries are also a valuable medicinal raw material. It was revealed that 3 tablespoons (50 g of dry fruits) of chokeberry contains enough vitamin P to provide its daily dose for this vitamin deficiency. The astringent taste of chokeberry reminds us that it contains a lot of tannins, organic acids and pectins, which means it has a great effect on digestion.

Contraindications. Since chokeberry contains a large amount of organic acids, therefore, for hyperacid gastritis and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, it should be consumed moderately and only outside of exacerbations. In such situations, special herbal preparations containing chokeberry can help. Also, the use of fruits and juice of medicinal chokeberry is contraindicated for duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, low blood pressure, thrombophlebitis, frequent constipation, as well as for those with increased blood clotting.

Due to the content of pectin substances, chokeberry helps remove heavy metals and radioactive substances from the body, retains and removes various types of pathogenic microorganisms. Pectins normalize the functioning of the intestines, eliminate spasms and have a choleretic effect. The beneficial properties of chokeberry help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improving their firmness and elasticity.

One of the most beneficial properties of this berry is normalizing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Chokeberry fruits are prescribed for various disorders of the blood coagulation system, bleeding, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, diabetes and allergic diseases. Research in recent years has shown that chokeberry improves liver function, and regular consumption of this berry improves immunity and has a positive effect on the functioning of the endocrine system.

Treatment with chokeberry
General strengthening decoction. Pour 20 g of dried chokeberry fruits into 200 ml of boiling water, set on low heat and heat for 5-10 minutes. Wait 20 minutes for the broth to cool, strain it, squeeze it out and drink 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day.

For hypertension. Mix 50 g of fresh chokeberry juice with a tablespoon of honey, drink three times a day half an hour before meals for 10-45 days of treatment.
Or drink chokeberry juice 50 ml 3 times a day for 30 minutes. before meals for 10 days or 100 g of fresh fruits 3 times a day.

Prevention of atherosclerosis. Eat 100 g of fruits daily for 2-6 weeks three times a day, half an hour before meals. And additionally consume your choice of a decoction of medicinal rose hips or an infusion of black currants or a vitamin C preparation.
Or take 100 g of pureed berries 2-3 times a day at the rate of 1 kg of berries per 700 g of sugar.

Blood pressure remedy. Rowan juice from squeezed berries is taken 0.25 cups 2-3 times a day for 30 minutes. before meals for hypertension, hemorrhoids, gastritis with low acidity.

Multivitamin tea. Pour 1/2 tablespoon of the mixture into 2 glasses of hot water, boil for 10 minutes and leave for 5-6 hours. Before use, you can add sugar to taste. Take 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day before meals.

For asthenia, anemia and hypovitaminosis. It is necessary to eat 250 g of fresh fruits daily 2-3 times a day along with black currants, rosehip decoction or ascorbic acid tablets.

Chokeberry wine

Chokeberry is perfect for winemaking. The wine from its fruits is thick, extractive, rich ruby color with a very beautiful hue. The wine clarifies well. It should be noted that chokeberry wine has a special property - it affects a person’s blood pressure, lowering it. So people with low blood pressure should drink chokeberry wine only in small quantities.

All types of wines can be made from chokeberries, but strong and sweet wines (dessert and liqueur) are best. Dry wines are rarely prepared, as the resulting taste is too “heavy” and tart. Very often, chokeberry is used to make blended wines; in particular, wine is excellent from a mixture of juices of autumn apples and chokeberry.

There are several ways to make wine from chokeberry, differing mainly in the extraction of juice and preparation of the wort. With each of these methods, it is also possible to add the juices of other fruits and berries to the chokeberry juice (blending).

Purchase and storage

The fruits of chokeberry are harvested at full maturity, in September - October. They are used fresh and dried. Fresh fruits are distinguished by their shelf life, which allows them to be consumed fresh for a long time.

For long-term storage, rowan fruits are cut off with a shield, strung on a wire and hung in a barn. So they can be stored in frost and are usable throughout the winter, but when fresh fruits are frozen, the P-vitamin substance is partially destroyed, and with each thawing and freezing its amount decreases. Aronia is dried in the open air or in drying chambers at a temperature of 40-50°. Dried fruits are sold in pharmacies.

Chokeberry Recipes

Chokeberry jam. You will need: chokeberry - 1 kg, sugar - 1.3 kg, water - 2 cups, juice (any) - 1 cup, rum - 2 tbsp, citric acid - 1/2 cup.
Method of preparation. It is better to collect rowan after the first frost. Separate the berries from the bunches, wash, and keep covered in a not too hot oven for 2-5 hours. Boil syrup from sugar, water and the resulting juice, dip the berries in it, add rum and cook until the berries are transparent. At the end of cooking, add citric acid. The finished jam is poured hot into jars and sealed.

Chokeberry pie. You will need: wheat bread - 200g, chokeberries - 2 cups, apples - 2 pcs., sugar - 1/2 cup, butter - 2 tbsp, breadcrumbs - 2 tbsp, sweet sauce - to taste .
Method of preparation. Cut the bread into thin slices, soak in a mixture of milk, eggs and sugar. Wash the chokeberry berries, sprinkle with sugar, add grated Antonovka apples. Place moistened slices of bread on a frying pan greased with oil and sprinkled with breadcrumbs, top with minced meat and cover with the remaining slices of bread. Pour in the egg-milk mixture and bake in the oven until golden brown. Serve with sweet sauce.

Chokeberry tincture. You will need: chokeberry - 100g, cherry leaves - 100 pcs., vodka - 700g, sugar - 1.3 cups, water - 1.5 l.
Method of preparation. Pour 1.5 liters of water over the berries and leaves and boil for 15 minutes. Then strain the broth and add 700 g of vodka and 1.3 cups of sand.

Chokeberry They are used everywhere due to the relative ease of preparing culinary masterpieces, cosmetic products, and folk remedies. The product is popular due to its valuable chemical list; vitamin complexes are often replaced with chokeberries. The berry can enhance the body’s protective functions, give vigor and strength, and cure many diseases. All this encourages people to look for information regarding the harm and benefits of rowan.

Composition and benefits of rowan

Thus, the culture is rich in vitamins K, P, B. It contains ascorbic acid, tocopherol, beta-carotene, coumarin, amygdalin. Among the elements, it makes sense to highlight iron, fluorine, boron, molybdenum, manganese and many others.

Chokeberry is rightfully considered the world champion for the accumulation of iodine in it. Among the plants growing at northern latitude, such a quantity cannot be found in any culture. Hence, we can assume that the berry prevents many ailments that are somehow related to the endocrine system.

Due to the presence of ascorbic acid in the fruit, rowan becomes truly irreplaceable. Vitamin C increases the action of all existing enzymes, enhancing the beneficial effects on internal organs. For this reason, rowan is often the main component of teas, decoctions, infusions, and vitamin complexes aimed at treating various diseases.

The included flavonoid vitamin P slows down premature aging of the body. In mountain ash, this element is present in an amount that exceeds the accumulation in black currants by 2.5 times. Just a handful of chokeberry will fill the required daily requirement of an adult in vitamin P. Interestingly, iodine levels are 4 times higher than the accumulation of this element in gooseberries, strawberries, and raspberries.

Rowan is consumed for the prevention of diseases of the vascular system. It is enough to take 80-90 grams. berries daily.
The fruits have the ability to lower blood pressure. If blood pressure has risen due to the development of diabetes, eat 50-100 grams. every day.
Chokeberry prevents atherosclerosis, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis. The berry breaks down and removes cholesterol plaques, reducing the likelihood of myocardial infarction.
Rowan juice thins the blood, enhances its circulation, cleanses and gently opens blood vessels. As a result, the blood flow is enriched with oxygen, and the functioning of absolutely all internal organs improves.
A decoction based on the leaves of the plant is used to remove excess bile and facilitate liver activity. The drink fills voids in the cavity of the internal organ and stops the action of free radicals.
Fresh berries and juices based on them have the ability to remove excess fluid from the body. All this leads to a decrease in swelling in the limbs and around internal organs.
Chokeberry is especially beneficial for patients with diabetes. The substance sorbitol leads to the fact that blood sugar is stabilized, and its jumps are eliminated.
It is useful to consume chokeberry to stabilize the peripheral and central nervous system. The berry is responsible for the psycho-emotional background of a person, relieves anxiety, sleep problems, and constant neuroses.

Benefits of rowan for digestion

Chokeberry is of particular value to the digestive system. The berry contains a lot of pectin, which eliminates the harmful effects of radionuclides and toxic substances of other origin.

The listed compounds kill the intestinal microflora, thereby causing the internal organ to work poorly. Diuretic and choleretic properties allow you to remove all poisons from the body.

Rowan juice and fresh berries are prescribed for use by patients diagnosed with cholecystitis without the presence of sand and stones. Fruits increase the acidity of the stomach, accelerating the digestibility of food.

Just 5-6 berries, consumed half an hour before a meal, will speed up digestion, relieve heaviness in the stomach, and normalize stool. As a result, belching, the smell of rot from the mouth, and fermentation in the intestines will disappear.

It is worth understanding that if you have high stomach acidity, taking chokeberry and concentrated juice based on it will only cause harm and aggravate the course of ailments associated with the gastrointestinal tract.

The benefits of rowan for the endocrine system

Chokeberry is prescribed for use by people with thyroid diseases, thyrotoxicosis, Graves' disease, and radiation sickness. Sorbitol, which is part of the fruit, is quickly absorbed into the blood and distributed throughout the body. This element alleviates the symptoms of ailments, treats diabetes, and damaged capillaries.

It is useful to consume chokeberry for obese people. The anthocyanins included in the composition maintain blood sugar levels at an optimal level. As a result, a false feeling of hunger will not haunt you. Rowan is also recommended for people on a diet.

As mentioned above, chokeberry is dominated by iodine in large quantities. Therefore, the berry should be taken for thyroid disorders and radiation sickness. Eat fresh fruits on an empty stomach to stimulate juice production and further digestion.

The benefits of rowan for the heart and immunity

Rowan increases the protective functions of the body of adults and children. It is useful to consume berries between seasons, during climate change, and vitamin deficiency. Chokeberry will replenish the deficiency of valuable elements and improve health.

The bactericidal properties of the berry kill harmful microflora, as a result of which rowan is used for colds, ARVI, flu, sore throat and other ailments of this type.

Chokeberry should be taken by those who want to prevent varicose veins and ischemia. The berry has the ability to stabilize not only arterial, but also intracranial pressure.

Rowan reduces the likelihood of cholesterol deposits, makes the walls of blood channels elastic and strong, and reduces the risk of thrombosis. All this has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart muscle.

Rowan strengthens the body and contains a lot of iodine. The substance is indispensable for the female body. Iodine has a positive effect on the activity of the thyroid gland. As a result, hormonal levels stabilize.

For girls, chokeberry is necessary for iron deficiency during the menstrual cycle. The fruits relieve headaches and fatigue in a short time. Systematic consumption of mountain ash stabilizes the gastrointestinal tract, improving overall health.

The benefits of chokeberry during pregnancy

Chokeberry is a plant that can reduce the manifestations of toxicosis in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is due to the hepatoprotective properties of its fruits.

At later stages, when many pregnant women suffer from edema, chokeberry juice can be used as a diuretic. True, you need to be careful when doing this.

If swelling is accompanied by low blood pressure, it is better to refrain from consuming this product.

Chokeberry Michurina can be an adjuvant in the treatment of the following pregnancy pathologies:

hypertension in pregnant women;
pregnancy diabetes;
placenta previa or abruption;
intrauterine hematomas.

Before consuming chokeberry fruits, it is important to consult a doctor to rule out pathologies for which this product is contraindicated. It is also worth limiting it if pregnancy is accompanied by heartburn and constipation.

The benefits of rowan for children

It is forbidden to give chokeberry to children under 3 years of age. The fruits contribute to a strong decrease in blood pressure, causing constipation. Therefore, it is best to introduce berries into the diet of a preschool child in small portions.

The leaf decoction of the plant is widely used for steam inhalation for severe coughs. To increase the protective functions of the child’s body, after 3 years you can give your baby berry jelly, jams, and juices. Frozen and dried berries will help maintain health regardless of the time of year.

The benefits of rowan for men

Research has shown that chokeberry is beneficial for the stronger sex. Regular consumption of berries improves the quality of blood, blood vessel walls, and prevents the development of heart pathologies.

Rowan is rich in antioxidants, which qualitatively cleanse the body, removing harmful compounds. Fruits fight inflammatory processes in tissues. Fresh berries prevent most pathologies, including the prostate.

The benefits of rowan for hypertensive patients

You can resort to using natural juice. The drink should be drunk 30 minutes before a meal, 200 ml. You can also consume an infusion based on the leaves and berries of the plant. The composition must be drunk 4 times a day.

To lower blood pressure in case of hypertension, rowan can be eaten in its original form or added to dessert. To enhance the effect of the fruit, the berries should be consumed together with Antonovka apples. Taken together, the rich composition will improve your general condition and stabilize blood pressure.

The experience of traditional medicine has accumulated many ways to use chokeberry to treat various diseases.

Not only the fruits, but also the leaves of this plant, as well as its bark can be used as raw materials.

Fruit harvesting can be carried out all autumn until frost. The main thing is to correctly determine the right moment, when the chokeberry is already ripe, but has not yet begun to crumble. It is better to collect the leaves in early summer, and the bark in late autumn, after leaf fall and the end of sap flow.

Vitamin tea

To prepare a healing vitamin drink, dry fruits and leaves of chokeberry are taken in equal proportions. Next, 3 tablespoons of this mixture should be placed in a thermos and pour 0.5 liters of boiled and cooled to 700C water. Close the thermos and leave for 1 hour.

The finished tea can be sweetened with honey and taken during seasonal epidemics as an immunostimulant. You can drink 2-3 glasses of this drink per day.

Aronia juice

Chokeberry juice has many uses.

hypertension;
atherosclerosis;
hypoacid gastritis;
sleep disturbances caused by stress;
diarrhea.

To prepare fresh chokeberry juice, you can use a regular household juicer or grind the fruits into a puree and squeeze through cheesecloth.

You can also prepare juice for future use. This is done like this:

The juice is squeezed out of the fruit.
For 1 liter of juice, take 1 glass of sugar and a third of a teaspoon of citric acid.
The juice is poured into an enamel bowl, heated slightly, sugar and citric acid dissolve in it.
The juice is poured into glass jars or bottles, covered with a sterile lid and placed in a pan of water for sterilization for 15 minutes.
After sterilization is completed, the containers are rolled up or hermetically sealed.

This product is stored in a cool place. If the concentration seems too high, before use it is diluted with warm water in a 1:1 ratio. A child can be given 150 ml of chokeberry juice, and an adult - 250 ml 2 times a day.

General strengthening drink

You can prepare fortifying drinks from chokeberry with the addition of other ingredients: dried raspberries, rose hips, linden flowers, cherry and black currant leaves. All available raw materials are combined in equal proportions.

To prepare, take 3 tablespoons of the mixture, place it in a thermos and pour in 0.5 liters of boiling water. Everything is infused for 2-3 hours. If the drink is prepared with rose hips, it needs to be infused longer - at least 12 hours. Drink warm, 2-3 glasses per day.

Sometimes an alcoholic tincture of chokeberry is prepared as a stimulating and strengthening agent. They do it like this:

Take 500 grams of fresh ripe chokeberry fruits, 0.5 liters of vodka and 3 tablespoons of honey.
The fruits are poured into a suitable glass container, and honey is placed there.
Everything is poured with vodka and shaken vigorously.
The container is sealed and stored in a dark, cool place (not in the refrigerator).
For 2.5 months, the drink is shaken every 4 days.

The finished tincture can be taken 1 tablespoon to normalize sleep, stimulate appetite and for indigestion.

Medicinal liqueur from chokeberry with cherry leaves

You can take light liqueur as an anti-stress relaxer.

It is prepared like this:

For 400 grams of chokeberry fruit, take 80 fresh cherry leaves, 300 grams of sugar, 1 teaspoon of citric acid, 1 liter of vodka and 1.5 liters of water.
The leaves are washed and boiled for 10 minutes, removed and chokeberry is added to the boiling broth.
After 10 minutes, add sugar, wait for it to dissolve, add citric acid and turn off the heat.
The mixture is cooled, filtered, combined with vodka and bottled.

This liqueur is stored in the refrigerator. You can take it 40 grams before bedtime.

Is it possible to freeze chokeberries for the winter?

The beneficial properties of harvested chokeberry are best preserved by drying the fruit. A simpler storage method - freezing - unfortunately is not suitable. At low temperatures, an important component of chokeberry fruits, tannin, is destroyed. The berries lose their characteristic astringent taste and become sweeter, but most of the benefits disappear.

Proper preparation and storage of medicinal raw materials guarantee the effectiveness of the finished products. Careful attention to recommendations and contraindications will help avoid possible complications. If these two conditions are met, chokeberry will become a strong aid in the treatment of many diseases.

Consider chokeberry face masks and rowan scrub. Chokeberry has small seeds that provide an exfoliating effect. And if you add a little fine salt, you get a magnificent natural scrub from chokeberry. Masks, depending on skin type, have additional components.

Recipe for chokeberry rowan scrub

The recipe for aronia scrub has the following composition: take half a glass of chokeberry berries, blend them or pass them through a meat grinder and get rowan pulp.

Add fine salt to it in such an amount that you get a slightly thick paste and apply it to the face with bunches of fingers, lightly massaging the skin along the massage lines of the face: from the base of the nose to the tips of the ears, from the outer corners of the mouth to the ears - with both hands at the same time.

Don't overdo it, or you'll scratch your skin! Be especially careful if you have thin and delicate - porcelain - facial skin.

Aronia masks for normal skin

For normal facial skin, you can make several masks from chokeberry with the addition of milk, honey, apple, beetroot and sunflower oil. What masks and how to prepare, their recipes - look at the image:

rowan-milk - moisten a form of gauze and apply to the face
rowan-apple - distribute the pulp evenly over the face (if you grate the apple) or wet the gauze mold (if the berries are blended)
Rowan-beetroot - rowan pulp. Apply sunflower oil and raw beets evenly to the face

Harm of rowan

Consumption of rowan is prohibited if there are abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract (ulcers, gastritis, high acidity). Read more:
Do not try to eat fruits in any form if you have been diagnosed with hypotension. In this case, the pressure will drop to a minimum level and can lead to dire consequences.
It is prohibited to consume rowan if you have thrombophlebitis; increased blood clotting can lead to blockage of the channels.
Avoid eating berries if you have chronic constipation. Rowan has a strengthening effect.

Chokeberry is valuable for the human body. Harm can be caused by non-compliance with practical recommendations and overeating berries. Do not forget that it is better not to give fruits to children under 3 years old. If there are any deviations in your health, immediately stop taking rowan, and consult a doctor if necessary.

In the article we discuss chokeberry. You will learn what properties the plant has, how to properly collect and prepare the fruits, what contraindications there are for chokeberry, as well as how to use it for high blood pressure, diabetes and during pregnancy.

Aronia chokeberry is a perennial fruit shrub or tree. The Latin name of the plant is Aronia melanocarpa. The generic name comes from the Greek words ἄρος - benefit, μέλᾱς - black and καρπός - fruit. Aronia chokeberry is also called chokeberry or chokeberry because of the bluish-black color of the fruits and the similarity of their structure with the fruits of the common rowan.

What does it look like

Appearance of chokeberry.

Aronia chokeberry is a highly branching shrub, up to 3 meters high. The crown of the plant becomes very spreading with age.

The root system of chokeberry is developed and localized in the crown area of the bush. Every year, many independent shoots appear at the base of the plant.

The leaves of the plant are obovate-shaped with a sharp end. The leaf size, depending on the variety, can reach 7 cm in length. During the summer season they have a glossy dark green color. As autumn approaches, the leaves take on a purplish-red hue. The leaves are alternate, located on short petioles.

Chokeberry blooms from May to June. The flowers are bisexual, up to 6 cm in diameter, five-petaled, white or pinkish-white, collected in complex inflorescences. The anthers rise slightly above the stigmas and are purple in color.

The fruits are up to 8 mm in size (depending on the variety), spherical or compressed-round in shape. The color of the fruit is black or purple-black, the surface is smooth, shiny, and the skin is dense. The berries have a slightly astringent, tart, sour-sweet taste. Fruit ripening begins in mid-August.

Where does it grow

The eastern part of the North American continent is considered the homeland of chokeberry. This shrub is most often found growing wild and is considered a thicket weed. Chokeberry grows in temperate climates, so it can be found in most regions of Russia and North America.

In our country, biologist and breeder I.V. Michurin was the first to propagate chokeberry. One of the plant species was named after him - Aronia Michurina. This hybridogenic species differs from other species in its juicy sweet and sour taste and large fruit size.

After Michurin, biologists from Gorno-Altaisk were engaged in the industrial cultivation of chokeberry and its popularization as a garden crop. Today, chokeberry cultivation for personal use is carried out mainly in household plots and summer cottages. Chokeberry bears fruit in the third year after planting. Propagated by seeds, cuttings, root suckers, layering and dividing the bush.

Chokeberry fruits

The fruits of chokeberry have a rich chemical composition and have many beneficial properties for the body. For medicinal purposes and for food consumption, chokeberry can be grown, collected and prepared independently.

Chemical composition

The fruits of chokeberry have the following chemical composition:

lactose and fructose (up to 10%);
sorbitol;
flavonoids;
carotene;
retinol;
tocopherol;
ascorbic acid;
nicotinic acid;
B vitamins;
anthocyanins;
pectin;
tannins;
amygdalin glycoside;
minerals: fluorine, iodine, boron, copper, iron, manganese, etc.

The acidity of the fruit is about 1.3%, calculated as malic acid. Due to its sorbitol content, chokeberry is used in the production of products for diabetics.

Medicinal properties

Aronia fruits have the following beneficial properties for the body:

strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
reduce blood pressure;
heal skin damage;
normalize digestion and metabolism in the body;
saturate the body with vitamins and beneficial microelements;
reduce the risk of developing cancer;
have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects;
strengthen bone tissue;
support the functioning of the body's functional systems;
have choleretic and diuretic effects.

Chokeberry and preparations based on it are used for the prevention and treatment of the following diseases:

arterial hypertension;
diabetes mellitus;
avitaminosis;
vascular atherosclerosis;
inflammation of the gastric mucosa;
hemorrhagic diathesis;
glomerular nephritis;
Henoch-Schönlein disease;
radiation sickness;
diarrhea;
neurological diseases;
oncology.

How to collect

Chokeberry is used in folk medicine to treat blood pressure, edema and diabetes.

Aronia fruits are harvested in late September - early October, after the first night frosts. In order to determine the ripeness of the berries, it is necessary to pick several fruits from different parts of the bush and press them down. The juice of ripe chokeberries should be dark purple in color. The taste of ripe chokeberry fruits is tart, sweet and sour.

In order to dry chokeberries for the winter, ripe fruits are removed from the bush along with the stalks, and the bunches are cleared of debris and rotten berries. They are then washed and dried on clean newspaper or tarpaulin. To dry, the bunches are hung on a thick thread in a dark, well-ventilated room. After complete drying, the berries are separated from the stalks and placed in linen bags.

Fruits can also be dried in the oven at a temperature of 50−60 degrees or in an automatic dryer. Using these methods, chokeberries are dried without stalks.

To freeze fresh berries for the winter, the berries are separated from the stalks, washed and dried on clean newspaper. After drying, the berries are sorted into plastic containers or bags and frozen.

How to use Chokeberry

Chokeberry is grown to obtain medicinal and food raw materials, as well as for decorative purposes. In folk medicine, chokeberry is valued for its rich chemical composition and is used for the treatment and prevention of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, digestive problems and many others.

Chokeberry is also used as a vitamin and mineral source and for disorders of the immune and endocrine systems.

In the pharmaceutical industry, various dietary supplements and medicines are made based on the fruits of chokeberry. Also, raw materials obtained by extraction from chokeberry fruits are added to some cosmetic products for skin and hair.

Aronia berries are eaten fresh, dried or frozen. They are used to make tinctures, make compotes, juices and jams, and also add them to confectionery products.

Chokeberry also helps to cope with high blood pressure, strengthen the body during pregnancy and reduce the risk of complications due to diabetes.

Under pressure

To normalize blood pressure, eat chokeberry fresh, frozen or canned - 10-15 berries (15-20 grams) 2-3 times a day. It helps cleanse and strengthen blood vessels and has a preventive effect against the development of a hypertensive crisis. Also, for hypertension and vascular atherosclerosis, it is useful to drink juice from the fruit.

Fruit juice

Ingredients: Fresh chokeberry fruits.

How to cook: Select, wash and dry the berries. Squeeze the juice out of them using a juicer or rub them through a fine sieve. If desired, separate the juice from the pulp. You can also use frozen fruits to make juice.

How to take: Take 75 ml of juice half an hour before meals three times a day.

From dried fruits stored for the winter, you can prepare an infusion that will help reduce blood pressure and strengthen the cardiovascular system.

Infusion on fruits

Ingredients:

Dried chokeberry berries - 3 tbsp.
Pure water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour dried fruits into a thermos and pour boiling water over them. Let it brew for a day.

How to take: Take 75 ml of the product half an hour before meals three times a day.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, chokeberry also helps to normalize blood pressure, especially in the last stages of pregnancy, and also to avoid swelling.

In addition, chokeberry is a rich source of substances necessary for the health of the expectant mother and her child: nicotinic acid, vitamins C, P, A and E, iodine, iron and potassium.

For diabetes

Chokeberry helps diabetics cope with bleeding gums, high blood pressure, skin inflammation and prevent diabetes complications. Endocrinologists recommend consuming a glass of fresh or frozen chokeberry during the day, dividing it into several doses. In addition, you can prepare a restorative decoction of dried chokeberry berries.

Chokeberry decoction

Ingredients:

Dried chokeberry fruits - 5 tbsp.
Drinking water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Place the dried berries in a small ladle and fill them with water. Boil for 5 minutes, then let the broth cool and brew under the lid. Strain the broth using a gauze pad or strainer.

How to take: Take the resulting decoction during the day, half an hour before meals.

Chokeberry is also used to treat wounds and cracks in the skin. Chokeberry juice disinfects the surface of the wound and promotes rapid healing. To do this, moisten a cotton or gauze swab with fresh juice and apply to the damaged surface.

Before using chokeberry during diabetes, you should consult an endocrinologist. The doctor considers the benefits and harms of chokeberry for a diabetic patient strictly individually in each case.

Black rowan, or chokeberry, has beneficial properties, which we will discuss in this article. Ripening and harvesting of rowan occurs in the fall. The juice of these black, round berries is used to treat many diseases.

Popularly there is another name - chokeberry. Black rowan came to Europe at the end of the 19th century, but people knew about its medicinal properties for a long time and successfully treated various skin diseases.

Until XX century In Europe, rowan was grown as an ornamental tree. Only after research was carried out, the plant was recognized as medicinal and began to be widely used in both traditional and folk medicine.

The round fruits of chokeberry reach a diameter of 12 mm and have a pleasant and sweet taste. The unripe berry is a little tart. Black rowan is harvested at the end of September - beginning of October, depending on climatic conditions. The juice from the berries is used fresh for treatment, or stored for the winter.

Below we will share with you recipes on how to get rid of various diseases with the help of this small but very useful berry.

Black rowan - beneficial properties (chemical composition)

The flavonoid rutin is able to slow down the aging of cells in the body and is considered a very important component, without which a person cannot exist.

Rowan contains::

Vitamins: , , , , , , , K, PP beta-carotene
Micro- and macroelements, iron, copper, manganese, boron, chromium, iodine, molybdenum, potassium, fluorine, sodium.
Acids: folic, nicotinic, oxalic, citric and malic.
Fructose, glucose, sucrose, fiber, tannins.
Aronia contains flavonoids, starch, ash, pectins, sorbitol, and glycosides.

Black rowan does not contain fat and has a fairly low calorie content (55 kcal per 100 grams). A significant part of the berry is carbohydrates.

Medicinal properties of black rowan photo

Chokeberry can cure many diseases, thanks to the healing properties of the juice.

Chokeberry helps to normalize cholesterol levels in the blood.
According to scientific evidence, berries are used to treat atherosclerosis, they promote blood clotting and stop bleeding.
Aronia berries are used for diabetes, they restore damaged capillaries.
The juice lowers blood pressure. This is an excellent remedy against hypertension and has diuretic properties. By the way, most medications for the treatment of hypertension are diuretics.
The high potassium content strengthens the walls of blood vessels, improves the functioning of the heart and cardiovascular system as a whole. Potassium prevents swelling.
Has a beneficial effect on the entire respiratory system. It is recommended to take during the rehabilitation period after illnesses associated with the respiratory system.
Chokeberry is an excellent antiseptic. It is recommended for people with low acidity. The juice activates the secretion of gastric juice, increasing acidity.
Stimulates the discharge and production of bile.
Promotes digestion processes.
Black rowan contains iodine, which is necessary for the treatment of radiation sickness, thyroid gland, thyrotoxicosis, Graves' disease.
It is recommended for people with nervous disorders, nervousness, short temper, lethargy and overexcitation.
The pectin substance contained in berries removes heavy metals and radioactive substances from the body, stops the development of cancer and successfully fights the formation of malignant tumors.
Rowan berries are recommended to be taken as a prophylactic in the off-season to strengthen the immune system and fight colds. An excellent hippovitamin remedy.
The juice helps relieve headaches and dizziness.
In combination with other fruits, it is an excellent remedy for constipation.
Useful for visual impairment and optic nerve atrophy.

How to take black rowan for treatment

Black rowan can be consumed fresh, frozen and dried, without losing its medicinal properties.
Drink juice from berries in pure form, or in combination with juices of other fruits.
Various jams, preserves, marmalade, both as a separate product and in combination with apples and rose hips.
As decoctions and infusions. The tincture is made from vodka or medical alcohol, the recipe for which we will describe later in the article.
For external use, compresses and lotions are used.
For prevention, drink tea from brewed berries. You can add leaves or other fruits.
A wonderful wine is made from rowan, which is drunk little by little in winter as a preventive measure, to increase immunity, lower blood pressure, improve the functioning of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract as a whole.

In addition to its medicinal properties, rowan is an excellent remedy in cooking. It is added to dishes, the juice is squeezed out, which serves as an additive to sauces.

How to choose black rowan

First of all, it's appearance. A ripe berry should not only be black, but also juicy. If you press a little, you should feel the pulp. It should not be rotten or wrinkled. A hard surface indicates early picking.

Choose berries that are shiny and large. The collection is carried out in the fall until the first frost, only then the taste will be sweet. During the ripening period, chokeberries are best eaten fresh, but when frozen they do not lose their quality.

If possible, squeeze out the juice and prepare mousses. Some of the berries are dried and stored in this form for the winter.

Black rowan - traditional medicine recipes

Photo of black rowan berry

In folk medicine, black rowan is considered one of the few plants whose medicinal properties are used for almost any disease. The berries are consumed raw, or a decoction or infusion is prepared.

Black rowan decoction

Pour 20 grams of dried rowan fruits into 250 ml of boiling water.
Boil over low heat for 5-10 minutes.
Then the broth is allowed to brew for half an hour.
Strain and drink 0.5 cups 3 times a day.
The decoction is taken for prevention as a general tonic.

Fresh black rowan berries for low acidity and hypertension

You need to eat 100 g of berries, 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals for 1-1.5 months.
In addition, it is recommended to use a decoction of black currant, rose hips, or any other plant with a high content of vitamin C.
You can take vitamin C in its pure form.

Treatment of hypertension

Drink squeezed rowan juice with honey.
For 100 ml of juice, 2 tbsp. spoons of honey.
Take 50 ml 2 times a day 20 minutes before meals.
The course of treatment is 6 weeks.

1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of dry berries into a glass of water and boil for 10 minutes.
Drink half a glass once a day.

Treatment of atherosclerosis

For 100 grams of black rowan fruit, add 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Take 100 grams once a day.

Treatment of hypovitaminosis and anemia

You need to eat 200-250 grams of fresh berries throughout the day. As an addition to berries, drink a decoction of rose hips or black currants.

Treatment of diabetes

Rowan juice is allowed for people suffering from diabetes, but they must be taken with caution, because the strong concentration of the juice contains a large amount of sugar. The juice must be diluted with water or other acidic juices. This way you will significantly reduce the concentration of sugar without reducing the beneficial properties.

Chokeberry for gastrointestinal disorders

The juice is drunk for diarrhea. The tannins and pectin substances contained in rowan cleanse the liver, stimulate intestinal motility, promote the secretion of enzymes, have a choleretic effect, and relieve pain and spasms. The juice is approved for oral administration by adults and children. But people with cholelithiasis and gastritis should first consult a doctor.

The effect of rowan juice on the thyroid gland

It is recommended to take black rowan juice to restore the functioning of the thyroid gland, due to its properties to remove radioactive substances and heavy metals from the body. Eating berries neutralizes the effects of harmful substances on the body.

The volume of raw materials indicated in the recipe is for 5 liters of wine.

Ingredients:

Rowan berries - 3 kg
Sugar 2 kg
Black raisins 250 grams
water 3 l

Preparation:

Rinse the berries and place in a container.
Add raisins and add 1 kg sugar.
Fill with 3 liters of water.
Close tightly and place in a dry and dark place, shaking the container occasionally.
Over the next 15 days, gradually add the remaining ingredients, then leave the container for 1 month to mature.
The fruits should completely settle to the bottom.
Then the liquid is filtered and infused for another 1 month. All wine is ready to drink.

Making black rowan syrup

Ingredients:

1 kg rowan berries
1 kg sugar
Cherry leaves 100 grams
Citric acid 20 grams
1 liter of water

Preparation:

Add chokeberry and chokeberry fruits, add water and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
Strain and add citric acid and bring to a boil again.
Let cool, pour into a container, close tightly and place in a dark place for 1 day.
Next, add sugar to the syrup and bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly so that the sugar does not burn.
At the end, pour into a container and close tightly. The syrup is ready.

Homemade black rowan tincture

Ingredients:

1 cup ripe berries
Cherry leaves 100 grams
Sugar 0.5 kg
0.5 l vodka (diluted medical alcohol)
1 liter of water

Preparation:

Add rowan fruits and cherry leaves to the water, bring to a boil and boil for 10-15 minutes.
Then add sugar and stir constantly until completely dissolved.
Remove from heat and cool.
Add vodka to the container, close tightly in a glass container and place in a dark place for 2 weeks.
At the end of the period, strain the liqueur.

Mousse recipe

Crush the berries or blend with a blender, add banana, strawberries and natural yogurt to taste. Beat everything thoroughly and enjoy the deliciousness.

Making black rowan jam

Photo of black rowan jam

An excellent remedy as an additive to tea in winter as a preventive measure. Chokeberry tastes a little tart, so you can add other sweet berries.

Ingredients:

1 kg chokeberry berries
1 cup sugar

Preparation of syrup:

Before preparing the syrup, boil the chokeberry berries for 5 minutes in water, so they will become a little softer.

Mix 2 glasses of water (you can take the water in which you just boiled the berries) and 1 glass of sugar and put on low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, remembering to stir regularly.
Then add rowan berries (if necessary, other ingredients: raspberries, strawberries, finely chopped orange peels, apples, plums).
Boil for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, let cool, cover and leave for 6-8 hours (or overnight).
Then bring it to a boil again, and insist again for the same time.
The third time, the syrup is boiled for 10 minutes, allowed to cool, poured into glass containers and rolled into jars for the winter (if necessary).

Black rowan in traditional medicine

Many medicines based on chokeberry are used. Rowan juice has become an integral part of medications for diabetes, hypertension, heart and cardiovascular system disorders. The juice prevents the formation of plaques in the blood, prevents cholesterol, cleanses the blood and normalizes blood circulation.

The composition includes flavonoids that have a beneficial effect on the human body, and there are no prohibitions on oral intake for pregnant women. On the contrary, the juice prevents capillary fragility and makes blood vessels elastic. The fruits have a beneficial effect on the digestion of a pregnant woman, increase appetite, normalize blood pressure, and prevent the occurrence of anemia.

Eating fresh fruits has a positive effect on the immune system and also saturates the body with vitamins. Folic acid, which is contained in berries, is essential for both mother and fetus for its growth.

But eating large amounts of black rowan can reduce blood pressure. If a woman experiences constant low blood pressure, she should first consult a doctor, and the daily intake should not exceed 100 grams of fresh fruit.

We have already described how and when to collect it, but how to properly store black rowan in winter without losing its beneficial properties?

There are several storage methods:

Freezing freshly picked berries. It's quite simple. Pick the berries and immediately place them in the freezer. In winter, you can add it to mousses, compotes, decoctions, jam, or eat it whole. The benefits of thawing chokeberries are practically not reduced, with the exception of some of the vitamin P.
Drying after collection. Compared to the previous method, all the beneficial qualities remain, and the berries are stored for quite a long time. After collecting, they are strung on a thread or wire and hung in a well-ventilated, dry place in the shade. Can be dried together with the shield.
Dried black rowan. This method also preserves all the taste and beneficial properties well. Pick, wash and dry the berries, then place them on a flat surface in a single layer in the sun, or use the oven. Dry over low heat no higher than 60 degrees. In the sun, the procedure takes 1-2 hours. Dry in the oven for 30 minutes at 40 degrees, then 10-15 minutes at 60 degrees. The color should not change, otherwise all (or part) of the properties will be lost.

Contraindication

Black rowan is very beneficial for humans, but there are several warnings when consuming chokeberry is not recommended.

Blood clotting is too much. The juice can stop bleeding and thereby increases blood clotting.
With thrombophlebitis.
Varicose veins and varicose veins.
Gastritis (if high acidity). The juice increases acidity; for gastritis with low acidity, taking it is not prohibited.
Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
Ischemic disease.
People who have had a stroke or heart attack.

Even if you are not affected by the diseases listed above, it is recommended that you undergo all tests and obtain permission from a doctor before consuming.

Let your health never worry you, and take black rowan only as a preventive measure. Be healthy!