Walking in and exploring the Centennial park I came across and was delighted to find bellowed Kalyna, that my mom
used to give me during my childhood in Ukraine with a tea when I was sick. And today I decided to pull out the information about how Kalyna (viburnum opulus) berries are used in folk medicine.
I also want to mention, out of the topic, that Kalyna
has special significance in Ukrainian culture, it is the ethnic
and national symbol of Ukraine, which represents beauty,
love, motherhood, blood, the immortality of family, fire, national resurgence, womanhood, life, love for the homeland etc. This is an encoding mechanism in Ukrainian ethnic culture, the colour of the 'nation's soul', the core of the Kozak spirit (Kalyna was traditionally planted on the graves of fallen Kozaks) and the symbol of national unity.
But let us begin.
Nature provides us with nurturing nutritious gifts, and Kalyna is one of them.
Kalyna grows naturally in parks and wilderness areas across the region.
It is better to collect it in forests far from cities where is the least pollution. In ordinary viburnum - a common unpretentious shrub - flowers, berries, and bark have healing properties. Today we will talk about how viburnum berries are used in folk medicine.
They are harvested by cutting the whole ripe berries clusters. It is dried in a well-ventilated room by hanging berry clusters on a rope, or in a dryer at a temperature of +60 ... + 80 degrees. Frozen fruits are also used.
This medicinal raw material has a restorative, antiseptic, astringent, hemostatic, choleretic effect; helps to lower blood pressure, stimulates the heart and strengthens blood vessels. Viburnum juice is used for the prevention of cancer and the treatment of certain types of malignant tumours. Infusions and decoctions of berries are used for coughing, colds and flu, hypertension, atherosclerosis, vasospasms, neurosis, diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
Outwardly applied viburnum juice used in cosmetic (against acne, age spots and wrinkles), as well as infusion - for skin diseases (eczema, furunculosis and others). Kalyna has an antiseptic drying effect. And if you have oily skin you can wipe face with viburnum juice.
Viburnum helps get rid of skin flaws - boils, abscesses, eczema. On affected areas several times a day compresses of viburnum juice lasting 1-2 hours should be applied. After a few weeks of treatment, a week break is made, then the course is repeated. To achieve the result, 3-4 courses are needed. With eczema, it is recommended to take up to 0.5 litres of viburnum juice per day.
Kalyna has a rich beneficial composition. The berry belongs to diabetic products, it contains tannins, pectins, essential oils, volatile, organic acids, vitamins C, E, K, A, R. Kalyna is rich in acids - valerianic, folic, ascorbic. Moreover, the content of these acids viburnum 2 times superior to raspberries.
Viburnum also contains minerals - potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, chromium, copper, phosphorus, iodine, iron, etc. The most valuable component of viburnum is the viburnin glycoside, which gives the berries a bitter taste, which also provides healing properties.
Since old times, healers have used viburnum for medicinal purposes, and its beneficial properties well known in folk medicine.
With angina, it is recommended to use an infusion
of berries, flowers and leaves of viburnum to gargle.
To prepare a medicinal viburnum agent, you need to crush the pulp of berries (1 tablespoon) in a glass of boiling water, let the drink brew for several hours, then strain and store medicinal agent. It is necessary to take such an infusion of two tablespoons 3-4 times a day before meals.
The beneficial properties of viburnum help strengthen immunity at the beginning of the cold period. In order not to get sick, it is recommended to eat mashed puree of viburnum berries, grated with honey. Berry puree will replenish the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals before a long winter. Viburnum has a beneficial effect on stress, depression, nervous disorders.
During pregnancy, dishes and drinks from viburnum are especially useful for low hemoglobin. A unique feature of viburnum is to increase the number of red blood cells, thereby increasing the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Before consuming viburnum for medicinal purposes, the expectant mother should consult a doctor observing pregnancy.
Useful properties and contraindications of viburnum are well studied by modern medicine. Kalyna is contraindicated for people with low blood pressure. The safe intake of viburnum, in this case, is not more than one tablespoon of berries per day or one cup of tea. With increased acidity in the stomach, viburnum enhances the secretion of gastric juice, which can cause discomfort and cutting pain.
Purine contained in viburnum berries is contraindicated in the treatment of gout, arthritis, urolithiasis.
Viburnum can cause allergic reactions due to the increased content of vitamin C.
Here are a few recipes for use of Kalyna berries
Infusion of Kalyna berries
It is used as a restorative and sedative (including with neurosis). Chop 1 tablespoon of dried berries (grind in a mortar), pour 1 cup boiling water, wrap, insist for 4 hours, strain and store medicinal agent. Drink during the day in several doses.
Another recipe for infusion: 4 tbsp of berries (fresh, frozen or dried) pour 0.5 l of boiling water in a
thermos, insist for 2 hours, strain liquid into container, add squeezed the softened berries with a wooden spoon through the strainer. You can add honey to taste. Take 3 times a day for half an hour before meals, 0.5 cups for hypertension, atherosclerosis, neurosis, as well as a tonic.
A decoction of Kalyna berries for cough and colds
1 tablespoon of berries pour 1 cup boiling water, simmer for 10 minutes, then cool at room temperature, strain, squeeze the raw materials through the strainer. Take 3 times a day for 1-2 tablespoons.
Decoction of Kalyna with linden blossom for colds, flu
Mix equally taken dried linden blossom and Kalyna berries. 2 tablespoons of the collection pour 2 cups of cold water, bring to a boil, boil over low heat for 5-7 minutes, strain and store. Take 1 cup hot overnight, adding honey to taste.
Kalyna puree with honey for hypertension
This agent helps prevent the development of hypertension if used in the initial stages of the disease. Warm fresh or frozen viburnum berries in a double boiler or colander over hot steam until they become soft. Squeeze the softened berries with a wooden spoon through the strainer, add buckwheat honey in a 1: 1 ratio (if the jumps in blood pressure are caused by increased nervous tension, stress, overwork, it is advisable to use linden honey). Take 5-6 times a day for 2-3 teaspoons. The course is 2-3 weeks, after a two-week break, it can be repeated.
Many recipes based on viburnum berries include the addition of honey - do not use them if you are allergic to honey!
Sources:
Updated: Nov 27, 2022
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1. Meditate every day at least for 15 min
2. Go outside, no matter what weather, and walk around in it in appreciation of our planet. We would look up and around and we acknowledge it out loud.
3. Buy a notebook, call it the "book of positive aspects" and fill 4-5 pages of positive aspects for 4-5 different subjects.
4. Look up and outward and acknowledge that the Universal forces focused right at you. Acknowledge it by calling out a name(the name that resonates with you: Universal forces, God, Guardian angels...)
5. Say:
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Good luck everyone
