Bones: benefits and harm to the body

Boneberry forest berry is not so popular as its congeners - blackberries with raspberries, which benefit the lovers of natural wealth. Every year in the middle of summer, they set off along familiar paths to the pine forest to stock up vitamin berries for the winter. It tastes like pomegranate according to the taste of the bones: it is the same sweet and sour and a little astringent. Similarities to an exotic fruit are indicated by seeds that are large enough for a small berry. Therefore, the people of the forest beauty is often called the northern pomegranate, boneworm, raspberry.

But, in addition to a pleasant taste, the berries of skeleton have a lot of unique features. Gourmet treats, desserts and delicious drinks can be prepared from this natural product. And in composition, the northern berry is not inferior to rose hips, so many vitamins and other useful components are contained in it. Therefore, in folk medicine, this wild plant is widely used. Healing drinks are prepared from different parts according to old recipes, which help in the treatment of colds and many other diseases. Perhaps, having learned about her hidden abilities, now lovers of forest gifts will not pass past the bones of burning bushes with red lights.

What is bone?

Bones are one of the species of perennial herbaceous shrubs. Belongs to the plant Rosaceae family. Wild varieties of this berry are predominantly found, although gardeners have recently shown interest in it and are actively engaged in growing perennials in their home gardens.

What does it look like

1. The height of adult bushes does not exceed 30–40 cm. The stalk of the bones is straight, with thorns. Creeping shoots depart from it in all directions.
2. The leaves are oval-elliptical in shape. Their surface is covered with pile. Perennial foliage has the ability to predict the weather: before clear sunny days they curl up into a straw, and about a day before the rain they fully open.
3. Flowers In late May or early June, the bush is covered with small white flowers of five petals. The bony flowers are bisexual, they are kept on short pedicles covered with pile.
4. Fruits of a stone in place of flowers are formed in late July or in August. They consist of several small fragments, indicating a close relationship between the northern berries and raspberries and blackberries. Only they have a larger bone in each lobule. Therefore, by all indications, in a wild-growing shrub of the northern berry, the fruit belongs to the class of drupes. It has a bright red or orange color and a sweet and sour taste.
5. The perennial is propagated by the vegetative method through shoots, the length of which sometimes reaches up to 40 m. By the end of summer, these processes, which are very reminiscent of strawberry tendrils, send roots to the ground. From this moment, the young plant develops independently, separating forever from the mother's body.

Good to know! You can distinguish infertile shoots from fruit-bearing processes by frail appearance and rare villi. Promising specimens of young vegetation immediately form a straight stem with thorns.

Where grows

The life cycles of shrubs are different depending on the region of growth. The plant prefers moist places.It can be found among the fallen needles on the forest edges, rocky slopes, on the hills. The northern berry is widespread in Siberia, the Urals, in almost all regions with a temperate and cold climate of the Eurasian part. In the Caucasus, berry bushes take root well at an altitude of up to 2500 m. On the mountain slopes of the Alps and in Scandinavia, this unpretentious plant also chose a place for permanent residence, as in northern Japan. Even in Iceland and Greenland you can see the berries of northern pomegranate burning with fire. The main condition for a comfortable perennial life is alkaline soils rich in humus.

It is interesting: some specimens move to the meadows adjacent to the forests.

Composition and calorie content

Northern pomegranate has a well-balanced saturated composition, which differs in different plant parts. In total, there are several dozen elements in it. Among the main active ingredients present in berries:

• ascorbic acid (vitamin C) occupies most of the composition;
• organic acids;
• alkaloids;
• pectins;
• routine;
• Vitamin E
• minerals: zinc, iron, manganese, copper;
• flavonoids;
• tannins;
• ashes;
• carbohydrates.

In the underground part of the bones, tannins are concentrated in large quantities, and the leaves contain minerals, alkaloids and rutin.

Despite the presence of carbohydrates, the calorie content of the northern berry is only 44 units. Therefore, nutritionists recommend including a pure forest product in the diet of weakened and seriously ill people. Indeed, in a 100-gram serving of any dessert made from fresh berries of bones, 44 mg of ascorbic acid is contained, which, as you know, forms the protective properties of the immune system.

Useful properties of bones

General benefit

In the food industry and official medicine, berries of the skeleton, like other parts of the plant, are not used. But in folk medicine, a perennial shrub is considered a valuable raw material for the preparation of various dosage forms. Thanks to the unique composition formula, northern pomegranate has a whole range of medicinal properties:

• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
• removes salts and excess fluid from the body;
• does not allow the formation of cholesterol plaques;
• increases the body's resistance, strengthening the immune forces;
• improves intestinal motility;
• has a diaphoretic effect;
• with fever helps to bring down the temperature;
• has a hemostatic property;
• participates in the process of hematopoiesis;
• improves eyesight;
• accelerates tissue regeneration;
• stimulates metabolic processes.

And also has anti-inflammatory effects, especially in the treatment of conjunctivitis and respiratory diseases.

The presence of all these effects in wild berries allows it to be used as an additional treatment for the following pathologies:

• vitamin deficiencies;
• anemia;
• gout;
• gastrointestinal upset;
• bleeding of various origins;
• hemorrhoids;
• diarrhea;
• respiratory infections;
• inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract;
• fatigue and nervous tension;
• stress
• some pathologies of the heart;
• skin problems (warts, papillomas).

Clinical studies conducted by scientists have proven the ability of berries of bones to exhibit anticarcinogenic activity. Therefore, a natural product is quite suitable for preventive use. It is also noted that the presence of wild berry dishes in food reduces their sensitivity to allergens.

Note: raw berries of bones reduce pressure, which is useful for hypertensive patients.

To all the advantages of wild forest culture, it should be added that its sweet and sour taste adorns many dishes. The berry is perfectly perceived by the body, has a limited list of contraindications. Therefore, the inclusion of such a valuable product in the diet will greatly benefit people of all ages and sexes.

For women

Kostyanika is especially useful for representatives of the beautiful half of humanity.

1. The presence in the berries of a whole group of antioxidants will help solve problems with problematic skin.The components of the plant penetrate the deepest layers of the dermis, improving cleansing and metabolism at the cellular level. Therefore, the use of berries in home cosmetology will rejuvenate the dermis of the face, help smooth out wrinkles and get rid of blackheads.
2. Forest berry has a powerful antibacterial and antifungal effect. If daily juice of fresh bones is rubbed into places affected by mycosis, this simple method will help eliminate the foci of fungal infection and get rid of warts and papillomas.
3. The following recipe is useful for those who suffer from dandruff: rinse your hair and head every day with a decoction of foliage and plant roots.
4. In addition to cosmetic use, the northern berry will be useful for heavy periods and bleeding in the postpartum period. To reduce blood loss, you need to prepare a decoction of dry leaves of the bush (12 g) and a glass of water. Boil the composition for 15 minutes, and after filtration, take 30 ml before meals. Just a few tricks of this simple but very effective medicine will help stop the bleeding.

I would also like to dwell on the benefits of culinary products. Very tasty vitamin drinks that can be drunk to strengthen the immune system and bring the nervous system to a normal state are obtained from bones. After all, women are more susceptible to stress than men.

For men

Since representatives of the strong half of humanity have to experience excessive physical exertion every day, bones of berries will help level their negative effects. Even professional athletes and lovers of an active lifestyle should definitely include light desserts with drinks from forest fruits in their nutrition program. The ability of the northern pomegranate to maintain normal muscle tone, including the heart muscle, will help to recover quickly after training and hard work. In addition, a shrub plant will benefit in the treatment of inflammatory processes of the urogenital sphere, hemorrhoids, which men often suffer from.

During pregnancy

Despite the presence of a whole set of vitamins in the composition of the northern berry, the content of the alkaloids group makes it impossible to use it during pregnancy. It is dangerous for expectant mothers to drink even vitamin drinks with a skeleton. Therefore, it is better not to risk your health, and most importantly - the health of the long-awaited baby. There are many healthy berries and fruits, so a worthy replacement for forest gifts can always be found.

When breastfeeding

Nursing mothers, as well as pregnant women, should better postpone treatment with preparations based on plant parts and bone berries. The presence of sufficiently toxic components in the composition can harm the health of the baby, which is very defenseless especially in the first months of life.

For kids

For young children, bone is dangerous due to large bones. At an early age, the kids themselves do not know how to spit out the bones, and their completely unformed digestive tract simply can not cope with such a load. Therefore, up to 3 years, children should not be given fresh bones. But the processed vitamin product in the form of fruit drink and compote can be introduced into baby food from 6–7 months.

Of course, we must not forget that the main marker of the usefulness of the product is the absence of allergic manifestations. You need to introduce drinks to the child’s menu with minimal amounts. If there are no negative reactions, you can gradually increase the rate. From the northern berries you can make healthy marmalade, fruit desserts, delicious jam. Absolutely all kids are delighted with such delicacies.

When losing weight

The low calorie content of northern pomegranate allows you to include a healthy natural product in any diet aimed at losing weight. For example, berry diets are very popular today. Moreover, you can use not only fresh berries, but also frozen fruits. Such a fruit supplement is suitable as a light snack at noon, you can replace dinner with a delicious berry dessert. Dried bones can be added to tea, and ground to porridge. Dried shrub leaves are also suitable for making a vitamin aromatic drink. Therefore, juicy berries of northern pomegranate are able to decorate a strict diet when losing weight.

Many pragmatic housewives harvest bone for the winter just like other garden gifts. Vitamin berry stocks are a great alternative to raspberries and currants. The drinks made from it, jam, compotes will help to remove the fever and improve the condition for colds. And frozen berries can be used as a natural antihypertensive agent under high pressure.

Application in traditional medicine

In Russia, bones were widely used in ancient times. Mostly the housewives made kvass from the berry, which returned strength after hard work. In the old days, herbalists dried the roots and leaves of a forest shrub, and then, according to recipes, which were kept in strict confidence, they prepared medicines for cough, heat, indigestion.

We must pay tribute to the ingenuity of traditional healers, because their medicines worked flawlessly. Perhaps it simply acted, as professionals would say today, the placebo effect. But with the complete absence of medicines, wild berries and medicinal herbs helped to cure even such serious diseases as tuberculosis.

In folk medicine, the bones were used for the preparation of decoctions, tinctures. Berry juice served as an independent remedy for treatment and prevention. Healing solutions were taken orally, they treated the skin, made compresses and rubbing.

Many unique recipes have survived unchanged to the present day. For practical use in home therapy, we offer the following popular remedies.

Tea for the treatment of anemia

The recipe is extremely simple: you need to take in equal proportions the leaves of strawberries, bones and currants. Mix plant materials well, and then 1 tsp. pour into a cup and brew like regular tea. You can add several spruce needles to increase the effectiveness of the drink. After 10 minutes of insisting tea can be drunk.

Hemorrhoid Remedy

Traditional healers recommend using this recipe for those who suffer from pain in joints affected by arthritis. As a basis, you need to take shoots, flowers and leaves from the bushes of bones in the same amount - 20 g. Brew plant material with boiling water (300 ml), leave for an hour to infuse. Ready solution to use for compresses, but you can take it inside, diluting half with water. External procedures for hemorrhoids are best done before bedtime. The course of treatment is 10 days. Usually this time is enough to relieve soreness and swelling.

Hemorrhoid baths

Sitemap baths with decoction from the leaves of the bush of the northern berry will improve the condition with hemorrhoids. Calculation of components: for 3 l of water - 50 g of leaves. Connect the components in an enamel bowl, which then put on a slow fire. Boil the composition for 10-15 minutes, remove from the stove and cool slightly. Then the finished broth can be added to the finished bath.

To restore the body

After a long illness or chemotherapy of cancer patients, tea with the help of 2 tbsp will help to recover quickly. fresh juice bones. Such a cocktail should be taken daily for two weeks.

Infusion for bronchitis

In this case, you need to cook 1 tbsp. flowers and leaves of bones. Equally suitable for both fresh and dried raw materials. Pour the ingredients in the indicated amount into a thermos, and pour 200 ml of boiling water on top. Insist composition 4 hours. Then divide the entire volume of liquid by 50 ml at each dose. During the day, the whole infusion needs to be drunk.

Universal tincture

This tool is suitable for prevention and treatment. Prepare it from the dried leaves of the plant (50 g) and 0.5 l of vodka. You need to insist the medicine for a whole month in the dark. Take 1 tsp. 3-4 times.

Fortifying Tea

In principle, this is also a universal remedy that you can drink to replenish the body’s energy resource. The drink will alleviate the condition for colds, relieve nervous tension. Fresh bones and leaves are required. Take the ingredients for 1 tsp, pour into a cup. Pour the mixture with a glass of boiling water. After 7-10 minutes, the healing infusion will be ready. To improve the taste, honey and cream should be added to the drink, but milk can also be used.

The cure for gastritis

In this situation, you will need a small amount of fresh berries, from which you need to squeeze the juice. Take 30 ml of juice daily on an empty stomach. It is advisable to continue the course of natural therapy for three months.

Remedy for seborrhea

This method of treating skin problems was used by Siberian healers. Preparing a decoction of leaves collected from a bush bones. You can also take dried leaves as starting material. The volume of the base is 3 tbsp. The vegetable part should be filled with 0.4 l of boiling water. Then steamed leaves in a water bath still bring a quarter of an hour to the desired state. Ready broth wash your hair. As the centuries-old practice shows, after several procedures, itching and dandruff disappear without a trace.

Soothing baths

In addition to the sedative effect, such procedures help strengthen the immune forces. It is necessary to prepare a decoction of berries and leaves of bones with the addition of pine needles. Pour the finished solution into water filled with water at a temperature of up to 37 degrees. The duration of the procedure is 15–20 minutes. Usually, after such baths, a dream is established, muscles are relaxed. In a word, such a procedure in action is equivalent to relaxation sessions in an expensive salon. This solution is suitable for foot baths with fungus on the legs. Only in water, in addition to the broth, it is necessary to add a few drops of tea tree oil.

To establish metabolism

The home remedy prepared in the following way will increase the flow rate of metabolic processes:

1. 250 g washed berries pour boiled, but cooled water (1/2 liter).
2. In this form, leave the mixture for a day.
3. Then strain the solution, and add 25 g of good honey to the resulting infusion. Take 50 ml three times a day.

Note: An infusion prepared according to this recipe can be drunk with liver problems.

A few more simple methods of treatment with the use of individual parts of the bony shrub:

1. With rheumatic pains, you can steam the drupe leaves in boiling water, and then attach to sore spots.
2. To get rid of warts, you need to lubricate them with fresh juice of berry berries every day.
3. Sore eyes can be quickly cured by applying fresh shrub leaves to them.

I would like to complete another review of recipes based on berries and other parts of bonefruit with one more useful tip: fresh juice of bonefruit berries kills the causative agents of such an unpleasant disease as trichomoniasis and some other sexually transmitted infections. To perform the procedure, add 30-50 ml per 1 liter of fresh berry juice to the syringe solution.

What can be cooked from bones: recipes

Most often, berries are consumed fresh. It is not difficult to eliminate excess acid with the help of such additives as sour cream, honey, sugar, milk.But from the forest product you can cook a lot of beautiful dishes with an elegant flavoring bouquet. True, to collect the right amount of berries, it is worth to be patient, since this is a very time-consuming process. Those who dare to take such an action will subsequently be rewarded, because the following culinary delights can be prepared at home from the northern pomegranate:

• jelly;
• jam and jam;
• kvass;
• compotes;
• jelly;
• wine and liquors;
• mousses;
• marinade;
• sauce for meat dishes;
• berry filling for confectionery.

It is interesting that in cooking even bone stones were used: they must be dried, and then grind in a coffee grinder. The resulting powder can be added to the main dishes and pastries as seasoning. For rational housewives, we suggest taking note of the recipes for the following sweet desserts.

Jam

Traditional cooking scheme for sweet sweets from berries:

1. First, separate the stalks from the berries, then rinse them.
2. Allow the water to drain from the berries.
3. To prepare the syrup, take 1 kg of sugar and a half cup of water.
4. Boil the syrup for 5 minutes, then pour the berry mass directly with a hot mustard composition.
5. Cooking jam is best in a basin using this technology: bring the mass to a boil three times, and then remove from the stove. When the berries in the syrup have cooled, put the basin again on the stove.
6. After the last removal from the fire, immediately pour the jam into the banks, and then roll up or close the capron lids.

Important: berries cooked by this technique retain all the beneficial properties.

Compote

A drink of berries can serve not only as an addition to a hearty dinner, with a cold it alleviates the condition of the patient and relieves fever. How to cook compote:

1. A handful of berry berries and 6 leaves from the same bush to brew 2 liters of water. It is advisable to add a few raspberry and currant leaves for the aroma.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and immediately turn off the heat.
3. When the compote has cooled, add honey to taste.

Kvass

Residents of Siberian regions are still preparing this popular old drink according to the recipes of their grandmothers. The simplest option is given here:

1. Grind 4 cups of berry berries.
2. Pour in a berry mass of 3 liters of water.
3. Boil a little over low heat.
4. Then strain the broth and add 200 g of sugar.
5. When the drink has cooled, add 10 g of yeast. Kvass should roam for 2-3 days.
6. Then put it in the cold and drink to quench your thirst in the summer heat.

Kissel

This drink, loved by children and adults, is prepared very quickly. The scheme is simple:

1. Grind a glass of berries with a wooden mortar.
2. Separately dilute starch (40 g) in a glass of cold water.
3. Pour the berry mass 0.8 l of water and boil a little.
4. Then add the starch solution and 100 g of sugar.
5. Bring the jelly to a boil, but do not boil.

You can make marmalade, fruit desserts and a lot of delicious dishes from berry berries. But, of course, you have to sacrifice a little time, because the forest berry is difficult to process. But the lost time will pay off with the unique taste of delicacies and desserts, which will delight not only kids, but even adult members of the family. Such delights should be reserved for special holidays.

Harm and contraindications

We examined the beneficial properties of wild berries, which for various reasons people do not notice, collecting other gifts of nature in the forest. There are really a lot of useful properties in bonefruits, but there are a number of contraindications that must always be taken into account if you want to include its fruits in the diet. Absolute contraindications:

• diabetes;
• pregnancy;
• period of breastfeeding;
• tendency to allergic manifestations;
• individual intolerance to the product;
• stable hypertension;
• thrombophlebitis;
• predisposition to constipation;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• peptic ulcer.

As already noted, children can give useful berries, but with caution.It is best to make light desserts and vitamin drinks from fresh fruits.

Interesting Facts

1. In the old days, bones were used to produce natural colors - from purple to pale blue.
2. After a detailed study of the composition of the northern berry, the developers of alcoholic beverages created a recipe for vodka, which went on sale under the name "Kostyanka".
3. In the old days, bones were used together with conspiracies to treat headaches and eliminate obsessive conditions. Herbalists attributed magical properties to the forest plant. They made special tea with northern berries and other herbs.

Gardeners believe that the modest harvest obtained from a bush of bones is not worth the costs that care for this crop will require. It is this factor that reduces the rating of this berry, although it is not inferior to blueberries, lingonberries or currants in its useful and medicinal properties. Perhaps, after a close acquaintance with this unique plant, someone will have a desire to plant several bushes of northern pomegranate in their summer cottage.

Photo bones