Barberry: useful and medicinal properties, contraindications

Many associate barberry with a sweet red candy. Meanwhile, the name of the confectionery product comes from the same plant with a bright red hue. Barberry grows almost all over the world (with the exception of Australia and Antarctica) and has more than 500 species. What are the beneficial properties and contraindications of barberry, what features does it have? Let's take a closer look at this plant in this article.

Chemical composition and description of barberry

Nutritional value of the product:

• carbohydrates - 7.9 g;
• proteins - 0 g;
• fats - 0 g.

Calorie content 100 g of fresh berries of barberry - 29.6 kcal, dried fruit - 152 kcal.

The composition of red berries includes:

• vitamins: A, B, C;
• organic acids;
• glucose;
• sucrose;
• carotenes;
• ash;
• pectins;
• resin;
• tannins;
• alkaloids: berbamine, berberine, tannin.

Barberry: useful and medicinal properties

Bright berries have long been used in folk medicine and cooking.

The main medicinal properties of barberry:

• Enhances the secretion of gastric juice, thereby improving digestion.
• It has a mild diuretic effect.
• It has a calming effect.
• It is considered a good hemostatic.
• It has anti-inflammatory, astringent, bactericidal properties.
• Eliminates stomach cramps.
• Lowers temperature.
• It has a choleretic effect, is used for liver pathologies.
• Regulates the function of the spleen.
• Controls blood sugar.
• Is the prevention of cancer.
• Suitable for the treatment of fever, anemia, diarrhea, cholera.

What is useful barberry for women

Are red berries useful for the fair sex? Undoubtedly!

And the benefits of barberry are as follows:

• Barberry diet is an effective way to lose weight. It is worth mentioning that fresh berry enhances the appetite, and therefore it is useful to consume fruits in the form of compotes and juices.
• Eatable berries improve blood composition. This slows down the aging process, so that the skin has a healthy and well-groomed appearance.

Benefits for men

Berries of barberry are actively used by representatives of the stronger sex:

• For the treatment of dermatological diseases. Men often suffer from pathologies such as psoriasis or eczema. To achieve a healing effect, a decoction of barberry is added to the cream, which is applied to problem areas.
• In order to strengthen immunity. Male labor is often associated with high energy costs, which can provoke weakening of the body's defenses. Barberry helps solve this problem.

The benefits of root, bark, leaves, flowers and berries of barberry

In folk medicine, for the treatment of various diseases, all parts of the plant are used: fruits, bark, leaves and roots.

• Berries of barberry quench thirst well due to their high acidity. Tasty and nutritious juices and other drinks are made from fruits.
• The fruits of barberry are used for the preparation of medicinal infusions and decoctions. This drink is used to treat diseases of the urinary tract, as well as colitis. Decoctions are effective as a fixing agent for diarrhea, and diaphoretic - for colds.

Note. Gather berries of barberry in September. Fresh, they quickly deteriorate and become worthless. Therefore, the collected fruits must be immediately delivered to processing. The most common processing method is drying. You can also pour the prepared raw materials with sugar for further storage in the refrigerator.

• Dried barberry helps strengthen immunity. This treat is good for people with diabetes, due to the presence of fructose and glucose in its composition.
• The bark, leaves and root of barberry are used to make tinctures and decoctions. For this part of the plant is pre-dried. Decoctions have an antimicrobial and antipyretic effect, help in the treatment of jaundice. They are also used to rinse the mouth with gum disease.
• Barberry leaves, insisted on alcohol, have a strong hemostatic effect. Especially helps such a remedy for uterine bleeding.
• Fresh young herbs can be used to make salads. It gives the finished dish a unique taste and saturates it with vitamins.

Effective folk recipes with a plant

In order to improve the well-being and treatment of certain diseases, it is recommended to use some recipes based on barberry:

1. From bleeding gums. Pour half a teaspoon of crushed barberry bark with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for half an hour. Take a decoction before bedtime for 1 - 2 glasses.
2. For the treatment of diseases of the gallbladder and liver. 2 tbsp. l dried leaves pour 200 ml of boiling water. Insist 1 - 2 hours, express. Received broth to take 4 times a day for 1 tbsp. l The course of admission is 1 month.
3. For the treatment of pleurisy or tuberculosis. Grind dried barberry roots (1 tbsp.) And pour 200 ml of boiling water. Keep in a water bath for 5 minutes, set aside, decant. Drink chilled broth three times a day for 100 ml.

Tea with barberry: benefits and harms

Tea with barberry is a tasty and healthy drink containing a number of healing components:

• carotenoids;
• vitamins: A, C, E;
• organic acids;
• pectins;
• minerals, macrocells and microelements;
• tannins.

This invigorating drink has a beneficial effect on the body:

• strengthens the walls of blood vessels, is considered the prevention of atherosclerosis and thrombosis;
• acts as a natural antidepressant, improves mood, performance and energy;
• helps to improve metabolism, removes toxins, making it useful in the fight against excess weight;
• lowers blood sugar;
• It has a tonic effect.

Tip. Tea is acceptable to brew with fresh berries or roots. The latter option is usually prepared as a medicine.

1. Option 1. 2 tbsp. l Barberry fruits pour 0.5 liters of water and boil in a water bath for 20 minutes. Drain the drink, add boiling water (to compensate for the evaporated liquid and return the original volume to 500 ml). Ready to use three times a day for 1/5 of a glass.
2. Option 2. A teaspoon of fresh berries of barberry should be filled with 250 ml of boiling water. Infuse the drink for 10 minutes and drink undiluted. You can add sugar or honey to the tea to taste.

Do not introduce barberry tea into the diet:

• pregnant and lactating women (the drink can provoke a tone of the uterus and lead to problems with the production of milk);
• people with individual intolerance to plant components;
• in case of exacerbation of gallstone disease;
• with complex forms of hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Useful properties of juice, fruit drinks from berries

Not only tea is prepared from the fruits of barberry, but also delicious juices and fruit drinks.

Barberry juice has the following healing qualities:

• antimicrobial;
• antipyretic;
• astringent;
• soothing;
• anti-inflammatory;
• hemostatic;
• hypotensive.

Barberry juice helps with diseases that are accompanied by fever.

Prepare juice from barberry according to the following recipe:

1. Pour dried fruit over boiling water and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.
2. Insist the broth for 1.5 hours, strain.
3. Add sugar and a little vanilla powder to the liquid.
4. Mix all components. Take the finished drink throughout the day.

Note. Boiled barberries are considered more useful.

Contraindications

Despite its obvious benefits, barberries can be harmful in some cases.

From their use should be abandoned with:

• increased acidity of the stomach;
• thrombophlebitis, preinfarction conditions;
• cardiovascular pathologies;
• bleeding during menopause;
• arterial hypotension;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• under 12 years old.

It should be borne in mind that deciduous tincture is contraindicated in pregnant women.

Note. Prolonged use of barberry and preparations based on it can cause constipation.

Barberry is a plant with almost universal properties. To eliminate a variety of health problems, all its parts are used. Decoctions, tinctures, fruit drinks and freshly squeezed barberry juice are always on guard of human health. And they are just very tasty!