The benefits and harms of blackthorns (thorns) for human health

The beneficial properties of the blackthorn berry are in demand in the treatment of digestive, colds and inflammatory diseases. Traditional medicine offers recipes for not only effective but also delicious medicines.

What it looks like and where it grows

Thorn, prickly plum or blackthorn is a shrub from the Rose family that can grow up to 5 m in height. Forms dense and impassable thickets, the shoots of the plant are abundantly covered with sharp thorns. Blackthorn wood is valued in production because it has a high margin of safety. The leaves of the shrub are elliptical or ovoid, with a jagged edge.

In April and May, even before the leaves bloom, the plant begins to bloom profusely with small white buds that attract bees. Closer to September, it bears fruit, in the photo of healthy thorn berries it can be seen that they are round, dark blue with a waxy bloom. They taste sour and tart.

The thorns are like small plums

The prickly plum is widespread in Europe; it can be found in Asia Minor, Tatarstan and Iran, in mountainous regions. In Russia, the thorn is common throughout the central part of the country. Most often, the plant chooses for growing the steppe and forest-steppe, forest edges, river banks and roadsides.

The chemical composition of blackthorn

Although blackthorn fruits do not have a delicious taste, traditional medicine appreciates them for their rich chemical composition. The berries contain:

• fructose and sucrose;
• organic acids;
• essential oils;
• ascorbic acid and vitamin A;
• pectin and glucose;
• vitamins B1 and B2;
• tocopherol;
• potassium, manganese and iron;
• vitamin PP;
• tannins;
• calcium and chromium;
• cobalt, zinc, iodine and sodium.

There are only 54 calories in 100 g of blackthorn berries. Treatments and desserts made from prickly plum are considered dietary products and do not lead to weight gain.

What heals and how is thorn useful for the human body

Fresh and dried blackthorn berries are of great benefit to the body. When taken in small dosages, they:

• improve the intestinal microflora and promote proper digestion;
• help to cope with flatulence;
• cleanse the body of toxins and toxic substances;
• have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and eliminate insomnia;
• help fight nausea;
• contribute to getting rid of excess weight;
• strengthen the walls of blood vessels and reduce the risk of developing heart disease;
• normalize blood pressure;
• lower cholesterol levels;
• have a positive effect on immunity.

Blackthorn berries can be used in the treatment of kidney and liver diseases. Funds based on them reduce bleeding gums and help with inflammation of the oral cavity.

Useful properties of blackthorn berries for women

Blackthorn berries are high in carotene and anthocyanins and provide preventive protection against breast cancer. Eating fruit-based desserts is useful for losing weight, they not only do not lead to weight gain, but also help cleanse the body of toxins.

The useful properties of the garden sloe are used in the treatment of urinary infections, cystitis and candidiasis, and are used to eliminate edema. Berry-based remedies can help relieve PMS symptoms and make painful periods easier.

In the absence of allergies, thorn can be consumed, including during pregnancy. Berries will have a calming effect, help to cope with toxicosis and raise immunity. When breastfeeding, prickly plum compensates for the lack of hemoglobin in a woman and promotes a quick recovery after childbirth.

After childbirth, blackthorn berries can help relieve constipation

What is useful for men

The anti-inflammatory properties of blackthorn are especially beneficial for men. The berries of the plant serve as the prevention of prostatitis, help to quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of urogenital infections. It is possible to use infusions and decoctions based on thorn fruits with increased pressure and weakened vessels, the funds will help prevent the development of strokes and heart attacks.

You can use a decoction of prickly plum berries for a hangover. The drink will remove toxic substances from the body and restore the normal water-salt balance.

Benefits for children

The prickly plum is often used for diarrhea in children, the berries have strong astringent properties and have a fixing effect. Also, infusions and decoctions of blackthorn help with angina and bronchitis, they relieve inflammation and promote the discharge of phlegm. In adolescence, natural drinks can be used to treat boils and acne.

For the first time, it is possible to offer blackthorn berries to a baby from one year old. But before that you need to make sure that he does not suffer from an allergy to the product.

The healing properties of thorn flowers

The healing properties and contraindications of thorns are manifested not only in the fruits of the prickly plum, but also in the flowers. Infusions based on them help cleanse the blood and remove toxins from the body, have a diuretic and diaphoretic effect. Herbal remedies can be used to treat neuralgia and restore the liver, to normalize metabolism.

Benefits of thorn leaves

Fresh and dried prickly plum leaves are high in flavonoids, antioxidants and organic acids. It is useful to use raw materials for any inflammatory processes in the body, from colds to skin irritations. It is possible to use decoctions of thorn leaves both internally and externally for lotions and rubbing.

Thorn leaf remedies are used to gargle with coughs and sore throats.

Useful properties of blackthorn jam

The beneficial properties of sloe berries are often used in recipes to make homemade jam. The algorithm looks like this:

• 1.5 kg of sugar is poured into 1.5 liters of water and a simple sweet syrup is made;
• add 1 kg of pitted berries to the solution;
• re-bring to a boil and remove from heat;
• after cooling down, put on fire again, boil for three minutes and cool;
• repeat the procedure for the last time and pour the treat into sterile jars.

The product is beneficial for colds, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and helps with stomach disorders.

Eating thorn jam is useful during autumn colds to strengthen immunity.

Benefits of thorn compote

For long-term storage, the fruits of thorns can be processed and made into a useful compote. They do it like this:

• 300 g of washed berries and 1/2 a small spoonful of citric acid are poured into 2 liters of water;
• after boiling, add 100 g of sugar;
• boil the mixture for another 25 minutes;
• filtered and poured into jars while warm.

You can use thorn compote for colds and as a diuretic to eliminate edema. Also, the drink can be beneficial on the diet. But in this case, you need to cook it without sugar or with a minimum amount of sweetener, otherwise the product will turn out to be too high in calories.

You can store blackthorn compote in a rolled up jar for more than two years

What are the benefits of roots, bark, wood

Traditional medicine focuses on the properties and uses of thorn wood, roots and bark. Funds based on them help well at elevated temperatures. You can also use decoctions from wood parts to relieve inflammation and pain in the joints, the raw material contains a large amount of ascorbic acid and tannins.

Preparation and application methods

In addition to healthy desserts, traditional medicine suggests preparing simple medicines from the berries, leaves and roots of thorns. They are suitable for making water and alcohol home preparations.

Tincture

For colds and nervous disorders, thorns tincture, which is prepared from fresh washed berries, is beneficial. The recipe looks like this:

• 1 kg of fruit is poured into a glass container;
• add 300 g of sugar;
• put gauze on the neck of the jar and put it in a warm and well-lit place for three days;
• at the end of the period, vodka is poured into the container so that it completely covers the berries;
• stir and cover the jar with a lid;
• removed to a dark place for infusion for two weeks.

Shake the jar daily for the first seven days. The prepared sloe berry product is passed through cheesecloth for filtration and the drink is consumed three times a day, 30 ml each.

Before preparing the blackthorn infusion, the seeds must be removed

Infusion

In case of chronic ailments of the kidneys and liver, an aqueous infusion of prickly plum has a good effect. Prepare it as follows:

• mix the fruits, leaves and flowers of the plant;
• measure out two large spoons of raw materials and pour a glass of hot water;
• insist throughout the night;
• filtered through cheesecloth.

You need to use an infusion based on thorns, 80 ml three times a day, preferably on an empty stomach.

Infusion of berries and thorn leaves has diuretic properties

Decoction

At elevated temperatures and inflammations, thorn root is used, a medicinal decoction is made from it. Traditional medicine offers the following recipe:

• dried roots are ground in a volume of 5 g;
• pour a glass of boiling water;
• boil over medium heat for half an hour;
• keep the product under the lid for three hours and filter.

Take a decoction of thorns up to three times a day on an empty stomach, 80 ml.

A decoction of blackthorn root can be used for douching for gynecological inflammations in women

Application in traditional medicine

In home medicine, decoctions and infusions of prickly plums are used to combat inflammation and high blood pressure. There are several recipes with proven effectiveness.

Decoction for pancreatitis

In chronic disorders in the work of the pancreas, the following remedy has a good effect:

• two large tablespoons of blackthorn berries pour 1 liter of boiling water;
• simmer for ten minutes on low heat;
• filter and cool until warm.

You need to consume the broth in half a glass four times a day on an empty stomach. The remedy also brings benefits for cystitis, gout and bronchitis.

Infusion for hypertension

With increased pressure, an infusion on thorn flowers helps well. They do it like this:

• three large spoons of raw materials pour 300 ml of hot water;
• stand for half an hour;
• pass the drink through cheesecloth.

You need to take an infusion of 70 ml twice a day. If the pressure jumped suddenly, it is also allowed to immediately drink the remedy.

Infusion for liver diseases

With liver ailments and renal inflammation, this drink helps well:

• two large tablespoons of leaves and flowers of prickly plum are poured with a glass of boiling water;
• leave to infuse for ten hours;
• filtered through folded gauze.

You need to use the product three times a day, 50 ml. The infusion is also suitable for wiping the skin with acne and dermatitis.

Cooking applications

Blackthorn berries are rarely consumed in their pure form, since they taste sour and tart. But in cooking, they are used very widely. They are used to prepare compotes and jelly, liqueurs and homemade wines, jams and preserves.

Blackthorn berries are added to sweet baked goods as a filling.

The fruits of prickly plums are allowed to soak like apples, in which case they become more pleasant to the taste. Fresh or dried berries in their entirety can be put into regular black tea - the aroma and taste of the drink will only become richer from this.

The benefits and harms of thorn wine

Homemade blackthorn wine is very popular - sweet, moderately tart and slightly sour. It is prepared from dried berries and sugar. It takes about three months to create a drink, this is the minimum time during which homemade wine must be aged after active fermentation. But the finished product has numerous medicinal properties and is of great benefit in home use.

It is possible to use thorn wine with a weakened immune system and with a cold, for expectoration when coughing. The drink improves metabolism and blood composition, strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Blackthorn wine soothes nerves and helps normalize sleep

At the same time, it is necessary to remember about small dosages of blackthorn wine, it should be consumed in a volume of no more than 50 ml per day and no more than once a week. It is forbidden to use the drink during pregnancy, lactation and severe liver and kidney diseases, as well as with a tendency to alcoholism or allergy to alcohol.

Contraindications

The health benefits and harms of thorns are not the same for everyone. You cannot use products based on berries and other parts of the plant:

• with stomach ulcers, gastritis and pancreatitis in acute form;
• with increased acidity and frequent heartburn;
• with individual allergies;
• with a tendency to constipation.

Drinking infusions and decoctions of prickly plums is undesirable in a state of severe hunger. Organic acids in medicinal products can irritate the stomach.

Collection and procurement

The timing of the collection of raw materials depends on which parts of the thorn are to be used for medicinal purposes. The berries of the plant are harvested in the fall, shortly before the first frost, when they are fully ripe and acquire the best taste. The bark is harvested in early spring before active vegetation, the buds during the flowering period, and the leaves and shoots in June. The roots should be dug up in the fall, when they accumulate the maximum of nutrients.

For long-term storage, it is customary to dry any parts of the blackthorn in the fresh air. The prickly plum can also be frozen at very low temperatures.

To dry sloe berries, you can use an oven preheated to 40-50 ° C

Keep dried raw materials in a dark and dry place away from the sun, in glass containers or paper bags. Valuable substances in the bark, flowers, berries and other parts of the plant are stored for three years.

Conclusion

The beneficial properties of blackthorn berries are widely used in traditional medicine. From prickly plums, you can prepare not only infusions and decoctions, but also sweet medicines - compotes and jams. When using any of the funds, you should observe small dosages and adhere to the recommended recipe regimens.