Red elder - useful properties

Red elder (common, brushy) is a plant that is almost universally distributed on the territory of our country, more often occurring in the wild in ravines and on forest edges. In addition, red elderberry is widely cultivated, growing in parks and squares. It turns out that this plant has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. What exactly is the red elderberry and how it is used, let's talk further.

Description and composition of elderberry red

Red elder is a shrub that reaches a height of 3.5 m, with upright stems. The leaves consist of several unpaired leaves, green on top, grayish below. Blossoms in the middle of spring with small white flowers, collected in inflorescences. The fruits of red elderberry are brilliant red berries that mature in late July-August.

The composition of this plant is not fully understood. Of the substances found in the leaves, bark, flowers and berries, there are:

• rutin;
• Sahara;
• tannins;
• organic acids;
• vitamins;
• fatty and essential oil.

The use of immature berries and leaves of red elderberry leads to poisoning, tk. they contain a poisonous substance - glycoside sambunigrin, which decomposes into hydrocyanic acid and benzaldehyde.

Useful and medicinal properties of red elderberry

To date, this plant is not recognized as medicinal in scientific medicine, but in folk medicine red elderly is used quite widely. Preparations based on it have the following properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• laxative;
• diaphoretic;
• anesthetizing;
• diuretic and others.

Application of red elderberry

Let's consider, at what diseases apply a red elderberry, with the description of prescriptions of preparation of preparations on its basis.

Tincture of red elderberry berries on vodka:

1. To fill a three-quarter-liter jar with fresh plant berries.
2. Pour vodka to the top, cover and insist in a dark place for a month.
3. Use as compresses and lotions up to twice a day with such diseases: arthritis, osteomyelitis, joint deformities, calcaneal spur, displacement of the vertebrae.

Tincture from berries of red elderberry on cognac:

1. Fill a three-liter jar with fresh berries, pour a glass of cognac.
2. Cover and insist, periodically shaking, in a dark cool place for 10 days.
3. Take out the berries, rub them into a gruel and put them back in the jar along with the juice.
4. Add 100 ml of alcoholic tincture of birch buds (1:10) and insist 10 days in a dark place, stirring regularly.
5. Take with onkozobolevaniyah a tablespoon three times a day for half an hour before a meal, washing with infusion of mint or lemon balm. Treatment for a course of 1.5 - 2 months; a month later the course can be repeated.

Tincture from the flowers of red elderberry:

1. Flowers pour alcohol (70%) in the ratio 1:10.
2. Infuse for two weeks in a dark cool place, then drain.
3. Eat 10 to 30 drops up to three times a day for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract, colds, bronchial asthma , headache.

Broth from the flowers of elderberry:

1. Pour a tablespoon of flowers with a glass of boiling water.
2. Cook for 5 minutes over low heat, then cool and strain.
3. Use to rinse the mouth and throat with angina, cough, pharyngitis , stomatitis.

Broth from the roots of red elderberry:

1. Pour 250 ml of water into one teaspoon of dried ground roots.
2. Put on the fire, bring to a boil and cook for five minutes.
3. Insist for an hour, then strain and bring boiled water to 250 ml.
4. Use a tablespoon three times a day after half an hour after a meal as an antipyretic, diuretic or laxative.