Thorns - All Benefits, Properties And Uses

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Known to all, thistle has healing propertiesand its fruits are used in cooking. Let's take a closer look at this thorns - their properties, benefits and harms.

Thistle is a plant that can bring many health benefits if used properly. If taken incorrectly, the damage will also be present.

Calorie content and chemical composition

The chemical composition of thorns varies depending on the geographical region, but its main ingredients remain the same. The fruits contain:

- glucose, sucrose and fructose;

- pectin;

- tannins and aromatic substances;

- organic acids;

- vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, PP;

- iron, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine, cobalt, zinc, manganese, chromium;

- essential oil.

The energy value of fresh fruit is 49-54 kcal per 100 g.

When the thorns are collected

Sour-bitter fruits of thistle ripen in July-August, but at this time do not collect, as they are practically unfit for consumption due to the high content of tannins.

Usually the harvest begins after the first frost. In the process of freezing the chemical composition of the fruit changes - the amount of organic acids and tannins decreases, the fruit loses its astringency and becomes tasty.

Useful properties of thistle for the human body

If in many medicinal plants only one part has healing power, then the thorn is unique in this respect - for medicinal purposes are used not only its fruits but also leaves, roots, flowers, branches and bark.

The fruits of thistle

The fruits of thorns are consumed fresh, as well as dried or prepared jams, preserves, pasteurized juices. The fruits of this fruit have many useful properties:

- normalize the microflora and improve intestinal peristalsis, relieve flatulence;

- prevent and eliminate nausea and vomiting;

- act as a diuretic, reduce swelling;

- remove harmful substances from the body and reduce toxins;

- strengthen immunity;

- relieve insomnia, irritability and shortness of breath;

- reduce and normalize weight. The specially developed diet including thistle fruits, contributes to fat burning, normalizes metabolic processes;

- strengthen the walls of blood vessels, lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of developing heart disease;

- improving the condition of the kidneys and liver in various pathologies;

- strengthen the immune system, mobilize the body's defenses;

- prophylactic against the development of prostate adenoma, normalize prostate function;

- strengthen the gums;

- reduce the pain of menstruation;

- in PMS reduce pain and neurosis;

- can improve the elasticity and firmness of the skin, relieve acne and oiliness.

Flowers and leaves of thistle

The flowers of the thistle are collected during their full flowering, they are dried in a dark, ventilated room and stored in tightly closed jars in a place inaccessible to sunlight. They are mainly used in decoction or tea. The flowers of thorns have healing properties:

- cleanse the blood and remove toxins from the body;

- relieve skin purulent and erysipelas, help with furunculosis;

- cleanse the liver, normalize bowel function;

- help to restore the metabolism;

- have a calming effect on insomnia and neuralgia;

- serve as a diuretic and diaphoretic.

Medicinal tea from thistle flowers

25 g of flower is poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water and cover the dish for 10-15 minutes, then strain. The tea is drunk as usual without a strict dosage and is also used for external use as a lotion.

Decoctions of thistle leaves have the same properties as the colors. To prepare them, the leaves are plucked in mid-summer after flowering shrub. They are dried and stored in the same way, and the prepared decoctions are drunk as ordinary tea.

Roots, shoots and bark of thorns

In order to preserve the healing power of the plant, it is important to collect the raw materials at the "right" time:

The roots of thistle are dug in the fall, dried for 2-3 weeks outdoors and then dried in the oven. Dried roots can be stored in cloth or cotton bags for up to three years. Twigs and young shoots are collected in early summer, dried outdoors and stored for one year. The bark is removed from the twigs in early spring while the plant is flowering. Drying and storage of the bark is done in the same way as the roots.

Decoctions of roots, branches and shoots have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic properties, so they are taken for colds and flu. Decoctions of thistle bark are drunk instead of ordinary tea - they help cleanse the blood and get rid of skin irritations. Diluted with boiled water, they are used for douching in female inflammation and for gurgling in gingivitis.

Contraindications and possible harm from consumption of thorns

Important! The seeds (stones) of the fruit contain a very toxic substance from organic glycosidic compounds called amygdalin. This substance is able to excrete hydrocyanic acid in the prolonged presence of bones in the aquatic environment and subsequently cause intoxication in the body. After preparation of a decoction of the fruits of thistle, the fruit must be removed. Swallowing the seeds (seeds) of thistle is not desirable!

The fruits of thistle themselves have no special contraindications for human health. Reducing the use of fruit is necessary for those who are concerned about stomach problems such as gastritis, gastric ulcer in the acute stage, increased stomach acidity, chronic diarrhea. People with severe allergies will need it be careful with the thorns, although such cases are quite rare. Also not recommended for people with low blood pressure.

The fruits are somewhat harmful to tooth enamel - after eating the teeth are painted in a bluish tint. It looks extremely unaesthetic, and the blue from the teeth is completely washed off after a few days. The high acidity of the fruit can also damage tooth enamel.

The use of the fruits of thistle it is not contraindicated for children and pregnant women, and the latter is even useful in toxicosis and nausea. But you have to be careful with the amount.

Fresh fruits can provoke an upset stomach, and jams and jams - unwanted excess weight, but only if these products are consumed in excess.

What can we prepare from the fruits of thistle

Photo: Albena Atanasova

Thorn jam

Wash and remove the seeds from 1 kg of fruit. Boil syrup of 1.5 kg of sugar and 2-3 cups of water. Once the sugar is completely dissolved in the boiling syrup, add the thorns, bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Cool the jam to room temperature and bring it to a boil again, boiling boil for 2-3 minutes. For the third time, cook the jam on low heat until ready. Stir periodically during cooking and remove the foam. Pour the finished jam hot into dry sterilized jars and put caps.

Thorn juice

To obtain thorn juice a juicer is used, the seeds have been removed beforehand. Add sugar: for 1 kg of fruit take 100 g of sugar. The juice is poured into bottles or jars, then sterilized. After cooling the cans to room temperature, store them in a dark place.

Fermented drink from thorns

Wash well 4-5 handfuls fruit thorns, remove the rotten ones and remove the stones. Put the fruit in a 3 liter jar, put about 1 cup of sugar or honey and add boiled and cooled or filtered water, mix well. Cover the jar with a clean cotton cloth or gauze in several layers and leave at light and room temperature. Stir daily. On the second day, light fermentation begins. After 4 to 7 days (depending on the temperature) the drink is ready - you can strain the liquid and store it in bottles in the refrigerator. When using honey, fermentation is slower. You can refill the jar with sugar (honey) and water for re-fermentation. The drink can be made with a mix of thorns and other autumn fruits such as hawthorn, rose hips, etc. It has a pleasant refreshing taste, slightly carbonated and very slightly alcoholic.

Thistle liqueur

The preparation of the classic thistle liqueur it takes a long time - 4-6 months for the liqueur to mature. Spirits lovers use a faster recipe. For it you need to take 1 kg of thorns, 200-300 g of sugar and 1 liter of brandy or vodka. Sort the fruits, remove the rotten and spoiled ones, wash and free them from the seeds. Mix the pulp with sugar and put in a glass jar. Tie the jar with two layers of gauze and place on a sunny ledge. After 2-3 days, pour brandy or vodka, stir the fruit and put the jar in a dark place at room temperature (closet or cupboard). Leave to mature for 14 days, and during the first week shake the jar with the contents daily. After two weeks, strain and bottle the drink. Seal tightly and store. The thistle liqueur can be stored for up to 5 years and the strength of the alcoholic beverage is 30-32%.