Blueberry leaves: the benefits and harm when to collect and how to dry

Many have heard about the benefits of blueberries, but few know that blueberry leaves also have healing properties.

Today we will look at information about blueberries, and specifically - why they use blueberries, discuss useful properties and contraindications to using the product.

Chemical composition

Blueberry leaves are appreciated thanks to high content inulin, flavonoids, anthocyanins.

Also there is an increased content in the leaves:

• glycosides: neomirtillina - up to 2% and mirtillina - up to 1%;
• phenolic compounds: arbutin, methylarbutin - 2%;
• triterpenic saponins: ursolic and oleic acid;
• β-amyrin;
• alkaloids - myrtin;
• aliphatic hydrocarbons.

What are the benefits of blueberry leaves?

Through the use of the considered raw materials can achieve:

• saturation of the body with antioxidants;
• protection from harmful external influences;
• aid in the treatment of urogenital infections;
• beneficial effect on vision;
• relieving inflammation and irritation of the skin;
• benefits to the kidneys;
• help with intestinal and stomach diseases;
• regulation of sugar and cholesterol in the blood;
• prevent stressful phenomena;
• sedative effect;
• beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system;

When to collect and how to dry

Consider when it is better to collect blueberry leaves and how to dry the raw materials for tea.

It is necessary to collect raw materials in order to be dried and further used for medicinal purposes at the end of spring. The main condition for the collection - no berries on the bushesso that they are young, only in this case they will contain the maximum amount of useful substances and will have the necessary effect.

Blueberries are very sensitive to the purity of the environment and can absorb toxic substances.If you see spots of white or brown color, black impregnations on a deciduous plate, dried twigs, then collecting raw materials on such a bush is not recommended.

It is necessary to dry the raw materials outside, but not in direct sunlight, but in a shaded place. To dry the plant, you can use a special dryer for fruit: the temperature should be set at about 40 ° C. After complete drying, the drug does not change color and remains bright green. If you suddenly notice that some elements are darkened, they cannot be used - such raw materials are considered to be of poor quality.

How to store at home

Linen or canvas bags are suitable for storing the raw materials obtained so that the contents are well ventilated.

During long-term storage, it should be checked for the presence of insect pests or mold. Shelf life is 2 years if stored in a dark, not damp, warm place.

How to make blueberry tea

Tea from blueberry leaves is very similar to a decoction of fresh berries: the only difference is that there is no sourness, which is characteristic of berries.

Consider how to properly brew blueberry leaves to get healthy tea.

To brew delicious tea from blueberry raw materials for daily use, you must use on liter of boiling water 4 teaspoons chopped blueberry raw materials, and in the tea pot to insist about half an hour.

Blueberry Leaf Recipes

There are many recipes that allow the use of this drug for the treatment of various diseases, as well as home cosmetic products, so we consider in more detail their description and methods of use.

In folk medicine

Bilberry raw material for weight loss is used as hunger-reducing drugs, allows you to speed up the metabolic processes in the body. For the preparation of infusion should use 2 tsp. raw materials and 500 ml of boiling water. The mixture is better to pour in a thermos and insist about 4 hours.After that, drain and drink 100 ml in the morning and evening, in the period of weight loss.

Good help blueberry leaves when diabetesas well as people with pneumonia, inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. It is necessary to prepare the medicine with one tablespoon of finely chopped blueberry raw materials and a glass of boiling water. It is advisable to close the container tightly and insist 60 minutes. Next, the resulting tool is strained and cooled, used 200 ml four times a day.

Cure for hemorrhoids: it will take 60 g of dry bilberry raw material to prepare the product, which is poured with 1 l of boiling water, then you should wait 1 hour, tightly closing the container with a lid. Strain the mixture and warm to 36 ° C before each use. The resulting fluid is used for the enema, which is injected in the evening before sleep. At skin lesions: Since the drug has a healing and antiseptic effect, well-crushed young blueberry leaves are applied to the wound, which are fixed with a bandage dressing. When the wound is still fresh, the dressing should be changed every 3 hours, and when it heals a little, then every 8 hours.

People sick anemiaIt is recommended to prepare medicine from blueberry leaves. For this you need to use 6 tbsp. l dry blueberry raw materials, pour a liter of boiling water. Wait 3 hours, drain and drink four times a day, in an amount of 250 ml.

In home cosmetology

Blueberry leaves are very valuable in cosmetology and are used as masks - they nourish, moisturize and tone up the skin.

Crushed fresh or dry blueberry raw materials can be used to make gruel, which is added a spoonful of cream and mixed, and then put the mask on the neck, face and leave for 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Blueberry raw materials have antiseptic and wound-healing properties that allow to dry the rash and remove the effects of acne.To do this, you can prepare the usual decoction of blueberry raw materials and process their face.

Also, finely chopped medicine can be brewed in boiling water to form a slurry, insist and use as a basis for masks, in which to add whipped protein or cosmetic clay.

Contraindications and harm

The raw material in question is a harmless product, but there are still some limitations to its use.

There are the following nuances that must be considered when blueberry drug use:

1. If you have a tendency to constipation, then it is recommended to be treated with blueberry leaves very carefully and for a short period of time, as intestinal lethargy may develop.
2. Caution should be used blueberry leaves, if you have a pancreatic disease.
3. Considering that plants contain large quantities of hydroquinone, in the long-term administration it is necessary to take short breaks, as a possible carcinogenic effect on the body.
4. Allergic reactions may occur, but they occur rarely enough and depend on the body's sensitivity to this product.

Thus, bilberry leaves help to cure many diseases, the main thing is to take into account the peculiarities of the body and select a recipe in accordance with the existing problem.