Shiksha: medicinal properties and contraindications

The dwarf, but very attractive shiksha Siberian bush is widely used in folk medicine. This plant is known under various names - crowberry, swamp, berry heather, crowberry. Official medicine has not yet fully studied its properties. However, it is considered a promising antidiabetic agent. Its sedative and anticonvulsant effect is noted, as well as a number of other properties, which will be discussed below.

Chemical composition

Both leaves and shiksha berries have beneficial properties. However, their chemical composition will be different. First of all, it should be noted that shiksha berries contain ascorbic acid in a very large amount - in the range of 70–90 mg per 100 g of mass. According to this indicator, the crowberry is somewhat inferior to the princess and dogrose, but still it is considered a fairly high level. Thanks to this vitamin C content, the berries of this plant have become one of the most effective anti-scurvy remedies in the northern regions. In addition, ascorbic acid has antioxidant properties and has a beneficial effect on the state of blood vessels and the circulatory system as a whole.

So, berries contain:

1. Quercetin, which, like other flavonoids, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Rutin - the value of this substance is difficult to overestimate. It reduces platelet aggregation and prevents the formation of blood clots, so in the future vodniknik can be used to treat strokes and heart attacks. Rutin also improves the condition of blood vessels and has anti-inflammatory activity. A number of studies show that it normalizes the level of iodine absorption by the thyroid gland, but so far this aspect has not been studied enough.
3. Anthocyanins are pigments that give the fruits of crowberry a dark shade. At the same time, they have anti-inflammatory effects, and they also improve the barrier function of the intestine and generally normalize lipid metabolism.
4. Fatty oils necessary for normal metabolism.
5. Coumarins. They are mainly represented by ellagolic acid, which has cardioprotective properties, which makes it useful for cardiovascular diseases. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, as well as reparative properties, that is, it contributes to tissue repair.
6. Ursolic acid, which is considered an important component of antidiabetic drugs and helps fight weight gain.
7. Tannins and wax.

The fruits also contain various types of fruit sugars and essential oils, although not in large enough quantities to give them a pronounced taste.

In the leaves and branches of the plant there are coumarins, alkoloids, essential oils, as well as vitamin C, although in smaller quantities. In addition, the aerial part of Siberian shiksha contains both the above quercetin and rutin with their unique properties, and tannins, which have astringent properties and make the plant an effective remedy for diarrhea. Caffeic acid is present in the leaves and branches of the plant. It has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, and some studies have shown that it can stop the development of malignant neoplasms (however, this aspect has not yet been studied enough). Of the trace elements contained in the leaves, it is also worth highlighting manganese.

How it looks and where it grows

Vodyanik is a small creeping shrub. Today there are various garden varieties (some even reach 50 cm), but in natural conditions its height is on average 20–25 cm.This is an evergreen plant with long shoots that can reach 100 cm in length.

In nature, it grows with curtains that remotely resemble spots on the ground. This is a highly branched shrub, so each curtain is actually a single copy of the plant. The crown shape of this shrub is pillow-shaped. The stem has a dark shade, it is densely covered with small leaves - each leaf plate up to 10 mm long has an edge wrapped down. They are so small, narrow and so dense that they look like needles. From a distance, the plant looks like a dwarf Christmas tree. Interestingly, each leaf is kept on the bush for up to five years.

In this case, the leaves of the crowberry on the front side are dark green, and on the wrong side they appear reddish, since they have a dense pubescence of the corresponding shade. By the way, the stem itself in young plants is also covered with a brownish fluff.

As already noted, the shrub branches strongly, and part of its branches gradually forms additional roots. Over time, the plant takes up more space, but in the center of the curtain, branches begin to die.

This plant blooms with small and not very beautiful flowers with three petals. They can have a pink, red or purple hue. In central Russia, flowering usually begins in April-May, but in Siberia - only in May-June. They are pollinated not only by bees, but also by flies and butterflies.

And in August-September, fruits appear on the bushes - round black berries with a bluish bloom. Their juice also has a dark, often purple hue - all this is due to the presence of the anthocyanins mentioned above. However, these hard-skinned berries have virtually no pronounced taste and appear watery. Berries appear on the shrub in the fall, but if they are not collected, they will last on the branches until spring.

In the wild in Russia, Crowberry is found mainly in Siberia and the Far East. There, this plant prefers moist places, marshland, peatlands. Very often it grows in crevices of rocks. That is, shiksha tolerates even severe environmental conditions, which makes its targeted cultivation quite promising.

Kinds

Currently, there is no consensus in botany regarding the classification of Siberian shiksha. A number of scientists believe that the genus Vodyanika is monotypic, and there is only one species in it - black crowberry (it is black-fruited). But at the same time, it is believed that in nature it is still divided into Japanese and Asian shiksha, and the first in Russia is almost never found. But there is another opinion that the genus Vodyanik combines three species at once. It is black, bisexual and red. In any case, for medicinal purposes, only one species is cultivated - black chokeberry, which in general terms has been described above.

In landscape design, shiksha is used in rockeries and on alpine hills. Breeders bred several of its varieties, for example:

• Citronella is a plant with a unique lemon shade foliage.
• Smaragd is a shrub with dark green leaves.
• Bernstein is a variety with a very pale yellow leaf color.

Varieties such as Lucia and Ireland are also popular. But all the differences between them come down mainly to decorative external features, but the chemical composition of the aerial parts will be approximately the same.

Collection and storage

Shiksha grass is harvested during the flowering period of the plant, the fruits after ripening. The branches are cut with a sharp knife, then sorted out so that they are not spoiled, and laid out on a canvas under a canopy or in a room with good ventilation.

Sometimes only shiksha leaves are collected separately, although this is a more time-consuming process. This is also done at the beginning of flowering plants. Leaves can be torn off by hands, it is not necessary to take a knife for this. But some herbalists use small scissors for this. As medicinal raw materials, it is better to take not the top, but the lower and middle leaves, and damaged or wilted specimens are not suitable for these purposes. Then they again sort it out, remove the spoiled grass and lumps of earth, and dry it in the same way as other medicinal raw materials.From time to time, when drying, grass and leaves of vodnikniks are agitated so that the process runs evenly.

It is believed that the next harvest of vodnika from the same site can be carried out only after 8 years, so it makes little sense to grow a plant in the garden just for its medicinal properties.

Shiksha berries are picked in the morning or in the evening. It is believed that those that are collected during the day, then quickly deteriorate. Berries can be dried naturally or use a fruit dryer, but only set it in a gentle mode of operation with temperatures up to 40 degrees so that those beneficial substances contained in the fruits are not destroyed.

Dried raw materials are stored in linen bags or paper bags in a dry place so that they do not become damp or deteriorate. Shelf life is 2 years.

There are other ways to process fruits. For example, they can be frozen - then the berries are picked, the spoiled ones are thrown away, but in general they do not wash the finished raw materials, but simply pour them into plastic food boxes and put them in the freezer. During the year they can be used to make tea and decoction.

Some herbalists recommend harvesting juice from berries of crowberry for the winter. To do this, using a juicer, squeeze the juice from the berries and bring it to a boil, and then immediately turn it off so that the vitamins contained in it are not destroyed. This juice is rolled into pre-sterilized glass jars. It can be drunk little by little to relieve puffiness, reduce excess weight, and it can also be an immunomodulating agent.

The healing properties of shiksha

With official medicine, the properties of crowberry have not been sufficiently studied. However, scientists continue to research, since a multicomponent complex of biologically active substances in the future may be useful. It is already known today that an aqueous extract (in the form of infusion or decoction) from leaves and herbs of shiksha has an anticonvulsant effect and even antihypoxic properties.

A number of studies have proven cerebroprotective effect, that is, the plant protects the cells of the central nervous system, which allows its use in the treatment of some destructive pathologies. So, the effectiveness of preparations of crowberry with epilepsy has been proven. They can also be used in the complex treatment of serious diseases such as multiple sclerosis, tick-borne encephalitis and even paralysis of various etiologies.

The research conducted by Tomsk scientists used an aqueous extract of grass, leaves and berries of waterweed. It was used to treat patients with epilepsy, as well as for people with post-stroke paralysis. Such a remedy really reduced the number of epileptic seizures and alleviated their severity. In patients with paralysis, regular intake of vodnika extract contributed to an increase in range of motion, which can already be considered an excellent result.

The cerebroprotective properties make this plant a promising remedy for impaired memory and cognitive function, for migraines and headaches. Already today it is used in dietary supplements, which should help with rapid fatigue and a decrease in tone.

Shiksha also has a sedative effect, so it is taken as a sedative in sleep disorders. Its choleretic and diuretic properties are proved, which allows the plant to be used for diseases of the kidneys and hepatobiliary system. In addition, it has a hypotensive effect, which makes it possible to take drugs based on it to reduce pressure.

Shiksha in folk medicine

Blackberry has found wider application in folk medicine. Based on it, decoctions and infusions are made, which are used:

• with headaches of different origin;
• physical and psychoemotional overwork;
• chronic fatigue;
• insomnia;
• edema of various nature;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• colitis and some other inflammatory bowel diseases;
• difficulty urinating;
• as a sedative, accelerating metabolism, a prophylactic for infectious diseases.

The high content of vitamins and minerals has made Vodnik an effective anti-scurvy remedy in antiquity, which was especially important in the northern regions.

In Tibetan medicine, Crowberry was used both as an internal and external medicine. In the first case, it was a question of treating diseases of the liver and kidneys (and modern science has confirmed these properties of the plant). In the second case, shiksha-based products were used to treat acne, various skin irritations, and rashes, which is also not without meaning, since the crowberry contains a lot of anti-inflammatory substances.

As for specific recipes for use, they exist in many options, since over the years, traditional medicine has accumulated many ways.

For example, to relieve migraines, you can choose one of three options:

1. Take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dried leaves of crowberry, pour 500 ml of cold water, bring to a boil, boil for 5 minutes. Then, the obtained product is insisted for 40-60 minutes, passed through gauze folded into several layers and taken 3-4 tbsp. spoons 5 times a day.
2. The broth is prepared a little differently. Take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of crushed dry raw materials (berries, leaves, branches, mixed in equal proportions), pour 500 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for 10 minutes, but not brought to a boil. Accepted in the same proportions that were indicated in the first recipe.
3. Take 20-30 drops of alcoholic tincture of shiksha in 50 ml of water and take it three times a day half an hour before meals. This remedy is considered an effective medicine against vegetovascular dystonia.

Vodyanik will be useful in other diseases:

1. With various vascular pathologies of the organs of vision (cataract, glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure), the so-called napar is used. They cook it like this - take 1 tbsp. tablespoon of dry crushed raw materials (twigs and leaves) and pour 2 tbsp. spoons of boiling water. That is, the grass evaporates, becomes moist and releases all the beneficial substances into the water. This moist raw material is cooled, and then very carefully squeezed through cheesecloth - the resulting liquid is instilled into the eyes 5-6 times a day. Enough 1-2 drops in the lower eyelid. At the same time, herbalists recommend supplementing the treatment with shiksha decoction (1 tbsp.spoon 3 times a day) or tinctures (30 drops per 50 ml of water). The course of treatment is 90 days, then a break is made for at least a month.
2. With dry eye syndrome. This disease is not associated with vascular pathologies, it is caused by prolonged work at the computer, and in women during menopause, by hormonal changes. In this case, it is not done, but a very strong infusion - 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dried plant material per 100 ml of boiling water. This product is insisted for an hour, then it is very carefully filtered, it is possible even with the use of filter paper. Instill in each eye 2 drops every 2-3 hours. The tool is also used for at least a month, then take a break.
3. In the treatment of withdrawal symptoms. This is not only about alcoholism, but also about drug addiction. But the tool is prepared according to one recipe, because it helps to remove toxins from the body that are the cause of this syndrome. Take 1 liter of high-quality whey, add 4 tbsp. tablespoons of shiksha grass, bring this remedy to a boil and leave for 8 hours (best of all - in a thermos, or you can wrap the container with a warm cloth). It is not necessary to filter, they use it in this form, 1 glass 4-5 times a day.
4. With chronic fatigue and psychoemotional overwork. In this case, you can also use the tool in different ways.The simplest option is to use ready-made alcohol tinctures of vodnika - 20-30 drops per half cup of cold water (taken three times a day, half an hour before breakfast, lunch and dinner). The second option is the classic decoction of vodnika (its recipe will be presented below) is added to the bath, which is taken before bedtime. It is necessary, using the presented proportion, to prepare in a volume of 1-2 liters. The broth should be strong enough, a dark green shade. You can take a bath at least every day, the effect will be noticeable immediately. Finally, you can drink tea from the crowberry or the juice described above.
5. With various inflammatory diseases of the kidneys. To do this, prepare a decoction, which allows you to get rid of edema caused by excessive fluid retention in the body. To do this, take 3 tbsp. tablespoons of dry leaves per 1 liter of boiling water, bring to a boil, leave over low heat, allow to cool and filter. This remedy, however, should be taken with caution in the presence of kidney stones, as well as in renal failure.
6. With epilepsy, 100 g of dried berries are taken by waterwort, pour 0.5 l of boiling water and insist for an hour in a thermos (or just wrap the container with a warm cloth). The dosage of the drug for children and adults will be different. Children, starting from the age of 7, can use 1 tbsp. spoon per day, and for adults - 7 tbsp. spoons per day. There is another option for preparing a decoction, when the same number of berries is poured 1 liter of boiling water and heated in a water bath for half an hour. This remedy can be drunk as a preventive measure. The duration of treatment is at least 1 month. You can repeat it no more than once a quarter.
7. For the treatment and prevention of infectious and colds. Take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dry raw materials (and the entire above-ground part is used, including fruits and flowers), pour 0.5 l of boiling water and insist in a thermos all night. The drug is drunk 150 ml three times a day before meals. At the same time, it is recommended to take ½ teaspoon of beef (beekeeping product containing many vitamins and minerals, which allows you to compensate for the possible excess diuretic effect). The course of treatment is at least 40 days. This remedy is recommended to drink when recovering from a serious illness and even with a concussion.

In folk medicine, based on berries and leaves, shiksha make healing baths that help with convulsions and spasms of blood vessels. There are two ways:

1. They take about 300-400 g of berries and leaves of waterweed, pour it into a linen bag and lower it into a bathroom filled with hot water.
2. Take 1 liter of raw materials (leaves, twigs, berries) for 5 liters of boiling water - such a volume of the drug is infused in a basin, which is covered with a second basin and wrapped in a blanket. Under such conditions, the liquid is infused for 8-12 hours, after which the infusion is filtered through cheesecloth (in portions) and poured into a bath of hot water.

You can take a therapeutic bath for 20-30 minutes, not longer. The recommended course of treatment is 10 procedures, one per day. You can repeat it in six months.

Types of healing compounds

The most popular form of using this medicine is the infusion of dried herbs. They cook it like that - take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of 0.5 liters of boiling water, insist for an hour, then filter. Such a tool is used, for example, for epilepsy, various diseases of the central nervous system, etc. But there are other options.

Tincture

Tincture of any medicinal plant is alcohol-based. In this case, it can be ethyl alcohol, which is sold in pharmacies, vodka or wine.

The first option is a solution of alcohol (40-50%) or high-quality vodka. Take a glass container, pour into it 5 tbsp. tablespoons of dry crushed raw materials and pour 1 liter of vodka or alcohol solution. Insist remedy for 10-12 days. Keep the container in a dry place so that it is not exposed to the sun, shaking it every day. After this period, the product is filtered and poured into a convenient container for use. It is believed that it has maximum effectiveness against epilepsy, since the alcoholic extract is more concentrated than aqueous. Take it for 1 teaspoon three times a day, diluting with a small amount of water.

The second option is a tincture based on dry red wine. In this case, take 5-6 tbsp. tablespoons of dry plant materials per 1 liter of wine. The manufacturing technology is the same - the container is kept for 10-12 days in a dry and dark place, periodically shaking. The finished product is filtered. At the same time, such a tincture can be consumed without diluting with water - 30 ml (in fact, this is a glass) three times a day, regardless of food intake.

Decoction

A decoction of vodnika can be prepared in different ways. In some recipes, only leaves and grass are used for this - take 2 tbsp. tablespoons of such raw materials in 2 cups of boiling water, bring to a boil again, leave over low heat for 5-7 minutes, then cool and filter.

But some herbalists consider a combined broth as a more effective option, for the preparation of which, in equal parts, the aboveground part (grass and leaves) and the fruits of crowberry are taken. For example, 10 g of each type of raw material is poured with a glass of boiling water, a lid is placed on the container with this product and set to heat in a water bath for at least 15 minutes, then it is cooled and filtered. Decoctions of this type are considered an effective anticonvulsant. Some herbalists also use them to treat withdrawal symptoms in alcoholism.

Tea

To do this, take 3 tbsp. tablespoons of crushed dried grass, water plants and pour 1 liter of cold water. This product is brought to a boil, insisted for 10 minutes, and then filtered. You can drink the drink as regular tea - for example, 1 cup in the afternoon to relieve fatigue. It is better not to drink it at night, because it has diuretic properties. In case of kidney disease, it is also recommended to drink 1 glass of the drug per day - but only in the morning. To improve the taste, you can add a little honey to the drink.

Application in cosmetology

Siberian shiksha is used as a raw material for various finished cosmetic products - shampoos, balms, lotions and even face creams.

But this plant can be used in home cosmetology. For example, an infusion is made on its basis, which can be used in the treatment of seborrhea. Prepare this tool as follows - 4 tbsp. tablespoons of dry plant material is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, then insisted for an hour and passed before use through doubled cheesecloth. This tool is rubbed into the scalp after washing - so it will be most effective against dandruff. It is also used for rinsing - just for preventive purposes, so that the hair is thick and shiny.

Siberian shiksha is also good for the skin. Not without reason, some cosmetic brands add a vodnika extract to the composition of daytime face creams. Berry berries are especially useful, as they contain a lot of antioxidants that slow down the aging process. Therefore, the juice of shiksha berries described above can be added to any face masks (5-7 ml per 50 ml of the bulk).

You can also freeze cosmetic ice with juice of berries of water jets and wipe your face with it. This is best done twice a day: in the morning - so that the skin "wakes up", and in the evening, to get rid of the effects of contact with all harmful substances contained in the air of a big city.

A decoction of water leaves will help with acne. Take 1 tbsp. a spoonful of plant material per 300 ml of boiling water, heated for 15 minutes in a water bath, cooled to an acceptable temperature and filtered. The product is used as a lotion for wiping the skin cleansed with a regular product.

Contraindications

In principle, vodnika has practically no contraindications. The exception is cases of individual sensitivity and the presence of an allergic reaction to the components that it contains. In addition, plant-based products are not recommended during pregnancy, although they help relieve puffiness, which gives so many problems to expectant mothers.The fact is that the effect of water crowberry on the fetus has not yet been studied. During lactation, they do not take it because it can cause an allergic reaction in a child. Children under 5 years of age should also not be given it - however, this also applies to other phytotherapeutic agents, especially if the child has already had cases of atopic dermatitis.

With caution, you should use preparations based on vodnika to people with low blood pressure, since infusions and decoctions can aggravate the situation.

Interesting Facts

Northern shiksha is an important part of the diet. Studies confirm that Inuit and Sami, the indigenous population of the tundra, in which this berry grows, used shikshu as a remedy for various diseases. In those days, berries were harvested for the winter, but not just dried, but mixed with fat and eaten so that there was no scurvy. Of course, in those days, butter and especially sunflower oil was not used in those parts, and the berries were mixed with seal fat. Russian-speaking peoples of the North had a separate name for this dish - "Cyrilka", which is even mentioned in the Dahl dictionary, although some sources also mention "pusher" - a mixture of berries with fish and fat.

Also, in the culinary tradition of these peoples, vodiannik is used fresh and soaked. She really quenches thirst, although you can’t name it delicious. But judging by the fact that in some regions it is called the old-fashioned “expensive grass”, they nevertheless appreciated it for its effectiveness, and not for its culinary qualities. In addition to the fact that the berries served as a medicine, they also received a natural dye for wool - the juice of these fruits gave the fabric a beautiful cherry shade.

By the way, in modern conditions, it makes jam, various sweets, including marmalade, sauces for meat and fish dishes and even alcoholic beverages. It is recommended to use its berries with dairy products, so that calcium is better absorbed.

Vodniki berries are also popular in the Far East. This is especially true of Tibetan medicine, in which this plant was considered an effective medicine for anthrax. However, basically these berries and leaves were popular only in two branches of the Tibetan tradition - in Mongolian and Buryat, which developed independently of each other. And already in those days, long before the chemical composition of the “expensive grass” was studied, the doctors of Tibet knew that it was good for the liver.

Photo Shiksha