Mahonia holly: edible or not, the benefits and harms of berries, how to take

Holly Mahonia is an evergreen shrub native to North America. The plant has successfully spread throughout Eurasia. It is appreciated not only for its decorative appearance, but also for its useful properties. The use of holly mahonia berries includes the preparation of medicines and various dishes.

Holly Mahonia Berries Are Edible Or Not

Mahonia holly bears oblong fruits, up to 1 cm long and up to 0.8 cm wide. They have a blue-black color and a bluish bloom on the surface. Inside there are 2 - 8 seeds. The berries taste sweet and sour.

The use of Mahonia holly berries largely depends on whether they are edible. The fruits are completely safe for humans and animals. They are used fresh, dried, heat treated. Before starting the reception, be sure to take into account the norms of use and contraindications.

Composition and calorie content of berries

The medicinal properties of Mahonia holly berries are explained by their composition. The product is rich in vitamin C, organic acids, tannins. In addition, the fruit contains strong natural pigments. They impart a red hue to beverages and foods.

Berberine was found in the roots of the plant, which belongs to the alkaloids. The substance has an antibacterial effect and inhibits the development of cancer cells.

The composition of Mahonia holly berry contains useful minerals:

• copper;
• manganese;
• sodium;
• zinc.

Low-calorie bush berries. Nutritional value per 100 g of product is 30 kcal. The specified amount contains 8 g of carbohydrates. Fats and proteins are completely absent. Therefore, berries are often added to the diet.

Healing properties of holly mahonia

The fruits of Mahonia holly are used as a general tonic. The product has medicinal properties. Berries help prevent and fight many diseases.

Useful properties of Mahonia holly:

• pronounced choleretic effect;
• the plant helps to get rid of constipation;
• improves the condition with hemorrhoids;
• restores bone marrow function, including after chemotherapy;
• normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system;
• improves blood composition;
• fights psoriasis and other skin diseases;
• activates metabolism;
• activates immune properties;
• lowers the level of bad cholesterol;
• relieves inflammation;
• destroys viruses and disease-causing bacteria.

The use of magonia in traditional medicine

Various parts of the culture have found application in traditional medicine. Plants make useful decoctions and infusions from the roots, leaves, flowers and berries. It is recommended that you consult your doctor before taking these products. The specialist will prescribe the rate and frequency of drug use.

The healing properties of Mahonia berries

You can use the berries of Mahonia holly for the treatment of rheumatism, constipation, diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys and liver. The product has a positive effect on the entire body: it tones and strengthens the immune system.

Fresh berries are added to the daily diet. Once harvested, they are dried or frozen for the winter.It is not recommended to wash the crop or keep it in high humidity. To maintain immunity, dried fruits are added muesli or other breakfast.

To preserve the beneficial properties of the fruit, they are processed. The easiest way is to grind the raw materials by hand or process them in a blender. The resulting mass is mixed with sugar, laid out in containers and placed in the refrigerator. The daily intake is no more than 5 tbsp. l. In addition, jam is made from holly mahonia. The most useful option is with the addition of celery stalks, red currant juice and ivan tea.

Ingredients for making holly mahonia jam:

• ripe berries - 1 kg;
• celery stalks - 100 g;
• granulated sugar - 1 kg;
• red currant juice - 0.2 l;
• dried flowers of willow-tea - 100 g.

Recipe for using the berries of Mahonia holly:

1. Red currants are processed in a juicer or by hand. The resulting liquid is poured into a saucepan and put on fire. Sugar is gradually added to the juice.
2. The celery is peeled and diced.
3. Flowers, berries and petioles are poured into the syrup.
4. The mixture is brought to a boil, after which the foam is absorbed.
5. The jam is kept on low heat for 5 minutes.
6. The mass is left for 1 hour until tender.
7. Ready jam is poured into jars.

The healing properties of magonia flowers

The most common use of Mahonia holly flowers is to treat gout. An infusion is prepared from raw materials, which helps to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Infusion recipe for gout treatment:

1. Pour 1 tsp into the container. dried flowers of Mahonia holly.
2. Raw materials are poured with 2 glasses of hot water.
3. The container is covered with a lid and left to infuse for 2 to 3 hours.
4. The finished infusion is filtered.

In order for the flowers of Mahonia holly to show medicinal properties, they should be taken three times a day. Before eating, drink 1/3 cup.

For the treatment of diarrhea and rheumatism, an infusion of plant flowers is prepared. Such a remedy normalizes metabolism and metabolic processes. The daily intake is no more than 10 drops before meals.

Holly Mahonia Flower Tincture Recipe:

1. To prepare the tincture, take 10 g of dried flowers.
2. The raw materials are placed in a dark glass dish.
3. Flowers are poured over 100 g of vodka.
4. The tool is insisted in a dark place for a month. It is protected from direct sunlight.

Useful properties of magonia bark

The medicinal properties of the bark of Mahonia holly help fight diarrhea, dyspepsia, and gout. Tincture from this component improves the condition in diseases of the gallbladder, kidneys, rheumatism.

The procedure for preparing tincture from the bark of Mahonia holly:

1. Take chopped bark of a bush and vodka in a ratio of 1:10.
2. The components are placed in a darkened glass container and sealed.
3. The product is kept in a dark and dry place for a week.

Before taking the tincture, dilute with water. For ½ glass, 5 - 15 drops are enough. The remedy is taken daily before meals.

A decoction based on the bark of holly magonia is effective in irritable bowel syndrome. It is also used as an external treatment for psoriasis and other skin conditions.

Bush bark decoction recipe:

1. Place 3 tbsp in a container. l. chopped bark and pour it with a glass of hot water.
2. Keep the pan on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes. The liquid is not brought to a boil.
3. The container is removed from the stove. The resulting broth is filtered.

The broth is taken orally in 2 tbsp. l. three times a day before meals. For external use, a more concentrated agent is prepared: 200 g of dry raw materials are taken for 1 liter of water. The broth is cooked for 30 - 40 minutes. It is filtered, after which it is used for compresses on the affected skin.

Benefits of Mahonia roots

The beneficial properties and contraindications of the Mahonia plant also apply to its underground part. In America, an extract is prepared from raw materials, which stimulates metabolism, slows down the aging process, normalizes the work of blood vessels and the heart. The tool helps with dysbiosis, inflammation of the biliary tract.

At home, tea is prepared from the roots. The sequence of its preparation:

1. For 0.2 l of water, take 5 g of dry rhizome.
2. Raw materials are poured into water, which is boiled for 10 minutes over low heat.
3. The product is left to cool, and then filtered.

The resulting tea is taken daily before meals in the amount of ½ cup. The tool strengthens the immune system and improves metabolic processes in the body.

The use of the fruits of Mahonia in cooking

In cooking, the berries of Mahonia holly are widely used. They make delicious and aromatic sauces for main courses. The most popular way is to make adjika from ripe fruits. Other components are added to taste: black pepper, garlic, sugar, cinnamon, suneli hops. Such adjika goes well with meat dishes, sausages, fish, side dishes.

Dry berries are a great alternative to dried fruits. They are added to pilaf, pie fillings and other baked goods. The grated fruits are used as an independent dessert for tea. In addition, other confectionery products are added to the mass. In summer, it is diluted with water to obtain vitamin juice. You can add lemon zest, mint leaves, honey to it.

Due to the pectin content, Mahonia is used for home canning. Not only jam, but also thick jams are obtained from the fruit. Natural pigments contained in berries give a rich burgundy color to jelly, juice, compote, wine.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

Mahonia holly produces numerous bright yellow flowers. They are located in erect branched inflorescences. The buds bloom in early May. The flowering period takes one month. Occasionally re-blooming in October

Mahonia flowers are harvested in early to mid-May, when the buds are fully blooming. They are cut off by hand or cut with a pruner. For medicinal purposes, wilted flowers are not used. The raw material is sprinkled on a sheet of paper and dried in the heat. After 1 - 2 weeks, the flowers are poured into a jar or other container, after which the product is removed for storage.

To use the berries of Mahonia holly, it is important to know the rules for their collection. Be sure to use only ripe fruits that are dark blue in color. Mahonia berries ripen in late summer - early autumn, depending on the weather conditions in the region. The first fruits are harvested at the beginning of August.

Mahonia is harvested in early September. The berries stay on the branches for 5 months. At the same time, their taste and useful properties do not deteriorate. After harvesting, the fruits are dried, sprinkled with sugar or frozen.

Mahonia roots are harvested in early spring, before the beginning of the growing season. The shrub gives a lot of root growth, which is convenient to use as raw material. It is allowed to postpone work until autumn. The rhizome is often pruned during transplantation. The plant tolerates this procedure without any problems.

The cut roots are cleaned of the earth and divided into pieces 10 - 12 cm long. They are left for 1 - 2 weeks in a warm ventilated room. Raw materials are protected from moisture and direct sunlight. When the roots dry up, they are stored.

In folk medicine, bark is used from young Mahonia at the age of 3-4 years. Such raw materials contain a maximum of useful substances. Young bark is pink-gray in color. On old shrubs, it has a brown tint with longitudinal stripes. To remove the bark from the shoots, make two semicircular incisions at a distance of 10 - 15 cm. Then carefully remove the resulting strip.The raw materials are stored in a dry and dark place.

Limitations and contraindications

Before eating berries, it should be remembered that Mahonia is beneficial and harmful, like any other product. The daily norm for an adult is 15 to 45 fruits. If this measure is exceeded, adverse symptoms appear: diarrhea, nausea, weakness. It is recommended to stop taking berries for the next few days.

From the use of holly mahonia are found in the following cases:

• period of pregnancy;
• breast-feeding;
• individual intolerance;
• chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Conclusion

The use of berries of holly mahonia is possible for various purposes. This includes the preparation of medicinal broths and infusions, pastries and other dishes. Useful properties are possessed not only by the fruits, but also by the leaves, flowers and roots of the shrub. Before taking Mahonia products, you should familiarize yourself with the contraindications and consult a doctor.

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