Blackberry leaves: medicinal properties and contraindications

Blackberries are not only tasty, but also very healthy berries, which contain quite a lot of vitamins and minerals that have beneficial effects on the immune system, digestive system and so on. For medical purposes, you can use not only the fruits themselves, but also leaves, roots, flowers, branches. This article talks about the benefits of blackberry leaves, what medicinal properties and contraindications they have. They can be consumed both dry and fresh. Basically, they make all kinds of decoctions and tinctures that help to cope with a number of serious internal physiological problems.

Of course, there is some problem with picking the blackberry and its leaves. The bush itself is prickly, and it is difficult to get close to it, so many do not dare to plant it at home or in a summer cottage. But now a variety has already been bred where there are much less thorns or they are practically absent.

This article is dedicated to the topic of the healing properties of blackberry leaves. We will tell you how to properly collect and store them, which medicines can be made from them and what properties they possess.

Chemical composition

Basically, only blackberries are collected, forgetting that in its leaves there is a whole storehouse of vitamins and minerals. As already mentioned, each part of the blackberry bush has a lot of useful properties. They have a huge amount of vitamins, minerals and other substances necessary for the body. Firstly, the leaves of this berry contain B, C, E, PP vitamins, as well as essential oils, malic, lactic food acids, and inositol. It contains substances such as tannins, antioxidants, flavonoids.

1. Tannins are responsible for proper digestion, therefore, very often patients with stool problems are prescribed to drink a decoction of blackberry leaves.
2. Antioxidants are substances that are involved in the regeneration of the skin, slowing down its aging. They are also a prophylactic against cardiovascular diseases and the development of cancerous tumors.
3. Flavonoids are distinguished by their effect on the immune system. Therefore, during viral and colds, it is recommended to add blackberry leaves to tea to reduce symptoms.

In addition to this, the leaves of blackberry contain organic acids, fructose, tocopherol, retinol, glucose, fiber, as well as chemical trace elements such as zinc, nickel, chromium, and iron.

Collection and storage

The best time of the year for picking blackberry leaves is the spring time. No one denies that it is possible to collect both in autumn and summer, but it is in spring that leaves develop to such an extent that a maximum of useful substances is concentrated in them.

Leaves must be collected with scissors and gloves, cutting so that the total stalk is at least 3 cm long. When the leaves are cut, it is worth taking care of their storage.

Drying

Place the collected material on a wooden board. Stack the leaves with a thin layer. Then walk along the rolling pin to squeeze the juice out of them.

The next step is to put the leaves in a pan.And if at the first stage it was necessary to lay out a thin layer of leaflets, now it is important to make sure that they very tightly fit together. Then close them with a lid so that air does not leak into the pan. Leave the leaves to infuse. This should take about 4 days.

After the appointed time, the leaves are ready for drying. They can be dried using an oven, which should be heated to 30-40 degrees. If the temperature is high, the collected raw materials will dry too much and lose their useful properties, and become unusable.

There is another option that eliminates the use of the oven. To do this, you need ordinary sheets on which you need to lay out the collected material for future infusions and decoctions. It is best to place them in a dark place where the sun does not fall and where there are no drafts.

Storage

Dried blackberry leaves should be stored in a dark place where sunlight does not penetrate. For this, cardboard boxes or small bags made of fabric are perfect. Thus, they will not take up much space.

The expiration date of blackberry leaves is approximately 1–2 years. After this period, they simply lose their useful properties and become useless, so the best solution would be to throw away old stocks and go collect new ones.

The healing properties of blackberry leaves

As mentioned above, blackberry leaves contain many useful substances that affect the improvement of human health.

1. Thanks to vitamin C, blackberry leaves affect the human immune system during viral and colds. Reduce the temperature, remove the cough - all this can be achieved with the help of infusions and decoctions from the leaves of this berry.
2. Tocopherol promotes premature aging, prevents the risk of wrinkles and gives the skin a healthy and normal look.
3. Blackberry leaves are a good prophylactic against cancer.
4. If there are problems with high cholesterol, then the use of blackberry leaves will fix this by reducing the amount of this indicator in the blood.
5. Blackberry leaves have an antibacterial and healing effect. Therefore, they can be used as a patch on a wound or scratch.
6. A decoction of blackberry leaves can gargle with pain in the teeth, gum disease and other diseases of the oral cavity.
7. Blackberry leaves help fight eating disorders, diarrhea. They also help with gastritis, stomach ulcers.
8. It is believed that a decoction of blackberry leaves is one of the best remedies for insomnia.
9. Compresses can be used against skin rashes, with bruises, inflammations. They help to cope with hemorrhoids.
10. The leaves of this berry contain a lot of iron, which positively affects the work of the heart, strengthening and cleansing of blood vessels. Thanks to the regular use of decoctions of blackberry leaves, it is possible to solve problems with constant high blood pressure.
11. Infusions do a good job of eliminating bile, which improves the work of the gallbladder.
12. Organic acids found in blackberry leaves have beneficial effects not only on internal organs, but also on a person’s appearance. If they are not enough in the body, this will lead to a lack of vitamins, problems with the digestive system, deterioration of the structure of hair and nails, pain in the muscles and joints.

For women

Thanks to vitamin E, which is considered to be female, the condition improves during menopause. It is a powerful antioxidant that removes various wastes and toxins from the body that poison it. This affects not only the digestive system, improved metabolism and the rapid loss of excess weight, but also on the condition of the skin. They begin to regenerate faster, therefore, the aging process slows down, the risk of wrinkles decreases, the skin becomes more elastic and smooth. This vitamin also affects the reproductive system. It helps the body produce estrogen, that is, female hormone, which improves the chances of conceiving a baby.

If the girl has problems with her periods and normalization of the cycle, then vitamin E, which is a lot in blackberry leaves, will help to correct the situation and cope with pain during critical days. By the way, zinc, which is found in blackberry leaves, also helps in the formation of the female hormone and improves the reproductive system in principle.

For men

Blackberry leaves contain a fairly large amount of zinc. This chemical element affects the production of seminal fluid, improves sperm quality, which makes a man more fertile. Zinc increases testosterone levels and fights the appearance of female estrogen in the male body, which appears with age or as a result of obesity.

During pregnancy

As mentioned above, blackberry leaves, due to the high content of vitamin E in them, have an excellent effect on conception, since it helps to produce the female hormone - estrogen. If we are talking about a pregnant woman, then the lack of this substance causes very deplorable consequences for the life of the unborn child, because a miscarriage or detachment of the placenta can occur. There is also a risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the baby when he is born. After giving birth, a woman needs time to recover. Blackberry leaves, which normalize the level of hemoglobin in the blood, can help with this.

For children

Children very often suffer from colds, so a decoction of blackberry leaves will help strengthen and improve the state of the immune system, reduce the symptoms of diseases such as tonsillitis, stomatitis, bronchitis. Before giving the child a decoction or infusion, it is better to consult a pediatrician. He will advise the necessary norm, taking into account the age characteristics of the growing organism. At the same time, children who have not yet reached 2 years old are not recommended to give blackberries, decoctions or infusion from it, since an allergic reaction or simply intolerance can occur, which will not turn out to be the best consequences for the baby.

Blackberry leaves in folk medicine

Rinse

Used against sore throats, sore throats, common colds and so on)

Ingredients:

• Dried blackberry leaves - 3 tbsp.
• Boiling water - 0.5 l.

Cooking process:

1. In a pre-selected container (for this, both a jar and a thermos can fit), steam 3 tbsp. . dried blackberry leaves.
2. After 1 hour, the drug will be ready for use, only strain it before use.
3. Take 4 times a day

Infusion for people with diabetes

People with diabetes are recommended to take decoctions or infusions from blackberry leaves. The beneficial substances that are in them contribute to a faster metabolism and better health in principle.

Ingredients:

• Dried or fresh blackberry leaves - 1 tbsp.
• Boiling water - 1 cup.

Cooking process:

1. Steam the leaves with boiled water and let it brew.
2. After half an hour, strain the infusion with a sieve or gauze.
3. Take 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals.
4. Continue the course for 2 weeks. Further, the body needs to be given time to rest, because an overabundance can do even more harm.

Blackberry leaf gruel against ulcers, skin rashes, lichen

Ingredients: fresh blackberry leaves - 2 tbsp.

Cooking process:

1. Grind the leaves in a blender or with a knife.
2. The resulting mass is applied to the focus of inflammation for 30 minutes.
3. Perform a similar procedure 2 times a day.
4. Continue the course for 2 weeks.

Tea Against Eating Disorders and Stool Problems

Ingredients:

• Dried blackberry leaves - 1 tbsp.
• Boiling water - 300 ml.

Cooking process:

1. In a glass of boiled water, steam 1 tbsp.dry blackberry leaves. You can add blackberry flowers, then the effect will be much stronger.
2. Infuse tea for 50 minutes.
3. Strain the liquid through a sieve or gauze.
4. Take 2 times a day: after waking up and before bedtime.

Tea to calm the nerves

Ingredients:

• Dried blackberry leaves - 1 tbsp.
• Motherwort - 1 tbsp.
• Scaffold - 1 tbsp.
• Thyme - 1 tsp
• Boiling water - 0.5 l.

Cooking process:

1. Pour dried leaves of plants with boiling water.
2. Let them brew for half an hour.
3. Take a sedative before bedtime if the person has a protracted depression.

In the case when there was simply a nervous breakdown, you should drink only 1 cup of such tea and it will become easier.

Decoction against eating disorders with raspberries

Ingredients:

• Dried blackberry leaves - 1 tbsp.
• Dried raspberry leaves - 1 tbsp.
• Dried mint leaves - 1 tsp
• Boiling water - 300 ml.

Cooking process:

1. The resulting mixture of leaves of berries and mint pour boiling water.
2. Let it brew for 10–20 minutes.

Recipe for a decoction of blackberry leaves during gastritis

Ingredients:

• Dried blackberry leaves - 4 tbsp.
• Boiling water - 700 ml.

Cooking process:

1. Grind the blackberry leaves with a blender or with a knife.
2. Then pour boiling water over them and cook over low heat for 3 hours.
3. Drink the resulting broth 3 times a day before each meal.

Enamel & Gum Recipe

Ingredients:

• Blackberry leaves - 2 tablespoons
• Boiling water - 300 ml.

Cooking process:

1. Boil the leaves with boiled water.
2. Insist for an hour.
3. Then the broth is ready for use. Gargle 2 times a day for a week.

Decoction from thrush

Ingredients:

• Dried blackberry leaves - 3 tbsp.
• Boiling water - 1 l.

Cooking process:

1. Steamed with boiled water 3 tbsp. blackberry leaves.
2. Boil them over low heat for 10 minutes.
3. Let it brew. In time, this should take 1.5 hours.

You can make a bath, pour the solution into the basin and sit in it for about 30 minutes (the procedure is performed every day for 1 week). But the effect will be more from douching. Make them 7 days after the end of critical days. Repeat this procedure for 3 consecutive months.

Acne Mask Recipe

Ingredients:

• Blackberry leaves - 2 tablespoons
• Boiling water - 150 ml.

Cooking process:

1. Chop the blackberry leaves. You can do this with a knife or a blender.
2. Then sprinkle them with boiled water and let cool slightly.
3. After that, put phyto raw materials on cheesecloth and attach to the face for 20 minutes. Perform this procedure several times a week.

The same decoction can be done for the hair to prevent the risk of dandruff and nourish them with beneficial enzymes.

With various peeling on the skin, it is also recommended to make hand baths from a decoction infused with blackberry leaves.

Blackberry and Calendula Leaves Recipe for Nervous Disorders

Ingredients:

• Blackberry leaves - 4 tablespoons
• Calendula flowers - 2 tbsp.
• Boiling water - 300 ml.

Cooking process:

1. Mix phyto-raw materials with each other.
2. Then 5 tbsp. pour boiled water. Since this is an infusion, it is not necessary to insist on it very much in time. Enough and half an hour.
3. Then strain the liquid.
4. Drink several times a day after meals for 1 week.

Decoction for insomnia

Ingredients:

• Blackberry leaves - 1 tablespoon
• Leaves of hawthorn - 1 tbsp.
• Strawberry leaves - 1 tbsp.
• Water - 400 ml.

Cooking process:

1. Mix the phyto-raw materials that are available in a special container.
2. Then 1 tbsp. pour the resulting plant mixture in a cup with boiled water.
3. In a water bath, cook the solution for about 25 minutes.
4. Insist the broth in a warm place for half an hour.
5. Then strain the liquid through a sieve.
6. Drink a few hours before bedtime. In order to add sweetness to the taste, you can put a little honey in the broth.

Healing jam

Ingredients:

• Blackberry - 3 kg.
• Water - 1.5 liters.
• Blackberry Leaves - 300 g
• Sugar - 3.5 kg.

Cooking process:

1. Rinse the berries, put on a sieve and let the water drain.
2. Make a decoction of the leaves of the blackberry by boiling over low heat for about 20–25 minutes.
3. Add 500 g of sugar and cook until syrup.
4. Then add the washed berries, cover tightly and let it sweat for 10-15 minutes.
5. After cooking, allow time to cool slightly the resulting mass.
6. Then repeat the procedure: put on fire again and cook for 30 minutes on low heat.
7. For taste, add a few slices of lemon or mint, but they must be finely chopped with a knife or chopped with a blender in advance.
8. Pour the thickened sweet mass into crystal clear jars and tightly seal with lids. Now the jam is ready, it can be served with tea or used as a prophylactic against colds.

Vitamin mix

This recipe will saturate each person with a lot of vitamins, give vitality and improve mood.

Ingredients:

• Black tea leaves - 1 tablespoon
• Blackberry Leaves - 2 tsp
• Currant leaves - 2 tsp
• Blueberry leaves - 2 tsp
• Blackberry - 1 tbsp
• Raspberries - 1 tablespoon
• Water - 500 ml.

Cooking process:

1. Pour the leaves of berries and black tea into the teapot.
2. Pour all this with a little boiled water.
3. Cover tightly with a paper towel over it.
4. After 5 minutes, add the berries to the tea solution and pour water again.
5. Give tea to brew. 3-4 minutes are enough for him, and he is already ready for use. Sweet cakes with jam or just honey will be a great addition to tea.

Types of healing compounds

Infusion

The infusion differs from all other medicinal compositions in that the leaves for it are not boiled for long or simply filled with boiled water and infused for 3-4 hours.

The ingredients for the infusion are dried or fresh blackberry leaves and boiling water. The principle of preparation is quite simple: pour the right amount of leaves in a pan, pour boiling water and leave in this state for several hours. It is important not to forget to close the lid so that the air and the sun's rays do not penetrate inside. Infusion should always be drunk half an hour before a meal. The resulting solution helps well during diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and is used to rub patients and tired joints. You can also apply dressings moistened with infusion of blackberry leaves to apply to wounds or scratches.

Tincture

Tincture is always prepared using alcohol. You can do it in a variety of ways. The classic recipe is fresh blackberry leaves and half a liter of vodka.

Pour phyto raw materials with vodka, and then shake the container a little so that the alcohol and leaves mix. The resulting mixture should be removed in a dark place where sunlight does not penetrate, for exactly 1 week. After the allotted time, the tincture is ready for use.

There is a better recipe, which is much tastier, which, in addition to leaves and alcohol, includes sugar, blackberries, lemon peel and mint. Mix all this in a three-liter jar and put in a dark place for 2 months. Shake the can every week and put it back in again. When the time has passed, strain the tincture through a sieve. Then it is ready for use. Store in a cool place. Best if it's a basement.

Of course, such a tincture can be used as alcohol during a feast in honor of some holiday. But it is also suitable for grinding during colds and viral diseases. Also, tincture helps to reduce pain in muscles and joints.

Decoction

The broth has a much faster cooking time than the same infusion. This requires plain water and dried blackberry leaves. Pour phyto-raw materials into the pan, add water and cook over low heat for several minutes. Then let the broth infuse for 20 minutes, strain through a sieve or gauze, and it is ready for use.

The resulting solution can be poured into an inhaler and inhaled to clean the airways. It also helps with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, with a malfunction of the digestive system, with pathologies such as tonsillitis, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections.It helps reduce temperature, has an expectorant effect, and so on.

In addition, such a decoction can be washed daily after sleep. This should be done several times a day for 2 weeks. Then the skin will look fresh, healthy and radiant, without acne.

Tea

Tea is prepared quickly enough, like a decoction. For its preparation, pre-dried blackberry leaves are used. Pour them into a teapot, pour boiling water and give about 1 hour so that the tea solution is well infused. During this, the apartment will be filled with the smell of wild berries, which will positively play on the mood of the people in it. Such tea can be drunk just like that, and as a medicine against various diseases.

Such tea has a great effect on the functioning of the kidneys, as it is a diuretic, so it is a good way to prevent problems with cystitis. Of course, this does not mean that the leaves of the blackberry will completely defeat the disease, but they will definitely reduce the symptoms. In addition, this tea is an excellent tool for rapid weight loss, as it is full of antioxidants that cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, normalize metabolic processes. Therefore, instead of spending a lot of money on all sorts of herbal tea, which supposedly contribute to the rapid loss of excess weight, but actually only harm the body, it is better to collect or buy dried blackberry leaves in a pharmacy. It will not be so expensive and many times more useful.

Contraindications

There are no special contraindications to the use of the blackberry itself and its leaves. But still, do not get carried away with frequent consumption, because an overabundance of vitamins in the body always leads to bad results.

Negative effects:

• vomiting
• nausea;
• diarrhea.

If a person has an individual intolerance, an allergic reaction, then, naturally, the use of blackberry leaves is strictly prohibited. It is also not recommended for those who go through the recovery phase after surgery on the stomach or intestines. People who have high acidity are also not recommended to include blackberries in their diet.

Interesting Facts

1. In ancient Greece, they already knew about the benefits of blackberries, so with its help healers treated gout.
2. In ancient Rome, blackberry leaves were used to heal wounds.
3. In the modern scientific community, there is talk of including blackberry leaves in anti-cancer drugs.

Given all the above features of a blackberry and its components, especially leaves, we can say that it is a useful and necessary berry for everyone. It has antibacterial, antiviral effects, helps with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and cardiovascular system, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. It is useful for absolutely everyone: both for men and for women and children. With all the variety of recipes for decoctions, infusions, tinctures, tea, various juices from blackberry and its leaves, they all prepare quite easily, without much effort. The main thing is to take into account the time of collecting the leaves of the blackberry. In the spring, from April to May, they are full of useful and necessary enzymes for the human body. Of course, this can be done both in autumn and summer, but the effect of the application will not be so strong. Blackberry leaves can even be added to the bath and arrange spa treatments for your body so that it rests, and the skin is enriched with various enzymes useful for it.

Summing up, it must be said that you can not deprive attention of such a berry as a blackberry and its components. You need to cook compotes, make jams, decoctions, infusions, tinctures in order to maintain the health of the body and the coordinated work of all internal systems.

Photo of blackberry leaf