Why is red elderberry useful and how to use it correctly

Description and distribution of red elderberry

A shrub from the Adoksovye family grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including central Russia and China. Most often, a wild tree is found on wastelands, forest outskirts or in ravines.

According to the botanical description, the plant reaches a height of five meters, the trunk is highly branched, the shoots are densely leafy, covered with gray-brown bark. Leaf plates are ovoid, 5-10 cm long, with jagged edges. The color is rich grassy, ​​sometimes with a burgundy-purple tint.

During flowering, which occurs in the last spring days, the bush is covered with small white-yellow flowers with a sharp specific aroma. In the middle of summer, small red berries form in place of the inflorescences. Due to the high content of anthocyanins, the fruits are not very pleasant to the taste, but they are quite edible.

Chemical composition

Despite the presence of a poisonous component, red elderberry is rich in many beneficial substances. Although the chemical composition has not yet been fully understood, botany already knows the main components:

• flavonoids;
• vitamins of group B, A, P;
• ascorbic acid;
• fructose;
• glucose;
• phytosterol;
• fixed oils;
• organic acids;
• micro- and macroelements (Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Se, Zn, P, Na, Ca);
• tannins;
• essential oils.

The nutritional value

The berries of a tree-like shrub are low in calories, and therefore they can be consumed even by people who are watching their weight. The nutritional value of 100 g of the product is approximately 75 kcal. 100 grams contains:

• proteins - 0.5 g;
• fat - 0.6 g;
• carbohydrates - 11 g.

Useful and medicinal properties

Traditional medicine uses all parts of the red elderberry, including the root of the plant. The healing shrub has the following properties:

• eliminates constipation;
• knocks down high fever;
• disinfects;
• removes excess fluid from the body;
• liquefies phlegm;
• relieves pain syndromes;
• relieves inflammation;
• removes toxins and toxins.

Regular dosed use normalizes metabolism, prevents the development of diabetes mellitus, normalizes sugar levels in the body. Also, elderberry has a beneficial effect on the skin, has a tonic effect and slows down the aging process.

Video "Useful properties of red elderberry"

This video shows you how to use a medicinal plant.

When to collect and how to store

An unripe elderberry contains a large amount of hydrocyanic acid, which increases the risk of serious poisoning. That is why you need to strictly adhere to the collection deadlines.

The bark begins to be cut in mid-spring, when the buds have already formed. Two-year-old shrubs are best suited for this. The collected raw materials are dried in the usual way and then crushed or stored intact.

The inflorescences are harvested only when all the buds are fully open. Having cut off the fragrant brushes, they are dried in the sun, and then the pedicels must be removed. Dry elder flowers are stored for two years, wrapped in paper.

The leaves, together with the berries, are harvested in the last days of May and stored for no more than 6-12 months. Fruits, as a rule, are plucked with whole brushes, which are then hung by the stalk to dry. Then the root is dug up. Before drying, it is thoroughly washed with water, and the bark is also removed. Powdered raw materials are suitable for five years.

The use of elderberry for various diseases

Traditional medicine does not recognize the red elderberry as a medicinal plant, however, herbalists have a different opinion. They use medicinal shrubs for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. We will discuss in detail the recipes for various diagnoses further.

For colds and headaches

Two tsp. dry flowers are steamed with a glass of boiling water. Cover with a lid, and then let it brew for a quarter of an hour. The infusion is drunk slightly warmed up in 100 ml immediately after waking up and before going to bed in small sips.

With bronchitis

A tablespoon of dried bark is ground to a powdery state. Steamed 300 ml of boiling water, and then leave to infuse for a couple of hours. After the time has elapsed, filter the infusion through cheesecloth and drink ½ cup three times a day before each meal.

For the oral cavity

Pour two teaspoons of dry elderberry with a glass of boiling water and cook for no more than 5 minutes on low heat. The broth, cooled to room temperature, is used to rinse the mouth for any inflammation of the mucous membrane.

With peptic ulcer

2 tsp dried fruits are steamed with three liters of boiling water. Let it brew for a couple of hours, after which the liquid is drained. The infusion is consumed ½ cup three times a day, before each meal. It is recommended to eat a spoonful of butter immediately after drinking.

With oncology

Dry berries are poured into a three-liter container on two fingers. The same amount of sugar is poured on top. Having tightly corked the jar, store it for a month away from sunlight. When the fruits let the juice go, and the sugar is completely dissolved, take the berry mass in 1 tbsp. l. three times a day for 45 days.

With menopause

A tablespoon of dry elderberry is poured into 100 ml of purified alcohol. The tincture is kept for 14 days in a dark place, shaking occasionally. After the time has elapsed, the agent is drained and taken before each meal, counting 30 drops.

From spurs

Ripe fruits are placed in a liter container together with purified alcohol, adhering to a 1: 3 ratio. After mixing the two components, the closed jar is stored for a month under room conditions. Compresses are applied to the sore spot in the morning and in the evening.

Elderberry red in cosmetology

The medicinal shrub is very popular among women who want to keep their youth and healthy complexion longer. For problem skin, a lotion is prepared from dry inflorescences: 5-6 tablespoons of raw materials are steamed for a quarter of an hour with a glass of boiling water, and then filtered through cheesecloth. Wash with infusion should be twice a day for two weeks.

You can lighten your face using the following tool: 60 g of dry inflorescences, filled with 0.5 liters of boiling water, insist for a quarter of an hour, and then boil for no more than 10 minutes. With a drained chilled tonic, wipe the skin in the morning and in the evening.

An elderberry mask will help you freshen up after a hard day. Dry raw materials are diluted with boiling water to a mushy state. Evenly distributing the mixture on gauze, apply it to the skin of the face. After 20 minutes, gently wash off with water.

Dry fruits in combination with leaves effectively inhibit the aging process. The raw materials twisted in a meat grinder are combined with fat sour cream, adhering to a 1: 1 ratio. Apply the mask evenly, leave it for 20 minutes, then wash with warm water.

Using the plant in everyday life

The red elderberry, which grows from North America to Japan, can be safely called a universal culture. In addition to traditional medicine and cosmetology, it is actively used in everyday life and in other areas, for example:

• its specific smell scares away rodents;
• the high acid content makes the plant an effective cleaning agent;
• industrial oil is produced from seeds;
• leaves are used to prepare paint;
• fruits are widely used in alcohol production;
• wood is a good insulating material.

The shrub has a decorative appearance, and therefore is often used by landscape designers to decorate parks, squares or gardens.

Harm and contraindications for use

The main danger lurking in the red elderberry is the amygdalin substance, which can be converted into hydrocyanic acid. However, if you do not abuse funds based on this plant, observe all dosages and properly harvest raw materials, it will not harm the body.

Contraindications for use relate to only a few categories:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• children under 12 years old;
• people with individual intolerance to the chemical components of elderberry.

Poisonous from the point of view of botany, red elderberry is an excellent healing remedy for many diseases. Like any medicine, for a positive effect, it must be taken in strict accordance with the dosage.