White acacia: medicinal properties and contraindications

Acacia is presented in the form of a large tree, which is endowed with fragrant flowers. Several varieties of this culture are known. In Eurasia, the most popular is the white acacia, or, as it is also called, robinia. The foliage and inflorescences of this plant are used to prepare various medicinal solutions, namely tea, infusion, alcohol-based tinctures, etc. Useful qualities and contraindications of such a plant component have been known to folk medicine for a long time. This culture is used for preventive and therapeutic purposes for various pathologies.

Chemical composition

Currently, scientists are continuing research in the pharmacological properties of white acacia. The healing characteristics of this tree are associated with the presence of substances such as tannins, robinin, phytosterol, tannins in their woody part.

Glycosides and anthronilic acid ester are concentrated in the flowers of the culture. Aromatic oils, organic acids are also found here.

In the deciduous part of the plant, flavonoids and their glycosides are present, namely, acacin, robinin and acacetin. In addition, pectins, various mineral compounds, retinol and ascorbic acid are found here. The level of fatty oils in the fruits of the tree reaches 15 percent.

The benefit of such a plant is its rich composition. Inflorescences and bark are characterized by a high content of robinin - a substance involved in the process of removing urine from the body. This component is used for the manufacture of medicines.

How it looks and where it grows

White acacia is a culture that can be seen both in the city and in the wild. Robinia is presented in the form of a plant with fragrant flowers, the healing characteristics of which have been used by people for centuries.

Robinia is used not only in the form of a decorative culture, but its use in the production of perfumes and cosmetics is also known. In informal medicine, the healing properties of this plant have long been used.

The advantage of acacia is that it is unpretentious in care, can grow under various environmental conditions, at the same time it reproduces well even when using seeds. This explains the fact that young sprouts of culture appear every year near adult trees.

In addition, this representative of the flora is a wonderful honey plant. A beekeeping product from a plant is of particular value in informal medicine.

It should be noted that the culture has such a name among the people. In botany, it is called the robinia of false acacia and is considered one of the most numerous varieties of this genus. It was imported from North America, but is currently cultivated in various areas where a temperate climate is observed.

Robinia can grow up to 30 m in height, sometimes this figure is slightly higher. The tree bark is gray-brown in color; in mature species, it cracks. The culture acts as an ornamental plant, as it has a beautiful, openwork and spreading crown.

Leaves have an oval shape, small in size on a short petiole. On one stipulus, up to 20 leaflets are concentrated. Acacia bloom is quite plentiful and lasts a long time. The tree begins to bloom in mid-May with tassels falling down with a lot of fragrant flowers of a pale yellow color.

The fruits of the plant are presented in the form of elongated pods, inside of which there are smooth seeds.They contain 13–15 brown oval beans. Fruits usually ripen by the end of September. At the same time, ripe pods fall on their own, as a result of which seeds of the culture are spread everywhere. In the ground, such beans retain the ability to reproduce up to several years.

Collection and storage

It is necessary to comply with the basic requirements for the collection, drying and storage of such medicinal plant raw materials in order to obtain a high-quality product, while preserving most of the valuable components that positively affect human health.

In order to collect and prepare the raw materials of the robinia, it is not necessary to possess any special skills. The main thing at the same time is to timely collect and follow simple rules.

So, you need to collect the product in May. The most suitable day is when the flowers are just starting to bloom. They need to be cut off with whole inflorescences, and then sent for drying to a shady room, away from toxic components and products with a pronounced smell.

Dried raw materials must be crushed and placed in an airtight container. Storage conditions for dried flowers imply their protection against young children, as they contain potent, toxic components that can lead to poisoning with serious complications.

As plant raw materials, you can also collect tree beans, however, the collection of such a product is carried out in September, when the plant fully matures. After this, the seeds need to be cleaned of pods and dried. They should be stored in cloth bags. Shelf life of fruits is 2-3 years, if all the requirements for humidity and temperature indicators were observed.

As for the flowers, their shelf life is not more than a year. In this case, it is recommended to harvest fresh raw materials annually.

The healing properties of white acacia

Acacia is planted to protect the soil from the formation of landslides. That is why trees often grow on slopes and near ravines. In addition, the plant is supplied to perfumery, and is also a building material and is grown as a decorative culture. Acacia makes beautiful honey.

In addition, this plant is a drug of natural origin. It contains a lot of valuable compounds, which in combination have a positive effect on human organs and systems, supporting and restoring their functions.

1. First of all, it should be noted that robinia has a positive effect on the joints, namely it suppresses the inflammatory process, reduces pain and provides restoration of the affected area.
2. Helps plant materials also with hypertension, takes part in the restoration of cardiac activity.
3. Due to the mild sedative effect, acacia has a positive effect on NS. At the same time, sleep is stabilized, it is much easier for a person to get rid of stress and overwork. Healthy functioning of the brain is observed due to the fact that this drug activates blood circulation in it.
4. Robinium is indispensable in the treatment of digestive organs. Acacia-based drugs are taken for gastritis with increased gastric acidity.
5. Acacia color is used in the treatment of dry cough, as well as to suppress asthma attacks. However, this is only possible if an allergy does not develop on the plant. It is also useful to combine medication with acacia honey.
6. The raw materials of this plant will help to cure constipation and cope with intestinal obstruction, restoring peristalsis and improving the process of digestion of food.
7. Acacia in homeopathy is known as an antispasmodic, and is also used as an antipyretic.
8. Robinia is able to cleanse the liver, providing synthesis of bile and restoring its outflow. Therefore, this product can be included in the complex therapy of liver pathologies, as well as with cholecystitis.

White acacia can eliminate many ailments for a long time.However, it should be noted that in the bark and seeds of the tree are concentrated hazardous compounds, the effect of which on the body has not been fully studied. For this reason, certain standards should not be exceeded during treatment.

Is acacia useful for weight loss

Unfortunately, the benefits of the flowers of the studied plant in the process of weight loss have not been proven. To get rid of extra pounds, it is recommended to use products based on this product. For example, honey from robinia is characterized by a rich composition that allows you to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, helping to better absorb food. For this, the product is recommended to be used instead of the usual sweetener.

As you know, acacia-based honey has a high degree of calorie content. So, in 100 g of goodies contains more than 300 kcal. Therefore, in order not to harm the waist, you can eat no more than a spoonful of honey before a meal or at bedtime.

White acacia in traditional medicine

Using raw white acacia, you can cure a number of diseases if you use the right treatment regimen and prescription. Before using such a medicinal herbal component, it is recommended to consult a specialist. There are many proven over the years recipes of alternative medicine, which can be used for medicinal purposes.

1. For example, for the manufacture of a decoction that can save a person from coughing, 1 tablespoon is needed. dried flowers pour a little hot water. Stir the resulting mixture and simmer until boiling. After this, the liquid should be infused for another hour. Ready to drink 1/2 cup before main meals.
2. Acacia is considered one of the best remedies for treating a cold. This is due to the fact that the composition of the product contains elements that comprehensively affect the human body, stimulating protective functions, allowing it to withstand various viruses and pathogens. Such a plant can be used to prepare a solution. One part of the dried raw material should be poured with two parts of vodka and insisted in a cool place for 14 days. The resulting drug can be used as a means for rubbing the body with hyperthermia. It must be remembered that the liquid must be warmed up to room temperature. After this, the patient should wrap himself in a warm blanket.
3. Robinia is characterized by a strong antimicrobial and antiviral effect. To prepare the healing composition you need 1 tsp. pour a mug of boiled water into the product, insist, and then consume three times a day. The same mass can be used to gargle, which will reduce pain and relieve inflammation.
4. For toothache, an acacia decoction will be effective. The recipe is quite simple: you only need to brew 1 tablespoon. dried flowers in 250 ml of hot water. Rinse your mouth with a cooled solution.
5. Honey from acacia white will help get rid of stomatitis. In this case, you need 1 tsp. beekeeping product mixed with water and add the same amount of baking soda. Rinse the oral cavity with this composition until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear. You can also dissolve 1 tsp. honey per day.
6. The raw materials of this tree can be used to treat diseases of the stomach. To do this, you will need to prepare a tincture based on flowers and foliage of the culture, mixing equal parts of fresh leaves and inflorescences and pour them with medical alcohol. So for 0.5 cups of alcohol, 2 tbsp is enough. plants. The mixture should be stored in a cold place in a hermetically sealed container for at least 10 days. Take the drug for 2 tbsp. before meals, diluted with water. Treatment lasts 3 weeks.
7. Joint diseases can be treated by external application of alcohol tincture based on acacia flowers. In this case, pour 100 g of dry color into 250 ml of alcohol and leave for 2 weeks. Ready tincture is indicated for compresses that are placed overnight. In this case, you can supplement the course of treatment by taking baths with the addition of such a composition.This will reduce pain, relieve the inflammatory process, activate the healing process of the diseased joint. For this, 1 tbsp of water will need 3 tbsp. flowers. Such a mixture should be boiled for 3 minutes, and then add the broth to the bath.
8. Tinctures based on white acacia can be used externally for radiculitis, varicose veins, chronic rheumatism. In the presence of radiculitis, it is necessary to moisten the affected areas of the body with tincture and rub it. To prepare such a healing composition, you need to fill a 1-liter jar with acacia flowers. After that, fill the container with alcohol so that the flowers are drowned in liquid. After two weeks of infusion in a dark place, strain the solution and use as directed.
9. To relieve fatigue and get rid of spider veins on the body, you need to prepare the following composition: 100 g of flowers pour 500 ml of vodka. The solution is infused for 3 weeks. Then add chopped lemon to the composition and continue insisting for another week. Filter the finished product and use it for rubbing into the affected areas of the body before bedtime.
10. With varicose veins, you can treat the venous nodes with tincture, for the preparation of which you need to fill a three-liter jar with fresh acacia leaves and pour 0.5 l of vodka into them. Add crushed plantain leaves here. Mass insist in a dark place for 2 weeks. The resulting preparation is applied daily until it is over.
11. White acacia also helps with gynecological diseases. To cure ovarian inflammation, erosion and adnexitis, you can prepare an acacia composition for oral administration and douching. The infusion is made according to a simple recipe - 1 tbsp. raw materials per 400 ml of liquid. Take orally and douche twice a day.
12. Still acacia can be used instead of sleeping pills and sedatives. Unfortunately, today's rhythm of life seriously affects the human psyche and nervous system. Therefore, even in the absence of disturbing manifestations, it is recommended from time to time to take tea based on the flowers of this tree. In this case, it is enough to brew a pinch of flowers in boiling water, adding honey and lemon. Such a composition is best to drink at night, because tea can lead to drowsiness. A drink will help relieve stress, eliminate stress, relieve irritability. It is especially useful to take such a composition for mental and psychological stress.
13. People suffering from chronic kidney diseases are advised to regularly drink 200 ml of acacia infusion in the morning for a month. Such courses should be repeated twice a year.

In order to cure cystitis, as well as cope with acute inflammation in the kidneys, get rid of edema, you need to drink 100 ml of a freshly prepared solution three times a day. If there is severe pain caused by cystitis, baths with the addition of a decoction of the bark of this tree are shown. In this case, you need to boil 100 g of roots in 1 liter of water, and then add to the bath.

Types of healing compounds

Due to the content of a large number of beneficial compounds, acacia is widely used in folk medicine. Medicinal formulations are made from various parts of this product.

Infusion

The most common method of using acacia color is to make an infusion based on them. This composition is effective in diseases of the urinary system.

To prepare the composition, you need 1 tsp. fresh or dried raw materials and a cup of boiling water. Pour the plant into a cup and mix with boiling water. Cover the dishes with a lid and insist for 2 hours. After the specified time, filter the solution. Such a tool is taken daily before meals, 1/3 cup.

Tincture

Alcohol tincture is prepared on the basis of acacia buds. The healing characteristics of acacia can cope with joint pain. To do this, 50 g of raw materials need to pour 500 ml of medical alcohol or vodka. Send the bank to a dark place, away from sunlight. Shake the container with contents periodically. Use the finished mixture for rubbing.

Decoction

Stomatitis and periodontal disease can be cured by applying a decoction of robinia.Useful qualities of this product allow you to cope with inflammation and ensure the healing of ulcers on the mucous membranes. The use of such a composition during colds is characterized by antipyretic effects, and also stimulates sputum discharge.

1 tbsp dried raw materials must be mixed with a glass of boiling water. After cooling, pass the solution through the filter and use it for rinsing. This solution can also be drunk 1/3 cup three times a day before eating without harm.

Tea

Inflorescences of this tree can be used in the manufacture of tea. It will be useful for colds, gynecological ailments, as well as disorders of the stomach and kidneys. The healing qualities of an acacia drink are also appreciated for prostatitis. The general effect of tea on the human body is also known. This composition allows you to strengthen the immune system, relieve anxiety and depression, as well as calm the nervous system. To prepare such a healing potion you will need a glass of boiling water and 1 tablespoon. raw materials. Add honey or another sweetener if desired. For the best effect, you can supplement tea with other herbs, such as mint, rose hip and lemon balm.

If you do not follow the rules of admission, the composition can be dangerous for the body. So, it should be taken several times a day in 1 glass. Every couple of months you should take a break, and then repeat the course.

Ointment

From acacia color, you can make an ointment. Such a remedy is indicated for varicose veins. To prepare it, you need 2 tbsp. raw materials, 10 tbsp chopped comfrey root, 2 tbsp comfrey leaves, the same number of chestnut flowers and 4 tbsp. melted pork fat. All components must be thoroughly mixed and pour hot fat. After that, send the mass for 3 hours to a low fire. After that, filter the composition, pour into a jar and cover. Use chilled ointment in the form of compresses on sore feet. In this case, a thick layer of the composition must be applied to gauze, after which the bandage should be fixed on the leg. So walk 3 days, and then change to a new one. The course of treatment is 5 procedures, that is 15 days. After 2 weeks, you can repeat.

Butter

Raw white acacia is used to make the essential oil. Such a product has a dark yellow and brown color, has a viscous structure and is characterized by a pleasant aroma. In aromatherapy, the product is used to relieve nervous tension, restore sleep, relieve overwork and headache.

It should also be noted that acacia oil is a powerful aphrodisiac.

Acacia based essential oil is used in the cosmetic field. It is included in formulations designed to cleanse and tone the skin. As a result of this, their condition improves, small wrinkles are smoothed out, the face tone improves, redness and peeling disappear.

Application in cosmetology

The use of robinia inflorescences for skin care is due to the fact that the composition of this plant contains essential oils, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, minerals and sugars, esters and organic acids. Due to its rich composition, the flowers of this tree have a powerful anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and soothing effect. Before the first use of acacia-based cosmetics, a test should be performed. To do this, apply a drop of the prepared mask to the inner fold of the elbow and check its tolerance.

1. To prepare an anti-aging face mask, take 10 inflorescences of the plant, grind them and mix with 25 g of natural honey. After that, add 1 tsp to the mixture. fat cream. Use the finished mask for application to the skin. It lasts 10 minutes, after which it remains only to wash off the remnants of the cosmetic product with weak green tea.
2. With oily skin type, the following mask will be effective: grind dry acacia leaves to a powdery consistency, add egg yolk and 1 tsp. milk. Apply the resulting mixture for 10 minutes on the face, and then rinse it with contrasting water, that is, first use warm water for washing, and then cool.
3. To smooth wrinkles, mix 1 tbsp. shredded plant flowers, a small amount of sour cream and olive oil. Apply this mixture to the skin for 15 minutes. The remnants of the product should be removed with a warm broth of parsley.
4. Any shampoo, hair rinse, lotion or body cream can be improved by adding a few drops of oil. So, for 2 tbsp. 1-2 drops of essential substance are enough cosmetic composition.

Useful properties of acacia honey

Acacia beekeeping product is characterized by a number of positive properties. But along with this, there are certain contraindications.

Such honey is characterized by the fragrant aroma of flowers and a pleasant taste. In liquid form, this product is transparent, and after sugaring it acquires a white color. This treat contains fructose and glucose. This type of honey is indicated for diabetes, ulcers, etc. In case of sugar sickness, the product can be used for the reason that insulin is not needed for its processing.

Honey from robinia does not provoke allergic reactions, it contains enzymes and carotene. It can be given even to small children, since it has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and has a healing effect on the affected mucous membranes.

In addition, such a treat restores blood pressure and has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, in the presence of hypertension, it is recommended to include acacia honey in the menu. It must be used for two months of 50 g. This will improve the patient's condition, normalize hemoglobin.

Such honey is also used in order to improve vision. For such purposes, it is recommended to make lotions or prepare a solution in distilled water, which can then be instilled into the eyes with conjunctivitis.

In the presence of eczema, gingivitis and periodontal disease, honey can be used for application to wounds or ulcers. This will destroy most microbes and restore blood flow.

Contraindications

Herbal remedies have a lot of advantages. People use herbs and various plant components for therapeutic purposes, since they differ in the number of side effects.

However, before use, you need to study each plant in detail, because if you neglect this, you can only harm the body.

When treating white acacia, you need to know that contraindications to its use are the baby's waiting time and lactation, as well as allergies. Hypotension and the age of children under 12 years old are serious restrictions on the use of drugs based on this raw material.

In the presence of chronic diseases, consult a doctor.

Interesting Facts

1. Acacia is a symbol of immortality. Its wood was used for the manufacture of special devices designed to store the relics of saints.
2. Acacia oil is sacred. Today, in many religions, such a product is used for anointing and cleansing.
3. In the East, there is such a belief: if you combine camellia, musk and acacia oil in equal amounts, you will get a composition for carrying out rites. In addition, such a mixture can bring happiness and protect against evil spirits.

Photo of white acacia