2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Cranberry is an evergreen shrub with a creeping rhizome and erect, branched stems. The leaves are elliptical, leathery, dark green above, lighter and softer below, variegated with dark brown spotted glands, can overwinter at low temperatures. The flowers are small, pale pink, and the fruits are small, spherical, bright red.
Blueberry leaves and shoots contain phenological glycosides (the main one is arbutin), tannins, flavonoid hyperoside and others.
Traditional medicine often uses blueberry leaves, not the fruit, as their harvest is much easier to collect and store. It is enough to collect them before the plant begins to bloom (early spring).
This can also happen after the harvest (at the end of September). Dry the leaves under a canopy. To dry well, they must be stirred from time to time. After harvest blueberry leaves are able to retain their healing properties for a long time.
Useful properties of blueberry leaves are determined by their rich chemical composition. They contain many B vitamins (vitamin B1, B3, B6, B9, B12). The composition also includes minerals, vitamin C, arbutin, tannins, volatile substances. Each of the components has a set of healing properties, which makes blueberry leaves very valuable for traditional medicine and cosmetics:
- ascorbic acid and B vitamins strengthen the body's defenses;
- organic acids, tannins relieve inflammation, have antiseptic and bactericidal properties;
- arbutin - a natural antiseptic substance; in the process of hydrolysis, when separated into hydroquinine, a diuretic effect is achieved;
- tannins have astringent properties;
- Benzoic acid allows long-term storage of dried blueberry leaves and most importantly - has an anti-inflammatory effect;
Cranberry leaves have a wide range of actions. For the purposes of treatment they are used mainly due to their antiseptic properties, the ability to relieve inflammation, diuretic and choleretic action. They are often used as an immunomodulatory drug, less often as a cardiotonic. Medicine also knows the astringent effect of cranberries.
Cranberry leaves also produce a tonic and soothing effect. Properties of blueberry leaves may increase the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Blueberry leaves are known for their anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. As one of the elements of complex therapy, the healing properties of the decoction of the leaves are useful in problems with the genitourinary system. This remedy relieves inflammation in:
- cystitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- prostatitis.
Cranberry leaves are also used for urolithiasis: they help remove excess salt.
Cranberry leaves will help in the treatment of diseases of the throat and oral cavity, as they have an antiseptic effect. Rinses and gargles with cranberry leaf solution are applied in case of:
tonsillitis;
periodontitis;
stomatitis;
mucosal ulcers.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, a decoction of the leaves will relieve the symptoms of some degenerative diseases such as arthritis, gout and rheumatism.
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