Even in ancient China, lemongrass was the first to be used for medicinal purposes - a berry with a wide range of beneficial effects. Today, whole plantations of this crop are grown for the pharmaceutical industry. Often there is lemongrass planted by amateur gardeners in their areas, where it performs a decorative function.
Description
The birthplace of this plant is China, but it has become quite common in Russia (mainly in the Far East), Japan, Korea. It grows most often on slopes, located at an altitude of 200 to 400 meters above the level of water bodies. Schisandra is a liana-shaped bush, the branching stems of which are up to 2 cm thick and reach a length of 15 m. They are covered with a reddish-brown smooth bark, which becomes rougher and flaky with age.
Fleshy leaves of light green color are located on long (up to 3 cm) petioles. Their shape is ellipsoidal, edges with slightly pronounced denticles. In late May - early June, the bush is covered with white, dioecious flowers that have a delicate, pleasant aroma.
Later, in their place, fruits are formed that finally ripen in September - October. Chinese Schisandra berries are round, bright red in color. Their flesh is juicy and soft, but the taste is very specific, bitter. The smell, like that of leaves and bark, is lemon, for which the plant got its name. Inside each berry are two kidney-shaped seeds. The fruit yield is up to about 30 kg per 1 ha.
Biochemical composition
A large number of useful components contained in this plant allows its wide use in the pharmaceutical industry. Their complex is due to its therapeutic effect.
To date, a lot of different medicines have been created, which include lemongrass. Its berry is rich in catechins, anthocyanins, essential oils, pectin and organic acids. It is an excellent source of vitamin C.
Schizandra fruits are also rich in microelements such as copper (0.1 mg / g), manganese (0.22 mg / g), zinc (0.13 mg / g), nickel (0.33 mg / g). A large amount of potassium (19.2 mg / g), selenium (33.3 mg / g) was found in them. All these components have a positive effect on the human body. No toxic substances detected.
The healing properties of lemongrass
The popularity of this plant in pharmacology is due to a greater extent to its tonic and regenerative effects. No wonder the Chinese hunters, setting off on a long journey, always took with them the berries of lemongrass. The properties of these fruits stimulate the nervous and muscle systems helped maintain physical fitness, for a long time do without food and not feel tired.
Schizandra fruits enhance positive reflexes, activate metabolism, increase immunity and photosensitivity of the organs of vision. In addition, they stimulate cardiovascular activity and respiration, increase motor secretion of the digestive tract, and tone the uterus and skeletal muscles. The therapeutic effect is explained by the ability of the fruit to enhance blood circulation in a diseased organ, and the biologically active substances contained in them help the coordinated work of the whole organism.
Schisandra - a berry, indispensable in the process of intense mental work, when concentration of attention, concentration and integrity of perception are especially necessary.
Application in traditional medicine
Basically, funds based on this plant are used in case of a breakdown, to restore working capacity, when overwork. Its fruits are recommended for people who have experienced severe debilitating diseases. Their tonic properties help to cope with increased mental stress.
The tannins contained in lemongrass contribute to recovery from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The ability to increase pressure is explained by the effectiveness of the fetus with hypotension. Therefore, you need to carefully take funds from lemongrass to those who suffer from high blood pressure.
In asthma, bronchitis and other diseases of the respiratory system, various parts of the named plant are used. Schisandra berries, the use of which is considered in our article, are effective for myopia, giving excellent results to increase visual acuity.
Tinctures made from the fruits of lemongrass help with impotence, various types of depressive states, with the goal of preventing flu and colds. Essential oils, which are contained in the plant in large quantities, improve the functioning of the liver, heart, have an antipruritic effect with insect bites.
It has been established that even lemongrass berry is capable of even removing glycogen and lowering blood sugar levels.
Recipes
The fruits of this plant are used for therapeutic and preventive purposes in any form - fresh, dried, frozen. There are a large number of ways to prepare various products, among which the following are most popular:
- Juice from fresh berries. It is used to restore physical strength, adding one spoonful to tea. The collected berries must be washed and squeezed through cheesecloth. Juice is poured into sterilized jars, pasteurized and rolled for 15 minutes.
- Infusion of dried berries. The fruits of lemongrass are placed in an enameled pan, poured with water (in the ratio of 1 glass per teaspoon of raw materials) and boiled for 10 minutes, closing with a lid. Then the resulting broth is infused, it is filtered and sugar is added to taste.
- For alcohol tincture, chopped Schisandra berries are needed. How to cook and how to use this tool is worth telling in more detail. Prepared berries fall asleep in a bottle and pour 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1: 5. Close the lid tightly and leave in a dark place for 7-10 days. At the same time, the bottle should be shaken periodically. Then strain the tincture, squeeze the berries and add the residues back to the resulting filtrate. Insist for another 2 days and filter again. The liquid in the bottle should be completely transparent. Ready tincture of lemongrass berries is used to increase efficiency, relieve fatigue, and also to strengthen immunity. It is taken in 30 drops 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
- Frozen berries with honey. This tool has not only a therapeutic effect, but also an amazing taste. It is prepared from frozen berries, which are mixed with honey. The ratio is to taste. The combination of these two healthy foods is very effective against many diseases. All due to the fact that each of them enhances the positive effect of the other. This mixture has an anti-inflammatory, sedative effect, helps to eliminate bile, reduces cholesterol, improves overall health. You can take it by a teaspoon per day for both adults and children. Overfatigue, increased drowsiness, vitamin deficiency, anemia - not the whole list of problems that can be solved with the help of such a tool.
Cooking use
The fruits of lemongrass are successfully used for the preparation of fruit drinks and syrups. These drinks invigorate and cheer you up. In cooking, there are many options for what to do with lemongrass berries. They make tasty jam, jam, jam and even marmalade.
Schisandra slimming
The main reasons for the appearance of excess weight are quite a lot - it can be caused by poor nutrition, hormonal imbalances, slowed metabolism, stress, low physical activity, etc. Schisandra is a berry that can eliminate many of them due to its amazing properties. It normalizes metabolic processes, lowers cholesterol, levels the hormonal background. In addition, by stimulating the body, lemongrass allows you to increase energy expenditure. All this leads to fat burning.
Nutritionists believe that sprinkling food with lemongrass juice reduces sugar absorption, excessive consumption of which is one of the causes of obesity. A large amount of vitamin C contained in the fruits of this plant normalizes the intestines. Regular consumption of water with the addition of lemongrass juice or its berries allows you to lose up to 10 kg of excess weight.
You should not just abuse such a diet. The course should be no more than a month, because otherwise the functioning of the stomach is possible.
Contraindications
Any means used in traditional medicine should be taken only after consulting a doctor, since there are always any contraindications. Even completely harmless, it would seem, lemongrass berries are not recommended for people suffering from insomnia, impaired gastric secretion, having high blood pressure, and also for pregnant and lactating women.
Harvesting and storage
The picking of lemongrass fruits is carried out with their full ripening. This usually happens in September, before the onset of frost. Brushes are carefully torn off so as not to damage the vines and sprinkled on burlap.
For about 2 days they are left in this form under a canopy. Then the berries are peeled and placed in a special dryer for 6-8 hours. The temperature should be maintained from 45 to 55 ° C. Store the dried raw materials in hermetically sealed bags.
Schisandra chinensis is a plant with a huge amount of beneficial effects. All of them are quite long in time, so it is advisable to take funds from its fruits in the first half of the day.