Blackthorn - what it is, a description of the plant, the medicinal properties of berries and their use in folk medicine. Useful and harmful properties of blackthorn

Blackthorn is a shrub whose botanical name is Prúnus spinósa. Distributed in the southern part of Russia, in warm climates. V folk medicine is used for the treatment and prevention of vitamin deficiency, diseases of the stomach and intestines. The plant has:

immunostimulating properties, supports the immune system;
detoxifying properties, participates in blood purification, normalizes liver function;
bactericidal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibits the growth of pathogenic microflora;
diuretic and diaphoretic properties, increases the excretion of fluid from the body;
laxative properties, powerfully stimulates intestinal motility and relieves constipation.

The greatest benefits are concentrated in the small blue berries that the plant brings in late summer. The berries include:

organic sugars, glucose and fructose;
organic acids, malic acid, useful for immunity;
vitamins C and E, which are beneficial for blood vessels, heart and bones;
beta-carotene and coumarin, which are beneficial for metabolism;
catechin, essential oils and alcohols, have a stimulating effect;
mineral salts, trace elements useful for the nervous system, bones, circulatory system;
fixed oils, tannins.

Blackthorn contains fatty acids:

oleic,
eleostearic,
stearic,
linoleic,
palmitic.

Useful trace elements and mineral salts have a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and normalize blood pressure... The thorn is a distant relative of the bitter almond; the nuclei of the seeds also contain alkaloids and hydrocyanic acid derivatives. The seeds are not eaten, since for humans these chemical compounds poisonous. Berries are suitable only when chronic diseases Gastrointestinal tract, acute forms, especially if there is internal bleeding Are contraindications. Potential harm can arise from hydrocyanic acid poisoning, but for this you need to eat incredibly great amount bitter seeds. For health, it is more useful not to eat fresh berries, but to cook from them:

compote or broth;
infusion in water or alcohol;
thorn wine;
jam, preserves, preserves;
jelly or extract.

In their pure form, the berries are not liked by everyone, although this does not diminish them. beneficial features... As a laxative, you can use and fresh berries, they act quickly and relieve constipation in 2-3 hours.

The thorn is a distant relative of the plum. The trunk is from 1.5 to 8 meters in height, the branches are directed horizontally, decorated with thick strong thorns. Young twigs are covered with thin fluff. The shape of the leaves is oval, young leaves are pubescent. Older leaves are dull, thick and dense. Thorns give off a subtle and pleasant scent that intensifies during flowering. Flowering takes place from late May to early June, the flower has five petals white... The smell of a flowering tree is similar to the smell of almonds, has a hint of tart bitterness. After flowering, fruits are tied, monostable. The shape of the fruit is round, with a diameter of 10 to 15 mm. Ripening occurs in late August, early September, the fruits remain on the branches throughout the winter period, serve as food for birds and small animals. For humans, the fruits are also edible, have juicy green pulp and pleasant tart taste with a slight bitterness. Healing recipes with thorns most often contain berries, and not roots or leaves. The most delicious fruits after frost, when by action low temperatures ripening occurs, bitter substances are destroyed, and the true taste is revealed. Fruits compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals, have medicinal properties stimulate immune system and increase the body's resistance to bacterial, viral or fungal infections.

Beneficial features

The main benefits of thorns are antibacterial properties. Passing through the gastrointestinal tract, substances kill pathogenic microorganisms and promote recovery from intestinal infections. These same properties can be harmful. Exposure to even the smallest amounts of alkaloids and coumarin that blackthorn contains can worsen the patient's condition. Contraindications - berries are not recommended for use when acute form diseases of internal organs. Impact astringents benefits only if the mucous membrane normally tolerates such a chemical composition of the juice. If there is erosion on the mucous membrane of the stomach or intestines (erosive colitis or gastritis), then the harm from the blackthorn will consist in deepening the erosion to the underlying tissue layers. The more severe the disease, the less concentrated should be remedies, then there will be benefits for recovery. For example, thorn wine with regular use in a patient with mild gastritis, in a year, it will cause an ulcerative form of the disease, and a drink from blackthorn will cause an improvement in well-being. Contraindications and use must be agreed with the attending physician so that the benefit to the patient is greater than the harm. Recipes on how to use berries:

Juice.
Sort out the berries, wash, add 100 g of granulated sugar to 1 kg of fruits, boil for 10-15 minutes, pour into jars, roll up. The thorn is used as a remedy for constipation and constipation.
Healing syrups.
Mash the berries to a state of puree, pour the porridge into jars, pour hot boiled water, insist until the juice separates. Strain. Healing syrups are made with or without added sugar. Sugar is put at the rate of 1.5 liters of syrup - 1 kg of sugar, you need to mix the liquid until a homogeneous mass is obtained.
Healing fruit drinks.
Take the syrup, dilute it in a 1: 7 ratio, drink it chilled. The use of fruit drink for digestive system is to prevent constipation. The liquid has an astringent and soothing effect.

Sweets and confectionery with blackthorn jam are delicious, and their benefits are expressed in replenishing the deficiency of vitamins and minerals.

What does it treat?

From cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis.

For spastic or atonic constipation.

For antiseptic treatment oral cavity from candidiasis, stomatitis, gingivitis.

For accelerated tissue regeneration, for the healing of abscesses, cuts, wounds, ulcers. As a symptomatic remedy - for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, eczema - external therapeutic compresses.

To normalize metabolism, from obesity, from diseases of the endocrine system.

For reducing the tone of blood vessels and blood pressure.

From, gastritis, enteritis, from helminthic invasion and giardiasis.

Contraindications

Harm necessarily occurs if pastry or the wine was prepared incorrectly. In order for the plant to be edible, you need to wait for frost, and only then collect it. Unripe berries give a large amount essential oil and bitterness, this not only spoils the taste of the product, but can also harm the digestive tract. Apply the blackthorn in medicinal purposes it is forbidden:

children under 12 years old;
pregnant and lactating women;
patients with acute pyelonephritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, ulcerative gastritis, colitis;
patients with irritable bowel syndrome, with anal fissures, with hemorrhoids;
patients with acute cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis;
those who have an individual allergy to any substance that is part of the blackthorn.

And also harm to health will occur when eating thorn products after surgery, with a fever with a temperature above 39 degrees, with food poisoning. The benefits of eating blackthorn during pregnancy have not been proven, so it is better to refrain from this experiment.

Evolution has endowed humans with the ability to survive, thanks to which people use various natural foods for food. One of these options is the turn, which the Bible says. Today, the roots, leaves, fruits and inflorescences of the shrub are used. All of them are beneficial to a person, the main thing is to be able to use raw materials correctly. Otherwise, you will hurt yourself.

The chemical composition of the blackthorn

Among all the brethren, the turn is considered the most useful. This is so thanks to the abundance essential vitamins and minerals that are concentrated in the pulp of fruits, roots, foliage.

The turner contains many B-group vitamins. Let's highlight pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine, vitamins B3 and B4, riboflavin. Berries are not deprived of natural antioxidants - tocopherol and retinol (vitamins E and A, respectively).

Thorn is a source of ascorbic acid, so it is useful for people with naturally low immunity. Fruits are good because they contain exclusively natural saccharides, which practically do not affect blood glucose levels.

It makes sense to isolate tannins, nitrogenous compounds, steroid elements, pectin, coumarin and alimentary fiber... Turner concentrates a lot of flavonoids, fatty oils, fiber. It also contains alcohol, triterpenoids.

Do not exceed the permissible norm for use. Eat 100 grams each. berries several times a week, this will be enough.

The benefits of the turn

The pulp is widely used in cosmetology. On the basis of fresh fruits that have not been affected by frost, lotions for the feet are prepared. The composition eliminates corns and softens the skin.
Even traditional medicine recognized the turn as a cure for renal colic and other diseases associated with this internal organ. The diuretic action prevents the formation of stones and removes sand from the kidney cavity.
Due to the accumulation of vitamin C and other immunostimulating substances, the blackthorn should be eaten during viral epidemics and with vitamin deficiency. Berries and decoctions based on them will replenish the balance of useful elements and accelerate recovery.
Thorn has antipyretic properties, so it should be eaten during a fever. Also, berries remove excess bile from the body, eliminate uric acid(useful for patients with gout).
The product has an antiseptic and bactericidal effect. The turn kills harmful microorganisms v oral cavity, thereby preventing tooth decay and stomatitis.
The gruel from the fruit is applied to the wound to disinfect the abrasion. Thorn compresses treat burns, injuries, ulcers and other skin problems.
After agreement with the doctor, the turn is prescribed for pregnant girls who are faced with toxicosis. Decoctions based on berries will quickly relieve vomiting and, moreover, will remove excess water from the body.
Due to the presence of acids, thorn increases appetite, it produces gastric juice... Against this background, all metabolic processes are enhanced, food is absorbed faster and does not ferment in the intestines.
The beneficial properties of the fruit include the ability to cleanse internal organs from intoxication, salts heavy metals, radionuclides. The turn is also indispensable for nervous disorders as it normalizes the psycho-emotional environment.
The turn is responsible for the composition of the blood, increasing the production of red blood cells. It cleans blood vessels and arteries, removes bad cholesterol from the blood channels. Against this background, prevention of many heart diseases is carried out, varicose veins and atherosclerosis.
Its astringent properties make the berry useful for treating stool disorders. It also has a diaphoretic effect on the body, cleansing the skin. Turner is introduced into the diet of diabetics because it maintains glucose levels at normal levels.
The shrub concentrates certain substances that are responsible for eye health. Thanks to this, the turn carries out the prevention of glaucoma and cataracts, lubricates the eye socket, strengthens vision and relieves severe fatigue.
Due to the accumulation of iron, anemia is treated with thorns. It will be useful for men to know that the berry increases potency and enhances reproductive activity. Fruits control the condition of women during menstruation and menopause, improving well-being.

Benefits of shoots, roots and blackthorn bark

It is possible to benefit from the use of separate parts of the shrub only if the raw materials are prepared taking into account all the requirements.

So, the roots must be dug up and dried on fresh air within 15-20 days. After this time, they are dried in the oven at 60 degrees. After all the manipulations, the roots are folded into a linen bag.
Young shoots with branches are best harvested in June, then dried and stored in open form not longer than a year... The bark is removed from the thorn in the spring, until inflorescences appear on the bush. Drying is carried out according to the principle of processing roots.
Decoctions based on individual parts of the shrub help relieve fever, remove excess water from the body. The drink promotes the outflow of bile, improving the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.
In cosmetology, a decoction is used to wipe the skin prone to rashes and abscesses. You can use trays for sweating feet and softening corns.
The roots with branches are brewed, after which they are used for douching and the treatment of gynecological diseases.

Benefits of blackthorn leaves and flowers

The collection of flowers takes place during their flowering. Then the raw material is dried in a well-ventilated and dark room. After that, the product must be stored in a glass sealed container. In this case, the sun's rays should not fall.
The composition is mainly used for brewing tea. The product is famous for its unique healing qualities... Flowers are able to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, and the blood composition is also enriched. Tea effectively resists inflammatory processes on the skin.
Regular intake of raw materials allows you to qualitatively cleanse the liver and normalize activity gastrointestinal tract... Per a short time normal metabolism is restored. The product has a positive effect on the central nervous system... As a result, the feeling of anxiety disappears and depressive state... The flowers have a diaphoretic and diuretic effect.
To prepare medicinal tea, you need 30 gr. dried flowers and 500 ml. steep boiling water. Cover the container with a lid and wrap thick cloth... Brew the component for about a quarter of an hour. Such a drink can be consumed without a clear dosage.
Decoctions based on blackthorn leaves have almost the same qualities as flower tea. Leaves are recommended to be picked in the middle of summer. It is necessary to store and dry raw materials in the manner described above. The broth can be consumed as usual tea.

The fruits have practically no contraindications. It is worth limiting the amount of food consumed only if you have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Do not lean on the product with an acute ulcer, gastritis and high acidity... It is forbidden to eat the turn when allergic reaction... This phenomenon is quite rare.
Perceptible harm to the fruit can cause tooth enamel. In addition, after taking the product, the teeth acquire a bluish tint. The problem is that the color fades after a few days.
After preparing any product based on the fruits of the plant, the berries must be obtained. When the fruit comes into contact with the liquid, toxic compounds are formed. You run the risk of poisoning.
Berries have no contraindications for children and pregnant girls. On the contrary, the valuable composition will strengthen the body and prevent the development of pathologies.
Overeating fresh berries can cause gastrointestinal upset. Do not lean on jams and thorn preserves. Otherwise, weight gain is inevitable.

The turn is enough unique plant with a valuable niche of beneficial enzymes. The product can be used in different purposes... Berries have only minor contraindications. Stick daily allowance product consumption.

Video: recipe for thorn jam

Blackthorn is a shrub that has long been known in many countries of the world. Some people associate it with Jesus Christ (it was from this plant that his wreath was made), but most often the thorn is famous for its beneficial properties, which allow it to be used as a medicinal raw material. In this regard, questions arise about how to dry the sloe properly and what can be made from it.

Calorie content and chemical composition of blackthorn

Before moving on to discussing the beneficial properties of blackthorn berries, leaves or flowers, it is worth talking about its calorie content and chemical composition. There are only 54 Kcal per 100 grams of the product, thanks to which it can be called low-calorie. The sloe also contains 1.5 g of proteins, 0.3 g of fat and 9.4 g of carbohydrates (per 100 g).

Blackthorn fruits contain glucose, fructose, fiber, malic acid, pectin, tannins, vitamins A (RE), E, C and B2. Among the microelements included in the composition, one cannot fail to note iron, which accounts for 10.6% per 100 grams of the product. It is also worth remembering about the macronutrients: potassium (9.6% of the required daily allowance), calcium (3.2%), magnesium (4.3%). The berries of the plant are also characterized by the content of phosphorus, iron and sodium, which is also has a positive effect on the healing properties of blackthorn.

A large amount of vitamins C and E is found in the leaves of the shrub, where they are harmoniously combined with phenol carboxylic acids, anthocyanins and flavonoids.

Did you know? In many beliefs and legends, the thorn is a symbol of suffering, trials and difficulties that fall on the fate of a person. However, having overcome them, he becomes the owner of many benefits. Given the beneficial properties of the shrub, this is partly true.

Useful and medicinal properties of blackthorn

As you can see, the fruits of the blackthorn contain a lot of valuable and useful substances for human health: sugars, organic acids, fiber, etc. Due to this, they have a diuretic (diuretic), astringent, diaphoretic and antiseptic effect. This means that such berries are great for normalizing the digestive system (useful for digestive disorders, diarrhea), relieving nausea, stopping vomiting, and killing germs and bacteria.

In addition to fruits, bush leaves are often used, from which herbalists brew teas (act as a home diuretic, laxative and healing agent), infusions (dressings soaked in them are applied in the form of compresses to wounds, which significantly reduces the healing time). Together with the berries, the leaves of this miraculous plant great for the role auxiliary means in case of illness genitourinary system: cystitis, nephritis, urolithiasis. You can also use blackthorn fruit to increase your appetite. Simply put, knowing the suitable recipes, you can safely use any part of the plant to heal.

The use of thorns for medicinal purposes

The beneficial properties of berries, leaves, flowers and even thorn rhizomes have been found widespread use in alternative (folk) medicine. So, blackthorn copes well with edema, dysentery, candidiasis, vaginitis, nonspecific colitis and general intoxication of the body. At food poisoning the use of blackthorn berries allows you to quickly cleanse the body of toxins and improve the functioning of the digestive tract. A decoction made from thorn branches is an excellent aid in treating gout, and also helps to remove uric acid salts from the body.

Antioxidants and flavonoids in berries reduce capillary permeability and improve blood circulation, promoting blood clotting. Knowing what the thorn is useful for, and wanting to test its beneficial properties on your own experience, will come in handy following recipes preparation of teas, broths or infusions.

Important! The seeds of the fruit of the plant contain a toxic glycoside - amygdalin, which cleaves off hydrocyanic acid, so you should immediately get rid of them.

Tea made from flowers and thorn leaves

Tea made from flowers and thorn leaves use for cystitis, chronic constipation and prostate adenoma. In addition, it possesses pleasant taste and the aroma, thanks to which this drink can be drunk daily as a general tonic.

It is not difficult to prepare such a tea: the dried leaves and flowers of blackthorn are mixed, and then two full teaspoons of raw materials (with top) are poured into ¼ l of water, after which the resulting composition should be slowly brought to a boil and filtered. Tea is consumed daily, but not more than two cups a day.

Thorn juice

Not only dried thorns are useful, but also juice from fresh berries. In particular, it helps to get rid of jaundice, and also acts as antibacterial agent, having a negative effect on giardia and other protozoa. It is also effective for skin diseases, in the treatment of which the appropriate compresses will help.

To prepare the juice, the pulp of the fruit of the shrub is separated from the stone, heated to 60-70 ° C and kneaded into a pulp. The juice squeezed out of it can be consumed immediately or rolled up in jars.

Infusion of thorn flowers

Infusion made from thorn flowers has a positive effect on metabolism, and also normalizes liver function. In fact, it is prepared in the same way as tea: 40 g of dried flowers are poured with a glass of boiling water and left to brew for 40 minutes, after which they filter and drink 150 ml three times a day. This recipe is also suitable when you need to obtain an effective laxative from the flowers of the bush. In addition, if you have problems with the liver, kidneys, bladder and for colds, the following infusion will be useful: 40 g of blackthorn flowers are poured with a glass of warm boiled water and, after insisting, filtered for 10 hours. You need to take the product before meals four times a day for ¼ glass.

Prepare an infusion using thorn leaves, very simple: for one glass hot water there is one tablespoon of crushed plant leaves, after which the resulting composition must be boiled over medium heat for 15 minutes. After the liquid has cooled, it is filtered and squeezed out. The ready-made infusion is taken in ½ part of a glass (you can also take a full glass) three times a day before meals. Such a remedy has good diuretic properties, therefore it is recommended to use it for edema, kidney and genitourinary system diseases.

Blackthorn leaves are also often used to heal wounds and ulcers, in the treatment of which fresh parts of the shrub are simply applied to sore spots, and dried ones are steamed in boiling water and made compresses from them.

Tincture of blackthorn berries

Its berries are also suitable for preparing a tincture of thorns. The previously prepared fruits of the shrub (it is advisable not to wash them, but simply to select the good and intact ones) are poured into a jar and poured with vodka, and so that the berries are covered 5 cm above their level. The tincture needs constant monitoring, and as the vodka is absorbed, it must be topped up. After three months, the liquid is drained, and sugar is added to the berries (1.5 kg of sugar will be needed for 10 kg of fruit). After that, the fruits must be kept for another month (until the syrup is formed), and then filtered and mixed with the liquid that was separated at the very beginning. Within six months, you will feel the simply incredible aroma of the tincture.

Decoction of berries

An incredibly useful and restorative agent is decoction of blackthorn berries, for the preparation of which you will need to pour 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried raw materials with a glass of boiling water, leaving it to infuse for 1 hour. Take liquid on an empty stomach (in the morning) for 4 days. Blackthorn tea can be used to increase appetite, as well as a diuretic, astringent and antiseptic.

Decoction from bark and roots

The roots and bark of thorns, as well as the rest of the shrub, have a number of medicinal properties. Therefore, it is not surprising that traditional medicine is often used different decoctions of them. The roots are harvested since autumn, for which these parts are first dug up and left for a short while in the sun. At the second stage, the raw materials prepared in this way should be placed in a special dryer or in an ordinary oven for further drying (in end result the roots should break easily without changing their color much).

There are several ways to cook decoction of the bark and roots of thorns. When using the first option, one part of the dried roots and bark accounts for 20 parts of water. The resulting mixture is brought to a boil and left to simmer in a water bath for 20 minutes. Ready remedy cool and take 1-2 tablespoons 4-5 times a day. This broth is excellent for the role of antipyretic and diaphoretic.

For the second method, 5 g of crushed root or bark is brewed in 200 ml of boiling water, and then placed on water bath and simmer for 30 minutes, and then let it brew for another hour. Ready cooled and strained broth should be taken three times a day, 1/3 cup (after meals).

If you wish, you can prepare a decoction only from the bark. To do this, pour 1 teaspoon of dry crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water and simmer for 15 minutes. The finished product can be used instead of tea. For douching, one glass of broth must be diluted with boiled water in a 1: 1 ratio.

Decoction of thorn roots can be used for diarrhea and during the period respiratory diseases, and it also improves the general condition of the patient with malaria.

Decoction of young shoots and branches

Another good diaphoretic is a decoction of finely cut, pre-dried thorn branches(in its action, such a remedy is not inferior to raspberries and has an antipyretic effect). To prepare such a broth, 1 teaspoon of raw materials is poured with a glass of boiling water and left to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. You need to use the product warm, but there are no dosage requirements.

Methods for the preparation and storage of raw materials from sloe

Whatever you decide to cook from berries or thorn leaves, in any case, they must first be sorted out and washed. If you picked the fruits yourself, you can simply rinse them, while the purchased berries are washed more thoroughly, changing the water several times.

The harvesting of flowers is performed during their budding period, and leaves - immediately after flowering. Young shoots are to be collected and harvested in May or June. During this time, they can be well dried in the fresh air, in the wind or in the shade, as well as by placing them in a ventilated area. The bark can be removed from the tree before it blooms, and the roots are best dug up in the fall. In the future, after drying them a little in the sun, they can be dried in ovens.

Thorns can be harvested as they ripen, but better after the first frost. They are well suited for making compotes (can be rolled up in jars for the winter), wines, tinctures, syrups, marmalades and even pickles. Any product will have an attractive color, pleasant smell and original sweet and sour taste.

Freezing can also be used to preserve the fruit, however, in this case, do not forget that before packing the berries, you need to remove the seeds from them.

Did you know? Blackthorn fruits can be dried in a nylon stocking, but after that they will not stand for a long time, therefore, in order to extend the shelf life, it is better to spread them on straw.

Shelf life of flowers, leaves and thorn fruits should not exceed 1 year, while the bark and roots can be stored for more than three years.

Blackthorn berries in cooking

Not all housewives know that blackthorn berries - excellent raw material for the preparation of various drinks, jelly, jam, juice and even porridge. And what delicious jam from thorns, you just have to cook it correctly. In this case, the fruits of the bush are first washed and placed in an enamel bowl, covered with sugar on top. Then they are poured with water, using as much liquid as needed so that the sugar is completely dissolved. It is necessary to cook the jam over low heat until it is fully cooked, often skimming off the foam and shaking the bowl. When the jam is completely ready, the berries are selected and laid out in prepared jars, and the syrup is allowed to cook for about an hour. After the end of the specified time, you need to pour the syrup over the fruits and close them. You can add a couple of drops of rose oil to enhance the taste and aroma of your preform.

Syn .: prickly plum, goat berry, sour or oat plum, black thorn.

Shrub or tree plant with highly thorny branches and small blue fruits. In horticulture, it is often used as a rootstock for other plants by breeders. Tern is used in cooking, pharmaceuticals, carpentry, and household applications.

Ask the experts

Flower formula

Thorn flower formula: O (2) + 2Т3П1.

In medicine

Blackthorn helps with diseases of the stomach, intestines, kidneys and liver, as well as metabolic disorders, with a lack of vitamins in the body. It is a good diaphoretic and antipyretic agent. The juice from thorn berries has antiviral properties, so its appointment makes sense for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract as a result of helminthiasis. The medicinal properties of the fruits are known for dysentery, food intoxication, and nonspecific colitis.

Pharmacological preparations from blackthorn have anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative and antibacterial properties.

In homeopathic practice, leaves, young branches, bark, rhizomes, flowers and thorn fruits are used. An aqueous infusion of plant flowers is an effective laxative, calming the nervous system, diaphoretic and diuretic. Bark, young twigs, blackthorn roots have a diaphoretic and anti-febrile effect. The leaves and flowers of thorns are taken in the form of a decoction in order to increase the elasticity of blood vessels, to improve metabolism in cells, and to increase the body's defenses.

Contraindications and side effects

Contraindications and side effects of blackthorn when using its flowers, fruits, leaves, bark and young wood in preventive and therapeutic purposes not identified. When using blackthorn preparations, it is recommended to correctly dose the medicine in accordance with the patient's age and weight. Individual intolerance to plant components is possible. In this case, the use of thorn preparations is contraindicated.

In cooking

Dried fruits, flowers and leaves of blackthorn are excellent raw materials for making a fragrant drink - tea. Jam, jams, jelly, compotes, marmalade are prepared from the berries of the plant. Dried blackthorn fruits give a substitute for coffee. In the confectionery industry, oil is used, which is extracted from seeds using a special technology. The kernels are processed to produce bitter, fatty almond oil. Seed shells are used for the manufacture of activated carbon in pharmaceuticals.

Jam - not only delicious treat children, but also a vitamin remedy to stimulate appetite. Winemakers also recognized blackthorn berries as the best for home production of wine, liqueur, liqueur and just juice. Drinks are of a beautiful shade, pleasant sweet and sour and extremely aromatic, tart taste. In the Bulgarian cuisine, blackthorn is used to prepare side dishes - porridge, and in combination with orange juice serves as an indispensable ingredient in casseroles and puddings.

In gardening

Blackthorn is an excellent tree or shrub that is used as a rootstock in order to obtain cultivated shrub forms of apricot, peach, plum. Breeders note good properties blackthorn (frost resistance, drought resistance) as a basis for breeding work to create new varieties, hybrids of cultivated plants.

Sloe has a powerful root system, so the plantings of these shrubs are used to strengthen ravines, banks of canals and rivers. Blackthorn can be used as a decorative living hedge in a personal plot.

At home

The wood of thorns is extremely durable, brown-red in color, it lends itself well to polishing, therefore it is successfully used for the manufacture of turning, joinery, small handicrafts. Often wood is used in furniture production. The bones are also used in folk crafts: Craftsmen make funny buttons out of them.

It is known that the fruits, boiled in alkali, give a rich red color. This juice is used to dye fabrics in a scarlet hue. Yellow, brown, green paints are obtained from the fruits and roots of prickly plum for painting. The wood and bark of blackthorns have found their application in the tanning of hides.

Classification

Blackthorn, blackthorn, prickly plum (Latin Prunus spinosa) is a type of thorny shrub. This is a stone fruit crop of the Plum subfamily (Latin Prunoideae), of the Pink family (Latin Rosaceae).

Botanical description

The blackthorn is a shrub up to 2 meters, or a tree from 3 to 6 meters high. The trunk is brown or dark red, the branches form a well-branched crown. Wood is distinguished by its special strength. Root system powerful, branched. Often, abundant root growth grows near the main trunk. The trunk and branches are prickly, as they are covered with small thorns. Annual young shoots are slightly pubescent, velvety and end with thorns. This feature is reflected in the name of the plant "prickly plum".

Leaves of thorns are elongated, palmate at the edges, petiolate, slightly pubescent. As the shoots mature, the old leaves are replaced with young ones. Therefore, often old branches are bare at the base, without leaves. In early spring, blackthorn buds are spherical in shape, and are formed in internodes of two or three pieces. Flower buds develop before the leaves appear. Flowering begins in April or May and is massive.

The thorn is an excellent honey plant. Its delicate aroma attracts many bees, and small, densely placed pinkish-white flowers colorfully decorate a shrub or tree, like a snow-white tablecloth. Thorns begin to bear fruit at 2-3 years of age. In about 10 years, the tree reaches a height of 3 meters. The plant is quite light-requiring, tolerates frosts and droughts well. Thorn flower formula - O (2) + 2Т3П1

The thorn fruit is a drupe. It has a rounded shape, the berry is small, up to 15 mm in diameter. The fruits begin to ripen in late summer or early autumn, acquire a black-blue tint with a waxy coating. The flesh of the thorn fruit is green, tastes tart, sweet and sour. Closer to the middle of autumn, when the first frosts come, the fruits of prickly plum acquire a delicate, sweetish taste, and the astringency is practically imperceptible. The bones do not separate from the juicy pulp. The fruits of the thorn can stay on the branches throughout the winter until spring. A blackthorn tree or bush bears fruit abundantly every year. From an adult specimen, the yield is equal to 3-4 kg of fruits.

Spreading

Common blackthorn grows almost everywhere in Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa... In the European part of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the Caucasus, Moldova, Western Siberia, Belarus is found in separate, less often extensive thickets, plantations on ravines, hillsides, on forest edges, well-lit by the sun, near roads and on wastelands. Blackthorn prefers calcareous soils for its growth. If found in separate specimens, the blackthorn grows up to 2-3 meters in height. In the thickets of thorns - a thin, undersized tree or shrub.

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

Blackthorn berries are harvested with the arrival of autumn, when their taste is not particularly pleasant due to a large number tannins. The fruits are dried in direct sunlight or in an oven. Store in a well-ventilated area, like flowers and leaves for no more than a year.

Flowers for harvesting are harvested during mass flowering and dried in the diffused light of the sun. The foliage is harvested after the plant has flowered. In late spring and early summer, young twigs are harvested. They are dried in the shade outside or in a well-ventilated room, after which they are stored for a year. The roots of the blackthorn are dug up in the middle of autumn, shaking out well and clearing of the earth. The bark is harvested in early spring, even before the flowering of the shrub. The roots are dried in ovens, pre-dried somewhere in the air. The roots can be stored for 3 years or more in a dark, cool room.

Due to its delicate aroma, sweet and sour tart taste, thorn fruits are used in cooking: for the preparation of wines, tinctures, syrups, compotes, jams, marmalade. Blackthorn is also good when dried.

Chemical composition

The fruits contain organic acids, sugar, pectins, aromatic substances, ascorbic acid, vitamin P, B₂. Tannins, which have astringent properties, pectins that absorb intestinal toxins, contribute to normalization intestinal microflora, therefore, the thorn is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. In the flowers there is amygdalin or hydrocyanic acid glycoside, in the leaves - bitterness and tannins, in the fruits of amygdalin, vitamin C, K, PP, A, E, fiber, dyes and organic acids. Vitamin B₂ strengthens the nervous system, improves amino acid metabolism. Vitamin P, even during the processing of fruits and other parts of the plant, is perfectly preserved, helps to strengthen blood vessels, and is able to reduce blood pressure.

Pharmacological properties

Application in traditional medicine

Blackthorn is successfully used in herbal medicine. The list of common diseases is quite large, for which decoctions, infusions and preparations from this plant are used. Tern is indicated for vitamin deficiency, violation metabolic processes in the body, used as effective remedy against diseases of the intestines, digestive organs, liver and kidneys. Blackthorn is used as an anti-febrile and diaphoretic remedy.

Wild plum flowers have long been used as a laxative for prolonged constipation. Also, a decoction of leaves and flowers has a good diuretic effect. Healing tea from the leaves perfectly cleanses the blood, relieves women of long-lasting, painful periods, indicated for dropsy, urolithiasis and also successfully heals various dermatitis in children.

Fragrant jam is also an excellent remedy in the fight for health. Jam is good for diseases of the intestines, stomach, urinary system. Blackthorn juice is indicated for bleeding from the nose, it is successfully used for ENT diseases (laryngitis, pharyngitis) in the form of rinsing, as well as for various inflammations of the palate and gums in the oral cavity. Thorn foliage is used as a lotion for pustular wounds and ulcers.

Sloe juice or jam made from its fruits, mothers use to whet the appetite in children. Juice is an irreplaceable antiseptic for intestinal infections, helminthiasis, dysentery, food intoxication of the body, colitis.

A decoction of thorn flowers and foliage is a good anti-inflammatory remedy for leucorrhoea in women and others. gynecological ailments... A decoction is also recommended for cystitis, hepatitis, kidney disease. For those who are forced to work in sitting position(office work, for example), wild plum leaf tea is an indispensable source of vitamins and overall health. Psoriasis, pustular skin diseases, erysipelas It is successfully treated as a result of the use of a healing decoction of blackthorn.

Homeopaths in Bulgaria use thorn foliage as a diuretic for allergic skin rashes, inflammatory processes in the kidneys and bladder... For diarrhea, tea from the bark of thorny thorns, as well as the fruit of the tree, is used in combination with red wine. The fruits are also shown to alleviate the condition of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Historical reference

Thorn has long been considered a plant that is endowed with the gift of foresight and a kind of magical meaning. The place where the seeds fell and sprouted was, according to the ancient Vikings, sacred. The plant itself has a large vital energy... Poultry and animals will be protected from various diseases by adding thorn bread to their diet.

Wild plum wood is also endowed with magic and tremendous energy. Therefore, thorn branches were kept in the house as amulets from evil spirits, negative energy. Often, a hedge of thorn plants adorned in the courtyard around the mansion: people knew that thorns would keep all residents from damage and evil eye, bad energy.

Literature

1. Kashin S. P. Vash family doctor... Sugar-lowering plants. No to diabetes and overweight- M .: Education, 1987 -S. 477

2. Pryazhnikova A. V. New months. A book of tips and recipes for every day - M .: Ripol Classic, 2011. - P. 508

The thorns, or thorns, are not a tall tree from the plum family, usually reaching a height of 2-3 m. True, there are types of thorns that grow up to 8 m in height. Thorny thorns are known primarily for their dark blue, tart, sweet and sour berries.

What is the value of the blackthorn, what are the useful properties and contraindications of this plant? We will find the answer to these questions together with you. And also consider several recipes remedies plant based.

Beneficial features

For medicinal purposes, leaves, flowers, blackthorn berries are most often used. The flowers are harvested and dried during the flowering period - March or April. Leaves are harvested in summer, after flowering ends. The berries are harvested when they are fully ripe, used both fresh and dried.

Since all parts of the plant contain tannins, blackthorn is used as astringent... Pectins, also present in the composition, endow the plant with adsorbing properties. Juice is squeezed out of fresh berries, the beneficial properties of which are used as an anti-inflammatory, diuretic, as well as a laxative, expectorant.

Besides Fresh Juice berries have an antibacterial effect on the body, destroys pathogens, is effective for giardiasis, and also helps with intestinal dysfunction.

The beneficial properties of berries are used in folk medicine. They have active diuretic, natriuretic diaphoretic properties, have an astringent, anti-inflammatory effect on the body. But be careful! The seeds (seeds) of blackthorn berries contain the glycoside amygdalin, which is poisonous and can cause poisoning.

An infusion of fresh or dried flowers is taken in the treatment of hypertension, as it reduces the permeability of the vascular walls. Also, the infusion has high anti-inflammatory properties, it is used for ailments of the digestive system. In addition, it has a positive effect on the health of the liver.

The leaves of the plant also have a diuretic and laxative effect on the body. An infusion is prepared from them, which, among other things, is used for rinsing the mouth for various inflammatory processes.

The useful properties of the blackthorn are not limited to this. In addition to the listed parts of the plant - leaves, flowers, berries, traditional medicine uses the roots, bark of blackthorn and its young wood. Funds based on them have diaphoretic, antipyretic properties, are used in the treatment of diarrhea, malaria, colds accompanied by an increase in temperature.

Juicing

Gather ripe fresh fruits, wash, dry, remove seeds from them. Mash the berries with a wooden spoon, heat on the stove, to about 60-70 degrees. Immediately remove from the stove, crush the berries again, and squeeze the juice through cheesecloth, pour into a jar, store in the refrigerator.

Infusion of fresh berries

Place 1 tbsp in a mug. l. fresh berries, mashed with a spoon (seedless), pour 200 ml of them. only boiled water. Pour a saucer on top, cover with a towel. Wait exactly one hour. Then drink this infusion every morning, before breakfast, on an empty stomach.

Infusion of flowers

Recipe 1... Place in a glass, deep bowl 3 tsp. freshly picked flowers. Fill them clean, soft, cool drinking water- 1 glass. Cover with a lid or plate and leave overnight. Strain in the morning, drink a small sip 4-5 times a day. This infusion is useful as an effective diuretic in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, liver, allergic rashes... It will help clear the skin of blackheads, acne, boils.

Recipe 2... Place 1 tbsp in a cup. l. fresh or dried flowers, pour 200 ml of warm, boiled water there. Also cover with something, insulate. Leave the infusion for 40-60 minutes. Then strain, drink a glass at night. The infusion is effective as a laxative.

Leaf decoction

Pour 1 tbsp of water into a small enamel saucepan. l. chopped fresh or dry leaves, add 200 ml of hot water there. Place on the stove, boil, simmer at the lowest hot temperature, about 15 minutes. Then remove from heat, wait until cool. Strain, and squeeze the raw material itself. Drink the broth half a glass three times a day before meals (half an hour).

Healing tea from leaves and inflorescences

Useful properties of blackthorn can be used every day, in particular, preparing delicious, healthy, aromatic tea in the morning and in the evening. For this 2 tsp. Pour dried (or fresh) leaves, flowers into a saucepan, add 400 ml of boiling water, boil, immediately remove from heat. Wrap the pot, wait until well brewed, and pour into cups.

Contraindications

If we talk about the contraindications of thorns, I would like to remind you once again that only the pulp is edible in ripe fruits. You can't eat their bones, you can get poisoned. Also, products made from blackthorn, its fresh berries are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance.