Buckthorn (joster) is popularly called wolfberry. Humanity has long been familiar with the healing properties of this shrub - there are many legends, beliefs, superstitions and various recipes about its use.
Features
Wolfberry is a small shrub with brown, sometimes dark brown smooth branches and a trunk without thorns. Its bark is usually covered with gray spots, most often elongated. In comparison with other shrubs, when removing the upper layer, a second one is found - already red.
Leaves of buckthorn are petiolate, elliptical in shape, with pairs of veins on the side. The berry of the shrub is small, with flat-convex bones.
Buckthorn blooms from May to July, sometimes also in August. Berries ripen in late summer - early September. Shrubs usually grow in well-moistened areas - the edges of forests, wet meadows, and also near rivers.
Traditional and traditional medicine use the beneficial qualities of both the bark and berries of the plant. But, of course, healing recipes with the use of buckthorn bark are especially popular, everyone should know about the medicinal properties and contraindications.
Benefit
Wolfberry has a lot of useful substances in its composition. These are essential oils, various acids, anthraquinones, various kinds of sugar compounds, tannins, alkaloids, and also vitamin C.
It is they in the complex that give buckthorn its main medicinal property - laxative. Once in the body, the plant begins to act only in the large intestine - it slows down absorption, which, in turn, increases the volume of the contents there. So the intestines are emptied.
It should also be noted that plant-based drugs are effective and much milder on the body. But, in any case, they should not be abused - this is fraught with severe poisoning.
Also, the bark of this shrub has decongestant and antibacterial properties.
What helps buckthorn bark?
Wolfberry stimulates digestion, helps with constipation, hemorrhoids and various gastrointestinal diseases, which give unpleasant sensations in the stomach and intestines. It is also used for fever.
In addition, the joster is effective in gastritis, ulcer, colitis, intestinal atony, worms, liver diseases, and the presence of anal fissures. It is used even in teas for weight loss.
The plant is used externally for radiculitis, rheumatism, pustules, scabies and eczema. It is noted that wolfberry eases the patient's condition with heavy periods, dizziness, tachycardia, and diabetes mellitus. Shrub bark is also actively used in gynecology.
In folk medicine, buckthorn is used as a diaphoretic to remove salts and sand from the kidneys from the body.
Wolf berry bark is used even in cosmetology - in the treatment of acne and other inflammations on the skin. It also serves as a natural hair dye, like henna.
Contraindications
The effect of buckthorn bark is ambiguous, since it can not only cure any disease, but also harm the body. Therefore, it must be taken strictly according to all requirements.
The main contraindications for the use of buckthorn bark include:
- pregnancy;
- lactation
- appendicitis;
- crayfish;
- Crohn's disease;
- uterine and other bleeding;
- acute fever.
Also, it is impossible to apply wolfberry to those who suffer from individual intolerance to any of its components.
When and how to harvest buckthorn?
The most suitable time for collecting buckthorn can be called March-April. It was at this time that sap flow under the bark of the bush had not yet begun. Best for collection are young shoots of wolfberry.
To obtain buckthorn phyto-raw materials, it is necessary to make annular cuts on its bark with an interval of 15 cm, and then connect them longitudinally.
If there is moss, lichen, etc. on the bark of a plant, it is unsuitable for healing. It is undesirable to collect raw materials from young shrubs. It is better when the buckthorn is 8 years old - during this period it can reach a height of 3 meters.
In order to properly dry the bark of the bush, various canopies are used. You can also place raw materials in the attic or in other ventilated areas.
The bark must be laid out in a thin layer and stirred occasionally. When it becomes fragile, you can judge its readiness for use.
Wolf bark should also be stored in well-ventilated areas.
Growing
In order to propagate buckthorn, seeds or cuttings are used.
Growing a wolf berry in your home garden will not cause problems, since this shrub is extremely unpretentious.
A good place for planting buckthorn will be a drained, but with enough moisture area, protected from the wind. Even on not the richest soil the plant will grow. The main condition for him is humidity.
Preliminary preparation of the soil for the place where the bush will be planted is not necessary. The pit for the seedling should have a size of one meter (length, width, depth). It is better to dig it in advance - a day before planting.
The further process is as follows:
- During planting, it is advisable to introduce a mixture of sand and humus into the soil.
- Shrub saplings must be immersed in the center hole, straighten the roots and sprinkle with earth, tamp.
- Having formed a hole, the earth should be moistened and mulched with compost or peat.
Recipes
There are many recipes based on buckthorn. They are used for various health problems, but you must first consult a doctor in order to avoid adverse reactions. The doctor will provide detailed instructions for the use of buckthorn bark.
Classic broth
It is necessary to fill in 20 g of crushed shrub bark with half a liter of cold water. After this, boil the mixture for 30 minutes, cool and strain.
As a laxative, it is recommended to take a decoction of buckthorn bark as tea throughout the day. To cleanse the body - 5 times a day for a teaspoon, with fever - half a glass 2 times a day.
Collection
This recipe is effective as an antiparasitic. It will take half a teaspoon of buckthorn bark, wormwood, tansy and oak bark.
Pour the herbs with half a liter of hot water, let it brew for 15 minutes, cool and strain.
As for the instructions for use of buckthorn bark, drink 50 ml infusion 20 minutes before eating.
Tea
Take half a teaspoon of bark and pour it with a glass of boiling water, strain after 15 minutes. The resulting remedy is drunk in the morning as a regular tea to strengthen immunity.
Tincture
Pour one part of the bark with five parts of 30% alcohol. Allow the mixture to infuse in a dark place, shaking occasionally, for 10 days. Then strain.
According to the instructions for use, buckthorn bark as a tincture should be applied externally for pustules, boils, pyoderma, streptoderma, lubricating the affected skin 3 times a day.
Conclusion
With constipation, fever, rectal fissures, liver diseases, the use of decoction of buckthorn bark is suitable for regulating the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Tinctures are externally more recommended for scabies, eczema, boils and other purulent rashes on the surface of the skin.
Thus, we can talk about the multiple healing properties of buckthorn. And both berries and bark.
Due to its unique composition, the bark of the bush is the mildest laxative. Also, medicinal tinctures, decoctions, teas based on wolfberry are very effective for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract, liver, as well as hemorrhoids, parasites, etc.
Outwardly, wolfberry remedies are used in the treatment of acne, eczema, scabies. In addition, teas from the bark of this shrub are effective in losing weight. But before applying the methods of traditional medicine, it is necessary to consult with a specialist. Since when appointing buckthorn bark, only a doctor can take into account the medicinal properties and contraindications.