A person is surrounded by a huge number of plants that can be used for medicinal purposes.
These include hawthorn, whose beneficial properties were known thousands of years ago.
It is often added to culinary masterpieces, cosmetics and pharmacy products.
The hawthorn has contraindications, but there are not many of them, so almost everyone can feel the healing properties of the plant.
Composition of hawthorn
In medicine (alternative and traditional), not only the fruits of the plant are used, but also the healing properties of its other components - flowers, leaves, and even bark. This is due to the rich chemical composition of hawthorn.
The berries contain the following biological components:
• vitamins of groups C, E, A;
• fructose;
• tannins;
• fatty oils and beta-carotene;
• organic acids and flavonoids.
The colors of hawthorn contain:
• ursolic, coffee and other acids;
• essential oils;
• acetylcholine.
It is also worth noting that hawthorn is recommended for those who follow their figure. There are only 52.5 kcal per 100 grams of plant.
Hawthorn: beneficial properties of the plant
In any form, hawthorn favorably affects the work of all internal systems of the body.
Hawthorn: useful properties
1. Has a diuretic effect, which allows you to remove excess fluid from the body, relieve swelling.
2. Improves metabolism, normalizes the digestive tract, improves intestinal motility.
3. Favorably affects the work of the heart, provides the right amount of oxygen, helps to cope with tachycardia.
4. Normalizes cholesterol and blood coagulation. Very often, lotions with hawthorn are used in folk medicine for spasm of blood vessels.
5. Soothes the nervous system, while not provoking a feeling of drowsiness. Hawthorn copes with insomnia.
6. Infusions and decoctions based on the plant relieve headache and dizziness.
7. Hawthorn strengthens the immune system, especially useful after illness to restore the balance of nutrients in the body.
8. Relieves shortness of breath, normalizes the function of the thyroid gland.
9. Recommended for women during lactation, hawthorn stimulates the production of breast milk.
10. Infusions and decoctions based on hawthorn are prescribed for pregnant women, the composition of the plant nourishes the body with all the important trace elements to maintain the health of the mother and child in the womb.
Despite the fact that hawthorn has contraindications, the plant has many more beneficial properties. However, before using its healing properties, you need to weigh the pros and cons.
Alternative Medicine
Hawthorn, whose useful properties are many, is in great demand in alternative medicine. There are several recipes that are useful to take note of every housewife, so she can always have at hand her "home doctor".
1. With stress and nervous strain. 1 tablespoon of dry hawthorn is poured with 250 ml of boiling water and infused for 2-3 hours. The infusion is filtered, consumed 2 times a day before meals. The tool relieves stress, helps to cope with depression and excessive nervous excitability.
2. With insomnia. 20 grams of berries are poured with boiling water (200 ml) and consumed like tea 1.5 hours before bedtime.
3. It is recommended to take extracts from hawthorn to people in old age at heart failure.
Hawthorn is also used in traditional medicine, it is included in all kinds of pharmaceutical preparations. The rich balanced composition of the plant fights many ailments.
Cooking Application
Hawthorn fruits are very much appreciated in the confectionery industry. The berries are pre-dried, then crushed to a flour and added to the mixture for baking rolls and cookies. The taste of the finished product will have a special aroma.
The most attractive thing is that the fruits of hawthorn retain their beneficial properties in any form. Jams, preserves, juices and marmalade from plant berries will saturate the body with important nutrients.
Few people know that wine made from hawthorn is also useful. It favorably affects both the male and female body. Making such a wine is incredibly simple.
1. The fruits of hawthorn should be crushed as finely as possible, then pour them with natural white wine (approximately 2 liters). It is advisable to cook everything in a glass container.
2. The capacity is removed to infuse in a dark place for 10 days. During this time, you must not forget to shake it regularly.
3. To make the finished wine pleased with an unusual aftertaste and aroma, you can add a little cinnamon or yarrow to it.
4. After 10 days, the wine is filtered, now it can be consumed.
Application in cosmetology
How is hawthorn used in cosmetology? There is only one contraindication to external use - this is individual intolerance. However, it is worth noting that an allergy to the fruits and flowers of the plant is extremely rare.
If a woman has the opportunity to collect a little hawthorn, then she can easily prepare from it excellent means to maintain beauty.
1. Moisturizing and nourishing mask for dry skin. Green grapes (4 berries) are crushed, a tablespoon of fresh juice of hawthorn fruit is added to the resulting mass. The mass is well mixed, applied to the face for 20 minutes. It perfectly tones, nourishes and moisturizes. The mask is recommended to be done 2 times a week.
2. Mask for oily skin. 3 tablespoons of low fat cottage cheese are mixed with 1 tablespoon of yogurt and the same amount of fresh hawthorn juice. Everything is mixed until a homogeneous slurry is formed and applied to the face for 15 minutes.
3. Hair mask from hawthorn. The beneficial properties of berries extend to curls. Preparing a nourishing mask is not difficult. In a deep container, cognac and hawthorn juice are mixed (1 tablespoon each), the same amount of fresh onion juice is added there. The resulting fluid is carefully rubbed into the scalp, spreads along the entire length of the hair. The mask is left for 2 hours, then washed off with shampoo.
Hawthorn: contraindications for internal and external use
It is important to understand that a medicinal plant will benefit the body only if used correctly. Although the hawthorn does not have many contraindications, it’s still worth knowing a few nuances.
1. You can not carry out treatment with hawthorn infusion longer than the prescribed time, as this leads to an increase in heart rate.
2. After using any product based on the fruit or flowers of the plant, it is strictly forbidden to immediately drink cold water - this leads to bloating and colic.
3. In no case, medicinal infusions and decoctions of hawthorn are not taken on an empty stomach - this will lead to vomiting and weakness.
4. In the presence of an allergic reaction to the fruits and flowers of the plant, any treatment based on hawthorn is strictly prohibited.
Hawthorn, whose beneficial properties have been presented, is a "universal doctor." The main thing is to do everything in moderation, it is advisable to consult your doctor before starting treatment.
