Hawthorn tincture - medicinal properties and contraindications, how to prepare

Hawthorn - a plant that is used not only for decorative purposes. Its beneficial properties have been known for centuries. Hawthorn is widely used in folk and traditional medicine. Moreover, different parts of the plant are used. What is hawthorn tincture made from, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which are of interest to many?

Content:

1. What is
2. Features of growing in your own garden
3. How the plant is used in traditional medicine recipes
4. How to prepare raw materials
5. Effect on body systems, indications for taking tincture
6. Making your own tincture
7. Contraindications for use

What is

Hawthorn It is a small tree or bush no more than 3 m high. The ancient Greeks created festive wreaths from its branches, which they used to decorate heads at weddings. In England, the plant was nicknamed the “Maypole.” The flowering period occurs in May. At this time, he pleases with an abundance of flowers.

The plant is most widespread in North America, Europe and Asia. In our latitudes there are 47 of its subspecies. The most popular are Siberian and blood red. There are garden and forest varieties. Externally, garden varieties are the most attractive. Inflorescences, depending on the subspecies, can be white, pink or red.

The fruits have different shapes and sizes and vary in color.They resemble small apples with several seeds hidden inside. The fruits, depending on the variety, ripen in August-October and can remain on the bush all winter without falling off.

Hawthorn is also called wild apple tree. Moreover, the appearance of the plant, its leaves and roots also resembles this fruit tree.

Plant growth is not fast. It begins to bear fruit only 6-10 years after planting. The big advantage is a long lifespan (up to 300 years).

Different parts are used to make medicinal decoctions and infusions. Alcohol tincture is especially popular and effective hawthorn, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which are of particular interest.

The plant is also used to create hedges and produce crops in the future. Caring for it will not be difficult.

Features of growing in your own garden

Hawthorn does not require complex care and is unpretentious to conditions. Therefore, growing it on your own summer cottage or in the garden will not be difficult. The tree tolerates drought and severe frost well, and is often content with natural precipitation.

At the same time, it does not feel well in the dark and loves an abundance of sunlight. It must be planted in open and well-lit areas.

The plant does not require constant care and regular watering, does not require shelter for the winter. Thanks to its developed root system, it grows well in any soil, but most of all it loves calcareous clay and loamy soil.

To get the shape of a bush and a neat appearance, pruning is done when the plant is still young. The procedure is carried out after the first flowering occurs.

Propagated by root suckers or seeds.The first method is preferable, since the first shoots after sowing will appear only after 1.5-2 years. At the planting stage, the plant needs fertilizers. Fertilizing is carried out before fruiting begins.

Once the tree grows and gets stronger, caring for it will become easier. It is enough to carry out weeding from time to time, loosen the soil and form a crown. When creating a hedge, pruning is done from the top, shortening it to the desired height.

It is worth considering that you should not plant other fruit trees next to hawthorn. They easily transmit diseases and pests to each other (aphids, leaf roller).

How the plant is used in traditional medicine recipes

There are many traditional medicine recipes that involve different parts of the plant. Not only the fruits, but also the inflorescences, roots and leaves have beneficial properties. They make tinctures, decoctions and teas.

Fruit

Most often, fruits are taken to prepare the drug. From this part you can get a delicious and healthy tea that is very easy to prepare. It has a calming and relaxing effect. Decoctions, juices and tinctures from the fruit are effective for angina pectoris, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and arrhythmia.

Flowers

No less popular and useful are recipes with flowers. Before brewing, they are dried and cleared of branches. Flower-based products improve the functioning of the heart muscle, normalize blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, improve sleep, and regulate the functioning of the thyroid gland.

Root

Water decoctions and infusions are prepared from the root. The products are suitable for older people with heart problems. Root also used to safely dye fabrics bright yellow.This is an excellent solution for people with sensitive and allergy-prone skin.

Leaves

The rich composition allows the foliage to be used to treat various ailments. The highest concentration of valuable elements is present in young leaves. Harvesting is carried out after the start of flowering. Although the leaves are considered less beneficial than the flowers, they are also used to make tea. The product helps cope with insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety and tension.

How to prepare raw materials

In order to always have hawthorn and tincture on hand, the use of which is quite simple, you need to learn how to prepare raw materials. Then it will be possible to prepare medicine at any time.

Harvesting fruits

Jams, jams, and compotes are prepared from the fruits of the plant. The simplest ways to harvest fruits are drying and freezing:

• Drying. Before harvesting, the fruits must be washed and dried on a paper towel. After this, we lay them out on a piece of cotton cloth or parchment paper to dry. You need to turn it over periodically. Drying can also be done in the oven. To do this, you need to adjust the temperature. It should be no more than +40C.
• Freezing. An excellent harvesting method that allows you to preserve the beneficial properties of the fruit. To do this, you need the freezing to happen as quickly as possible. It is necessary that the temperature in the freezer be at least -18C. You can freeze whole and ground fruits. The mass is placed in containers or glass jars, and then sent to the freezer.

Tinctures, decoctions, and tea are prepared from frozen or dried fruits. They are also used as additives to meat and sweet dishes.

Preparation of flowers

Flowers are collected at the initial stage of flowering, when the buds begin to bloom.To avoid rotting, harvesting must be carried out in dry weather. Buds and inflorescences are cut with a knife. Drying is carried out immediately after collection. The most suitable solution is to use electric dryers. The temperature is set in the range of 30-40C.

In the absence of such a device, the flowers are laid out on fabric or paper in a room with good ventilation. The finished raw materials are placed in tin cans or cardboard boxes. Shelf life – 1 year.

Root harvesting

Digging of roots is carried out in the second half of autumn. The roots are washed, cut and dried using an electric dryer. The temperature should be set to 60C. The finished raw materials are placed in canvas bags.

Harvesting leaves

The leaves are collected from May to June. Select intact specimens not damaged by pests. Before drying begins, the cuttings are cut off at the base. Well-dried leaves are easily ground.

Effect on body systems, indications for taking tincture

Has a beneficial effect on the condition of the body. It contains a large number of useful substances and elements: vitamin B4, essential oils, quercetin, caffeic, acantholic acids, hyperoside. The benefits of recipes using the plant are undeniable.

Produces the following healing effects:

• Thanks to the tonic effect, more oxygen reaches the heart. The heartbeat is normalized and a uniform rhythm is established. As a result, we get less load on the organ and improved blood flow. Hawthorn-based tincture eliminates fatigue and overload, minimizes the manifestation of arrhythmia and tachycardia.
• Helps normalize blood clotting, cholesterol levels, and prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.It also helps relieve vasospasm.
• Tinctures and decoctions from parts of the plant produce a moderate sedative effect. The feeling of anxiety goes away, sleep improves, and nervous excitability decreases. At the same time, drowsiness does not occur.
• Plant-based products cope with the problem of flatulence, alleviate gastritis, and eliminate diarrhea. They have a choleretic effect, improving the functioning of the liver and kidneys.
• They strengthen the immune system and increase productivity. They help well with chronic fatigue and dizziness. The products allow you to recover faster from viral infections and colds.
• Helps breastfeeding women stimulate breast milk production. Therefore, it is advisable to use it to increase lactation.

Hawthorn tincture is especially popular, the benefits and harms of which are discussed in many sources of information.

Indications for its use are as follows:

• uncomplicated stages of heart failure
• hyperthyroidism
• vegetative-vascular dystonia
• climate change in women and premenstrual syndrome
• cardioneurosis
• circulatory disorder
• heart rhythm disturbances
• ischemia
• sleep problems
• ARVI and influenza

In addition to all the positive aspects listed, it should be added that products from different parts of the plant improve the condition of the skin. They help relieve puffiness, restore water balance and slow down aging.

Making your own tincture

Making hawthorn tincture is not at all difficult. It is enough to follow the recommendations carefully. As a result, we will get a product that is no worse than its pharmacy counterparts.

From dried fruits

Many people are interested in: fruits hawthorn – how to brew them so that they do not lose their beneficial properties? It's not difficult to do this. Dried fruits should be thoroughly chopped or ground. Pour 100-120 g of crushed raw materials with 1 liter of 70% alcohol or high-quality vodka. Place in a cool, dark place for 20 days. Strain the aged liquid. The tincture is taken 25 drops up to 4 times a day.

From fresh fruits

To prepare the product, you need to mash 1 tbsp. fresh fruits to a pulp. Pour 200 g of alcohol (or vodka) into the mixture. Leave for 20 days and strain. Take in the same dosage as tincture of dried fruits.

Quick recipe

To get an effective remedy in a short time, you can use the following recipe. You need to place 5 tbsp. dried fruits (with a slide) into a glass bowl and pour 1 tbsp. vodka. Cover with a lid and heat to 50C. Wait for it to cool, leave for several hours and squeeze out the fruit. Take the product 1 tsp. three times a day.

From flowers

For diseases such as tachycardia and rheumatism, tinctures prepared on the basis of flowers hawthorn.

Method 1

Pour 100 g of fresh inflorescences into 100 ml. alcohol You need to infuse the product in a dark room for 10 days. The filtered liquid is taken in the amount of 20 drops three times a day half an hour before meals.

Method 2

Dried flowers are poured with alcohol in a ratio of 2 to 10 and left for one week. Drink 35 drops three times a day half an hour before meals.

From flowers and leaves

For many diseases, a tonic made from flowers and leaves is indicated. The raw materials are poured with alcohol in a ratio of 1 to 10. Infuse in a dark place for 10-14 days.The finished tincture must be filtered and poured into a dark glass container. The product is taken 25 drops, pre-diluted with a small amount of water, three times a day. The course of treatment is at least 20 days.

Contraindications for use

Hawthorn is highly safe and harmless. However, like any substance, it can bring both benefit and harm.

You need to be careful with the tincture:

• Do not increase the dosage or use the product longer than prescribed. This can lead to a depression in heart rate.
• People with hypotension should be careful when taking it - the drug can lower blood pressure. In this case, it is better to give preference to a tincture made from flowers rather than from berries. Its action is more gentle.
• The acids in hawthorn fruits can negatively affect the condition of the stomach walls. Spasms and vomiting may occur. This applies to people with gastritis and high acidity.
• Do not forget that the product contains alcohol. It is not recommended to take concentrated tinctures and decoctions for children under 12 years of age, as well as for pregnant women in the first trimester.

Tincture is a medicine, which means you shouldn’t take it without reasons or indications. Before starting treatment, you should discuss the dosage and duration of use with your doctor.

Hawthorn is a beautiful plant and powerful medicinal means. Its different parts are involved in many traditional medicine recipes. The most popular fruits and inflorescences are. It is easy to prepare an effective alcohol tincture from them, which has a positive effect on the body. During treatment, follow the dosage and regimen.

Learn more about the preparation of the tincture and its healing properties in the video: