Content
Manchurian nut is a medicinal plant; in everyday life it is called a natural antibiotic. This product is used in complex therapy of oncological diseases. The medicinal properties of the Manchurian nut are undeniable, as a result of which not only the kernels, but also the shell and leaves are used to prepare medicines in folk medicine. It is used extremely rarely in cooking, since peeling the fruit is quite difficult due to the thick and hard shell. Unripe fruits are used to make tasty and at the same time healthy jam.
What does a Manchurian nut look like?
Manchurian walnut is a deciduous tree with a rather powerful and elongated trunk. The tree can reach a height of up to 30 m. The bark is very thick; throughout the growth of the tree, it can change color from light gray to black. The leaves are large, with a complex structure; as a rule, they consist of small leaves - 7-19 pieces. The leaf blade is elongated and has a sharp tip.
Flowers of different sexes appear on the tree. In early spring, male flowers appear in the form of dark earrings.In April, female flowers begin to bloom - they are collected in brushes. After the flowering period has come to an end, the fruits of the Manchurian nut begin to appear.
The fruits are small in size, the length can vary from 6 to 7 cm, the diameter is 4 cm. The shell is quite strong, on the surface of which there are cracks and numerous folds. Peeling the fruit is not as easy as it might seem at first. The color of the shell changes as the fruit ripens - from green to brown. Ripening occurs from August to October.
The first harvest can be harvested after the tree has reached the age of 4-8 years; some varieties begin to bear fruit 15 years after planting in open ground. From each mature tree you can harvest 70-80 kg of crop. The Manchurian walnut is a long-liver and can reach an age of 300 years.
The benefits and harms of Manchurian nuts
If we consider the beneficial properties of products for human health, it is worth highlighting the following points:
- fruits are able to fight fungi, promote rapid healing of open wounds, relieve pain and inflammation;
- all parts of the fruit, without exception, have astringent and disinfectant properties;
- with the help of fresh leaves you can clean the air, saturate it with phytoncides and many other useful substances;
- medicines for the preparation of which the bark of the Manchurian nut was used can relieve pain. The leaves, in turn, have antiseptic and antibacterial properties;
- tinctures and decoctions prepared from the kernels relieve spasms, stop bleeding, promote vasodilation, and have a diuretic effect.Often such decoctions are used to fight against worms;
- bark-based extract is used in the fight against cancer tumors.
It is important to consider that medicines prepared on the basis of Manchurian fruits bring not only health benefits, but also harm, which must also be taken into account.
Many experts recommend paying attention to the following points, according to which you should stop eating fruits:
- there is an individual intolerance of the body to some components that make up nuts, as a result of which this product must be consumed with the utmost caution;
- the activity of substances in tinctures, decoctions and oils becomes much higher, so it is not recommended to use them if you have allergic reactions;
- it is necessary to discard the product if there is sensitivity to various types of nuts;
- Pregnancy and the lactation period are not a reason why you should stop using medicines based on Manchurian nuts, but in this case, consultation with your doctor is required.
It is important to consider that medicinal products made from nuts may be incompatible with other drugs.
Is it possible to eat Manchurian nuts?
Undoubtedly, the Manchurian nut is edible, in addition, it has a rich composition. Despite this, it is necessary to take into account in advance that this product has a number of contraindications, as a result of which the fruits can be eaten only after consultation with your doctor. The kernels contain:
- tannins;
- acids;
- juglone;
- catechins;
- oils
If we consider the vitamin composition, it is worth noting:
- group A;
- group P;
- group B;
- potassium;
- magnesium.
The peel contains a large amount of iodine. In addition, the leaves of the tree also have beneficial properties; they were found to contain valuable acids, such as:
- ellagic;
- coffee shop;
- coumarin;
- ascorbic acid;
- pantothenic;
- nicotine;
- gallic.
The leaves contain the same amount of vitamins as the fruits.
How to crack a Manchurian nut at home
Despite the abundance of the annual harvest, the fruits are eaten extremely rarely, even though the kernel makes up about 30% of the total nut and is quite valuable and dietary. Thus, due to the very thick peel, it is quite difficult to peel the Manchurian nut, but it is possible if necessary.
In order to remove the core, you need to take a medium-sized construction hammer and a birch log measuring 30*70 cm. You also need to use a stand. It is not recommended to use soft trees as a stand; birch is also considered the best option.
At the end of the cut, you need to make a small depression, into which you then need to insert the Manchurian nut with the sharp side. When the nut is inserted into the recess, you need to use a hammer to make several blows on the log from the back. During the cracking process, it is recommended to hold the nut so that it remains in an upright position without changing.
You should not try to split the fruit with one blow, as the result will be unexpected, but predictable - the nut will shatter into small pieces, and your fingers will suffer from a strong blow to the log with a hammer.The shell will begin to open after a few moderate blows, which will not damage the kernel.
How to eat Manchurian nut
It is worth considering that the Manchurian nut is quite difficult to crack, as a result of which the kernels are rarely eaten, but despite this, the green fruits are actively used in cooking. You can make delicious jam from green nuts, which not only has a pleasant taste, but also has medicinal properties. You must immediately understand that implementing this recipe will take a lot of time.
For preparation you will need:
- green nuts in peel – 1.5 kg;
- water – 2.5 l;
- granulated sugar – 1 kg;
- citric acid – 2 tsp;
- vanillin – 1 sachet.
The cooking algorithm is as follows:
- Manchurian nut fruits are soaked in water and left for 3 days. Every day, the fruits must be washed at least 4 times, changing the water.
- After this, the nuts are cleaned and the kernels are removed (the work must be done with gloves).
- Place the kernels in a large saucepan, add 2 liters of water and 5 g of citric acid.
- Place the future jam on the fire, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Then you need to completely drain the water.
- You need to prepare the syrup in a separate container. To do this, add 1 kg of granulated sugar to 400 ml of water.
- The nuts are transferred to the resulting syrup and boiled for about 10 minutes. After this, cover the pan with a lid and allow time to cool at room temperature.
- When the jam has cooled, put the container back on the fire and cook for 30 minutes. At the end, vanillin and remaining citric acid are added.
- Hot jam is poured into sterilized jars and sealed.
Use of Manchurian nut in medicine
If we take into account the photo and beneficial properties of the Manchurian nut, it is worth noting that the fruits are used to treat a large number of diseases:
- to heal wounds, 40 g of leaves must be poured into 200 ml of boiling water, left for 30 minutes, soaked in a bandage and applied to the cut site;
- if 1 tbsp. l. pour boiling water over dry leaves, leave for 5 hours and strain, then this preparation can be used as a mouth rinse;
- alcohol tinctures based on Manchurian nuts are used to treat cancerous tumors;
- for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, 1 tbsp. l. dry leaves, pour 200 ml of hot water, cover and leave for 30 minutes. After this, the broth is filtered and taken 3 times a day, 1 tbsp. l.;
- if there are skin diseases, then 1 tbsp is necessary. dry leaves, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 40 minutes, pour into a warm bath and stay in it for 30 minutes.
In addition, Manchurian oil is often used in folk medicine.
Contraindications
If medicines or tinctures based on Manchurian nut are chosen for treatment, then it is worth understanding that exceeding the maximum permissible therapeutic dose can negatively affect human health. In case of overdose, the following side effects may occur:
- dizziness;
- stomach ache;
- vascular spasms.
The most severe consequence of an overdose is intoxication and dysbacteriosis. To prevent side effects, it is recommended to adhere to the permissible daily dose. At the same time, it is possible to simultaneously consume pumpkin oil, which can significantly reduce the load on the digestive system.
Despite the beneficial and medicinal properties of the Manchurian nut, it is worth considering the possible harm. This product has a number of contraindications, as a result of which drugs based on it are not recommended for use in the presence of the following diseases:
- stomach ulcer;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- gastritis.
In addition, it is worth taking into account the individual intolerance of certain components by the body.
Terms and conditions of storage
Unshelled nuts should be stored in a dry, dark and cool place. The maximum temperature is +20°C. The lower the temperature, the longer the freshness of the product will be preserved.
If the fruits are contaminated, they should be washed first. For these purposes, use a large, deep container. Those nuts that float to the surface should be removed, as they are empty. After the fruits have dried, they can be placed in fabric bags and stored in a dark place. If the proper temperature conditions are observed, products can be stored for up to 1 year.
Conclusion
The medicinal properties of the Manchurian nut are undeniable, as a result of which the product has found wide use in folk medicine. In addition, thanks to their unique properties, nuts can be used for cooking and cosmetic purposes. Wood is used to make furniture and handmade souvenirs. If necessary, the tree can be grown on a personal plot and after 4 years the first harvest can be harvested.
