Honeysuckle - This is a shrub plant, fruitful oblong blue berries. At the moment, there are about 190 known varieties. Most of them come from Asian countries.
In this article, we will consider honeysuckle as a drug and identify all the beneficial properties and contraindications of this plant.
The composition of honeysuckle berries
The answer to the question of the health benefits of honeysuckle should be sought directly at the molecular level - in the chemical composition of the plant berries. Honeysuckle fruits contain beneficial amino acids, natural sugars: glucose and fructose.
According to the vitamin composition, the plant is rich in provitamin AWhich is also known as carotene, it is useful for the visual organs. Vitamins of group B have a positive effect on the stimulation of cerebral vessels, which improves memory and mental activity.
Also, vitamins in this group normalize the metabolism of the human body, resulting in increased vitality. Vitamin Ccontained in a large volume in the berries of honeysuckle, has a rejuvenating effect on the entire body and in particular the skin.
But on this therapeutic properties of honeysuckle are not yet exhausted. The berries contain a large amount sodiumwhich strengthens the bone tissue, normalizes the blood composition and ensures the proper functioning of the peripheral nervous system, as well as the heart muscle.
The sodium and potassium collaboration is part of the body’s “chemical pump” that underlies the functioning of every cell in the human body. Honeysuckle contains and iodinewhich ensures the normal functioning of the thyroid gland.
Copper needed for hemoglobin synthesis and absorption of iron in the body. Zinc and silicon Maintain a healthy state of epithelial tissue, hair, nails and bones. Honeysuckle fruit also contains barium, which has a strengthening preventive effect against cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.
Aluminum promotes the activation of digestive elements and the development of gastric juice. Manganese supports bone structure.
Many people ask: is it possible to eat honeysuckle? After reading this material, you will receive an affirmative answer. You can eat not only fresh berries, but also compotes, jams and juices from them.
Even after heat treatment, they retain most of the vitamins and beneficial trace elements.
Among other things, the honeysuckle does not lose medicinal properties even when drying and freezing.
Did you know? Many people mistakenly consider honeysuckle berries to be poisonous, but this applies to all other fruit colors except dark blue. And they need to eat a lot.
Useful properties of blue berries
Honeysuckle plays an important role in maintaining the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system. Fresh fruits of honeysuckle have a tonic effect on the body and have a powerful tonic effect.
Juice from honeysuckle berries treats diseases of the epithelial cover. The fruits of this plant have anti-scorching and anti-ulcer effect.
Honeysuckle edible has a positive effect on the body, not only for its fruits, also great value is found in the bark, inflorescences and even the sprigs of the plant. They have the following healing properties:
- The diuretic.
- Choleretic.
- Disinfectant.
- Anti-inflammatory.
Did you know? Honeysuckle in Latin sounds like Lonicera. This name she received in honor of the German scientist Adam Lonitser. But Karl Linnaeus previously wanted to give them the name Kaprifol, since this honeysuckle variety was grown in European gardens.
The use of honeysuckle in traditional medicine, the therapeutic properties of honeysuckle
Fresh, just picked, a handful of honeysuckle pods will perfectly refresh in hot weather, having a tonic effect. Honeysuckle has a significant benefit for people suffering from anemia, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Favorably affects the liver and gallbladder.
Another topic for dispute often arises among those who suffer from hypotension or hypertension, how does the honeysuckle act on the vessels: does it lower or increase the pressure? Honeysuckle is indicated for hypertensive patients.
It not only lowers blood pressure, but also alleviates the headache caused by its effects. Fruits of the plant should be eaten with frequent nosebleeds.
Due to the pectins and organic acids contained in the honeysuckle, it helps the body to fight with the manifestations of a sclerotic nature. By including honeysuckle berries in your daily diet, be aware that the walls of your vessels will be in order, and your body will get rid of excess salts and heavy metals.
Due to the large amount of vitamins contained, honeysuckle helps the body to recover during periods of rehabilitation after serious illnesses. Honeysuckle is added to the diet of dieters. 200 g of honeysuckle berries contain the daily rate of iron and B vitamins.
Honeysuckle can treat tonsillitis and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Anthocyanins and pectins contained in honeysuckle are natural antioxidants. They prolong the life of the cells of the body and prevent their mutations in the malignant.
Berries and honeysuckle juice relieve eyes, reducing the load on blood vessels. They also prevent the development of glaucoma.
Important! Only those varieties of honeysuckle, the berries of which are painted in a juicy blue shade or dark shades close to black, have useful properties. Yellow, orange and red honeysuckle are not only not edible, but also poisonous! Having eaten such a fruit, you can get a serious poisoning, sometimes not compatible with life!
Honeysuckle Berry Recipes
Blue Honeysuckle - This plant, the benefits of which is not comparable even with many powerful immunomodulators and prophylactic drugs. As you already understood, this plant is useful not only for its fruits and not only fresh.
Jam, compotes, jams, infusions and decoctions are all a storehouse of nutrients. Honeysuckle is used both orally and externally.
Important! Honeysuckle has its contraindications, but if you do everything according to the recipe, the effect will be only positive. Be careful!
Honeysuckle decoction
Crush the branches of the plant, pre-dried well. Pour a glass of boiling water with a teaspoon of dried mass, let it brew, cool, and then strain. Take the resulting broth in a third cup after a meal.
Young branches of the shrub can be added while taking a bath. So the nutrients go into hot water and are absorbed through the pores. These baths are well heated and cure rheumatism.
How to make honeysuckle tincture
A tincture of honeysuckle is prepared according to the following recipe:
- Take any jar and half fill it with well-washed berries without stones. Top up with alcohol.
- Close the jar with a nylon cap and transfer to a warm, dry place where it will stand for 2 weeks.
- Shake tincture every day.
- After the expiration date, pour the alcohol into another can, and add 600 g of sugar to the berries, cover with a lid and place in a dark and warm place.
- Shake the berries daily so that the sugar is evenly distributed and absorbed. A week later, pour the berry juice into the alcohol tincture.
- Berries pour water and leave for another week.
Important! Despite the powerful healing properties of alcohol tincture of honeysuckle, do not overuse it too. Drink it in moderation.Useful properties of such tinctures are very versatile. She is:
- Improves the gastrointestinal tract.
- It has an immunostimulating effect.
- Cleaves lipids.
- Cleans the body from slagging and toxic substances.
Important! It is strictly forbidden to take tincture of honeysuckle hypotensive, people with acute gastric problems, ulcers and gastritis.
Use of bark and leaves of honeysuckle
Medicinal substances are rich not only in honeysuckle berries, but also in bark of a bush. Baths based on this broth help to cure gout, rheumatism and various skin diseases.
A decoction of honeysuckle bark rinse hair. They become stronger and more brilliant, and their growth is enhanced.
Drink a decoction for diseases of the urinary tract, swelling and diarrhea. It is prepared simply: pour 100 g of crushed bark with a glass of boiling water and wait 2 hours. Take three times a day, 2 tbsp. spoons before eating.
Another broth can be drunk for colitis and gastrointestinal disorders, gargle for sore throat. Grind 20 g of bark and pour a glass of water. Boil for 15 minutes. Cooled broth must be filtered and drink one tablespoon half an hour before meals.
Honeysuckle leaves also show their healing properties in the fight against angina and eye diseases. For cooking broth 3 tbsp. spoons of dried crushed leaves pour a glass of boiled water. After 20 minutes, strain the broth and cool a little.
Rinse the throat 4-5 times a day. Recipe: 3 tbsp. l dried leaves are brewed with 1 cup of boiling water. In case of eye diseases, moisten cotton pads in broth and keep 15 minutes in front of your eyes.
Can I use berries for pregnant women and children
In the period of childbearing a woman's body undergoes many changes, and at the same time, many prohibitions are imposed on it. In this case, a reasonable question arises, can honeysuckle pregnant?
The plant, of course, allowed to use during pregnancy, but only carefully. Per day, future mothers can eat no more than 30 grams of berries. Planted fruits with sugar help to avoid anemia and cope with hypertension.
Important! Broth bark or leaves of honeysuckle pregnant women can only handle the sinuses and throat. But in this case, the tool should not enter the body.Honeysuckle can eat children, but just like during pregnancy, there are some contraindications. You can not overeat berries. Babies can develop diathesis and diarrhea.
Contraindications and side effects
Honeysuckle is a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients, but due to their volume, the plant has some contraindications. With them, we want to introduce you before you start taking medicines from honeysuckle.
First, it can cause an allergic reaction in the form of a rash, although it is used in the treatment of skin diseases. All good and useful should be in moderation. Remember this.
Control the volume of your drink with the reception of honeysuckle, as it has a diuretic effect. This is especially pronounced in children.
Honeysuckle helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, so its value is invaluable, but eating it can cause irreparable harm in diabetes of the second type. Be sure to get advice from your doctor regarding the amount of berries taken.
Today, honeysuckle fruits have high hopes as a potential cure for HIV AIDS.
Did you know? Often, when the honeysuckle begins to bloom, frost returns, and it may even snow.Do not deprive attention of such a useful plant as honeysuckle, and it will revive your body.
