Content
Red elderberry is a common plant in Russia, the properties of which cause much controversy. To figure out whether the plant is beneficial or harmful to health, you need to carefully study the photo and beneficial properties of red elderberry.
Description of red elderberry
The tree-like shrub red elderberry can reach up to 5 m in height and has a well-branched trunk covered with light gray bark. The leaves of the shrub are oval with jagged edges and a pointed tip, located one after the other on short petioles. Usually the leaves are bright green, but sometimes there are red-purple shrubs whose leaves contain excess amounts of the anthocyanin pigment.
Red elderberry blooms in late May with pale yellow flowers. The plant is easy to recognize - it emits a rather unpleasant, pungent aroma.
Where does red elderberry grow?
The shrub grows wild and cultivated throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found in central Russia, Europe and North America, Canada, Japan and China.
Favorite places for red elderberry are ravines, forest edges and wastelands. In urban environments, shrubs can appear on ruins and even on abandoned roofs of buildings. However, more often the plant can be seen in parks and gardens, where it is planted for decorative purposes.
Can you eat red elderberries?
Contrary to popular belief, red elderberry is not a uniquely toxic plant. Its fruits are used in cooking and are used in home medicinal recipes.
However, berries become safe only after heat treatment. Eating them raw is strictly prohibited - this leads to serious poisoning.
When does red elderberry ripen?
The fruits of the bush ripen in August - at this time bright scarlet berries appear on the branches, collected in large clusters. The shape of the fruits resembles rowan, but their size is slightly smaller. In addition, the fruits of the plant emit the same unpleasant odor as the flowers.
When to Harvest Red Elderberry
Unripe berries of the plant pose a particular danger. Therefore, they are harvested only after full ripening - in the middle or end of August. Usually the berries are cut from the branches in whole bunches, and then dried in small bunches in the shade, but with good ventilation.
Red elderberry in landscape design
Ornamental red elderberry trees and shrubs are very popular in landscape design.
- In summer cottages, parks and gardens, the plant is often planted solo - a shrub with a bright crown looks impressive against the background of green grass.
- Red elderberry looks good in combination with other shrubs and decorates flower beds. Rising above perennial plants, it attracts additional attention to them and emphasizes the beauty of the flowers.
- The shrub is used to create hedges - its crown is dense, so the plant provides reliable protection of the area from prying eyes.
- The plant is used for planting along the banks of artificial reservoirs - the bush not only decorates the slopes near the water, but also strengthens them, protecting them from destruction.
Raspberries, currants and gooseberries will be good neighbors for plants on the site.
Red and black elderberry: what is the difference
The most obvious difference between the two types of shrubs is the color of the fruit. However, there are differences in other features as well.
- Black berries can be eaten freely, but red fruits must at least undergo serious processing. The fruits of both types of elderberry contain the toxic substance sambunigrin, but in black elderberry its presence is very small, while in red elderberry it is quite high.
- Black elderberry can reach 6-10 m in height, while red elderberry rarely grows above 5 m.
- Shrubs of both varieties bloom at the same period.But if red elderberry smells unpleasant, then black elderberry exudes a rather delicate almond aroma.
The shape and color of the leaves of the plants differ slightly. The foliage of red elderberry is usually brighter than that of black elderberry, but not everyone can tell the difference. The external difference between the species becomes completely obvious only in the fall, when the shrubs begin to bear fruit abundantly.
Composition and nutritional value of berries
The beneficial properties and contraindications of red elderberry are integral to each other. The berries of the plant contain not only toxic compounds, but also many valuable substances. Namely:
- vitamins E, B and A;
- organic acids;
- tannins and tannins;
- paraffin compounds;
- natural sugars;
- esters and resins;
- amino acids;
- calcium and iron, potassium and selenium;
- copper, sodium, zinc and phosphorus.
The fruits of the plant contain a complete group of nutrients. The largest share in the volume is occupied by carbohydrates - about 11 g, small shares are allocated to fats and proteins - 0.5 and 0.65 g, respectively. As for calorie content, 100 g of berries contains about 73 kcal.
What are the benefits of red elderberry?
When used carefully, elderberry can have a beneficial effect on the body. Despite the presence of dangerous poisons in the fruit, in minimal dosages the berries are beneficial for internal and external use.
The benefits of red elderberry for oncology
Red elderberry berries contain a large amount of flavonoids and valuable organic acids. Despite the fact that the plant cannot guarantee a complete cure for cancer, its properties are beneficial in the fight against the disease.Traditional medicine believes that even toxic substances in fruits are valuable in cancer, they have an inhibitory effect on malignant cells.
The medicinal product from the plant is prepared as follows:
- ripe berries are poured into a large glass jar in a layer of about 2 cm;
- pour the same layer of granulated sugar on top;
- For a month, the closed jar is put away in a dark and cool place.
When the medicine is properly infused, and the juice and sugar are mixed, the product can be used for its intended purpose. Take it on a full stomach in the amount of a tablespoon, this should be done three times a day. In total, the course of treatment lasts one and a half months.
It is strictly forbidden to exceed the indicated dosages of a natural remedy - this will not be beneficial, but the harm to the body will be significant.
From Spurs
Medicines based on berries are used externally - red elderberry is good for heel spurs and other diseases. You need to prepare the following:
- a liter jar is filled one third with ripe berries, and then filled to the top with alcohol;
- mix the ingredients and put the jar in a warm, dark place for a month;
- The finished tincture is used for rubbing and compresses.
Apply the tincture to the sore spot twice a day. Red elderberry tincture helps not only with spurs, but also with many other joint diseases - osteochondrosis, arthrosis, vertebral hernias.
Since the toxic properties of red elderberry can cause harm even when used externally, the product should not be abused. It is recommended to treat diseased areas with tincture for no longer than a week, after which you need to take a break from treatment.
During menopause
Not only the fruits from the red elderberry tree, but also the flowers of the plant are beneficial. During menopause, the properties of flower tincture will be valuable for women - the product will even out hormonal levels and help reduce the frequency of hot flashes. The medicinal drink is prepared as follows:
- flowers are poured into a glass vessel;
- the raw materials are poured with alcohol on top, and there should be 5 times more of it than flowers;
- For 2 weeks, the product is infused in a dark place and in a cool place.
For good distribution of nutrients, the tincture should be shaken daily. When it is completely ready, it will need to be filtered and taken 30 drops three times a day.
Using the beneficial properties of red elderberry
Using the plant requires increased caution, but the beneficial properties of the berries and other parts of the bush attract increased attention to the red elderberry. It is used not only for medicinal but also for cosmetic purposes, and is used sparingly in cooking and gardening.
The use of red elderberry in folk medicine
The flowers and berries of the plant are beneficial for a wide range of diseases. Decoctions, infusions and alcohol preparations on red elderberry are used:
- for diseases of the respiratory organs;
- for liver and kidney diseases;
- for joint pain and inflammation - the plant is good for arthritis, radiculitis, rheumatism;
- for inflammatory skin diseases - eczema and psoriasis;
- for diseases of the oral cavity.
The main rule when treating with red elderberry is strict adherence to small dosages and short courses of therapy.
How it is used for other purposes
In moderate quantities and dosages, the plant can be used not only for treatment, but also for beauty care. Most often, elderberry flowers are used in cosmetology, but in some recipes the leaves and pulp of the fruit are in demand. Elderberry helps get rid of acne and skin inflammation, regulates skin oiliness and increases its elasticity.
It is useful to rinse your hair with decoctions of the plant - elderberry helps well with hair loss.
Since red elderberry is a poisonous plant, it is rarely used in cooking. In minimal quantities it can be added to alcoholic drinks to give them a unique taste, as well as to confectionery sweets. Before using in any dishes and drinks, the berries undergo thorough heat treatment - under the influence of high temperature, the toxic substances in their composition are partially destroyed.
Much more often, red elderberry is used in a garden plot - the plant effectively repels pests. At the same time, the properties of the shrub allow you to get rid of not only rodents, but also flies. Red elderberry juice can be used to scrub your hands from stubborn dirt; just rub a few berries in your palms to make your skin completely clean.
Restrictions and contraindications for taking red elderberries
It is recommended for everyone to follow the minimum dosages when consuming tinctures and decoctions.But in case of certain diseases, elderberry will have to be abandoned completely. Contraindications include:
- stomach ulcer and intestinal colitis;
- gastritis and pancreatitis;
- diabetes;
- childhood and adolescence;
- Crohn's disease.
It is necessary to temporarily stop using the plant during pregnancy and during breastfeeding - elderberry will only cause harm.
Symptoms of red elderberry poisoning
It is very easy to get poisoned by the berries of the bush, even with careful use, so you need to know what to do in case of an overdose. Poisoning is manifested by severe symptoms, which include:
- bitterness and sore throat;
- nausea and abdominal pain;
- vomiting and diarrhea;
- tachycardia, dizziness and increased salivation;
- poor spatial orientation.
If such signs appear, it is necessary to immediately induce vomiting or rinse the stomach with a weak manganese solution. After the toxic substances leave the body, you need to take a laxative.
Conclusion
Red elderberry is a plant with strong medicinal properties, but requires careful use. When using berries, it is important not to overdose, otherwise your health will be seriously affected.
