Cherry is a tree that is known and loved by many. It is unpretentious and grows in all cities, in each suburban area. But not everyone knows that, in addition to berries, you can eat cherry leaves. Useful properties and contraindications have long been known to traditional healers. But with the development of the pharmaceutical industry, herbs were rarely used. And only in recent years people began to remember what delicious tea from these leaves. Although many gardeners constantly use cherry leaves in canning , their beneficial properties and contraindications are not yet fully understood.
What is remarkable cherry
The tree is a native of the Black Sea. But from ancient times he was revered and loved in all the countries where it grew. Berries were considered not only tasty, but also healthy. They have long been used to make jam, compotes and vitamin decoctions. Cherry orchards look very beautiful both during flowering and when strewn with red berries. In ancient times, magical properties were attributed to this tree. It was believed that if twigs and leaves decorate the newlyweds' bed, then their marriage will be happy.
Composition of Cherry Leaves
Everyone knows how much vitamin C the berries of this tree contain. But cherry leaves also have a rich composition. Useful properties and their contraindications are due precisely to what substances they contain. Recent studies have shown that these leaflets are rich in vitamins and trace elements that are very important for health. They include:
- pectins, fiber;
- minerals: calcium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, iodine, boron;
- B vitamins;
- tannins;
- fructose;
- antioxidants, for example, quercetin;
- a large amount of ascorbic acid;
- a lot of folic acid;
- volatile;
- essential oils;
- coumarin - a substance that reduces the likelihood of blood clots;
- ellagic acid, which prevents the development of tumors;
- Anthocyanins, slowing down the aging of cells.
It is important to know when to collect cherry leaves, so that there are more useful substances in them. The most valuable are young, recently blossomed shoots.
Useful properties of cherry leaves
Our ancestors knew a lot about this tree and often used it for healing. For example, it was believed that porridge made from cherry bark, onions and hemp seeds helps to heal even from a serious illness. All parts of the plant were used to prepare decoctions, compotes and syrups. Modern medicine has proved that not only berries, but also cherry leaves have healing properties . Their health benefits are enormous:
- they strengthen immunity and increase the body's defenses;
- have anti-inflammatory properties;
- have a hemostatic effect;
- restore water-salt metabolism;
- cleanse the body of toxins, remove sand from the kidneys, and even radionuclides;
- have a diuretic effect;
- fatal to bacteria, viruses and fungi;
- have an antioxidant effect that helps slow down aging;
- relieve fatigue and restore performance.
When to eat cherry leaves
Most traditional medicine lovers use such decoctions only to increase immunity and with a lack of vitamin C. But cherry leaves can be used in the treatment of many diseases:
- with colds and flu;
- nosebleeds;
- at elevated pressure;
- tachycardia;
- anemia;
- thrombophlebitis;
- coronary heart disease;
- gout
- as an expectorant for bronchitis;
- with liver diseases.
Are there any contraindications to their use
Many people know that cherry berries can cause abdominal pain and irritation of the gastric mucosa with gastritis and ulcers. And during exacerbations they should not be consumed at all. But completely different - cherry leaves. Useful properties and contraindications are slightly different. They do not cause an increase in the acidity of gastric juice. You can drink decoctions based on them during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. It is not recommended only to use them in such cases:
- with exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcer;
- with a tendency to constipation, since decoctions have a fastening effect;
- under reduced pressure;
- diabetes mellitus;
- with individual intolerance.
How to use leaves
They can be consumed both fresh and dried. The most useful are the young leaves of the cherry. Therefore, it is better to collect them in May before flowering. At this time, they contain the most useful substances, they are tender and juicy. Such leaves can be dried for the winter. It is better to do this at room temperature, spreading them in a thin layer on a baking sheet or towel and stirring occasionally. Raw materials prepared in this way retain all the beneficial properties of fresh leaves and their wonderful aroma. Store dried leaves in a glass jar for no more than a year.
For the preparation of healing broths, you need to take 2 tablespoons of fresh leaves or 1 tablespoon of dried, as they are more concentrated. Raw materials are poured into a glass of boiling water and kept on low heat for 3-5 minutes. After cooling, the broth should be filtered and used for treatment in accordance with the recipe.
Cooking cherry leaves
They are not consumed fresh, as they are too hard. Cherry leaves show their aroma and taste best after heat treatment. Therefore, they have long been used for making teas, compotes, cooking jam, jam or syrup. And now many housewives add these leaves to jars when preserving vegetables. After all, it is a natural flavoring that gives cucumbers and tomatoes an unusual pleasant taste. In addition, fresh cherry leaves have preservative properties. Berries and fruits are stored in their presence longer.
Cherry leaves are one of the components of a delicious “royal jam”. It is made from gooseberries. But you need to cook the berries not on water, but on a strong infusion of cherry leaves. This jam has an unusual pleasant aroma and taste.
Cherry Leaf Drinks
From them you can prepare tasty and healthy teas and compotes that perfectly quench your thirst and increase immunity. Moreover, they can be used without restrictions, since they have no contraindications.
Most often used tea from cherry leaves. Each housewife brews it according to his own recipe: with the addition of tea leaves or other herbs. You can drink such tea with honey, syrup or lemon. It is delicious without everything, as the leaves give the drink a delicate aroma of cherries and soft sourness.
In early summer, you can cook a healthy vitamin compote. To do this, finely chop the rhubarb shoots and boil for 15-20 minutes with fresh cherry leaves. At the end of cooking, add sugar to taste.
Folk recipes
The most popular uses of cherry leaves are fortified drinks and teas. But in folk medicine, they are also used for serious diseases. Most often, several recipes are used.
- To restore the liver with hepatitis, you need to boil 2 tablespoons of crushed fresh leaves for several minutes in a half glass of milk. This amount is drunk throughout the day.
- A few glasses of decoction from dried raw materials per day should be drunk for kidney diseases. The diuretic effect of such a drink removes pathogenic bacteria and gently dissolves stones.
- If you insist fresh or dry leaves on alcohol, and then strain, you get an effective antiseptic solution. It can be used both internally and externally.
- From such a decoction, applications can be made to stop nosebleeds.
- For pain in the joints, you need to brew the leaves together with thin branches. You need to boil them a little longer - about 15 minutes.
- A decoction of crushed leaves and twigs of cherries can be used to rinse the throat or inhalation for tonsillitis and colds.
Leaf application
They are also very useful for preserving the beauty and youth of the skin. Their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it possible to successfully use them as part of masks for skin and hair. They are especially useful for high fat content. Decoctions of cherry leaves effectively relieve swelling and reduce inflammation. Such lotions and compresses stop bleeding, destroy bacteria and accelerate wound healing. And if you freeze the broth, such ice cubes are an excellent tonic and cleanser for the face. It is useful to use cherry twigs with leaves as a bath broom. The essential oils released at the same time have a rejuvenating effect on the skin and a tonic effect on the entire body.
Cherry leaves are an affordable and very effective healing product. Tasty and fragrant tea in the winter will remind you of sunny days and saturate the body with vitamins.