Honeysuckle is a small, neat shrub that is famous not only for its beauty, but also for its healing qualities. Its berries with a pleasant taste are appreciated, as well as flowers, bark, leaves and shoots. How to apply honeysuckle, useful properties and contraindications - this information is useful in the treatment of many diseases.
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Useful properties of honeysuckle for the human body
In edible varieties, berries are dark blue with a bloom, like plums, oblong, grow on branches with small clusters.
Health benefits of fruits due to their low calorie content and rich chemical composition:
- essential oils - regulate biological and physical processes in the body;
- organic acids - maintain acid-base balance;
- polyphenol - strengthens the walls of blood vessels, stops bleeding;
- pectin - lowers cholesterol and sugar, prevents the formation of tumors;
- tannins - characterized by hemostatic, astringent, bactericidal properties;
- Vitamin C - is an antioxidant, increases the body's defense against pathogenic microbes, the ability of tissues to regenerate;
- B vitamins - strengthen the circulatory system;
- Vitamin A - supports immunity, normalizes lipid balance.
The pulp of the fruits contains a huge set of trace elements (zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium, iron).
Honeysuckle berries are advised to eat in the presence of such health problems:
- Cardiovascular diseases (bradycardia, atherosclerosis, increased fragility of the vascular walls, varicose veins, hypertension).
- Vitamin deficiency, decreased immunity, loss of strength, anemia.
- Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (dysbiosis, diarrhea, obesity, increased gas, metabolic disorders, lack of appetite, low acidity).
- Diseases of the urinary system.
- Colds and acute respiratory infections.
- Musculoskeletal disorders.
Fruits are good for people living in polluted environments. They neutralize the effect of radiation and remove heavy metal salts from the body. Honeysuckle improves digestion, helps to reduce excess weight by accelerating metabolism.
Application in traditional medicine
Edible honeysuckle fruits are sweet or slightly sour. They make tasty jam, jelly, stewed fruit, they are frozen for the winter. Tea from frozen berries is useful in spring and autumn, strengthens the immune system. Dried berries are an alternative to antibiotics.
Berry infusions
50 g of ripe berries are poured into a thermos, pour 0.5 l of boiling water and insist. With vitamin deficiency, anemia, high blood pressure, the drug is taken three times a day before meals, 100 ml each.
To strengthen immunity, alcohol tincture is prepared. The glass container is half filled with berries, peeled and poured with vodka. A tightly closed jar is kept in a cool place and shaken daily. After two weeks, the liquid is poured into a separate bowl, and the berries are filled with sugar and placed in heat for 7 days. Then the juice is squeezed through cheesecloth and mixed with the alcohol part.
Juice
The juice of berries of edible honeysuckle varieties ("nymph", "amphora", "sweetened", "violet", "moraine", "Cinderella") is especially appreciated. It contains a large amount of hydrocyanic acid, which fights against microorganisms of a fungal nature. They lubricate the affected skin with lichen. To enhance the effect, the flesh of the honeysuckle fruits is applied to the foci.
If you drink three times a day for 1 tbsp. lies. juice, then in a month it will be possible to get rid of acne, acne rashes and other skin pathologies. Also, the juice is instilled into the nose with a runny nose.
The use and benefits of honeysuckle leaves
Infusion of fresh leaves well reduces cholesterol, is useful for obesity. In the spring, it helps to cope with vitamin deficiency, protect the body from colds and viral respiratory diseases, and prevent complications from developing. Reduce pain in inflammatory processes of the throat or gums can be rinsed with a decoction.
To prepare it, just pour 3 tbsp. tablespoons of chopped leaves 200 ml of boiling water and boil for 3-4 minutes. Means to insist 2 hours and strain. The broth is used inside for constipation, colitis. It strengthens the stomach, cleanses the liver, normalizes stool, and has diuretic properties. Honeysuckle leaves are enriched with magnesium, so a decoction of them improves the cardiovascular system, fights hypertension and atherosclerosis.
Dry crushed leaves, harvested during flowering, have antibacterial properties. Powder sprinkled open wounds, purulent ulcers. Honeysuckle prevents pathogens from multiplying, relieves inflammation, and accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues.
Useful properties of honeysuckle bark and shoots
Shrub bark stimulates appetite and improves digestion, reduces headache. A tablespoon of crushed bark, cut in the fall, pour 1 cup boiling water, boil for 7 minutes, insist and take 2 tbsp. tablespoons three times a day before meals. The drug has a diuretic effect, it relieves swelling. It does not apply with a tendency to constipation, as it has a strong fastening effect.
Decoctions from the shoots are added to the bath with rheumatism, osteochondrosis and other diseases of the joints and spine.
Applying honeysuckle flowers
Flowers are useful for inflammation of the bladder, kidneys and liver, headaches.The infusions prepared on their basis have an antipyretic effect, remove heavy metals from the body. First, the flowers are dried, then 1 tsp. raw materials are poured with boiling water and allowed to infuse. Drink 1 tbsp. lies. infusion 3 times a day. The tool copes well with pain in the stomach and intestinal colic.
Read also: thyme herb
Honeysuckle for women
The female body honeysuckle helps maintain beauty. Fresh berries contain antioxidants and vitamin A, which have a beneficial effect on the skin condition and slow down the aging process. Honeysuckle low-calorie, increases metabolism. This is a great dessert for those women who adhere to a diet.
In cosmetology
The benefits of honeysuckle are also undeniable in cosmetology. The hair is rinsed after washing with a decoction from the bark of the plant. Masks from the pulp of fresh berries are made twice a week with inflamed acne, comedones. Maintain the composition for at least 20 minutes.
From dried fruits and leaves, a lotion is prepared. A tablespoon of raw material is poured into 1 liter of boiling water and insisted for a quarter of an hour. After cooling, the container is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days. It is recommended to rinse your face with lotion in the morning for three weeks, and then take a break of at least 10 days.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding
A woman carrying a child is allowed to eat honeysuckle fruits, but not more than 30–35 berries per day. The fact is that they can aggravate the constipation that pregnant women often suffer from. A large number of berries can cause an allergic reaction. If after eating there was any unpleasant sensation, then you should stop eating sweets.
Honeysuckle berries can be eaten during lactation, when the baby is more than 3 months old. It is better to start with a few fruits a day, observing the reaction of the child. If he did not have rashes and digestive problems, then you can safely enjoy a delicious dessert.
The benefits of honeysuckle for men
The berries contain selenium - a trace element involved in the thyroid gland and in the production of testosterone. The hormone is responsible for the functionality of the male genital area. Selenium improves sperm quality and sperm motility. It is used as part of the complex treatment of infertility and erectile dysfunction.
Contraindications and side effects
There is no harm to honeysuckle for health if you eat fruits in reasonable quantities. Overeating can cause diarrhea or constipation, rashes, muscle cramps, and pain in the stomach. Berries are undesirable for children under 5 years of age, especially prone to allergies.
Infusions and decoctions are not recommended for oral administration during exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases (gastric or duodenal ulcer, gastritis, cholelithiasis), with reduced pressure.
Before using any part of the honeysuckle inside, it is important to make sure that this variety is edible.
Poisonous berries are distinguished by bright yellow or red color without a characteristic plaque, rounded shape. Signs of poisoning are convulsions, heart palpitations, shortness of breath. If such symptoms occur, you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible.
Honeysuckle, the use of which is undeniable, like any other plant, has contraindications. Therefore, it is important to adhere to the recommended dosage when preparing decoctions and infusions, not to abuse the fruits.
Before starting treatment, it is advisable to consult a specialist to avoid side effects.
With skillful use, honeysuckle will relieve ailments, help strengthen immunity, make up for the lack of vitamins and minerals, and improve overall well-being.
