Content
- 1 What does dogwood look like and where does it grow?
- 2 Composition and calorie content of dogwood
- 3 What is useful dogwood for the body
- 4 Is it possible to dogwood during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- 5 At what age can dogwood be given to children
- 6 Useful properties of dogwood leaves and root
- 7 Are dogwood seeds good for you?
- 8 Why is dogwood juice useful?
- 9 The use of dogwood for medicinal purposes
- 10 Features of the use of dogwood in diabetes
- 11 The benefits of dogwood for weight loss
- 12 The benefits of dogwood jam and compote
- 13 The benefits of dried (dried) dogwood
- 14 Dogwood harm and contraindications
- 15 Collection and storage of dogwood
- 16 Conclusion
- 17 Reviews
The benefits and harms of dogwood have long been known and are used in folk medicine to treat disorders of the digestive system, as well as to fight colds. Despite the fact that this plant has been cultivated in our latitudes for more than one hundred years, its popularity is not too high. And this is to some extent unfair, since the beneficial properties of the plant more than cover the negative consequences of its use.
What does dogwood look like and where does it grow
Translated from the Turkic name of the plant means "red". Ripe fruits have a pronounced deep red color, which is reflected in its name.
This culture is a tall (up to 5 m) shrub with several large stems and a fibrous root system. The leaves of the plant are oval and slightly tapered at the ends. Their size reaches 8 cm. The shape and size of the berries are very diverse. The average weight of a berry is in the range of 6-8 g. It is a drupe with juicy pulp and an elongated stone.
The plant grows wild in the Caucasus and Asia Minor, and its cultivated forms occupy vast territories from Germany to the Urals. It can be found both on the Adriatic coast and near St. Petersburg.
Composition and calorie content of dogwood
100 g of dogwood contains vitamins C in an amount of 25-150 mg (depending on the variety) and PP - 166 μg. The list of vitamins is small, however, this is more than paid off by their total mass.
In terms of vitamin C content, dogwood is superior to plants such as lemon and currant and is the absolute leader of the plant kingdom in the content of this vitamin. This immediately displays it in medicinal plants, which simply must be on the site.
The mineral composition of 100 g of berries is represented by the following trace elements:
- potassium - 363 mg;
- calcium - 58 mg;
- phosphorus - 34 mg;
- sodium - 32 mg;
- magnesium - 26 mg;
- iron - 4 mg.
The berries contain about 17% of the sugars, represented by glucose and fructose. The latter is slightly larger, since the glycemic index of dogwood is relatively low. Its value is 25, which is a relatively low value among sugar-containing plants.
Also, the berries contain a total of about 2 g of acids:
- amber;
- apple;
- lemon.
Dogwood is rich in flavonoids, tannins and phytoncides.
The calorie content of 100 g of berries is 40.4 kcal. In this case, the energy value of the product looks like this:
- proteins - 1%
- fats - 0%;
- carbohydrates - 9.8%.
The amount of water in the berries is 85 to 87%.
What is useful dogwood for the body
The use of dogwood for the human body lies in its chemical composition. The first thing that immediately catches the eye is the high concentration of vitamin C in berries. The role of ascorbic acid for the human body can hardly be overestimated.
Its main role is to ensure the normal functioning of the connective tissue, as well as bone tissue. In addition, this acid acts as a regulator of certain metabolic processes and is an antioxidant. An important positive property of dogwood is that 100 grams of it contains a daily dose of ascorbic acid.
The presence of this substance immediately suggests the use of dogwood in any form for the treatment and prevention of colds.
Dogwood berries are used as an adjuvant therapy for gastritis. They are also used in the prevention of this disease.
In various forms, dogwood is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The phytoncides contained in the pulp of berries and seeds have a strong antibacterial effect and are used for infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The benefits of dried dogwood for the body is to help fight anemia. This use of berries is due to their high iron content.
The fruits of the plant help relieve joint pain. There is a positive effect of a decoction of berries for rheumatism and arthritis. This is largely due to the property of berries to bind and remove oxalic acid from the body.
The plant has a mild choleretic and diuretic effect, as well as anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it possible to use it in case of kidney and liver diseases.
The pectins contained in berries accelerate the processes of metabolism and purification in general.
The plant's antioxidant properties determine its use as a prophylaxis against cancer.
For women
The benefits of dogwood for a woman's body are primarily in its positive effect on the circulatory system. Consuming dogwood stimulates the production of red blood cells and helps a woman cope with the effects of menstruation.
Another beneficial property of the plant is its stimulating activity, which helps with depression, which women are more susceptible to than men.
For men
Cornel will be useful for men, as it tones up the nervous and muscular systems of the body, which helps to recover from various loads and stresses.
For those working in industries associated with harmful conditions, the berry will be useful, since it allows you to remove various harmful substances and toxins from the body.
In addition, the use of berries normalizes the genitourinary system and increases potency.
Is it possible to dogwood during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The benefits of dogwood for the health of pregnant women are not only in supplying the body of the mother and child with vitamin C and iron. One of the important properties of the plant is the inhibition of the pregnancy failure process. Therefore, it is recommended to always have a stock of berries of this plant on hand during pregnancy, either raw or dried.
When breastfeeding, the main beneficial properties of berries are manifested in the removal of excess fluid from the mother's body, as well as in the fight against anemia.
The only thing not to do is to consume berries before bed because of their strong tonic effect.
At what age can dogwood be given to children
Nutritionists recommend giving children dogwood in various forms starting from about 18 months. In case of allergic reactions, you can try to give it a little later - from two years old.
Cornel helps fight childhood diarrhea and normalizes metabolic processes in the child's body. The best shape for children would be jellymade from berries.
Cornel contains many active substances, so its use by children should be combined with constant monitoring of their condition and carried out only after consultation with a pediatrician or doctor.
Useful properties of dogwood leaves and root
Dogwood leaves and roots contain a higher concentration of vitamins E and C, as well as tannins, than its berries. Therefore, their use will be especially useful in the treatment and prevention of colds, as well as in solving problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Mostly a decoction of the leaves is used as a choleretic and diuretic. It is also used for headaches by making lotions that are placed on the forehead.
A decoction from the root of the plant is used to prevent rheumatism.
Are dogwood seeds good for you?
Cornel seeds contain the same substances as berries, only in a lower concentration. Therefore, they are used in cases where "shock" doses of certain plant components are undesirable.
But in the application of recipes, you must always adhere to common sense.
Why is dogwood juice useful?
The use of dogwood juice lies in the high content of vitamin C. Due to this, it is used as an anti-cold and immunostimulating agent.
The drink has a strong tonic and invigorating effect.
It is recommended for people with low gastric acidity.
The use of dogwood for medicinal purposes
The useful properties of dogwood have become known thanks to traditional medicine. There are many recipes for using the plant for medicinal purposes. Consider the most popular folk ways to use dogwood.
With diarrhea
A decoction is used. Take 2 tbsp. l. dried fruits and pour 200 ml of boiling water and boil for another half hour. Then filter and add up to 200 ml. The product should be taken 3 times a day in equal portions before meals.
An alternative is to use a decoction from the leaves, the beneficial properties of which are no worse than those of the berry remedy. For this, 5 tbsp. l. Bring fresh leaves in 1 liter of water to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Then the broth is insisted for 8 hours. Apply 100 ml three times a day before meals.
For diarrhea in children
Cornel jelly is used. For its preparation, take 6 tbsp. l. fruits and 2 glasses of water and 2 tablespoons of starch. It is taken similarly to adults - three times a day before meals. A single dose is 50-70 ml.
With hemorrhoids
Dogwood seeds are used, both fresh and heat-treated (for example, jam seeds). It is believed that for a full course, 2-3 glasses of seeds are required, which is equivalent to 4-6 half liter jars of jam. Also, instead of jam, fresh or dried berries can be used.
The assumed amount of berries is stretched for 1-2 months, and the product is consumed with food, once or twice in the morning. In this case, it is necessary to eat several berries at each meal.
With rheumatism
A decoction of roots, bark and leaves is used. For this, 5 tbsp. l. wood pulp is boiled in 1 liter of water for 15 minutes, and then insisted for 2 hours. Should be taken in 2 tbsp. l. three times a day.
With a cold
It is used in any form - from raw berries and decoction of leaves to jam and compote from dried berries. If the berries have been heat-treated, they can be used in the evening. Otherwise, taking medications should be limited to the first half of the day.
Features of the use of dogwood in diabetes
With diabetes mellitus, the use of plant juice can be regular. Usually, the reception is started with small doses, about 50 g once, half an hour before meals. The daily dose is increased by 5-10 g and is gradually brought to 100 g. With good tolerance of the drink, you can gradually increase its amount to 200 g.
The benefits of dogwood for weight loss
Cornel is used as part of some high-fiber diets. An approximate dogwood diet is as follows:
- Breakfast: cottage cheese with dogwood, tea.
- Snack: dried fruit.
- Lunch: soup, salad, 200 g of dogwood berries.
- Afternoon snack: vegetable salad.
- Dinner: fish with vegetables, kefir.
Given that dogwood increases the metabolic rate, it can be used even haphazardly, without using any diet. It is enough just to calculate the required number of calories and, in parallel with meals in the morning, use dogwood in one form or another.
The benefits of dogwood jam and compote
The content of substances affecting the nervous system in these dishes is significantly lower than in fresh dogwood, so they can be used without special restrictions on the volume and time of use. The only limiting factor will be their high calorie content.
At the same time, jam and compote still contain useful substances that help fight colds and gastrointestinal problems.
The use of dogwood jam with seeds also lies in the fact that with the help of this remedy in folk medicine, hemorrhoids are treated.
The benefits of dried (dried) dogwood
The benefits of dried and dried dogwood for the body are similar to the benefits of fresh berries, since almost all vitamins and trace elements are preserved with this storage method.
It is believed that the time at which the properties of the plant are fully preserved is from 6 to 9 months.
Dogwood harm and contraindications
Cornel is a plant that contains many active substances, so it should be used with caution. Their greatest concentration is in berries. Eating seeds or a decoction of the leaves carries significantly less risk.
The active substances of the plant tone and stimulate the nervous system, so it is not recommended to use any dogwood products before bedtime.
Too much dogwood is not recommended in case of frequent constipation, because due to the high concentration of tannins, the problem can be further aggravated.
It is also undesirable to use plant products for
- increased acidity of the stomach;
- high blood pressure;
- cases of allergies and individual intolerance.
It should not be forgotten that dogwood contains a lot of sugar, so the use of overripe berries can cause fermentation processes and provoke a serious intestinal upset.
Collection and storage of dogwood
The harvest of the plant is carried out depending on the climatic zone in August or September. When the dogwood is fully ripe, it is unsuitable for transportation, therefore, if you plan to transport it, you should start collecting at the stage of technical ripeness (the berries are red, they are of the required size, but still firm).
The best way to store berries for medical use is to dry them. In addition, due to the evaporation of moisture, the concentration of substances in the dogwood becomes even higher. Drying is carried out in a well-ventilated room without access to sunlight with a constant temperature of about 20-22 ° C.
It is allowed to dry the berries in the oven, but in order to preserve all the useful properties of the plant, the temperature should not exceed + 35 ° C. Drying is carried out on baking sheets with regular stirring of berries. On average, it takes about 6 hours to dry 1 kg of berries.
Conclusion
The benefits and harms of dogwood are contained in its composition. The berry is a kind of "champion" in the content of vitamin C. Cornel is used in the treatment of many diseases - from intestinal disorders to diseases of the immune system. Its berries and leaves are used in folk and traditional medicine. The benefits and harms of dogwood berries can be multifaceted. Therefore, the use of a plant in various forms should take into account possible harmful effects and contraindications.
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