Today you can find about 100 types of blueberries. However, one of the largest varieties is considered to be blueberry Caucasian, which grows in the mountains of Europe, Asia and the Caucasus. A handicraft plant is known to literally everyone who lives in the territory of the former USSR.
Botanical Description
Caucasian blueberries, photos and pictures of which can be found in books on gardening, reach a height of up to 3-4 meters. The plant has the following structural features:
- Rounded branches.
- Small kidneys of acute shape.
- Red-white flowers collected in a brush.
- Falling and large leaves of an elongated shape, narrowed to the base (length 6-10 cm).
- Black spherical fruits, which are located under the leaves.
Composition
All the beneficial properties of the plant are explained by the chemical composition. It:
- B vitamins (contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system);
- Vitamin A (considered to be indispensable in fat metabolism and “fights” free radicals and toxins in the body);
- Vitamin C (supports vascular tone and is important for good immunity);
- vitamin PP or nicotinic acid (improves brain function, cleanses blood vessels, and also lowers blood cholesterol and is directly involved in the synthesis of red blood cells and hemoglobin);
- essential oils (have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects);
- tannins (several times accelerate cell regeneration, have antimicrobial and antiseptic properties);
- organic acids (slow down the aging process of cells);
- sulfur, phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, potassium and chromium (such elements are necessary for metabolic processes and contribute to the normal functioning of the body).
Therapeutic action
The beneficial properties of Caucasian blueberries are preserved to a greater extent in fresh berries, and when frozen or dried, the fruits of the plant are able to lose only a small part of their properties. Today, for the treatment of many ailments, they use:
- berries;
- leaves and stems.
The above parts of the plant have an antiseptic effect and can be used as natural antibiotics. Benefits of Caucasian Blueberries:
- prevention of cancer and the occurrence of low-grade tumors;
- prevention of colds and strengthening immunity;
- cleansing the gastrointestinal tract from toxins;
- treatment of diseases of the genitourinary tract;
- normalization of the amount of sugar in the blood.
In addition, blueberries are actively used in cosmetology as a means to moisturize the skin. Fruits are considered a dietary product because they contain a minimal amount of calories.
Tinctures and teas from Caucasian blueberry leaves are able to cope with severe headaches and migraines, coughing. Blueberry tincture is used to heal skin with burns, wounds, eczema.
Contraindications
Eating the fruits of the plant is prohibited to those who have an individual intolerance or allergy to the components that make up the Caucasian blueberries. In addition, you should not use berries if:
- pancreatic diseases diagnosed;
- there is an urolithiasis;
- tendency to constipation.
Blueberry cultivation
A widespread artisanal plant of the Heather family is planted to a depth of 20 cm in the soil with peat crumb. It is recommended to land in October and early November or in March or April. An excellent option would be the planting of 2-3-year-old bushes, which may soon begin to bear fruit.
The cultivation of Caucasian blueberries can occur both on an industrial scale and at home. To make the plant feel better, it is worthwhile to mix the topsoil (10 cm) with large sawdust. These actions help maintain optimal moisture levels even on hot summer days.
Caucasian blueberries bloom in May or July, and fruits appear either in July or August, depending on the planting and age of the plant. Full ripening of blueberries occurs mainly in early September.
Recipes
To prepare a medicinal decoction of Caucasian blueberries, pour dried berries with steep boiling water. The broth boils for 5-10 minutes. Such a therapeutic agent for lotions is used.
A great option is to brew fresh juicy blueberries with other fruits. Such drinks can be consumed both in the form of compotes and in the form of tea. A homemade ointment from boiled blueberry fruits, which are ground to a homogeneous consistency, has a therapeutic effect. The ointment is applied to the affected areas of the skin and a gauze bandage is applied.
Many housewives know how delicious jam and jelly cooked from Caucasian blueberries can be. To do this, you need to fill 5 cups of berries with 7 cups of sugar and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring and removing white froth at the same time. Such sweet dishes also have medicinal properties and retain vitamins and nutrients in their composition. Blueberry jam can be added to tea or made from it cold drinks, soft drinks.