Barberry essential oil application. Barberry berries. Contraindications for the use of barberry

The many beneficial properties of barberry make the plant unique. It is recognized by both mainstream medicine and medicinal. However, this is not his only hypostasis. Amateur gardeners and professionals alike are happy to use it to decorate parks and gardens. The shrub is good at all seasons.

In the spring, during the flowering period, it attracts bees with its aroma, during the ripening period it pleases the eye with a riot of crowns of various flowers, depending on the variety, and in the fall it gives wonderful fruits - beautiful, piquant and healthy.

The relatively small barberry berry contains a great variety of chemical elements important for the human body. Thanks to this, barberry is considered one of the leaders among medicinal plants.

Barberry berries contain the following substances:

• ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
• vitamins E, K;
• tannins;
• organic acids (tartaric, malic, citric);
• pectins;
• carotenoids (lutein, xanthophyll, chrysanthemaxanthin, auroxanthin, flavoxanthin, capsanthin);
• alkaloids (berberine, oxyacanthine, columbamine, palmatine, etc.);
• ash;
• a small amount of carbohydrates.

The calorie content of freshly picked barberry is about 30 kcal per 100 grams, dried - a little more than 150 kcal per 100 grams.

Oblong, round - red, dark blue or light beige, depending on the variety, barberry fruits have a unique sweet and sour taste, which makes them attractive for use in cooking - not only in confectionery art (sweets, jam, marshmallows, candied fruits , marmalade and drinks), but also for the preparation of marinades and sauces. Dried it is used as a seasoning for meat dishes.

Inside each berry are seeds that reach 5 mm. In the Caucasus, it is customary to add berries to pilaf.
The pleasant aroma and sourness of the fruit have found application even in alcoholic beverage production. The taste of barberry is incomparable and gives charm to the dishes.

Also, berries are included in cosmetics. They have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects, tone up the skin. Moreover, not only the fruits, but also the leaves and roots of the plant have healing properties.

Infusions help brighten skin, remove age spots and fight wrinkles on the face. Toning agents heal and strengthen hair, speed up hair growth and help with dandruff.

How is the plant useful?

The healing power of barberry can hardly be overestimated. It is known to have been used as far back as Ancient Greece. The drug from him purified the blood. Tibetan monks considered him the elixir of youth.

Nowadays, all kinds of tinctures and decoctions from berries, leaves and roots are taken for treatment:

• colds (they are antipyretic and antimicrobial agents);
• successfully remove toxins from the body;
• promote blood clotting;
• cope with uterine bleeding;
• the presence of the alkaloid berberine makes it possible to exert a choleretic effect in cholecystitis (it is effective even in the fight against a serious ailment - hepatitis);
• help with inflammation of the genitourinary system (cystitis and pyelonephritis);
• with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• as a blood pressure regulator;
• inhibits the growth of malignant tumors.

Harvesting a plant for the winter

When to collect barberry

The best time to harvest is late autumn, when all the fruits are finally ripe. Unripe fruits are poisonous and hazardous to health, as they contain too many alkaloids.

After collecting the berries from the bush, they must be washed with running cold water and dried. Any container with a mesh bottom is suitable for this - a sieve, sieve or a plastic tray with holes. The berries are placed in one layer, carefully placing them in order to avoid damage to the peel. Special care must be taken to the fruits if they have already been caught in the frost.

Drying berries, leaves and roots for the winter

Drying barberry fruits is no different from drying other berries. A baking sheet with fruits, laid in one layer, is placed in an oven preheated to 40-50 degrees, the temperature is gradually increased to 60 degrees. Checking readiness is easy. Squeeze a handful of berries in the palm of your hand. If they do not stick together, then they are ready.
Useful properties last up to two years. It is best to store in a glass container with a lid or in birch bark trays.

Barberry leaves together with twigs are harvested in late spring or early June. The leaves are still very tender at this time. Usually, twigs with leaves no more than 10 cm long are cut. It is best to do this after rain, when any dust has been washed away.

The twigs are laid out on a flat surface in the shade, it is better to do this under a canopy, since it will take at least a week for natural drying. After that, the dried leaves can be put into fabric bags. Like berries, they retain healing properties for two years.

Barberry roots are harvested in late autumn. To do this, use a third of all the roots of the bush. They are cleaned of the earth and laid out in the dark to dry. This is a rather lengthy process. To speed it up, you can put the roots in the oven. Even at low temperatures (up to 50 degrees C), they dry out much faster. The roots are preserved for three years without losing medicinal properties. The roots, dried according to the rules, remain a bright yellow color.

The use of barberry

This unique shrub is useful from "head to toe", that is, roots, berries, and leaves are all suitable for making medicinal broths.

Fruit decoction

Berry broth is an excellent remedy for vitamin deficiency. It is prepared very easily, just like regular tea. Barberry berries (a large spoonful of fresh or dried fruit is poured with a cup of boiling water and insisted under the lid until it cools completely. Drink three times a day. It will also bring relief from colds. You can add a spoonful of honey to a cup of tea.

Such a drink is also useful for:

• liver diseases (as a choleretic agent);
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas);
• cystitis (inflammation of the bladder);
• high blood pressure;
• upset stomach;
• damaged blood vessels.

Leaf decoction

Two large tablespoons of dried leaves are poured with a cup of boiling water and insisted in a glass container under a lid until they cool completely. Then filter. The product is ready to use. It will help with:

1. cholecystitis;
2. sore throat;
3. bleeding gums;
4. uterine bleeding;
5. peptic ulcer.

Root decoction

Barberry root (half a small spoonful of chopped roots) pour a cup of water and place on the stove. After boiling for 30 minutes over low heat, drain. Top up with boiled water to the original volume. Take the drug in a small spoonful several times a day.

Relief will come with:

1. hepatitis;
2. pleurisy;
3. bronchitis;
4. fever;
5. diabetes mellitus;
6. metastases and malignant tumors.

Barberry for weight loss

Due to the fact that the fruits contain a large amount of vitamin C, pectins, organic acids and trace elements, everything that increases peristalsis, they are used for the purpose of losing weight. Added to this is the lack of fat and low carbohydrate content.

Eating fresh fruits or dried infusion replenishes nutrients in the body, the lack of which is felt during special diets. However, you should not expect miracles and instant weight loss from barberry. The process runs smoothly, gradually freeing the body from toxins.

In order to get rid of excess weight, you can prepare a tincture, broth or tea.
Tincture of leaves on vodka (pour a handful of leaves in half a glass and remove in a dark place for 15 days). Take half a small spoon several times a day.

Decoction of fruits. Can be prepared with fresh or dried berries. Place a large handful in a saucepan and pour half a liter of boiling water. Cook over low heat for a quarter of an hour. Then wrap the pan and leave to infuse for several hours. After cooling, add boiled water to the original volume and take 50 mg three times a day after meals.

Berry tea. Dried barberry (pour a small spoonful of berries with a cup of boiling water and insist). Drink throughout the day.

Contraindications for the use of barberry

Using barberry berries or other parts of the plant for medicinal purposes, one must remember that they can be harmful with prolonged use. The intestines will react with constipation.

In addition, infusions and fruits cannot be used in the presence of:

• increased acidity;
• bleeding during menopause;
• pregnant women (barberry during pregnancy is dangerous due to the presence of alkaloids that stimulate uterine contraction until miscarriage);
• hypotension;
• severe liver dysfunction;
• thrombophlebitis;
• spasms of blood vessels of the brain;
• heart failure;
• plant allergies;
• in childhood.

From the foregoing, it follows that barberry is a healthy plant, rich in vitamins and minerals, but a sense of proportion should be present in everything. If in doubt, it is better to seek the advice of your doctor rather than self-medicate.

Barberry is found in the southern and middle latitudes of Europe, Asia, the Carpathians, distributed in the south of Siberia, the Altai mountains. It belongs to the heat-loving plants that do not tolerate severe frosts. Therefore, in the wild, barberry prefers to grow on southern slopes, in sunny places.

Many gardeners began to grow shrubs on their site, using it as a source of berries and hedges. Thus, for the winter in stock there is not only jam from berries, but also dried leaves and fruits.

A shrub that grows up to a meter, in August-September, is decorated with bright fruits, very sour in taste. The berries are about two centimeters in size and have an oblong shape, and there are small seeds inside.

It should be borne in mind that only ripe berries can be picked. Unripe fruits are poisonous.

After a little freezing, the astringency of the fruit disappears. Barberry is not eaten raw due to its high acid content. But the jam from it turns out delicious and aromatic. In addition, tea made from fresh and dried berries is useful.

In cooking, berry pulp is used to make sauces, gravy for meat dishes. The sour taste of barberry gives the dishes a unique flavor. In the confectionery industry, it is used in the preparation of sweets and jellies.

Berries contain a large amount of malic acid (6.8%). Therefore, in terms of the amount of vitamin C (172%), barberry is not inferior to lemon, cranberry. It is rich in tannins, pectins, which are necessary for the intestines to function. The fruits of barberry contain organic acids, vitamins A, K. Berberine is found in berries and roots, which has a choleretic effect. It is included in the composition of drugs.

In addition to berries, leaves, bark and roots of a bush are used in folk medicine. The roots contain the greatest amount of berberine, which improves the outflow of bile, lowers blood pressure, and enhances the contraction of the uterus. The bark of the plant contains another substance, cholelithin, which is also used to treat biliary problems.

The above choleretic substances are included in the composition of drugs. The leaves are used to obtain an alcoholic tincture, which is also used for liver diseases, uterine bleeding. The scope of barberry is not limited to this.

Description of the process of harvesting the fruit

Different parts of the plant are harvested at different times. Berries can be harvested in late autumn, after the first night frost. Ripe red berries are removed, and unripe fruits are best left on the branches. They are dried unfolded on a baking sheet in the oven at a temperature not exceeding forty-five degrees, increasing it at the end of drying to sixty degrees.

The readiness of berries for storage is easy to determine. If they do not stick together in the palm of your hand, then you can store them in cardboard boxes or cloth bags, placing them in a dry place.

Leaves are plucked in late spring and early summer, young, during flowering shrub. You can cut small young twigs with leaves, no more than ten centimeters in length. Twigs and leaves are dried unfolded without exposure to sunlight in a dry ventilated room, under a canopy.

The time for harvesting the bark of the bush is early spring, when the sap begins to move in the plant.

The roots are dug up in late autumn, dried in special dryers or in warm attics. The roots are cut from the bushes, which are to be cut down so as not to spoil the fruiting plants.

With proper storage, berries and leaves, bark and roots retain their beneficial properties for two years.

Medicinal properties of barberry

The range of medicinal properties of barberry is very wide. All parts of the plant are used for:

• lowering the temperature;
• increased outflow of bile;
• relieving spasm;
• pain relief.

Berry tea, jam, broth is used in the treatment of colds, to increase the body's resistance. At the same time, appetite improves, high temperature decreases. A large amount of vitamin C allows you to quickly restore the vitamin balance disturbed by the disease.

The cleansing property of the fruit is used for poisoning, diarrhea. The antispasmodic effect determines its use for the treatment of hypertension and diseases of the biliary tract.

A decoction of flowers is used for heart pains, to strengthen the heart muscle. The use of berries can improve the blood supply to the vessels.

In case of oncological diseases, a decoction and infusion of parts of hawthorn is used as an additional therapy to strengthen the body.

Due to their low calorie content, berries are used to replenish the vitamin balance with different diets, weight loss. A decoction of berries cleanses the body of toxins and toxins.

When applied externally, a decoction from the leaves is used to rinse the hair, rub freckles and age spots to lighten. Lotions help get rid of acne, relieve skin inflammation.

A decoction of barberry flowers, used as a lotion, will relieve fatigue and redness of the eyes.

This video tells about the beneficial properties of barberry, the features of its flowering, and its widespread use.

Preparation methods and instructions for use

Decoction of berries for cleansing

One hundred grams of berries are poured with half a liter of boiling water, boiled for ten minutes. The broth is left for four hours, after which it is filtered and another half liter of water is added. After meals, 50 ml is taken four times a day for three days. Such cleansing of the body before the diet saturates the body with vitamins, increases vitality, and improves well-being.

Leaf and root decoction recipe

With spasms of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, nausea, take a decoction from the leaves or root of barberry. It is prepared in the following ways:

• Pour fifteen grams of leaves with 200 ml of boiling water, boil for ten minutes, insist for the same amount of time. It is necessary to take one tablespoon four times a day, having previously filtered and brought to the original volume.
• To prepare a decoction of the roots, you will need 400 ml of water and one tbsp. a spoonful of dry roots. We boil the liquid with the root for two minutes, leave for half an hour. The filtered broth is taken one tablespoon every hour in case of disorder, intestinal spasms until the condition is relieved. They rinse the mouth with a decoction of the root for gum disease, make lotions for muscle cramps on the legs.

Benefits of tincture from leaves and roots

To combat extra pounds, you can use a tincture from the leaves of the plant. The finished tincture can be purchased at the pharmacy or you can make it yourself if you can pick fresh young leaves.

When preparing, the following ratio of leaves and alcohol (ethyl 70%) is maintained - 20 grams per 120 ml. The vessel is placed in a dark place for two weeks. The finished tincture turns out to be dark yellow.

Having filtered the liquid, it is taken according to the instructions for 30 drops, dissolved in a small amount of liquid, after meals, once a day for 28 days.

During the course of treatment with barberry tincture, you should not take laxatives and medications containing aspirin.

Wine tincture

To cleanse the blood and increase immunity, you can prepare a tincture of wine. It is necessary to take one liter of red wine, preferably homemade. Two hundred grams of chopped berries are poured with wine, insisted for a month, shaking from time to time. Filter the tincture and add a glass of sugar. After dissolving the sugar, the tincture is ready. Take 50 ml shortly before bedtime.

Contraindications and harm to barberry

Not everyone can use the beneficial properties of a plant, because any plant or drug has its own contraindications and is harmful to health.

Barberry is no exception. Even among those diseases for the treatment of which it is used, there are contraindications.

We have already talked about the benefits of berries and other parts of the plant in the treatment of diseases of the liver and gallbladder.

But in the presence of stones in the gallbladder, it is prohibited to take a decoction or tincture. Otherwise, the stones will budge and block the bile ducts, which will require surgery. Liver cirrhosis is also a contraindication for the use of barberry, even for food.

• With an exacerbation of an ulcer, increased acidity of the stomach, additional acid will have a negative effect.
• With uterine bleeding, self-medication without consulting a doctor is dangerous because the cause of the problem may be different.
• You can not use barberry and preparations from it for children under twelve years old.
• Contraindication for the use of barberry is pregnancy, low blood pressure (hypotension).
• Do not forget about the possible individual intolerance to the drug, allergies.

In any case, consult your doctor before starting treatment with this beneficial herb. Even if this is a course for weight loss and cleansing of the body.

How many secrets and mysteries nature has! Surely you have seen the barberry plant more than once - in the forest, parks or in backyard territories. It is beautiful, bright and is often used in landscape design. But did it ever occur to you that this pretty bush was created not only to delight the eyes of a person, but also for his health? Indeed, barberry is a very useful plant, with its help they treat many diseases, carry out prophylaxis, solve cosmetic and immune problems. A barberry growing in a garden or vegetable garden can serve you well.

Description of the plant

Barberry is a unique plant that has found wide application not only among the inhabitants of Russia. It is used both for decorative purposes, instead of hedges, and in folk medicine. Due to its unique medicinal properties and contraindications, barberry deserves a place of honor among medicinal herbs.

Barberry can be found on almost every continent, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. This plant is especially widespread in mountainous regions in the Northern Hemisphere.

This shrub can often be found in ravines and on mountain slopes. Barberry is widespread on the Black Sea coast, the North Caucasus, in the middle and southern zones of Russia, as well as in Western and Eastern Siberia.

In the vastness of a vast country, only three varieties are more often found:

• common barberry;
• Ottawa barberry;
• barberry Thunberg.

Common barberry is popular with healers and traditional healers, which is used not only to treat many diseases, but even in cooking. The entire shrub has healing properties, but more often the choice falls on the berries of the barberry, root, leaves.

Barberry berries can be small - about 0.5 cm in length and larger - up to 2 cm. Their taste is pleasant, sour-tart. The famous barberry candies are very similar to these fruits - both in shape and color, only their taste is sweeter, but the same fragrant. Inside the berries are small seeds that you can eat, you do not need to extract them.

Barberry berries are low in calories and contain only 26-30 calories per 100 grams.

Barberry berries are the keepers of vitamins

In order for the berries of barberry to give away their useful substances as much as possible, they must be properly prepared. The fruits are harvested only during the period when they are fully ripe and have gained solar energy and vitamins. Drying takes place in the shade under a canopy or in a specialized dryer at temperatures up to 50 degrees. Dried berries are perfectly stored in cardboard boxes, paper or knitted bags.

Ripe bush fruits are a storehouse of nutrients. Despite the fact that they have a pronounced sour taste, they are used in the preparation of various compotes, syrups, jelly, jams, sweets, jellies and even liqueur. In cooking, the sour taste adds piquancy to meat and vegetables. Oriental cultures are especially fond of this product, which season lamb and rice dishes with barberry spices.

The chemical composition of barberry: useful properties of the components

Very often, barberry is a component of pharmaceutical and medicinal products. And the plant deserved such recognition due to its amazing composition. The common barberry contains:

• alkaloids, among which berberine plays a significant role. This component provides barberry with a choleretic effect. In addition to berberine, the roots of barberry contain leontin, jatroricin, palmatine, columbamine, oxyacanthin, berberrubin;
• organic acids found in barberry fruits. Among them are wine, lemon, apple and others;
• ascorbic acid, pectin and sugar are also found in berries;
• carotene or provitamin A;
• tannins;
• tocopherol;
• vitamin E and essential oils contain foliage during the period of bearing fruit.

Barberry - 10 useful properties

NATURAL ANTIBIOTIC

Numerous scientific studies show that berberine contained in barberry has high antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antifungal effects. This substance blocks the activity of bacteria, preventing them from entering cells and tissues, which protects the human body from infectious diseases.

Barberry-based preparations are used to eliminate a variety of inflammatory processes. Berberine effectively fights urinary and intestinal infections, relieves the condition of patients suffering from angina, bronchitis, rhinitis, sinusitis. Extracts from the leaves of the plant are used to treat pathologies caused by the activity of fungi of the genus Candida.

It is difficult to overestimate the beneficial properties of barberry for men. It is recommended to take tinctures of fresh or dried fruits to prevent prostatitis and restore sexual function.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

Penetrating into the smooth muscles lining the intestines, berberine stimulates digestion, relieves spasms of internal organs. Tinctures of barberry roots are used to eliminate gastrointestinal disorders resulting from poisoning or the activity of pathogens.

Scientists believe that the high effectiveness of barberry in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system is due to its astringent properties. Much more effective than some antibiotics, berberine relieves the symptoms of bacterial diarrhea without any negative side effects.

DIABETES MELLITUS PREVENTION

Barberry has been proven to regulate blood sugar levels, making it an excellent drug for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. One of the medical studies conducted with the participation of several volunteers showed that taking 500 milligrams of barberry extract two to three times a day for three months is as effective as treating diabetes with Metformin. Berberine is able to control blood sugar and lipid metabolism just as effectively and, according to scientists, is "a powerful oral hypoglycemic agent." In addition, the substances contained in barberry improve the breakdown of glucose, restore lipid metabolism, and improve the body's sensitivity to insulin.

MAINTAIN HEART HEALTH

The medicinal properties of barberry are used in folk medicine for the treatment of cardiac pathologies. The effectiveness of berberine is noted in hypertension, ischemia, arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. Barberry extracts are useful for people who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which is expressed in slow blood circulation, irregular or rapid heart rate.

Alternative medicine methods are often used to improve the condition of patients, including yoga, acupuncture, and the use of dietary supplements. Among the latter, a worthy place is occupied by barberry extracts, which show high efficiency in smoothing the symptoms of atrial fibrillation.

Clinical trials conducted in 2015 proved that the alkaloid berberine is capable of acting as class IA and III antiarrhythmic agents, eliminating atrial flutter. Currently, the benefits of barberry in the treatment of atrial fibrillation have not been studied enough and have not been widely used in official medicine.

Berberine also helps to lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride densities, which have a positive effect on heart health and overall well-being.

REMOVAL OF METABOLIC SYNDROME

Metabolic syndrome is a metabolic disorder that includes not one, but a combination of three or more of the health problems: abdominal obesity, high blood sugar and triglycerides, high blood pressure, or low HDL ("good cholesterol") ...

Recent studies to investigate the effect of barberry and other antioxidant-rich fruits on the prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in patients with metabolic syndrome have shown that PAB factors contribute to mitigating oxidative stress, which reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. In addition, as a result of the intake of plant antioxidants, the imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's ability to counteract or neutralize their harmful effects is eliminated.

106 people who were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome took part in clinical trials. For six weeks, patients in the control group were offered to take medicinal capsules with barberry extract three times a day. The rest of the participants did not receive such treatment, continuing to lead their normal lives. After the prescribed period, the scientists noted that people who took 600 mg of barberry supplements daily had significantly reduced manifestations of oxidative stress. In the other group, there were no positive changes in the health status of patients.

Thus, it was proved that the components that make up the plant significantly reduce the oxidative load on the body, stimulate metabolism, and help eliminate the manifestations of the metabolic syndrome and all its possible complications.

LIVER AND GALL BLADDER CLEANSING

The liver is a very important organ of the human body, responsible for neutralizing toxins, breaking down hormones, preserving vitamins and minerals. The bile produced by the liver is involved in the digestion of fatty foods and promotes the absorption of nutrients. Obviously, these organs need periodic cleansing, which is effectively handled by the components of barberry, acting as flushing agents. Berberine also stimulates bile secretion, acts as a mild laxative, and helps regulate digestive processes.

The ability of berberine to increase bile production is key because cholesterol and most toxins are eliminated from the body primarily through bile secretion. By enhancing the secretion of bile, barberry improves not only the health of the liver and gallbladder, but also has a positive effect on the overall tone of the body.

TREATMENT OF DIARRHEA

Experts believe that barberry is an effective treatment for diarrhea, including diarrhea caused by food poisoning. Some studies have shown that barberry is more effective in reducing symptoms of diarrhea than with traditional antibiotics. Barberry has powerful astringent properties that help kill gut bacteria faster.

USEFUL PROPERTIES FOR THE EYES

IMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT

The chemical berberine stimulates white blood cells in the body that kill disease-causing organisms, thereby boosting overall immunity.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy in many cases lead to inhibition of the formation of leukocytes in the bone marrow, in such cases it is also recommended to use barberry.

USEFUL PROPERTIES OF BARBARIS FOR WOMEN

Barberry is useful for menstrual irregularities, anemia, and is also used to treat vaginitis.

How barberry is used in cosmetology

Speaking about what else barberry is needed for, it must be added that natural barberry products allow you to effectively care for the skin, hair, etc. This thorny bush is often used by cosmetologists for the production of cosmetics (tonics, creams, shampoos, etc.). In folk cosmetology, decoctions are made from barberry for procedures:

• anti-dandruff. Boil two tablespoons of dried fruits in 200 ml of water. After straining and cooling, use after washing your hair with a regular shampoo - rub into the scalp;
• conditioner for rinsing hair. A decoction of leaves and fruits is perfect for the care of dry hair and dry scalp (prevents fragility, irritation and inflammation of the scalp, relieves itching). Dried or fresh berries and barberry leaves will do. In an enamel bowl, boil the raw materials with boiling water and leave for 40 minutes. Duration of treatment - a month (with regular rinsing of hair after shampooing);
• for cosmetic ice... Daily rubbing with a cube of frozen broth rejuvenates and tones the skin, cleanses it from acne, lightens age spots, smoothes wrinkles;
• for skin whitening and removal of freckles on the face and hands... Lotions are made from the broth, baths are made for hands.

1. rejuvenating... Grate four tablespoons of fresh berries until puree, mix with a spoonful of sour cream, oatmeal and a medium grated apple. Apply the mask to the face and rinse off after 10 minutes with brewed green tea;
2. nutritious... A mask made from fresh berries (glass), oatmeal (half a glass), eggs, a teaspoon of honey and half a glass of hot milk works effectively. Pour milk into the oatmeal (to swell), chop the berries, mix everything. Wash off after 15 minutes.

Barberry offers safe weight loss product- a special tincture of young leaves (20 g) for alcohol: the leaves are poured with 120 ml of alcohol and placed in the dark and cool for two weeks (until they acquire a brown tint and acid).

The course of administration is 30 drops after meals (three weeks).

The use of barberry in cooking

Barberry is widely used as food, and its use in cooking has a long tradition. Caucasian and Central Asian cuisine is made from its berries and leaves a traditional seasoning for pilaf and shurpa - the cooking process is accelerated, the dishes acquire a pleasant aftertaste. Barberry is widely used in the manufacture of confectionery products (syrups, jellies, sweets, pastilles, etc.). The following are prepared from barberry berries:

• syrup. After thorough washing, boil the berries until puree. Strain, add sugar (1: 1) and cook for another 10 minutes (constantly skimming off the foam). Close hot syrup in sterilized jars;
• juice. After the juice is squeezed out, it is poured into clean cans and pasteurized (15 minutes - a liter can), then hermetically closed.
  The juice is rich in everything that barberry berries are useful for. In the future, the juice is diluted, other drinks are prepared from it;
• jam. Cover the fruits with sugar (1: 1) and stand for 12 hours. Simmer for 20 minutes. Pasteurize hot jam in jars for 30 minutes;
• seasoning for meat and fish. Boil a kilogram of berries, rub through a fine sieve. 250 g of sugar and spices (cinnamon, cloves, basil, ginger, etc.) are added to the resulting mass. Cook until thick;
• barberry tea. Delicious and aromatic, has many useful properties, tones up. Brewed 1 tsp. dry barberry berries in 200 ml of boiling water, infused for 8-10 minutes. Sugar is added to taste.

Did you know? In the 19th and early 20th centuries, in late autumn in Moscow, the famous barberry kvass, strong vinegar (diluted with water and drunk) was prepared from barberry. Pickled barberry was especially appreciated as a good seasoning for food - the berries were poured with sugar-salt syrup with vinegar and spices.

Barberry and its yellow flowers (with a very peculiar and not quite pleasant smell) are valued as a wonderful honey plant. Barberry honey has a golden color, rich taste and delicate aroma. In addition, many medicinal properties of barberry are preserved in it, and this honey is rightfully known as medicinal.

The use of barberry in traditional medicine

Prescription for hypertension

To overcome high pressure, barberry flowers are used. One tablespoon of barberry flowers is poured into 300 ml of pure cold water, brought to a boil and continued to boil over low heat for about 10 minutes. After that, turn off the fire, insist for three hours and filter. The broth is taken one tablespoon three times a day before meals. Course - month. Break for 10 days, then repeat.

For colds

For colds, flu, to maintain the immune system, a decoction of barberry berries is used. To do this, the berries are boiled in the form of compote, fruit drink, you can also dilute jam or jam with water and make berry tea. To achieve a positive effect, daily use of a decoction of barberry berries is recommended, a single dose will not give a result.

Infusion of the bark for gout

Place one and a half tablespoons of bark in an opaque glass container, pour in 100 ml of alcohol, cork and leave in the dark for 14 days. Strain. Store in a cool place, protect from light. The drug should be taken for a month and a half, 20-30 drops three times a day. It is necessary to carry out two courses of treatment per year (with a break in between).

Important! All medicinal preparations from barberry must be made only in enamel, glass or ceramic dishes.

Barberry root - use in traditional medicine

One of the constituents of the shrub, which is also effectively used in folk medicine, is the root of the barberry. Medicinal properties are not inferior to berries and are also used to treat many diseases. Harvesting of the root is carried out if the bush is to be uprooted or transplanted.

Barberry root has the following properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antipyretic;
• antispasmodic;
• diuretic;
• promotes the outflow of bile;
• lowers blood pressure;
• improves the functioning of the heart and liver.

Root shoots no thicker than 6 cm are harvested from adult plants, at least two years old. This is done in early spring before the buds begin to bloom or in mid-autumn after the berries ripen. Most of them are left, otherwise the plant will die from lack of nutrition.

Rotten and blackened areas are cut off. The earth is shaken off, not washed off, since alkaloids dissolve in water, and the healing properties are lost. Suitable roots are cut lengthwise into 10-12 cm segments and dried in a draft under a canopy or in a dryer at a temperature of no more than plus 45 degrees Celsius.

Prescription to relieve inflammation and stop bleeding: 100 g of dried roots of barberry are poured with 200 ml of boiling water, additionally boiled for 15 minutes and infused for 4 hours. The broth must be filtered and taken in 50 ml 4 times a day.

With pathologies of the stomach, pleurisy and rheumatism: Dried grated roots (1 tsp) are poured with 400 ml of boiling water and boiled for 5 minutes, then filtered and cooled. Take half a glass three times a day.

Restoring broth for gallstone disease: To alleviate the condition with gallstone disease in remission, a decoction is prepared from 10 g of bark and 15 g of plant roots, which are boiled for half an hour in a sealed container. After cooking, it is diluted with water, compensating for the volume of the boiled liquid. Take a strained broth of 50 ml 3 times a day.

Barberry root has found its application in the treatment of female diseases. A decoction for douching, special baths is prepared from it. The effectiveness of the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity and gums is also high - a decoction from the root is used to rinse the mouth.

The recipe for a decoction of barberry root is simple. This will require 2 tbsp. Pour spoons of the root with boiling water (about 0.5 l) and boil over low heat for 3-5 minutes. Let it brew for 40-50 minutes and then strain. Such a decoction is used only externally for compresses or lotions. For rinsing the mouth and douching, it is recommended to dilute the resulting broth with water in a 1: 2 ratio. Do not swallow it as it is harmful to the stomach.

To prepare the root tincture, take 1 tsp. raw materials and pour two glasses of boiled water, leave for 20-30 minutes. You can take 50 g three times a day before meals, depending on the course of treatment.

A contraindication for using the medicinal properties of barberry root can be: age less than 12 years, individual intolerance, pregnancy, breastfeeding, gastritis, liver cirrhosis.

Barberry - useful properties of leaves

Leaves are plucked during the period of bud formation and flowering, dried and crushed. Deciduous broth is recommended for patients with inflammation of the liver (except for cirrhosis) and biliary tract.

Water Bath Drink Recipe: To prepare it, you will need 1 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials, which are poured with 200 ml of boiling water. The poured leaves are placed in an enamel bowl and placed under a lid in a water bath for 15 minutes. The finished drink is allowed to cool, filtered and diluted with boiled water at room temperature, bringing the amount of liquid to the original. Take it 50 ml 4 times a day. Fresh leaves are used in salads and green borscht to add a sour taste, dry ones are added as a seasoning to stews.

For the treatment of kidney and bladder, diuretic

Barberry leaves have a mild diuretic effect and have a beneficial effect on the kidneys and other organs of the genitourinary system.

You need to take two tablespoons of barberry leaves, pour 400 ml of cold water over them, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. After that, you need to let the broth cool and infuse, 2-3 hours will be enough. It is recommended to use the product three times a day, 100 ml each before meals.

Procurement and storage of raw materials

Correct collection and storage of raw materials is of great importance. Barberry is a rather thorny shrub, so before harvesting, you need to properly equip yourself - tight gloves, closed clothes with long sleeves, etc. The timing of harvesting for different parts of the plant is different:

Harvesting roots held in April or November (during the dormant period). The volume of the dug roots should not exceed one third of all the roots of the plant (re-harvesting of the roots of the same plant is possible in at least five years). The roots are cleared of soil, rotten or blackened areas. It is categorically impossible to wash - berberine will be washed out.

Fruit harvested in September-November. Only ripe fruits of barberry are subject to collection - they have the most pronounced beneficial properties (immature or greenish berries contain many alkaloids).

Bark harvested in April-May. In spring, it is easily removed from the shoots (using longitudinal and transverse cuts).

Leaves(whole, not damaged by diseases or pests) are harvested by hand (tearing off, as a rule, young tops with leaves) in May - June.

How to dry barberry at home

The fruits can be dried in 2 ways:

1. Barberry is laid out on a pan in the fresh air under a canopy and mixed twice a day. Drying time - 3 - 6 days.
2. The fruits of the barberry are sorted out, washed under running water and dried on a paper towel. The berries are laid out on a tray, the baking sheet is placed in the oven (+50 degrees). After an hour, the berries are stirred, the temperature is raised to +65 degrees and left in the oven until completely dry.

How to use dried barberry

The useful properties of dried barberry do not differ from fresh preparations. Therefore, dried berries, roots, leaves can also be used for the preparation of infusions, decoctions, etc. - the value and amount of medicinal properties does not decrease.

The main thing is to always remember that non-compliance with the dosage can cause side effects: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc. Therefore, before using, consult your doctor and take care of your health.

Barberry - contraindications

In order to avoid harm to health, it is not recommended to resort to treatment with barberry preparations in the following cases:

• Constipation tendency, problems with bowel movements
• Brain spasms, pre-infarction and pre-stroke conditions
• Having varicose veins or thrombophlebitis
• Increased acidity of gastric juice
• Chronic liver and gallbladder diseases
• Uterine bleeding in postpartum or postpartum women
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Children under 12 years of age

In view of the insufficient knowledge of the beneficial properties and contraindications to the use of barberry in the treatment of heart diseases, you should not resort to uncontrolled intake of medicinal tinctures without first consulting your doctor.

Barberry is a short thorny shrub belonging to the barberry family. Its value lies in oblong fruits, which contain a significant amount of vitamins and other healing substances. Also in folk medicine, the bark and roots of this plant are used. What kind of plant is barberry, its medicinal properties and contraindications, we will consider in more detail.

Medicinal properties of berries

What does barberry help from? This product is enriched with such useful substances: vitamins, organic acids, pectins, tannins, essential oil and beta-carotene. Due to this composition, the fruits have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiseptic, hemostatic effect on the human body. That is why barberry berries have been used in folk medicine for a long time in the fight against such diseases:

• pathology of the kidneys, liver and gallbladder;
• a stomach or duodenal ulcer;
• tuberculosis;
• malaria;
• disruption of the stomach and intestines;
• high blood pressure and other problems with the cardiovascular system;
• diabetes;
• toxic poisoning, accompanied by nausea and vomiting;
• uterine bleeding;
• inflammatory processes in the articular tissues.

Also, barberry is useful for any diseases of the respiratory tract, since it helps to relieve acute inflammatory processes. External use of berries helps to eliminate psoriatic eruptions and other dermatological pathologies.

Barberry bark: medicinal properties

Barberry bark also has a significant amount of medicinal properties. Its use in traditional medicine provides for the treatment of such ailments:

• cholecystitis;
• rheumatism;
• the appearance of stones in the gallbladder;
• stomach cramps;
• diarrhea.

It's important to know! Since medicinal products based on barberry bark increase blood clotting, it is better for people suffering from pathologies of the heart and blood vessels to stop using them.

As for the external use of the bark, thanks to decoctions based on it, you can get rid of pain after injuries.

Barberry is a unique plant whose root can also be used as a remedy. It helps to get rid of such diseases:

1. Cough. Decoctions based on barberry root contribute to a faster discharge of phlegm, as well as the removal of inflammatory processes.
2. Overweight, obesity. This tool improves metabolic processes, thereby eliminating fatty deposits.
3. Diabetes. Barberry root not only normalizes metabolic processes, but also improves blood composition.
4. Liver disease. Decoctions from the bark improve the functioning of this vital organ.

Also, medicines from the bark help with pancreatitis and uterine bleeding. As for the external use of funds, they have the following effect:

• whiten age spots on the skin;
• soften the skin of the hands;
• relieve painful sensations as a result of injuries.

Barberry bark is useful for arrhythmias, it normalizes the heart rate.

Properties for women and men

Medicines based on barberry are of particular benefit for women, since they eliminate uterine bleeding. In addition, the fairer sex has a tendency to rapidly gain excess weight. Barberry improves metabolic processes and lipid metabolism, so you can get rid of excess weight.

Due to the fact that the berries have a disinfectant effect on the body, they are used as a component of medicinal preparations for the treatment of prostatitis. Also, the product has a beneficial effect on male potency. In addition, representatives of the stronger sex are more susceptible to various injuries. Barberry helps in this case to get rid of the pain syndrome.

During pregnancy

Women during pregnancy should consume barberry years in small quantities. This is because they contribute to the contraction of the uterus, which can cause premature birth or miscarriage. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is better to use it in the form of compotes, jam or as a spice.

It's important to know! A decoction based on dried berries helps pregnant women relieve an attack of nausea with toxicosis! But fresh fruits do not have this property.

Prescriptions of medicines

Consider the common recipes for the most common ailments:

1. From the pressure. Barberry helps to normalize blood pressure in hypertension. To prepare the medicine, you will need 1 tbsp. l. finely chopped barberry bark, pour 300 ml of purified water into it. Boil over medium heat for 30 minutes. Leave to stand for 2-3 hours. Strain the finished broth, take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals.
2. Diseases of the kidneys, bladder. To prepare the medicine, you will need 2 tbsp. l. finely chopped barberry roots, add 2 cups of purified water to them. Put on low heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Then let stand for about 3 hours. Take a ready-made infusion of 0.5 cups 3 times a day before meals.
3. SARS and other colds. There is no universal remedy for relieving colds. To relieve the symptoms of the disease, you should drink juices, fruit drinks, teas based on fresh or dried barberry berries.
4. Pleurisy, tuberculosis. It will take 1 tbsp. l. chopped barberry roots. Pour them over with 1 glass of water. Boil for 10 minutes. At the end of the time, strain the broth. Take 100 ml 2 times a day.

Also, as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent, you can prepare a tincture based on barberry leaves. This will require 2 tbsp. l. finely chopped leaves and 250 ml of alcohol. Leave to brew in a closed glass container for 1 week. After this time, strain the prepared tincture. Take 20-30 drops 3 times a day. This remedy helps with uterine bleeding in women, as well as with other listed diseases.

Contraindications to use

Despite a significant number of medicinal properties, barberry does not always have a beneficial effect on the body. It should not be used in such situations:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• hepatitis;
• large stones in the gallbladder;
• lactation period;
• severe bleeding during menopause or as a result of miscarriage.

Berries should be eaten with caution during pregnancy. They can provoke premature birth. Also, people with diabetes should not get carried away with barberry fruits, since they significantly reduce the blood glucose level.

In other cases, barberry is well tolerated, has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body, strengthening the immune system.

Barberry is a unique plant, all parts of which are used in medical therapy. About what barberry is useful and what harm it can do to a person, it was well known to our ancestors. Today, even official medicine recognizes this plant as a medicinal plant, and preparations made on its basis are a real magic wand in the fight against many ailments.

Barberry composition

Barberry berries are impressive in their composition:

• tannins and pectin substances;
• carotenoids;
• ash;
• organic acids;
• vitamins C, E, K;
• macro and microelements;
• vitamin C.

Quite a lot of substances useful for human health are located in the roots and leaves of the shrub. They contain about 11 alkaloids, among them berberine, which has medicinal value, predominates. They also contain malic, citric, tartaric acids. The berries of a miracle shrub can boast of a scanty amount of carbohydrates, no more than 7%. The bark of the roots contains coumarin, which is not deprived of healing qualities.

Medicinal properties of the product

In addition to its pleasant appearance, the beneficial properties of barberry are highly valued.

• Even the ancient Greeks used this product as a blood purifier.
• The fruits of the bush are irreplaceable in the fight against colds.
• A decoction of the bark is effective in treating gum disease.
• Berry broth is an excellent means of combating vitamin deficiency.
• Its bactericidal, antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory qualities are highly valued.
• With stagnation of bile, berries are used as a choleretic agent.
• The tool normalizes the activity of the pancreas.
• It has a pronounced diuretic and diaphoretic effect, therefore it is recommended to drink tea based on it with fever and heat.
• It is used for liver pathologies.
• Fruit tea is indispensable for strengthening the walls of the capillaries.
• The tool is able to lower blood pressure.
• A decoction of the fruit is effective for diarrhea and poisoning.
• Means prepared on the basis of bush leaves are effective for diseases of the stomach and intestines.
• Decoctions from the bark contribute to the treatment of diseases of the female reproductive system.

Important! Barberry retains many of its medicinal properties even after heat treatment, which is an important aspect.

How to properly prepare barberry

For any medicinal plant, it is important to properly collect and prepare it. Barberry is no exception.

Fruits should be harvested in late autumn. Only fully ripe berries are suitable for assembly, in which the maximum amount of vitamins and useful components is presented. The collected product is laid out in a thin layer on a baking sheet and placed in the oven. Drying should be started at a minimum temperature of 45 0 Celsius, gradually increasing to 60 0. To determine if the fruit is dry, you need to take a handful of them in your hand. Non-sticky berries are an indicator of their readiness. It is recommended to store dried barberry in a cardboard box in a dry place. For 2 years, all the beneficial qualities of the berries are preserved.

Harvesting the roots of this plant should be done in late autumn. To dry them, they are laid out in a thin layer on cardboard or fabric, placed in the attic or in a dryer.

Dried barberry is popular not only in our traditional medicine, but also in cooking.

The use of barberry

Any part of this unique shrub, be it leaves, root or berries, has certain medicinal qualities. Its fruits are distinguished by a pronounced sour taste. They make excellent compotes, jelly, liqueurs, syrups and even sweets. Marinated barberry, which has a slightly sour taste, goes well with fried vegetables.

The bush leaves are rich in vitamins C and E, carotenoids, mineral salts. Tea is brewed from them or a decoction is prepared. Effective as a hemostatic and choleretic agent.

The bark and roots of the plant are used to prepare decoctions, which are an excellent drug for various ailments. The roots are dried and added to the tea. Both fresh and dried barberry can be used.

Fruit decoction

Application: effective for bronchitis, cough, pneumonia, colds. Excellent choleretic, diaphoretic and diuretic.

Preparation: 2 large tablespoons of barberry fruits are poured into 0.5 liters. water, put on low heat and boil for about 20 minutes. The broth is filtered and boiled water is brought to its original volume. It is recommended to take 50 ml. three times a day.

Decoction of leaves

Application: the remedy relieves an attack of nausea, is used for diarrhea, cramps in the stomach and intestines.

Preparation: the leaves of the plant in the amount of 15 grams are poured with a glass of water, put on the fire and boiled for about 10 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered and boiled water is added to it so that the original amount is returned. Take one tablespoonful four times a day.

Root decoction

Application: in cases of gum disease, it is used to rinse the mouth. Effective as an analgesic and antispasmodic agent. Lotions from a decoction of the root relieve spasms of the muscles of the legs with sciatica and arthritis.

Preparation: a tablespoon of ground barberry root is added to water (400 ml) and put on fire. After the broth has boiled for two minutes, remove it and let it brew for about half an hour. Take the strained broth one tablespoon every hour for diarrhea and intestinal spasms.

Barberry - means for weight loss

Barberry berries are classified as low-calorie and dietary products. They can boast of a low calorie content: 100 grams of raw materials contain only 9.6 kcal. Therefore, barberry for weight loss has become widespread in recent years.

There are a lot of recipes based on these berries and helping to get rid of extra pounds. Their use requires a preliminary study of what harm medicinal berries can cause to the body. Among all the options stand out:

• Barberry for weight loss, tincture recipe.

20 grams of the leaves of this plant are filled with 100 grams of vodka. The resulting mass should be removed for 2 weeks in a dark, cool place. As soon as the allotted time has expired, strain the infusion, remove the leaves. Take a miracle infusion of 25 drops in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening. Continue for 2 weeks.

• Tea made from the fruit or root of the plant.

Barberry for weight loss is effective if consumed as a tea. Preparing such a remedy is simple. 1 teaspoon of crushed dry berries or plant roots is poured into a glass of boiled water. After 10 minutes of infusion, the drink is divided into three parts and drunk during the day after meals.

• Slimming barberry can be prepared as compote. In this case, instead of sugar, you can add a slice of lemon, which will add spice to the drink. The body will receive a low-calorie, but at the same time, nutrient-rich product.

Contraindications for the use of barberry

The benefits of barberry are beyond doubt. However, in some cases, this product should be taken with caution so as not to harm the body. Contraindications to the use of barberry can be noted in the following situations:

1. During pregnancy, it is better to refrain from using this remedy. Irreparable harm can cause the expectant mother to the ability of barberry to stimulate muscle activity. As a result, there is a threat of miscarriage. You should also not eat barberry while breastfeeding.
2. Contraindications to the use of the product can be noted in patients using sedatives. This is because barberry has a powerful sedative effect.
3. Significant harm is expressed when overeating berries or in case of an overdose of drugs prepared on the basis of this plant. Dizziness, nausea, seizures, epistaxis, kidney failure, etc. may result.
4. Barberry can cause significant harm to human health with its ability to lower blood sugar levels, so you need to be careful with diabetes mellitus.
5. The product is not recommended for use by children under 12 years of age.
6. Unripe berries can also cause considerable harm to the body. They contain poisonous compounds that can cause intoxication, expressed by vomiting, diarrhea.
7. Contraindications for use are people suffering from complex forms of hepatitis, gallstone disease, cirrhosis of the liver.

Important! When treating with barberry (especially with a decoction from the bark), one should take into account the specific toxicity of berberine, especially in relation to liver cells. Therefore, when carrying out treatment, it is imperative to coordinate all your steps with the doctor.

In any case, before starting such a treatment, it is necessary to measure the possible harm and benefit to the body, find out what contraindications exist and only then make a decision.

Knowing the medicinal properties and contraindications of barberry, you can start therapy. However, it should be remembered that large doses are dangerous to the human body, and the treatment should not last more than one month.

Some symptoms of the appearance:

• excessive sweating;
• weakening of the immune system, frequent colds;
• weakness, fatigue;
• nervous state, depression;
• headaches and migraines;
• alternating diarrhea and constipation;
• want sweet and sour;
• bad breath;
• frequent feeling of hunger;
• weight loss problems;
• decreased appetite;
• night grinding of teeth, drooling;
• pain in the abdomen, joints, muscles;
• the cough does not go away;
• acne on the skin.

If you have any of the symptoms or doubt the causes of the ailments, you need to cleanse your body as soon as possible. How to do it .

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