Chinese Dereza is a shrub that has soft creeping stems with short spines. The berries of the plant, which are popularly called "wolf" and "royal thorns", have a juicy red or bright orange color, ripen in mid-autumn. Belongs to the nightshade family.
A bit of history
Chinese Dereza was known to the people in Ancient China, when the Tang Dynasty reigned . Almost all formulations of fortifying formulations included the berries of this plant. In China, there is even a legend associated with dereza: once, while driving past a village, an official saw a not very pleasant picture - a young girl beat an old man. He was indignant at what was happening and expressed her his displeasure. But it turned out that the old man was the grandson of this girl. The official asked her with great surprise how this is possible. To which she replied that her entire family drinks an amazing drink of longevity, so they all are young and beautiful. The grandson categorically refuses to use it, and therefore looks like an old man. And the longevity drink is a simple decoction of dereza. "
Where is it growing?
The main place of growth of this shrub is the northern and central regions of China. Although it is also common in Korea and Japan. Chinese Dereza loves to settle on rocky clefts, roads, near houses, on the slopes of mountains and foothills with dry soil.
Beneficial features
This plant is used in traditional medicine. The diseases with which Chinese dereza helps to fight are many:
- hypertension;
- visual impairment. It is proved that phytochemicals included in the plant contribute to the protection of ocular fiber from hyperglycemia;
- atherosclerosis;
- rheumatism;
- headache;
- pathology of the liver and kidneys;
- fever;
- weakness and fatigue of a chronic nature;
- diabetes;
- prostatitis;
- impotence;
- cough;
- constipation
- tuberculosis;
- prevention of cancer (increases the speed of production of leukocytes, which helps to strengthen the immune system).
Also, dereza is used as an anti-asthma, antipyretic, anti-infective and antioxidant agent. The berries of this plant improve blood circulation, have a beneficial effect on cardiac activity, kidneys, liver, and help prevent the appearance of thrombosis.
Chinese Dereza: growing
They are engaged in the cultivation of this berry mainly in its homeland - in China. But if desired, it can be grown at home and with us. Let us examine this question in more detail.
First you need to purchase either seeds (it will be faster) or Chinese dereza berries (the process will drag on for at least 1.5-2 months). If you have acquired the fruits, you need to put them in the freezer for 30 days, then defrost and dry thoroughly, and only then remove the seeds from them. The procedure for growing dereza will be much easier if they are bought ready-made.
The soil can be absolutely any, but preferably sandy. Seeds must be planted in the ground to a depth of 2-3 centimeters. After you need to sprinkle them with earth and pour water.
For some time, until three leaves appear on the shoots, the plant should be kept indoors, as it is very sensitive to weather and winds. It is necessary to transplant the dereza onto a sunny spacious place with good drainage.
If the growing bush becomes crowded, then it can be transplanted again. The grown dereza has good resistance to temperature changes and is not afraid of either drought or frost.
If you want to grow a plant as an indoor flower, do not forget about its need for a lot of light. In this pollination you have to do it yourself.
Billet
Leaves begin to prepare for storage during flowering shrubs. Chinese dereza fruits are harvested in autumn (late October-early November), and bark and roots - only after picking berries.
Composition
The berries of Chinese dereza are an excellent source of betaine, daucosterol, vitamin C, licin, rutin, choline, etc. The following active substances are also part of them:
- Proteins
- amino acids;
- physalin;
- zeaxanthin;
- phenolic acids;
- magnesium;
- copper;
- calcium;
- zinc;
- phosphorus;
- manganese;
- alkaloids;
- taurine;
- vitamins: C, B1, B2, E, nicotine, carotene, riboflavin;
- polysaccharides;
- phytosterols.
Chinese Dereza: application
This medicinal plant uses almost all its parts: leaves, berries and even root bark. At the same time, in China itself, Chinese dereza is used as greens (in salads, as a decoration of a festive table). For this, her young shoots and leaves are taken.
To use the berries of the plant, they must be thoroughly dried. It is used both as a medicine and as a simple seasoning added to soups and various pork dishes.
A few recipes for preparing infusions and decoctions of dereza
Tonic:
- for its preparation, it is necessary to insist 5-10 grams of dereza leaves in 250 ml of boiling water for about 15-20 minutes. Strain the resulting infusion and drink it 2-3 times a day, 50 ml each.
For the treatment of neurasthenia and impotence:
- you need to boil the fruit of a doraza (about 20 grams) in 350 ml of water for about 10-15 minutes. Drink 2-3 times a day for 100 ml.
To relieve neurotic edema and get rid of fever:
- take the bark of the roots of the plant (5-20 grams), then boil it for 10 minutes in 300 ml of water. About an hour and a half, insist, filter and drink no more than 5 times a day, 50 ml.
Attention! Some sources say that this plant is poisonous. Therefore, its independent use as a medicine can be dangerous. Before using it, consult with a specialist.