What are useful cranberry leaves

Lingonberry berries and leaves have long been used in folk medicine in the form of decoctions, tinctures, are part of herbal teas. The rich composition allows you to use it in various directions, from raising immunity to replenishing the body's vitamin reserve. I can’t even believe that in such a small sheet there are so many useful substances.

Modest bush with great benefit

Literally, the name of the plant is translated as "vine from Mount Ida." In appearance, it does not resemble her much, except in a greatly reduced form. She also curls along the trunks or creeps along the ground, not finding adequately support for her branches. The height of the shrub does not exceed 10 - 20 cm, small leathery dark green leaves are arranged alternately. They have an interesting property: the lower surface of the sheet is covered with small point depressions, the mucous substance in them is able to absorb and store water for the future. Lingonberry bush blooms with small white flowers, collected in brushes, which eventually turn into dark red small berries. Their ripening period is from August to September. If the fruits are frozen, they become soft, watery, and then unsuitable for collection and transportation. The leaves of the plant are much more resistant to temperature changes and even go green under the snow.

Lingonberry grows in coniferous, deciduous, mixed forests, tundra, alpine meadows, preferring moist places with excess moisture. To survive in such conditions, a natural symbiosis has been created with the mycelium of the fungus, which transfers nutrients to the roots of the plant.

Sweet and sour taste, the ability to maintain its presentation for a long time with proper collection and storage, and its rich composition led to the fact that lingonberries were not only harvested in natural conditions, but also cultivated on special plantations.

They are in Russia, Finland, USA, Poland, Sweden, Belarus. Compared to natural conditions, the yield during cultivation increases by 20 times.

The plant uses almost all parts: berries, leaves, young shoots. Jam, fruit drinks, jam, jam are made from berries, and candied balls and sweets are made. In medicine, mainly leaves and shoots are used.

The composition and benefits of lingonberry leaf

In order for the plant to give its power in decoctions and infusions, the raw materials must be correctly collected and prepared. To collect leaves, the spring season is given before flowering and the autumn days after the collection of fruits. For harvesting, intact leaves are selected without dried edges, even coloring. Drying is carried out in a shady, well-ventilated, dry place. Only under these conditions will beneficial substances remain, and there are many of them:

• phenological glycosides;
• tannins;
• acids, including ursolic, quinic, tartaric, gallic;
• arbutin;
• flavonoids;
• B and C vitamins;
• macro and microelements.

Leaves prepared in compliance with the rules have a strong antiseptic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, choleretic effect. In addition, folk recipes recommend lingonberries with vegetative - vascular dystonia and other disorders in the work of various body systems.

1. They are used in training camps to boost immunity, prevent colds, and support the body during flu outbreaks.
2. Easily digestible protein helps to regain strength after surgery, serious illness, when leaving a strict diet.
3. Lotions from decoction and extracts of leaves relieve skin inflammation.
4. The calming effect is necessary for people with sleep disorders, hyperactive children, older people suffering from insomnia.
5. Regular use of remedies from lingonberry leaves and berries stabilizes blood pressure and relieves spasms of blood vessels.
6. The diuretic effect allows you to stabilize the kidneys, relieve swelling, maintain water - salt balance.
7. With a cold, a warm broth gently reduces the temperature, eliminates the feeling of chills, and relieves joint pain.
8. The infusion expels parasites from the body.
9. An extract from the leaves blocks the reproduction of Staphylococcus aureus.
10. Softens and removes stones, sand, salts from the ducts.
11. Coursework will improve hemoglobin.
12. Men should take on the infusion and fruit drink, as one of the ways to maintain sexual function and the prevention of prostatitis.
13. In diabetes mellitus, decoction of leaves can replace tea, lowering blood sugar levels and maintaining it at a stable low rate.

Important: the strength of lingonberry leaf is great, so you must strictly observe the proportions when preparing decoctions and infusions, follow the recommendations for dosages and time of administration. For example, extracting their dry leaves if used improperly can cause poisoning.

Contraindications

There are a number of restrictions on the use of this useful plant. The main allergy is considered, accompanied by suffocation, skin rashes, itching. In this case, you will have to look for an alternative option in the bins of traditional medicine. It is not recommended to use cranberry leaf in any form if there is a history of gastritis, a stomach ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer, acute renal failure, hypotension, chronic constipation, and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Children also should not give decoctions of leaves, it is better to treat them with sweets and berry boil. It has similar properties, tastes better, and less acid.

Recommendations for use

Each tool has its own subtleties. Lingonberry leaf is no exception. It should not be introduced into the diet on an ongoing basis, since it drives water out of the body so well that it can upset the fluid balance and give an increased load on the heart. Usually, to achieve the desired effect, a course of 10 days is enough. After which a break of about 30-60 days is needed.

Before you start taking it, you should get a doctor’s consultation and recommendations on the optimal dosage taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.

During pregnancy, an increased amount of vitamins, micro and macrocells is necessary. They are present in cranberry leaf products. But you should not rely on the case, therefore, before the appointment, you should definitely inform the doctor and consult about the benefits of this tool.

It should be remembered: an accelerated leaching of calcium is a side effect; therefore, the diet should be reviewed and the use of products containing this element should be increased.

Popular recipes

Tea is useful for normalizing the digestive system. It is being prepared from 1 tbsp. boats of raw materials for 1 cup of boiling water. Insisted under a towel and drunk throughout the day.

To rinse with angina, diseases of the oral cavity, increased bleeding of the gums, a decoction of the leaves is prepared in a water bath, withstanding 20 minutes. Filter and rinse the resulting liquid after 2 to 3 hours.

If you feel unwell, you don’t need to immediately run for expensive medicine. Simple methods using medicinal plants will effectively relieve symptoms and do no harm.

Video: useful properties and application of lingonberry leaves