Nature has given mankind a great variety of plants that feed, clothe, warm and treat. In this article we consider the useful properties of hawthorn. How to brew and drink it.
It is very important to properly dispose of the gifts of nature. Then the plants will support our immunity, help restore health, calm the nervous system.
Among not only beautiful, but also extremely useful, occupies a special place a permanent resident of gardens and orchards - hawthorn .
Often it is cultivated as a wonderful decorative culture. Delicate white inflorescences make a solemn garden in spring. During the summer, the plant looks nobly as a green hedge.
In autumn, the dull autumn landscape is painted with hanging tassels of bright red berries with tiny crowns below.
hawthorn, and can benefit from every piece of this noble tree .Knowing about the beneficial properties, people from the XVI century cultivated varieties, constantly improving its varietal characteristics.
By the amount of vitamins hawthorn fruits surpass the well-known rosehip.
Its flavonoids help neutralize free radicals and strengthen blood vessels.
A wide range of organic acids, vitamins, essential oils, microelements ( magnesium, molybdenum, zinc, cobalt, phosphorus, etc.) contained in the inflorescences and fruits of hawthorn, makes it a complete ingredient in the composition of medicines.
In folk medicine, respectful attitude as a sedative, tonic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, relieves stress, strengthens blood vessels and heals wounds.
Use home useful properties at home by cooking:
- tea;
- decoction;
- tincture.
About the useful properties of hawthorn tell the program "To live great!":
Collection of raw materials
Fruit .The maximum level of nutrients accumulated with the onset of the first autumn frosts. The collection is best done from late September to early October. Dry them at a temperature not higher than 50-60 degrees.
Flowers .Given the short flowering time, the collection of flowers should be carried out within 2-3 days, in a dry campaign. Inflorescences carefully cut off, avoiding squeezing the petals.
For drying, they are laid out in a dark, well-ventilated room.
Leaves .Gather in early spring before or during the flowering period. Clean, green, with no additional impregnations, not damaged by pests or diseases. It is allowed to cut off or tear off the leaves with a part of the stem.
Bark .It is better to separate the wood from the spring in the beginning of the movement of the juice. Prepare lead from young plants or shoots. Make circular cuts to the wood and peel off the strips.
Store in glass jars, paper bags or canvas bags in dry, dark, ventilated places not accessible to insects.
Shelf life is limited: leaves, like flowers - 1 year, fruits - up to 2 years.
Hawthorn fruits, leaves, flowers and bark are harvested in dry weather, raw materials are stored for up to 2 years How to brew tea correctly
leaves and flowers are used for brewing tea. In its pure form, hawthorn is brewed less frequently than with the use of blends with black or green tea, other medicinal herbs.
For the purposes of prophylaxis, hawthorn may make up the fourth part of the collection, for firming and curative it may be half or more.
In order to maximize the benefits of the drink, you need to remember that when using boiling water some useful properties may die. The most favorable temperature for brewing is up to 85 degrees .
In the teapot
Tea with hawthorn flowers is brewed as standard black tea .To do this, use a glass or porcelain kettle, which is pre-scalded with boiling water.
A mixture is poured into a heated teapot, filled with boiling water, covered with a lid. To keep warm, the kettle is covered with a towel.
Restorative:
- 1 part dried hawthorn flowers;
- 1 part black leaf tea.
Warm up the kettle, pour 1 cup boiling water 2 tbsp.spoon mixture of the resulting mixture and leave for 2-3 minutes, and then strain. You can add honey or lemon.
Brew tea with hawthorn flowers as brewed as black, take a glass or porcelain kettle, pre-scald it with boiling water. Soothing:
- 1 part of hawthorn flowers;
- 1 part motherwort;
- 1 part mint;
- 1 part hop cones.
1 cup boiling water pour 1 tbsp.the resulting mixture, leave for 15-20 minutes, then strain. Drink in the evening before bedtime.
For heartburn:
- 1 part hawthorn flowers;
- 1 part peppermint.
1 tsp.mixture to 1 cup boiling water, insist about 15-20 minutes.
In an
Thermos The use of for brewing a thermos allows you to save the maximum of nutrients. Thermos for a long time retains heat, which makes it possible not to grind ingredients.
Our actions:
- rinse the thermos with boiling water;
- we fall asleep collecting, we lay the whole fruits;
- pour boiling water into a thermos;
- leave open for 5-10 minutes;
- close the lid and insist for at least 3 hours.
Approximately 20 whole fruits or collection according to the recipe is used per 750 ml of water.
It is convenient to fill the thermos for the night with in order to receive well-infused tea in the morning. Below are examples of recipes for using a thermos.
Using a thermos for brewing hawthorn fruit allows you to keep maximum nutrientsPour the collection in a thermos and pour 250-300 ml of boiling water. Insist at least 3 hours. The resulting tea must be used an hour before sleep .Before use, add 1 tbsp.a spoon of honey.
To improve digestion: take in proportion 1: 1: 1 dried hawthorn berries, walnut partitions and black tea leaves.3 tbsp.spoons of the mixture, pour 1l of boiling water and leave in a thermos for at least 30 minutes.
Tea for the heart: prepare a collection: per 100 g of black tea, 2 tbsp.spoons of hawthorn and rosehip, 1 tbsp.spoonful of mint, 1 teaspoon of chamomile flowers. Brew daily on a tablespoon, the resulting mixture, 1 liter of boiling water.
How to make hawthorn collection
Hawthorn collection is used to prepare decoctions. As an example: 1 tbsp.200 g of boiling water are poured over a spoonful of collection and boiled over low heat until the volume of liquid has decreased 2 times. Used in the treatment of arrhythmias.
The crushed fruits, flowers or other ingredients of are not filled with hot, but cold water .Then the container is placed in a water bath, incubated for 30 minutes, and then filtered.
Harvesting hawthorn is poured with cold water and placed in a water bath for 30 minutes. How to drink teas and decoctions:
rules Tea and decoctions recipes contain for each disease or purpose a specific set of ingredients and methods of preparation.
In the treatment of arrhythmias, angina , to lower cholesterol levels, broths are prepared and taken 1 tsp before meals 3 times a day.
For hypertension 1 tbsp. A spoonful of dried berries is poured with 1 glass of water and kept for 1.5-2 hours in an oven or other warm place. Take before meals 3 times a day and 1 tablespoon.
For the treatment of nervous disorders and stress 1 tbsp.spoonful of fruit, poured 250-300 ml of boiling water, insist 2 hours at room temperature. Take before meals for 2 tbsp.spoons.
Drink tea should be 2 hours after a meal, it is not recommended to use it on an empty stomach. Do not drink tea with cold water, so as not to cause intestinal cramps.
The presence of in the composition of fructose allows the use of hawthorn for people with diabetes.
The long-term effect of the application does not occur immediately, but after 30-40 days. Given this, it is better to take drugs with courses .
Drink hawthorn tea 2 hours after meals, it is not recommended to use it on an empty stomach. It is contraindicated to take
. Hawthorn is not used for individual intolerance or an allergic reaction, increased blood clotting.
In connection with the property of lowering blood pressure, hawthorn by persons suffering from hypotension is used only for general strengthening purposes in the minimum dosage or is not used at all.
Not recommended hawthorn for pregnant and lactating women .
Despite the mass of beneficial properties of decoctions, teas and tinctures based on hawthorn do not cancel the use of medicines in the treatment of diseases.
It is necessary to consult an doctor in order to correctly determine the methods and dosage, to obtain the maximum effect and not to harm the body.
