Content
- 1 What it looks like and where it grows
- 2 Chemical composition
- 3 Why are blueberry leaves useful?
- 4 Preparation and application methods
- 5 Application in traditional medicine
- 6 Application in cosmetology
- 7 Cooking applications
- 8 Contraindications to the use of blueberry leaves
- 9 Collection and procurement
- 10 Conclusion
The medicinal properties of blueberry leaves and contraindications are important in traditional medicine. Products based on raw materials improve health and help fight ailments.
What it looks like and where it grows
Blueberry is a low-growing plant from the Heather family. Shoots depart from the main stem at an acute angle, the leaves of the grass are ovoid, leathery, serrate at the edge and pointed at the top, light green in color. In May, the plant bears greenish-white single flowers, and in the middle of summer it produces sweetish-sour black or dark blue berries with a waxy bloom.
Blueberries are native to the entire Northern Hemisphere. In Russia, it can be found mainly in the Central region and in the north, in forests and swampy areas.
Chemical composition
Traditional medicine appreciates not only the fruits of blueberries, but also its leaves. They contain:
- vitamins C and A;
- potassium, calcium and zinc;
- B vitamins;
- cobalt and manganese;
- oxalic, quinic, resinous and ursolic acids;
- vitamin PP;
- anthocyanins;
- carotenoids and flavonoids;
- essential oils;
- tannins and resins;
- arbutin.
Medicines based on blueberries, when used correctly, strengthen the immune system, relieve inflammation and relieve pain.
Why are blueberry leaves useful?
Blueberry leaf plates are prized in folk medicine for several major properties. Properly prepared raw materials:
- has a bactericidal effect and fights inflammatory processes;
- normalizes blood glucose levels;
- acts as a natural diuretic;
- helps with kidney and urinary tract diseases;
- disinfects wounds and burns;
- improves condition in case of digestive disorders;
- strengthens vision and protects the eyes from inflammatory diseases.
Blueberry leaves can be used as a cure for colds, both for the treatment of ARVI and influenza, and for prevention.
What are useful for women
Black blueberry leaves are useful for the female body in the treatment of thrush and gynecological infections. It is possible to use infusions and teas based on raw materials with heavy periods and during menopause. Blueberries improve the general condition, mitigate the negative effects of blood loss, and reduce the frequency of hot flashes during menopause.
You can drink herbal tea during pregnancy. In this case, blueberries will help replenish the supply of vitamins and minerals, strengthen the immune system and have a beneficial effect on the developing fetus. The plant relieves toxicosis well and relieves puffiness.
Benefits for men
Blueberry leaves are high in flavonoids that are important for the healthy functioning of the male reproductive system. Regular consumption of teas and infusions has a beneficial effect on potency and helps prevent a weakening of libido.
In addition, blueberry leaves are good for fatigue, tension and muscle pain. It is useful to use them for men engaged in heavy physical work.
Benefits for children
The benefits of blueberry leaves for the human body are manifested in the treatment of children's colds. Tea based on natural raw materials strengthens the immune system during seasonal illness, as well as calms the nervous system and increases brain activity.
At the same time, for the first time, medicines can be offered to a baby no earlier than four years. At an earlier age, there is a high likelihood of developing allergies.
Medicinal properties of blueberry leaves for diabetes
Blueberry leaves contain the valuable anthocyanin myrtillin, a substance that lowers the concentration of sugar in the blood. Plant-based teas and decoctions increase the body's insulin sensitivity. Drinks speed up metabolism and prevent the development of complications due to the disease.
In diabetes, such a decoction is especially beneficial:
- 20 g of blueberry leaves are mixed with the same amount of fresh nettle;
- add 30 g of dandelion herb;
- the collection is poured over 250 ml of boiling water and kept for 15 minutes.
The filtered agent is consumed up to three times a day, a large spoonful. Taking a decoction should be combined with medications, and you can start treatment only with the permission of a doctor.
Why is blueberry leaf tea useful?
Blueberry leaf tea has a beneficial effect on poor bowel function and hyperacid gastritis. You can use it with high cholesterol and disorders of the cardiovascular system, as a diuretic and in inflammatory processes.
Useful properties of a decoction of blueberry leaves
The concentrated broth on the leaves contains a lot of antioxidants. Taking it is especially useful for strengthening the heart and blood vessels. The drink prevents the development of atherosclerosis and protects against heart attack. The broth has a good effect on urogenital inflammation, removes toxins and toxins from the body.
Preparation and application methods
Traditional medicine offers several recipes for medicines made from blueberry leaves. Any of them is easy to prepare yourself at home.
Blueberry leaf tea
Classic blueberry tea is prepared according to a simple recipe:
- six fresh or dried leaf plates are placed in the teapot;
- pour 300 ml of hot water;
- insist for 15 minutes and filter through a fine sieve.
If desired, you can also add a handful of fresh plant berries to the tea. To improve the taste of the drink, it is allowed to add a spoonful of natural honey to it.
Infusion
Infusion on blueberry leaves is of great benefit for anemia and vitamin deficiency. They do it like this:
- pour 70 g of dry raw materials with 500 ml of boiling water;
- cover the container with a lid;
- keep the agent for one and a half hours;
- passed through cheesecloth to remove sediment.
You can drink the infusion three times a day, a single dosage is 30 ml.
Blueberry leaf decoction
A strong decoction of blueberry leaves has analgesic properties, improves brain activity and helps with nervous disorders. Prepare it like this:
- 40 g of dry raw materials are poured into 150 ml of liquid;
- for 20 minutes evaporated in a water bath;
- removed from the stove and kept under the lid for ten minutes;
- passed through folded gauze.
The finished product is consumed in 30 ml on an empty stomach.
Other uses
From the leaves, you can prepare not only water, but also alcoholic medicines. The tincture recipe is popular:
- about 40 fresh blueberry leaves are mixed with five young twigs;
- pour 1 liter of water along with a cinnamon stick;
- add chopped lemon and orange zest obtained from fresh fruits;
- boil ten minutes after boiling;
- add 1.5 kg of sugar to the ingredients and heat with constant stirring until completely dissolved;
- pour the sweet liquid into a glass container and pour 1.7 liters of vodka.
In a closed form, the tincture is placed in a dark place for two months, after which it is filtered and left under the lid for another month. You can use the ready-made product on a large spoon up to three times a day for colds, decreased appetite.
Fresh or dried blueberry leaves can be used to make a homemade ointment. They do it like this:
- a handful of plant materials are ground by hand or in a blender to the state of gruel;
- mixed with a small amount of petroleum jelly to obtain a thick product;
- put in the refrigerator for several hours to solidify.
Homemade ointment can be used to treat irritation and damage to the skin.
Application in traditional medicine
There are many effective blueberry leaf remedies. Several of them are especially popular.
With eye diseases
Blueberry leaves, like the berries of the plant, are an excellent preventive measure against eye diseases. Substances in the composition of raw materials stimulate retinal blood circulation and prevent the development of degenerative processes.
With eye fatigue, burning sensation and irritation, this infusion helps:
- a large spoonful of dry leaves is crushed;
- pour 250 ml of hot water;
- kept under the lid for 40 minutes;
- passed through cheesecloth.
You need to take the infusion three times a day, 50 ml.
With periodontal disease
With periodontal disease, infusion on blueberry leaves helps, it has an antiseptic effect and relieves pain. Prepare the tool like this:
- half a glass of dry raw materials is poured into a thermos;
- pour 750 ml of boiling water;
- incubated for 20 minutes and filtered.
Use the infusion for rinsing up to five times a day. In total, procedures continue for a week.
With candidiasis
A decoction of blueberry leaves is used for douching for thrush. The remedy is prepared according to the following recipe:
- 50 g of dry leaves are poured into 500 ml of boiling water;
- insist the remedy until the grass completely settles to the bottom of the container;
- filtered.
Douching can be done up to five times a day. The broth will help quickly relieve inflammation and eliminate unpleasant itching.
With pancreatitis
In chronic pancreatitis, a decoction of blueberry leaves improves bile production and accelerates the breakdown of fats. The drug is made as follows:
- 20 g of dry leaves are mixed with three large spoons of blueberries;
- pour 400 ml of boiling water;
- leave under the lid for four hours.
The finished product must be passed through cheesecloth. It is necessary to drink the infusion on an empty stomach three times a day.
With diarrhea
Blueberry leaves have anchoring properties. For diarrhea, the following decoction is beneficial:
- 50 g of dry leaves are mixed with 20 g of plant berries;
- languish for half an hour over low heat;
- passed through cheesecloth and cooled.
The broth can be drunk up to five times a day, warm or cold.
Application in cosmetology
The beneficial properties and contraindications of the blueberry leaf are used in home cosmetology. Raw materials contain a large amount of antioxidants and have a very beneficial effect on the epidermis and hair. Infusions and decoctions are used for washing and rinsing curls, to combat acne and excessive oily skin. Leaves can be used with dry and flabby epidermis to restore cellular metabolism.
Mask for dry skin
For dry skin prone to irritation, you can use the following mask:
- four blueberry leaves are boiled in boiling water for two hours, and then filtered;
- grind ten berries of the plant with a spoon or mortar;
- pour the gruel with two large spoons of infusion and add egg yolk;
- three drops of wheat germ oil are introduced.
The components are mixed well and the mask is distributed over the skin for 15 minutes. The procedure must be repeated at least once every ten days.
Rinse for oily hair
Blueberry leaves can help reduce scalp oiliness and dandruff. For rinsing, prepare the following tool:
- 40 g of blueberry raw materials are mixed with 30 g of dry sage;
- add 10 g dry nettle, 20 g mint and 15 g rosemary;
- pour herbs with a glass of wine vinegar;
- insist under the lid for two weeks.
The finished rinse aid is filtered and diluted with clean water in a 1: 2 ratio. Use the product after shampooing no more than three times a week.
Cooking applications
Basically, blueberry leaves are used in cooking to prepare hot and cold teas. Plant materials are often brewed in combination with other ingredients such as raspberries, currants or mint.
Blueberry leaves can be added as a decoration to desserts, cocktails, and salads. They give the dishes a delicate and pleasant berry aroma.
Contraindications to the use of blueberry leaves
The health benefits and harms of blueberry leaves are not always straightforward. Herbal raw materials have some contraindications, which include:
- cholelithiasis;
- stomach ulcer and gastritis in acute condition;
- cholecystitis;
- poor blood clotting;
- a tendency to constipation;
- individual allergy.
Since plant materials contain many organic acids and essential oils, tea and leaf-based teas should be consumed in strict accordance with recipes. If the dosage is exceeded, side effects such as nausea, upset stomach, dizziness and migraine may develop.
Collection and procurement
You can harvest blueberry leaves from mid-May to early fall. In spring they contain more vitamins and minerals, and by September the raw materials accumulate the maximum amount of tannins. For collection, they choose dry and sunny weather without rain, the leaves are carefully cut from the bushes with scissors, with spring harvesting - along with young shoots.
Before harvesting, parts of the plant are poured with cold water and left for several minutes to remove all dust, dirt and insect debris from them. Then the raw materials are dried from moisture on a paper towel, after which they are laid out on a baking sheet and taken out into the fresh air under a canopy.
Dry leaves are laid out in paper bags or glass jars and put away in a dark place.The beneficial properties of blueberry raw materials are preserved for two years.
Conclusion
The medicinal properties of blueberry leaves and contraindications accompany each other. Herbal raw materials are used for inflammatory ailments, digestive disorders and edema. In this case, the dosage must be carefully observed and not exceed the volumes recommended by the recipes.
