What are useful blackthorn berries. Turn: composition, calories, benefits, recipes

Thorn, or blackthorn, is a shrub of the plum family. It bears fruit round shape, black or dark blue, the surface of which is covered with a wax coating. The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour and tart. Frozen fruits become sweeter. They contain sugars, organic acids, pectins, dyes, essential oils, vitamins C and R.

Due to the presence of tannins, the turn has astringent properties. And the presence of pectins has an adsorbing effect. Decoctions, infusions and blackthorn juice have anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative, expectorant properties.

Turn based recipes

Blackthorn juice: fruits should be pitted, heated to a temperature of 60–70 degrees, mashed, squeezed juice, poured into jars.

A decoction of fruits: 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried raw materials must be poured with 1 cup of boiling water and infused for 1 hour. It is recommended to drink the remedy in the morning on an empty stomach for 4 days.

Infusion of thorn flowers No. 1: 2 teaspoons of crushed flowers (dry or freshly picked) are required to infuse in a glass cold water 8 ocloc'k. Take the medicine 1-2 tablespoons 4-5 times a day as a diuretic for diseases of the kidneys, liver, to cleanse the skin with acne and furunculosis.

Infusion of thorn flowers No. 2: you need to insist 1 tablespoon of flowers in 1 glass of warm boiled water 40 minutes and drink 1 glass a day as a laxative.

Infusion of thorn leaves: 1 tablespoon of crushed leaves should be poured into 1 cup hot water, boil for 15 minutes, cool, strain, squeeze. Take an infusion of 1/2 cup 3 times a day before meals.

Blackthorn flower and leaf tea: 2 teaspoons of raw materials must be poured into 1/4 liter of water, slowly brought to a boil and strained. It is recommended to drink 2 cups of tea a day.

blackthorn berry

Blackthorn berries are used to prepare various fortified drinks, wines, tinctures, compotes, syrups, which have a pleasant aroma and excellent taste. Best time harvesting fruits - after the first frost. Drying is done under the sun or in an oven. Fresh and dry berries help with diseases gastrointestinal tract. Blackthorn juice is especially valuable during the period of exacerbation of diseases, inflammation of the kidneys and liver, metabolic disorders, as well as vitamin deficiency.

Flowers are harvested during the appearance of buds, leaves - after flowering. An infusion of flowers strengthens the immune system, has a diuretic and diaphoretic effect, and is useful for hypertension. The decoction cures liver diseases. Antimicrobial properties help eliminate purulent processes on the skin, the decoction also relieves nausea and shortness of breath.

Decoctions have a positive effect on vascular permeability, on the treatment of prostate adenoma. Their calming properties help with neuralgia.

Thorn root

Thorn roots are dug up in autumn. After the roots have dried in the sun, they are placed in a dryer or oven. Means from the roots have a diaphoretic and antipyretic effect, are used during, during respiratory diseases, improve general state at .

Decoction of bark and roots. Method 1: taking 1 part of the bark and roots to 20 parts of water, take the composition of 1-2 tablespoons 4-5 times a day as a diaphoretic and antipyretic. Method 2: brew 5 g of bark or root in 200 ml of boiling water, put on water bath, boil for 30 minutes and drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals. The bark is cut before the flowers appear.

Blackthorn tincture

There is a wonderful recipe for this tincture unique berry. For cooking medicinal product it is advisable not to wash the harvested berries, select the intact ones and put them in a jar, then pour 70% vodka, covering 5 cm more than the level of the fruit. As the vodka is absorbed, it should be topped up. Three months later, the liquid must be drained, sprinkle the berries with sugar. If the fruit is 10 kg, then sugar needs 1.5 kg.

The berries are kept for another month until the syrup is formed, then they need to be filtered and mixed with the liquid that we separated from the berries at the beginning. The incredible aroma of the tincture will appear in six months.

Turn prickly

The prickly thorn grows in Asia, in the west of Europe, in the European part of Russia, in the expanses of the Mediterranean, in Siberia and the Caucasus. This is a fruit stone fruit crop, which is specially grown in their backyard by those who know about healing power berries. Berry juice is prescribed not only for adults, but also for children to solve problems associated with the stomach, loss of appetite, in case of poisoning. Candidiasis, leucorrhoea in women are treated with a decoction.

A decoction of berries: 200 ml of boiling water, 5 g of bark or blackthorn root should be put in a water bath, boil for 30 minutes. It is recommended to drink the remedy 1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals. Douching can be done by diluting the decoction with water in a ratio of 1: 1.

Tern wild

The wild turn grows in abandoned areas, bears fruit well. It is the progenitor of cultivars, there are about 200 species. In spring, the crown of the plant is covered with white, spreads around fragrant smell. Saturated with the living juices of the soil, the shrub bears fruit with berries that ripen under the sun at the end of September, they acquire the power of solar energies and give it to people.

Contraindications to the use of the turn

Remember that only the pulp of the berries is edible. They may be contraindicated in individual intolerance. These are minor disadvantages of the turn, it has much more advantages.

Expert editor: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna| Phytotherapeutist

Education: A diploma in the specialty "Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Moscow University of Peoples' Friendship (2008).

The blackthorn is a rather famous shrub, it was from the prickly thorn that the wreath for Jesus was made. Some people learned about this plant from the title of the novel The Thorn Birds, and traditional healers blackthorn is known as a medicinal plant, berries, leaves, flowers, branches and roots of which have powerful beneficial properties. Turn - black and blue small berries of a rounded shape, the flesh of the berries is green, the taste is sour and tart. The flowers of the bush are small, white color when blooming exude a delicate aroma of almonds.

Not many people know that the turn is the ancestor of the common plum, and the plum partly took many of its beneficial properties from the turn. Latin name blackthorn Prunus spinosa, sometimes called prickly plum, goatberry, oat plum, blackthorn.

Blackthorn berries contain a lot of various valuable and healthy substances: sugars (fructose, glucose), organic acids (malic, phenolcarboxylic), pectins, carbohydrates, fiber. As well as nitrogenous substances, coumarins, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, catechins, flavonoids, glycosides, fats (: linoleic, oleic, palmitic, stearic, eleostearic.). The composition also includes vitamins: C, E, A, P, mineral salts and etc.

Blackthorn berries have many useful properties:

diuretic (diuretic)
Astringent (used for diarrhea, indigestion, loose stools),
Sweatshops (help with colds, fevers),
Relieve nausea, stop vomiting,
Antiseptic (kill bacteria and germs).

Blackthorn leaves are brewed as a tea and used as a diuretic, laxative, healing agent. Compresses soaked in an infusion of leaves are applied to wounds and skin lesions, this significantly reduces the healing time. Berries and leaves are used as an aid in diseases genitourinary system: cystitis, nephritis, urolithiasis.

Turn helps in the fight against edema, nonspecific colitis, dysentery, intoxication, candidiasis and vaginitis. At food poisoning the use of blackthorn berries allows you to quickly remove poisons from the body, cleanse the intestines and improve work digestive tract. A decoction of thorn branches - excellent tool for patients with gout, it helps to remove uric acid salts from the body.

An infusion of blackthorn flowers has a wonderful effect on metabolism, brings it back to normal, and also has a positive effect on liver function. An infusion of flowers is prepared as tea, 40 g of flowers are poured into a glass of boiling water, infused for 40 minutes, 150 ml are drunk three times a day. For hepatitis, traditional healers recommend drinking Fresh Juice from blackthorn berries.

People often underestimate beneficial features fruits of the thorn bush, but the substances contained in these berries can in some cases be useful to our body. We will talk about the benefits and harms of the turn below.

The benefits and harms of blackthorn berries

In traditional medicine recipes, you can find compositions that include not only the fruits of this bush, but also the bark and leaves. To understand what benefits the turn brings to the body, let's first understand what substances are contained in its berries.

In the fruits of the plant, you will find organic acids, ascorbic acid, pectin, vitamins P, E and group B, as well as potassium. All these substances are needed for normal functioning systems and organs, for example, vitamin C helps boost immunity speedy recovery at colds. Potassium is necessary for the heart muscle, its deficiency leads to thinning of its tissues, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. B vitamins help to improve the digestion process, affect the functioning of the intestines, pectins also contribute to the normalization of bowel movements.

Blackthorn berries are recommended for those who suffer from various digestive disorders, constipation, increased gas formation. They will also be useful for men over 40 who are at risk of developing coronary disease and the occurrence of heart attacks is quite high.

The benefits of thorns for women also exist, due to the presence of vitamins P and E in it, berries this plant contribute to an increase in skin turgor, help relieve premenstrual pain, improve hemoglobin. Anemia is a frequent companion of women over 30 years old, potassium and organic acids reduce the risk of developing this disease.

Of course, the fruits of the blackthorn can bring harm to the body, there are a number of contraindications that should be considered if you want to include in your diet this product. Firstly, there are tannins in the berries, so doctors do not advise those who suffer from them to eat, as they may appear discomfort in the region of the stomach. Secondly, you should not eat them for allergy sufferers, great content vitamin C can trigger the onset of hives or itching. And finally, you should not eat the fruits of the blackthorn with diarrhea, it will only intensify after that.

The benefits and harms of the bark and leaves of thorns for the body

From the bark and leaves of this plant are prepared various decoctions used both externally and for oral administration. The bark and leaves of the blackthorn contain tannins and resins, which are used to treat constipation, cleanse the blood, normalize oily skin and eliminate ulcers. The recipe for preparing decoctions is quite simple, you need to take 100 g of the bark or dry leaves of this plant and boil them in 1 liter of water for an hour. After that, the composition is cooled and filtered, it is consumed in the amount of 1 tsp. strictly after meals, orally, or as a lotion externally. Doctors do not advise drinking such decoctions without consulting them, since you can harm your health only because they were not taken into account. individual characteristics organism.

If you decide to prepare an external skin care product, you must remember that such a decoction will only harm the owners of dry epidermis. Compositions with leaves and bark of thorns are used only for the treatment of oily and combination skin because they help eliminate inflammatory processes and reduce sebum production.

When using decoctions for oral administration, it is important to consider that they should not be drunk by allergy sufferers and people with gastritis, such drugs will negatively affect the body in the presence of these ailments.

Blackthorn is a shrub that has long been known in many countries of the world. Some people associate it with Jesus Christ (it was from this plant that his wreath was made), but most often the blackthorn is famous for its beneficial properties, which allow it to be used as a medicinal raw material. As a result, questions arise as to whether how to dry the turn and what can be cooked from it.

Calorie content and chemical composition of the turn

Before proceeding to a discussion of the beneficial properties of the berries, leaves or flowers of the blackthorn, it is worth talking about its calorie content and chemical composition. There are only 54 kcal per 100 grams of the product, due to which it can be called low-calorie. The turn also contains 1.5 g of protein, 0.3 g of fat and 9.4 g of carbohydrates (per 100 g).

Blackthorn fruits contain glucose, fructose, fiber, malic acid, pectin, tannins, vitamins A (RE), E, C and B2. Among the microelements included in the composition, one cannot fail to note iron, which accounts for 10.6% per 100 grams of the product. It is also worth remembering macronutrients: potassium (9.6% of the required daily allowance), calcium (3.2%), magnesium (4.3%). The berries of the plant are also characterized by the content of phosphorus, iron and sodium, which also has a positive effect on medicinal properties oh thorns.

A large amount of vitamins C and E is found in the leaves of the shrub, where they are harmoniously combined with phenolcarboxylic acids, anthocyanins and flavonoids.

Did you know? In many beliefs and legends, the turn is a symbol of suffering, trials and difficulties that fall on the fate of a person. However, having overcome them, he becomes the owner of many benefits. Given the beneficial properties of the shrub, this is partly true.

Useful and healing properties of thorns

As you can see, blackthorn fruits contain a lot of valuable and useful substances for human health: sugars, organic acids, fiber, etc. Due to this, they have a diuretic (diuretic), astringent, diaphoretic and antiseptic action. This means that such berries are great for normalizing work. digestive system(useful for digestive disorders, diarrhea), relieve nausea, stop vomiting, destroy microbes and bacteria.

In addition to the fruits, the leaves of the bush are also often used, from which herbalists brew teas (act as a home diuretic, laxative and healing agent), infusions (bandages soaked in them are applied as compresses to wounds, which significantly reduces the healing time). Together with berries, the leaves of this miraculous plant are great for the role aid with diseases of the genitourinary system: cystitis, nephritis, urolithiasis. You can use the fruits of the turn and to increase appetite. In other words, knowing suitable recipes you can safely use any part of the plant for treatment.

The use of thorns for medicinal purposes

Useful properties of berries, leaves, flowers and even thorn rhizomes have been found wide application in alternative (folk) medicine. So, the turn copes well with edema, dysentery, candidiasis, vaginitis, nonspecific colitis and general intoxication of the body. In case of food poisoning, the use of blackthorn berries allows you to quickly cleanse the body of toxins and improve the functioning of the digestive tract. A decoction prepared from sloe branches is an excellent helper in the treatment of gout, and also helps to remove uric acid salts from the body.

Antioxidants and flavonoids, which are part of the berries, reduce capillary permeability and improve blood circulation, promoting blood clotting. Knowing how the turn is useful, and wanting to check its useful properties on own experience, the following recipes for making teas, decoctions or infusions will come in handy.

Important! The seeds of the fruits of the plant contain a toxic glycoside - amygdalin, which splits off hydrocyanic acid, so you should immediately get rid of them.

Blackthorn flower and leaf tea

Blackthorn flower and leaf tea used for cystitis chronic constipation and prostate adenoma. In addition, he has pleasant taste and aroma, thanks to which this drink can be drunk daily as a general tonic.

It is not difficult to prepare such tea: the dried leaves and flowers of the blackthorn are mixed, and then two full teaspoons of the raw material (with top) are poured into ¼ l of water, after which the resulting composition should be slowly brought to a boil and filtered. Tea is consumed daily, but no more than two cups a day.

Blackthorn juice

Useful not only dried turn, but also juice from fresh berries. In particular, it helps to get rid of jaundice, and also acts as antibacterial agent, providing negative impact on Giardia and other protozoa. It is also effective skin diseases, in the treatment of which appropriate compresses will help.

To prepare juice, the pulp of the fruits of the shrub is separated from the stone, heated to 60-70 ° C and kneaded into a pulp. The juice squeezed out of it can be consumed immediately or rolled into jars.

Infusion of thorn flowers

An infusion made from thorn flowers renders positive impact on metabolism, and also normalizes liver function. In fact, it is prepared in the same way as tea: 40 g of dried flowers are poured into a glass of boiling water and left to infuse for 40 minutes, after which they are filtered and drunk 150 ml three times a day. This recipe is also suitable in cases where you need to get an effective laxative from shrub flowers. In addition, if there are problems with the liver, kidneys, bladder and for colds, the following infusion will be useful: 40 g of blackthorn flowers are poured into a glass of warm boiled water and filtered after infusion for 10 hours. Take the remedy before meals four times a day for ¼ cup.

Prepare an infusion using sloe leaves, very simple: for one glass of hot water there is one tablespoon of crushed leaves of the plant, after which the resulting composition must be boiled over medium heat for 15 minutes. After the liquid has cooled, it is filtered and squeezed. Ready infusion is taken in ½ part of a glass (you can also take a full glass) three times a day before meals. This remedy has good diuretic properties, so it is recommended to use it for edema, diseases of the kidneys and organs of the genitourinary system.

The leaves of the blackthorn are also often used to heal wounds and ulcers, in the treatment of which the fresh parts of the bush are simply applied to sore spots, and the dried parts are steamed in boiling water and compresses are made from them.

Blackthorn tincture

For the preparation of tincture from the blackthorn, its berries are also suitable. Pre-harvested fruits of the shrub (it is advisable not to wash them, but simply select good and intact ones) are poured into a jar and poured with vodka, moreover, so that the berries are covered 5 cm above their level. The tincture needs constant monitoring, and as the vodka is absorbed, it must be topped up. After three months, the liquid is drained, and sugar is added to the berries (10 kg of fruit will need 1.5 kg of sugar). After that, the fruits must be kept for another month (until the syrup is formed), and then filtered and mixed with the liquid that was separated at the very beginning. Within six months you will feel just an incredible aroma of tincture.

Decoction of berries

Incredibly helpful and general tonic is decoction of blackthorn berries, for the preparation of which you will need to pour 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried raw materials with a glass of boiling water, leaving it to infuse for 1 hour. Take liquid on an empty stomach (in the morning) for 4 days. A decoction of blackthorn berries can be used to increase appetite, as well as a diuretic, astringent and antiseptic.

Decoction of bark and roots

The roots and bark of the blackthorn, as well as the rest of the shrub, have a number of medicinal properties. Therefore, it is not surprising that in folk medicine often different decoctions of them are used. The roots have been harvested since autumn, for which these parts are first dug up and left for a short time in the sun. At the second stage, the raw materials prepared in this way should be placed in a special dryer or in a conventional oven for further drying (in end result the roots should break easily without changing their color much).

There are several ways to prepare a decoction of the bark and roots of blackthorn. When using the first option, 20 parts of water fall on one part of the dried roots and bark. The resulting mixture is brought to a boil and left to languish in a water bath for 20 minutes. Finished product cool and take 1-2 tablespoons 4-5 times a day. Such a decoction is excellent for the role of antipyretic and diaphoretic.

For the second method, 5 g of crushed root or bark is brewed in 200 ml of boiling water, then placed in a water bath and boiled for 30 minutes, and then allowed to brew for another hour. Ready cooled and filtered broth should be taken three times a day for 1/3 cup (after meals).

If desired, you can prepare a decoction only from the bark. To do this, pour 1 teaspoon of dry crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat. The finished product can be used instead of tea. For douching, one glass of decoction must be diluted boiled water in a ratio of 1:1.

Thorn root decoction can be used for diarrhea and during respiratory diseases, and it also improves the general condition of the patient with malaria.

Decoction of young shoots and branches

Another good diaphoretic is a decoction of finely chopped, pre-dried sloe branches(in its action, such a remedy is not inferior to raspberries and has antipyretic effect). To prepare such a decoction, pour 1 teaspoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water and leave to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. You need to use the product in a warm form, but there are no requirements for dosage.

Methods for harvesting and storing raw materials from sloes

Whatever you decide to cook from berries or sloe leaves, in any case, they must first be sorted out and washed. If you picked the fruits yourself, you can simply rinse them, while the purchased berries are washed more thoroughly, changing the water several times.

Flowers are being prepared during their budding period, and the leaves immediately after flowering. Young shoots are to be collected and harvested in May or June. At this time, they can be well dried on fresh air, in the wind or in the shade, as well as placing in a ventilated area. The bark can be removed from the tree before it blooms, and the roots are best dug up in the fall. In the future, having slightly dried them in the sun, you can dry them in ovens.

The fruits of the blackthorn can be harvested as they ripen, but it is better after the first frost. They are well suited for making compotes (you can roll them up in jars for the winter), wines, tinctures, syrups, marmalades and even pickles. Every product will be different. attractive color, pleasant smell and original sweet and sour taste.

Freezing can also be used to preserve fruits, however, in this case, do not forget that Before packing the berries, the seeds must be removed from them.

Did you know? Blackthorn fruits can be dried in a nylon stocking, but after that they will not stand for a long time, therefore, in order to extend the shelf life, it is better to spread them on straw.

Shelf life of flowers, leaves and sloes must not exceed 1 year, while the bark and roots can be stored for more than three years.

Blackthorn berries in cooking

Not all housewives know that blackthorn berries - excellent raw material for the preparation of various drinks, jelly, jam, juice and even porridge. And what delicious jam from the turn, it is only necessary to cook it correctly. In this case, the fruits of the shrub are first washed and put into an enamel bowl, covered with sugar on top. Then they are poured with water, using as much liquid as needed so that the sugar is completely dissolved. Cook the jam over low heat until it fully prepared, skimming the foam frequently and shaking the bowl. When the jam is completely ready, the berries are selected and laid out in prepared jars, and the syrup is allowed to boil for about an hour. After the end of the specified time, you need to pour the fruits with syrup and close them. To improve the taste and aroma of the workpiece, you can add a couple of drops of rose oil to it.

Blackthorn is a shrub of the rose family, the fruits of which are unique in their chemical composition and are of interest to traditional medicine.

Berries outwardly very much resemble small plums with a diameter of 1.2 cm, they are sour and tart. In the people, the plant is often called prickly plum, but it is more correct to say blackthorn or blackthorn. The height of the shrub is usually 4–5 meters, the leaves are elliptical, serrated, 5 cm long. Small white flowers appear profusely in spring, when there is no greenery yet.

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Chemical composition

Due to the chemical composition, trace elements and beneficial substances the turn occupies a special niche among medicinal plants. Not only the fruits are widely used, but also all parts of the shrub, excluding the seeds.

The plant contains large amounts of vitamins different groups: B, C, E, PP, as well as vitamin A, which is contained in the turn more than in the carrot. The plant contains potassium and calcium, iodine and zinc, sodium and iron, magnesium and phosphorus, cobalt and molybdenum. Human body needs all of these things.

The turn also contains a lot of fiber, organic acids, dietary fiber, pectin. It contains essential oils, amino acids, tannins.

The product itself is low in calories. 100 g of berries contains only 55 kcal. Including sloes in the diet, a person provides the body with vitamins and minerals without violating dietary nutrition.

Beneficial features

fresh berries and jams, compotes, jelly made from them help:

To establish the functions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). With their help, regular constipation and flatulence are treated. The enveloping effect on the mucous membrane reduces the risk of gastric ulcers, gastritis and colitis.
Cleanse the body of poisonous and other harmful substances which contributes to the recovery intestinal microflora, reduce pathogenic bacteria in different parts digestive system.
rid the person of viral infections and inflammation of the respiratory system. This is possible due to the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant properties of blackthorn.
Cleanse the liver and kidneys.
Normalize the activity of the nervous system. Get rid of dizziness stressful conditions, irritability or depression. Turn has a calming effect, creates a good mood.
soothe toothache, secure the process of extraction and treatment of teeth due to anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, the astringent qualities of the turn will ensure the treatment of gums and oral mucosa without complications.
Revitalize the immune system with vitamin composition. This will increase protection against diseases and provide control over existing ailments.
Eliminate premenstrual syndrome in women, reduce pain during menstruation.
Normalize Function prostate in men and prevent the occurrence of adenoma.
Establish metabolism, prevent the appearance of body fat, lose weight.

Potassium in berries and products from the turn will be useful in diseases of the heart and blood vessels, will serve to strengthen the walls, normalize rhythms. Decreased blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels in people taking the fruits of the plant. Fresh berries and masks from them will help rid the skin of rashes and acne, acne.

Contraindications

The thorn is not good for everyone. Sometimes a plant can harm the body due to individual intolerance to some components of the shrub. People suffering from stomach ailments associated with hyperacidity, should be careful not to use the fetus in the acute stage.

There are contraindications for those who are prone to allergies and food intolerances. At overuse berries may stain tooth enamel in Blue colour which comes off on its own. And because of a large number berry jam with an excess of sugar has a risk of weight gain.

The danger is the canned berry along with the seeds containing the poisonous component amygdalin (vitamin B17). His reaction with aqueous solution forms toxic substance. Therefore, a product prepared with a bone cannot be stored. a long period.

Folk remedies

Prepared from blackthorn berries medicinal decoctions and tinctures. Not only fruits are carriers medicinal properties. Experienced gardeners collect the flowers of the plant when the buds form and prepare tinctures from them. These tools strengthen immune system have diuretic and diaphoretic properties. Decoctions made from flowers soothe nervous system, eliminate constipation, nausea and shortness of breath, cleanse the liver and kidneys.

Leaves are used to prepare rinses used for diseases of the oral cavity, tinctures that normalize stools. In autumn, they dig up the roots, clean them from the ground, dry them, and then use them for fever and inflammation.

Thorn blanks

Fresh berries can serve as additional ingredients to vegetable salads, to the second courses. The most common and popular use is tea, compotes, jams, decoctions.