Of all 140 known botany species of viburnum, most of them grow in temperate climates. Interestingly, only one of them, Viburnum, has medicinal properties.
This unusually unpretentious shrub easily tolerates heat and frost.
Kalina can grow not only a bush, but also a tree up to 5 meters high. Wild forms are found in mixed forests, along the banks of reservoirs, along the edges.
In the south of Russia and in Ukraine this berry bush grows practically near each house.
Table of contents
When it matures and in what month you can pick viburnum: in the middle lane, Siberia, Moscow region, Ukraine
You can start harvesting viburnum berries as they mature.
It depends not only on the region, but rather on the place where viburnum grows. The side of the bush facing the sun ripens earlier than at least a week.
Usually, in central Russia and the Moscow region, red viburnum acquires a characteristic color for the variety (it is time for technical maturity) at the end of September. This does not mean that it urgently needs to be removed from the bush.
North of Moscow, in Siberia, the date of collection of viburnum shifts to winter. Already there is no need to focus on the color of the berries.
They ripen anyway after the first frost., and in the frozen form Kalina is even more convenient to clean - the berries do not crumple.
Clusters can hang on the branches until spring without loss of quality.Birds during the winter starvation love to eat the left berries - it helps them a lot.
The rules of collecting healing red berries
As soon as viburnum berries acquire a characteristic color (thick red without green splashes), you can proceed to harvesting them for the winter.
For harvesting it is necessary to choose a clear day. Brushes cut with a pruner. Do not be afraid to cut a bush - it is only useful for him (at the same time you will spend rejuvenation).
Stacked cut bunches in one layer. Dumped in bulk, it is almost impossible to disassemble afterwards. The branches cling to each other - half of the berries fall off.
These brushes can be knitted immediatelyto hang in a well-ventilated place to dry. It is desirable to remove substandard berries immediately.
If viburnum collected for processing, then rinse immediately. It is much easier to wash it on the branches. Spread out to dry on spreading fabric. After draining excess water, the berries are ready for processing.
Plant Benefits and Health Benefits
Calories 100 grams fresh and dried berries of viburnum, respectively, 26 and 200 kcal.But these figures do not reflect the value of red berries. They contain up to 75 mg of vitamin C, 500 mg of active phosphorus compounds, 2.5 g of carotene.
In viburnum ordinary ascorbic acid, 1.5 times more than citrus fruits, phosphorus salts - 3 times, iron salts - 4-5 times.
Healing red berries are rich in trace elements - Ca, Mn, K, Zn, Cu, Cr, Fe, Se, I, Co.
The content of ascorbic acid is 1.5 times higher than that of a tropical lemon, 3 times higher than that of forest raspberry. In addition to ascorbinka, the berries of this shrub are rich in vitamins E, A, K, R.
Complex of acids (folic, valeric, including), pectins, mineral complexes, tannins, essential oils, volatile production - such a set rightly considers the plant to be the most effective means of traditional and folk medicine.
Berries are an effective immunostimulant.. Natural substances of viburnum have a strengthening effect on the walls of blood vessels, which is used to prevent diseases of the heart and coronary vessels.
Like all red fruits, viburnum berries rich in iron compounds. Ascorbic acid improves its absorption, therefore, the processing products of viburnum are indispensable for anemia.
Easy sedative effect of viburnum due to the presence of alkaloids and alkaline acids, helps with mild anxiety, nervous excitement. At night it is useful to drink viburnum tea.
The combination of viburnum with honey raises the body's defensescures colds, bronchitis, is used as an expectorant. It has a slight diuretic effect.
A special glycoside of viburnin with a unique vasoconstrictive effect was found in Kalina. It is his presence that explains the high hemostatic ability of viburnum, in particular for uterine bleeding.
Fresh berry juice has a slight whitening effect on the skin.. In the old days, girls used it to whiten freckles. Crushed berries were also treated with acne, pigment spots.
Viburnum berry red and its beneficial properties:
Harm to humans, contraindications
In the wild species of viburnum, alkaloids and glycosides are present in lethal concentrations. Even edible berries can not be uncontrolled eat handfuls.
The use of these fruits is limited for patients with increased acidity of gastric juice, gout, urolithiasis.
Since viburnum contain a natural analogue of female sex hormones, pregnant women should use its fruits with extreme caution - Excessive consumption can cause abortion.
Many traditional medicine recipes advise take exactly 21 berries per serving. Omit the esoteric, so much harm can not bring. And small doses of the treating substance sometimes have a much stronger effect than a chemically pure drug (the principle of homeopathy).
Medicinal properties of bark, flowers and roots
From ancient times there is knowledge that has been confirmed in modern medical practice about the beneficial properties of viburnum berries.
By the way, flowers, bark, roots of a plant are no less useful - they are also widely used in traditional medicine.
Broth viburnum shown in the treatment of angina, colds, bronchitis - a natural antibiotic found in these berries.
It's important that viburnum harmless for diabetics - there are no sugars in it. Most of all viburnum is valued for its hypotensive action.
The berry cannot replace the medicines prescribed by the doctor; self-treatment in the case of cardiovascular diseases is unacceptable. But if you first consult with your doctor, you can prepare a very effective natural medicine.
Recipe 1. A means of high pressure.:
- Grate the beets, squeeze out the juice and let it stand (this is important!) 40 minutes.
- Get the juice from a glass of viburnum berries (if you pre-pour boiling water, the juice leaves much easier).
- Combine the three components: beet juice, viburnum and honey (in equal proportions).
- On the water bath, stir the mixture constantly, stirring for no more than 10 minutes.
- Pour into glassware and store at the bottom of the refrigerator.
A high content of pectins and tannins normalizes the digestive system, a natural complex of vitamins and trace elements restores the health of the nervous system, even levels the psychological background during depression - for this Enough every day to eat only a dessert spoonful of berries.
You can make various blanks from viburnum berries: jelly, juice, pereteret with honey or sugar, just freeze, dry.
To preserve the beneficial properties of the berries, it is necessary to minimize heat treatment. To prepare a vitamin puree, you have to tinker a bit, but the result is worth it.
Recipe 2. Pureed viburnum with added sugar: wash the berries, pour boiling water - the berries will be easier to give the juice.
Place the strainer on a bowl with high edges. Add berries in small portions and rub with a spoon. Juice and pulp will drain into a bowl. The cake will remain - do not throw it away; you can make a delicious kissel or compote.
In the resulting puree must add sugar. Usually, 0.5 kg of sugar is enough per liter of such puree. Wait until the sugar is completely dissolved, put in the refrigerator for storage.
Instead of sugar, you can add honey, you get a universal remedy for raising immunity.
Kalina, ground with sugar. Preparation for the winter:
Recipe 3. Viburnum juice: the use of viburnum juice for the treatment of allergies, hypertension, colds, neurosis, and simply to recuperate the body after a long illness.
A bunch of viburnum (two small ones) is poured with a glass of boiling water, after about 10 minutes (when the water has cooled) the berries are kneaded, boiled water is added to the volume of 200 ml.
Take for 2 weeks 1⁄2 cups 1-2 times a day (no more).
Recipe 4. Viburnum tea: indicated for diseases of the nervous system, general weakness of the body. For this tea, use the harvest “Kalina rubbed with sugar”.
Enough with a glass of boiling water to brew a tablespoon of mashed mixture, after 5-7 minutes the medicinal drink is ready.
Recipe 5. Tincture of viburnum on honey: used to prevent colds and simply to strengthen the immune system.
To prepare you need:
- 500 grams of fresh berries without twigs and bones.
- 200 ml of high-quality vodka.
- 500 grams of natural honey.
The berries are kneaded, mixed with vodka and honey. After about two weeks of aging in a dark cool place, the tincture is ready. The finished product should be taken for a long time at 20-25 ml (almost 2 tablespoons) 2-3 per day before meals.
Viburnum bush retains its decorative effect at almost any time of the year:
- showered with inflorescences in the spring in May;
- thick greens with red tassels in summer;
- yellow-red color of autumn foliage with scarlet berries;
- red brush berries with caps of snow in winter.
And how much more benefit than beauty gives the usual bush "viburnum ordinary" ... Treating viburnum is not only effective, but very tasty: teas, juices, mashed potatoes, jellies, fruit drinks.
Almost everything can be prepared from improvised, given the availability of viburnum berries. And no "chemistry."