Oblong, often bright red, sometimes purple to black dogwood berries are known in most countries of the world. And from archaeological research it is known that this plant has been used by mankind for more than five thousand years. Among other fruit plants, dogwood blooms the earliest, and a large amount of nectar makes it an excellent honey plant.
Composition and properties
If we talk about the vitamin composition, then dogwood is not inferior to blackcurrant, which occupies a leading position in such ratings. Here is an approximate composition of dogwood:
- provitamin A, E, C, rutin;
- tannins;
- potassium, sulfur, magnesium, iron, calcium;
- glucose, fructose;
- phytoncides;
- flavonoids;
- organic acids - citric, tartaric, gallic, malic, succinic;
- nitrogenous and pectin substances;
- essential oils;
- corin glycoside.
The use of dogwood berries in food has a very beneficial effect on the body, since it has many properties that are useful for us:
- Helps with weight loss, and then maintains body shape.
- It is indicated for skin diseases, inflammations and wounds, eczema and dermatitis. For diseases of the oral cavity, including scurvy.
- Tones the human nervous system. Acts as a sedative for neuroses.
- Promotes the elimination of poisons and toxic substances from the body. Including uric and oxalic acid, salts of heavy metals.
- Strengthens and supports the cardiovascular system, regulates blood pressure, relieves headaches by improving blood supply to the brain, increases hemoglobin and normalizes blood sugar levels. Helps with anemia, anemia and other diseases.
- Improves the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Stimulates appetite and secretion of gastric juice, eliminates heartburn, astringent properties help with diarrhea, digestion is improved and metabolism is restored. With gastritis, diseases of the liver, kidneys and duodenum. Destroys typhoid and dysentery bacteria.
- Strengthens the overall immunity of the body. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antibacterial properties. Helps fight infections and viruses. Fights beriberi.
- It is a natural diuretic and choleretic agent.
- In violation of the endocrine system enhances the activity of pancreatic enzymes.
- It is widely used for the complex treatment of rheumatism, polyarthritis and joint pain.
- It is indispensable in getting rid of swelling of the legs, with venous insufficiency and inflammatory processes.
Contraindications for the use of dogwood apply to women during pregnancy and lactation, young children, as well as in cases of chronic constipation, increased acidity of the stomach and nervous overexcitation. However, with the right approach and control of dogwood consumption, these are only temporary restrictions.
Ways to use dogwood
Since ancient times, people have learned to cure various diseases with the help of natural gifts. This is how dogwood is used.
- Diabetes. Squeeze juice from fresh, washed and dried cornel berries. Drink half a glass half an hour before meals. If no allergic reactions appear, the amount of juice can be doubled.
- Pain syndrome. Free the fresh clean berries from the seeds, crush the pulp. In gauze, in several additions, place a small amount of the resulting mass and apply to the temples, forehead, back of the head or on the joints, to the pain centers. From headaches, it is recommended to drink a decoction of berries and make compresses from it. A spoonful of dried berries in a glass of hot water, boil for two minutes, insist for two hours. Strained infusion drink three times a day before meals.
- Invigorating drink. Pure dogwood juice is an alternative to coffee. But you can make drinks with a lower acid content. In half a liter of water, put 2 tablespoons of dogwood and a spoonful of wild rose. Boil for half an hour. Infuse for another 45 minutes and drain the broth. Use 100 ml up to 4 times a day. Also try a thick drink. Fresh or dried dogwood fruits are suitable for its preparation. In the evening, boil 2 tablespoons of berries for 20 minutes in a glass of water. Leave to stretch until the morning. Then grind until smooth and eat a day in a couple of doses. To diversify the taste, you can add honey to cooled drinks. Do not consume before bed. On the contrary, morning coffee can be replaced with these tonics.
- Haemorrhoids. Cornel pits are a third made up of oil, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, in order to heal cracks and heal hemorrhoids, doctors recommend eating our berries with seeds. A simple use of 5 berries, along with the seeds, every time before a meal, about half an hour, is suitable. And you can take dogwood jam, which in itself helps well with hemorrhoids, and do not throw out the bones from it. Collect about 2 glasses and during periods of exacerbation of the disease, eat about a third of this portion, divided into several meals. The bones must be swallowed whole, they are digested in the stomach. So you can completely cure hemorrhoids. Be sure to observe how your body responds to treatment. Dogwood can cause constipation, so if you experience discomfort, stop using dogwood for a while.
- Diarrhea. Prepare and drink the next infusion the day before. Pour a spoonful of dogwood fruits with a glass of boiling water and soak for one hour. Good reviews about dogwood jelly. The proportions are as follows: 3 tablespoons of berries per glass of water. Cook as usual. If it is too sour for you, add a little honey to the cooled jelly. Both children and adults are happy to take such a tasty medicine three times a day for half a glass. To enhance the effect, wild pear extract can be added to dogwood. With diarrhea, a decoction of dogwood berries along with leaves helps. Boil two tablespoons of dry or fresh fruits and leaves for 10 minutes in 250 ml of water. Infuse for 8 hours, then grind the contents and take half a glass three times a day. Use this tool: a handful of fresh dogwood berries, along with the seeds, rub well with egg yolk and add a little honey. The antibacterial abilities of dogwood effectively fight typhoid bacteria and salmonellosis.
- Stomach bleeding. With such problems, a dogwood drink is effective. Brew 10 g of dried berries in a glass of boiling water. Divide by day, drinking in small portions.
- Rheumatism and polyarthritis. Mix equally crushed roots and dogwood bark and cook for 15 minutes in 250 ml of water. Infuse for two hours, express and drink 3 times a day, 2 tablespoons. It is also allowed to use one teaspoon of roots boiled in two glasses of water. Boil for 15 minutes, leave for a couple of hours, drink like the previous broth. Or like this: we prepare a teaspoon of twigs and leaves of dogwood and take it in the same way.
- Abscesses. First, we prepare a decoction of dogwood roots. Boil a teaspoon of crushed roots for 15 minutes, then let it brew for two hours. We add a little honey and rye flour, so that a plastic mass is obtained. We form cakes of the desired size and apply directly to boils or abscesses.
- Colds. Dogwood in any form is suitable for the treatment of influenza, tonsillitis, measles and other diseases. Jam, compote, tea. It is useful to simply eat dogwood berries, fresh or dried, freshly squeezed juice, diluted with hot water. Fever attacks can be relieved by drinking an infusion of dogwood flowers and leaves 3 times a day before meals. Pour a tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of water, cover with a lid and boil in a water bath for 15 minutes. Bring the strained broth with boiled water to the volume of a glass.
Dogwood prevention - delicious recipes
Even if you don't have a medical reason to use dogwood, don't neglect its benefits. In addition to the fact that these small berries will be the key to health, they are also very tasty in a variety of cooking options.
- Dried dogwood can replace snacks, be a wonderful addition to cereals or some meat dishes.
- Frozen berries are very useful, because they retain the entire complex composition of vitamins and trace elements.
- Light decoctions of dogwood fruits can be taken almost constantly, it will perfectly strengthen the immune system, give a boost of vigor.
- For the winter, you can prepare dogwood, grated with sugar, in a ratio of 1: 2. Keep jars refrigerated and eat whenever you like.
- You can cook dogwood with sugar. It's easier to store that way. For 1 kg of berries, take 1.5 kg of sugar and a glass of water.
- Overripe dogwood is great for making syrup. Crush 3 kg of berries and set aside for 24 hours. During this time, juice will appear, which we drain, filtering, add a liter of water to it. We put on fire and gradually add sugar until the desired thickness of the syrup appears. 2 kg of sugar should be enough. Pour into a storage container and seal tightly.
The variety of recipes with dogwood fruits is very large. Compotes and jelly, fruit drinks and jams, wines and liquors are made with them. This is the case when taste and benefits go shoulder to shoulder.
