Blackberry is a perennial shrub whose branches reach a meter and a half in length. These are actually impenetrable thickets with spikes, the shoots of which grow in all directions. Blackberry leaves also have thorns, like raspberries. However, their form is somewhat different. The plant blooms from spring to autumn with white small flowers. Berries resemble raspberries, but they are black or dark blue. Their collection is carried out in late summer - early fall. Blackberries grow in the mountains, fields and plains, along roads and on the banks of rivers. It is found in the southern and central strip of Russia, as well as beyond the Urals.
Consider the properties of a berry and a blackberry leaf.
Fruit benefits
People’s healers have long known the beneficial properties of blackberries. Various sweets were prepared from it or the fruits were simply dried, and then added to tea. Berries are a natural antidepressant. They have the ability to calm the nervous system and strengthen the immune system. Fruits are taken for sleep disorders, nerves and fever.
The composition of the berry includes iron, magnesium, molybdenum, potassium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, nickel, chromium and other trace elements. Salicylic, malic, and citric acids are distinguished from organic acids. Among the vitamins A, B1, PP, K, C, E. are found. Blackberries are rich in tannins and aromatic substances, pectins, bioflavonoids. The latter are antioxidants. They relieve inflammation, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and relieve swelling.
Berries quench thirst, reduce fever and have a diaphoretic effect. Therefore, they are extremely valuable in the fight against infections and pneumonia.
Tea with the addition of blackberries has a tonic effect, calms and strengthens nerves. A positive effect is also on the intestines. At the same time, both ripe and green berries help: the former stimulate the work of the organ, and the latter cope with diarrhea and disinfect.
The benefits of blackberry leaves
In addition to fruits, blackberry leaves are famous for their healing properties. It is best to collect them when flowering occurs. At the same time, you should choose the youngest, but who managed to get the shape of the leaf. In addition to natural drying, the process can be accelerated in the oven at a temperature of 40 degrees. Blackberry leaves are also rich in flavonoids, tannins, essential and organic oils, and C. stands out among vitamins.
Tannins have an astringent effect. Therefore, they are taken with diarrhea. If you add blackberry leaves to tea, then they will reduce the level of sugar and will contribute to the fight against diabetes. In addition, such tea normalizes metabolic processes in the body.
Blackberry Tea
The drink saturates the body with all the richness of vitamins and minerals that are present in the berry. It will calm you with nervous stress and stress. To make tea with berries, they are washed, pour tea leaves with fruits into a teapot and pour one third of boiling water. After waiting a few minutes, add the rest of the liquid and add sugar to taste.
The following ingredients will be required for preparation:
- a small spoon of large-leaf tea;
- two small tablespoons of berries;
- glass of water;
- sugar at will.
Very useful is the juice from the berries. To do this, choose the most ripe of them. It will help with hoarseness if the vocal cords do not work well. Then a glass of warm juice is drunk in small sips.
Tea with leaves
You can make a drink by adding a blackberry leaf, whose healing properties are also high. To do this, brew two small tablespoons of dried leaves in a glass of boiling water for a quarter of an hour. After that, they are cleaned and drink. You can also add lemon to taste.
Tea treatment
In addition to preparing the drink individually using fruits and leaves, you can add one and the other ingredients. Then take one part of the berries and two parts of the leaves. They grind everything, put it in a bag of cloth and leave it to dry for a couple of days. Then the finished mixture is brewed, as usual. The aroma and taste of such a drink is amazing! You can also cook a mixture with other herbs, such as raspberries.
In order for the drink to perfectly tone the body and easily cope with cough, you need to take the same amount of raspberry, blackberry, linden and coltsfoot leaves. And with an upset stomach, a recipe with the addition of blackberries, mint, chamomile and raspberry flowers, taken in equal proportions, will have a beneficial effect. Then in a glass of boiling water brew up to two small spoons of the dry mixture, and then insist ten minutes.
Fermented Tea
Fans of delicate aromas should try to make a drink according to the following recipe. Fresh leaves are placed in a glass container, tightly covered with a lid and kept in the sun. Under direct rays, they will begin to blacken. Until the leaves are completely black, they are removed and immediately dried in the oven at low temperature, stirring occasionally. Tea is prepared in the usual way. But its aroma is so pleasant that it does not differ from a real Chinese drink. It is useful for improving digestion processes, and also as a firming, invigorating and tonic.
Folk recipes
Consider two more recipes. This is not a drink, but a healing tincture. Therefore, they take it not for pleasure, but for treatment.
The first recipe is this. Take two tablespoons of dried leaves and pour two glasses of boiling water. In a closed container, insist for four hours, after which it is filtered and drunk in half a glass three times a day. After a few days, you will feel better. Tincture helps a lot with overexcitation of the nervous system. It is also useful for infections, sclerosis, and high blood pressure.
You can cook another recipe that will also help calm your nerves. To do this, take two parts of leaves, add one part of calendula flowers, then four tablespoons of the mixture is poured with 300 milliliters of boiling water. Allow to cool, and then drink half a glass three times a day thirty minutes before meals, after having filtered the blackberry leaves.
Useful properties and contraindications for women
Separately, it must be said about the effect that the plant has on the fair sex, who are in position. Both the fetus and the blackberry leaf during pregnancy are not prohibited. The body at this time requires a lot of vitamins. And the plant can give it to mom. However, as in everything, the main thing here is to exercise caution. In addition to an allergic reaction, you should be wary of a blackberry in case there is chronic cystitis, intestinal disorders and postoperative consequences from injuries of internal organs.
In the absence of the above contraindications, lovers of berries can quite afford to enjoy them. So, women who consumed the fruit and blackberry leaf during pregnancy leave positive reviews. Many assure that the lethargy, which is often felt in the later stages, passes, and the body seems to come to life, filled with energy.
Contraindications
Like all medicinal plants, blackberry leaves have beneficial properties and contraindications. Positive properties we reviewed above. Now let's say a few words about the negative. Firstly, there may be individual intolerance to the berry. Secondly, it is unlikely to be suitable for people suffering from chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines. If there is an increased acidity, then you can not drink more than a glass of juice a day. In addition, a mixed kidney reaction may be observed. If there is a problem with this organ, then it is better to drink the drink without adding sugar.
Medicines are also sold in the pharmacy, which include blackberry leaves. Useful properties and contraindications are then indicated on the package. For example, there may be an allergy to blackberries. It manifests itself in the form of vomiting, nausea, swelling, or diarrhea. Moreover, signs can occur both after a couple of minutes, and after a few days. In case of such a reaction, you need to immediately flush the stomach. To do this, drink five glasses of water. Then cause vomiting. Then you can take a pill for allergies and call a doctor.
Conclusion
Thus, blackberry is a very useful plant, and not only berries, but also leaves are healing. Herbal teas have a calming effect and strengthen the immune system. An excellent therapeutic effect is also provided by baths with the addition of leaves. It turns out that we should not forget about such a useful berry. Make jam or compote, dry the leaves for tea and tinctures and use them in the cold season. Be healthy!