European Bearberry is a shrub with recumbent oblong stems. It grows in North America, the European part of Russia, the Far East and Siberia. It is very rare in the non-chernozem zone and in the Caucasus. In folk medicine, bearberry is used to make infusions, teas, decoctions with antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. With proper preparation, you get a healthy drink that has a beneficial effect on health, which we will talk about in this article.
What is bearberry useful for?
Bearberry leaves are a source of a large number of useful substances and the main source of phenols and phenologlicosides. Shrub shoots contain up to 20% arbutin. In addition, flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, iridoids, quinic and formic acids, up to 35% tannins, a small amount of essential oil, macro- and microelements were found in the shoots of a plant such as bearberry.
The leaves of the plant contain: 2-O and 6-O-galloylarbutins, hydroquinone, iteoside and methylarbutin. Bearberry leaves are also rich in ursulic and oleic acids. They contain uvol, Ξ±- and Ξ²-amyrin, lupeol, erythrodiol, catechins, cyanidin and dolphinidin.
Application
Bearberry has a unique chemical composition that helps the body fight colds and effectively cures diseases of the bladder. The plant is used successfully in gynecology for bleeding, has a beneficial effect on the body with asthma. How painkillers are used for rheumatism. In many diseases, as a sedative, an infusion of bearberry leaves is recommended. Pharmacognosy is developing new ways to use this drug for medicinal purposes.
Bearberry improves intestinal motility, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and is successfully used for liver diseases. Bearberry infusion is recommended for malaria and tuberculosis, as well as for heart failure and diabetes. In Tibetan medicine, bearberry is used for heartburn, anemia, alcoholism, gastritis, and also as an anthelmintic and tonic. Healing properties are also possessed by the flowers of the plant. With their help, they treat diseases of the heart and blood vessels in adults, and visual impairment in children.
Bearberry in cosmetology
- To cleanse the skin. Bearberry effectively combats age spots.
- For weight loss. Bearberry is a well-known diuretic. It contributes not only to weight loss, but also to the elimination of oxidation products during diets and fasting.
- For oily hair. Bearberry tincture effectively fights hair loss, normalizes their nutrition and prevents cross-section of hair ends.
- To get rid of edema. In this case, preference is given to alcohol tincture, since it contains less liquid.
- For the healing of ulcers and wounds. As a powerful disinfectant and bactericidal agent, bearberry broth (recipe description below) protects wounds from infection and speeds up the healing process.
- To prevent skin aging. Bearberry contains a large amount of antioxidants, so it is widely used in cosmetology against drying and aging of the skin, the appearance of wrinkles.
General strengthening properties of bearberry
- strengthens the immune system and helps to restore strength;
- safely and gently cleanses the body;
- possesses antipyretic effect;
- fights prostatitis, restoring urination and relieving inflammation;
- anesthetizes;
- relieves breathing problems;
- effective for hypertensive crises.
Bearberry Tea
The recipe for tea from this plant has been known since ancient times. Today it is recommended to replace it with infusion. But this is due, first of all, to the fact that bearberry emits tannins and tea can cause irritation of the gastric mucosa. Nevertheless, the recipe for tea is very useful and is successfully used in treatment. It is important to know: bearberry leaf tea is not recommended for children and people with gastritis. In this case, it is better to cook jelly (compote) from the fruits of the plant, which improve intestinal motility and gently affect the body.
First of all, tea is used as an uroseptic for diseases of the urinary system. The beneficial effect of tea is due to the fact that the active substances act on the urinary organs. Due to the diuretic property, bearberry tea can not only disinfect the kidneys, but also literally rinse them.
In addition, tea has:
- analgesic effect;
- eliminates breathing problems;
- reduces nausea;
- Eliminates tinnitus.
Plant action
Bearberry tea is effective in:
- pyelonephritis;
- cystitis;
- urethritis;
- with gynecological diseases: vaginitis, cervicitis, etc .;
- in complex treatment of prostatitis.
Possessing diuretic properties, bearberry washes out sand with a tendency to crystal formation in the kidneys. Urine does not stagnate and salts are not deposited - this prevents stone formation. However, one must take into account: if there are already stones in the kidneys, then they can exit into the ureters, which will inevitably lead to renal colic. Therefore, patients with urolithiasis should be careful with plant uroseptics. It is necessary to periodically undergo an ultrasound examination and be under the supervision of a doctor.
With care, bearberry ordinary (photo above) is used for inflammation of the kidneys, as this can aggravate the disease. The use of bearberry tea in this case is undesirable. Many people know the fact that tannins are very useful for diarrhea. Despite the fact that this substance is abundant in bearberry, it is better not to use it with loose stool. Firstly, tea can cause intestinal irritation and cramping. Secondly, bearberry has a diuretic effect, which will aggravate the situation with dehydration.
In the treatment of gynecological diseases, bearberry tea is effective in douching. But it must be borne in mind that many symptoms (for example, leucorrhoea) accompany diseases requiring serious treatment.
Tea brewing technology
Ingredients: two glasses of water and one tablespoon of bearberry.
How to cook: Pour bearberry with the indicated amount of liquid, and boil for half an hour. Drink like regular tea.
With this method, tannins are released from the leaves and, accordingly, the side effect also increases. In particular, this can lead to irritation of the kidneys, intestines and mucous membranes, uterus and bladder.
Ingredients: a glass of boiling water and a teaspoon of bearberry.
How to cook: prolonged boiling of bearberry leaves makes the tea tasteless and unappetizing. Therefore, it is better to prepare an infusion like this - pour a teaspoon of leaves with a glass of boiling water. Day insist and strain. Drink, slightly heated, in a third of a glass. It is recommended to drink tea three times a day.
With this method of preparation, side effects are rare. When using tea from bearberry, you need to give preference to vegetable and dairy foods. It promotes leaching. The fact is that hydroquinone is released from arbutin only in an alkaline environment. For the same purpose, you can add a little baking soda to tea.
European bearberry (bearβs ear) is often used in herbal preparations. It should be borne in mind that each component of the mixture affects the body only in interaction with each other. Therefore, when making fees, it is better to strictly adhere to the recipe.
Herbal mix
Bearberry is combined with different herbs, which significantly increases its healing properties, and saturates decoctions and infusions with additional micro and macro elements. Also, this method allows you to get rid of side effects that the plant can cause in its pure form. To weaken them, bearberry is added to herbal preparations.
- Infusion with parsley seeds and celandine
Ingredients: 200 ml of water, 80 g of bearberry, 20 g of celandine and the same amount of parsley. You can make the infusion without celandine: in this case, 40 g of parsley and 60 g of bearberry are required.
How to cook: pour a tablespoon of a mixture of herbs with hot water in the amount indicated above. Insist 6 hours, then boil for 10 minutes. Strain and drink the infusion in two doses.
Ingredients: nettle, bearberry, wild rose fruit, plantain, and St. John's wort. Herbs take in equal amounts (in grams).
How to cook: mix the ingredients. Three tablespoons of the mixture pour ΒΎ cup of water. Boil the infusion for 5 minutes and insist 20 minutes. Infusion, divided into three parts, drink before meals.
This infusion is especially recommended for chronic cystitis. Drink for six months. Between courses take a break of 2 weeks.
Ingredients: bearberry and motherwort in equal amounts, 500 ml of water.
How to cook: pour two tablespoons of the mixture with half a liter of water. Boil the infusion in a water bath until its amount is reduced by three times. Strain and drink the medicine in 50 ml.
The tool is effective for problems with nerves.
Ingredients: bearberry and corn stigmas in equal amounts (in grams), 250 ml of water.
How to cook: pour a tablespoon of the mixture with water and boil over medium heat for 15 minutes. Divide the broth in equal portions and drink for the day.
This collection is recommended for cystitis. Therefore, when you need to alleviate the condition with this disease, it is wiser to stay on this recipe.
Medicinal Potions Recipes
Ingredients: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of bearberry and 250 ml of water.
How to cook: chop the leaves (you can use a coffee grinder), pour into metal dishes and pour water. Soak for half an hour in a water bath and strain.
If after filtering the broth the contents have decreased (and this will inevitably happen), you need to add boiled hot water to it to get a full glass of broth (250 ml). Let the broth stand for fifty minutes. Drink bearberry broth (description of the cooking method above) in a tablespoon after eating. It is desirable three times a day. A decoction is prepared in a similar way for children, only initially together with a tablespoon of a dry leaf they take a teaspoon of leaves. Cooked in this way the broth of bearberry can be drunk for two days, and then brew a fresh broth.
Ingredients: 1 tbsp. tablespoons of bearberry and 250 ml of boiled water.
How to cook: pour bearberry leaves with water and leave in a warm room for 12 hours. Then strain and drink in the same way as a decoction. After a day, prepare a new infusion. With this method, more beneficial substances will be preserved.
Ingredients: 2 tbsp. tablespoons bearberry, 100 ml of 40% ethyl alcohol.
How to cook: pour the leaves of the plant with alcohol and leave for two weeks. Then strain the tincture and drink after eating (15 - 20 drops). Recommended three times a day). An effective tincture for chronic cystitis.
Contraindications
Infusions and decoctions prepared from bearberry should be taken with great care. They are not shown to everyone and are unsafe. When will you have to look for another treatment?
- With inflammation of the kidneys.
- During pregnancy.
- During lactation.
- For allergies.
- Children under 12 years old.
Treatment with this plant can also cause side effects:
- dry mouth
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea.
When using infusions and decoctions of bearberry, urine is sometimes painted green. But do not be scared. This is a natural reaction. The consumption of infusions (decoctions) of bearberry in excess, can lead to irritation of the urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, prolonged use of these drugs is undesirable. In this case, a break of one to two weeks is necessary.
Self-medication of any disease is dangerous. It is reasonable to use traditional medicine recipes only after consulting with your doctor. The doctor will study the tests, prescribe an effective course of therapy and supplement it with medicinal herbs.