Useful properties and contraindications of dogwood

Beneficial features dogwoods were known in antiquity. There was even a belief that doctors were not needed in the area where this bush grows. In fact, the medicinal properties of dogwood are exaggerated. He does not save from festering wounds. To get the benefit in this case, a juniper must be attached to the dogwood.

But the drupe contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. Even if the dogwood does not heal, then in dried form it compensates for the lack of vitamins in winter. In the Middle Ages, it was enough to feel good in winter to come to the conclusion about the beneficial properties of cornel fruits.

What does dogwood look like

The fruit of the wild dogwood bush is small, no more than 2 cm drupe. The hard core is surrounded by dense sweet and sour pulp. When ripe, the drupe is dark brown in color. Unripe fruits are red.

Varieties of garden dogwood today differ from wild dogwood not only in their large size, but also in shape and color. Varieties with pear-shaped and spherical drupes have already been developed. By color, the fruits of garden plants can be:

• pink;
• yellow;
• dark brown;
• red;
• purple.

Drupes of garden varieties are more fleshy. How the garden dogwood looks in section is shown in the photo.

Where does the dogwood grow

Wild dogwood is a southern plant and its natural range extends from the Caucasus Mountains through the Crimea and southern Ukraine to Bulgaria. But garden varieties are already adapted to colder conditions, and today in Russia, dogwood grows not only in the southern regions, but also much further north: in the Volga region, the Belgorod region and even in the Moscow region. Cornelian bushes are also planted in the St. Petersburg region, but more often as ornamental green plants. There is no benefit from them as from berries. The harvest in this region is very difficult to obtain.

Nutritional value and composition of dogwood

In the common dogwood, everything goes into business. Once upon a time, wood was highly valued in carpentry. Today, the need for wooden crafts has disappeared, but the need for all parts of the plant remains. Mostly berries are used, but leaves, bark and wood are also not ignored. Sometimes it is more rational to use bark than drupes.

The berries contain:

• up to 9% sugar. In garden varieties, it can be up to 17% .;
• organic acids up to 3.5%;
• tannins 4%;
• vitamin C;
• vitamin PP;
• flavonoids up to 5%;
• pectin substances.

Leaves as an astringent are more effective than berries, since they contain 14.5% tannins. But the biggest benefit for diarrhea comes from the bark, which is 25% tannins.

The set of vitamins in dogwood is actually scarce.Berries are often used for colds as a source of vitamin C. The use of fresh or dried dogwood fruits for colds brings more benefits than the popular rosehip broth, since when heated, vitamin C decomposes and is absent in the broth.

The mineral composition is rich. But it closely depends on the composition of the soil where the dogwood bush grows.

Therefore, the amount of these substances and the benefits of the plant will directly depend on the composition of the soil on which the bush grows. For these elements, only average data can be cited, which should not be taken as dogma. Such data are in the table below.

Nutritional value of dogwood fruits is in the large amount of fatty acids they contain. As for the calorie content, hardly anyone measured it, since the data differ by an order of magnitude. On sites about diet and weight loss, the calorie content is indicated at the level of 40 kcal per 100 g of the product. In the table below 600 kcal.

Why is dogwood useful for the human body?

The useful properties of dogwood have been known since ancient times, and even the Crimean Tatars in the years of famine used dried cakes from grated berries to prevent scurvy. Although then they had no idea about scurvy itself.

Perhaps, by the 19th century, the old knowledge of the Crimean residents about the benefits of male dern was firmly forgotten. Or there was no access to the berries. But for the prevention of scurvy, perishable oranges began to be used on British ships.6

The benefits of dogwood are not limited to the prevention of scurvy. It is recommended to use it:

• in case of poisoning with vapors of heavy metals (very important nowadays with an abundance of cars);
• with colds;
• with internal inflammation;
• with a lack of micro- and macroelements in the body;
• to strengthen the CVS;
• for the prevention of thrombosis;
• to raise immunity in case of skin diseases (cannot be used in case of tumor formations);
• restoration of acidity in the stomach;
• to stop diarrhea.

The beneficial properties of dogwood are almost identical to those of raw rose hips. But with the latter, some of the benefits are lost during heat treatment. In the case of dogwood, there is no loss of useful properties of berries.

Cornel does not possess any alkaloids, like coffee and tea, but not only caffeine has a tonic effect. Drinking drinks containing alkaloids is not necessary to feel good. It is enough to restore the mineral and vitamin balance. This is the basis for the tonic effect of dogwood fruits.

The benefits of dogwood for women

When comparing the benefits and harms of dogwood for women, the pros outweigh the cons.

With regular use of berries:

• enrich the body with useful elements;
• eliminate incipient inflammation;
• fight bacterial invasion (no, they don't drive worms);
• increase efficiency.

All these manifestations of beneficial properties are possible due to the large amount of vitamin C and a well-chosen set of macro- and microelements.

The use of berries is contraindicated:

• with peptic ulcer;
• gastritis;
• plant allergies;
• disorders of the central nervous system.

There will be no benefit, but harm can be done.

Is it possible to dogwood during pregnancy

In general, berries have a beneficial effect on the body not only of the mother, but also of the expected child. Before consuming berries, it is better to consult a doctor. If there are no contraindications, then it is not only possible, but also necessary.

Is it possible to breastfeed dogwood

Like other foods high in vitamin C, dogwood fruits can be an allergen. Whether or not to eat oranges, strawberries or dogwood while breastfeeding is up to the mother to decide.

If the child does not have allergies, then the compote can be used with benefit for diarrhea in infants.

Is it possible for children to dogwood

Dogwood berries are both beneficial and harmful. If a child is prone to allergy to strawberries or citrus fruits, it is highly likely that he will give an allergic reaction to dogwood.

If your child does not have allergies, then you can benefit from some of the health benefits of dogwood berries. With indigestion, it is difficult for a child to drink a decoction of bark or leaves that tastes unpleasant. But the child will drink sweet dogwood compote with pleasure.

Useful properties and contraindications for taking dogwood for men

In men doing hard physical labor, the immune system is often affected. Due to the large amount of trace elements and other beneficial properties, the cornel fruit is able to restore immunity. In winter, dogwood preparations will supply the man's body with deficient vitamins and minerals.

A man is also a man, therefore contraindications to the use of all parts of the plant are the same as in women.

Medicinal properties of dogwood

Due to the beneficial properties of the plant, its parts are used in the therapeutic treatment of diseases as an additional agent. But as the only medicine, dogwood berries cannot be used for any disease. Otherwise, there will be more harm than good.

Dogwood will help from hemorrhoids

In fact, taking dogwood berries only alleviates the symptoms. But it seems to people that if nothing hurts now, then they have already recovered. A general recommendation for hemorrhoids is less meat, more plant foods, and lots of exercise. The useful properties of dogwood for hemorrhoids are beyond doubt. Fresh, like any berry, it weakens. Exacerbation occurs with constipation, when a person has to push. Since the dogwood for hemorrhoids acts instead of a laxative, the patient gets relief. You might as well use:

• dried apricots;
• prunes;
• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• tomato juice in an amount of 1 liter per day.

The task facing a person with hemorrhoids is prevention of exacerbation.

But the treatment of hemorrhoids with dogwood with bones can lead a fan of traditional medicine to a hospital bed. There are several reasons for this state of affairs.

How to get to the operating table and get rid of hemorrhoids

For the treatment of hemorrhoids, it is recommended to swallow dogwood berries with a whole bone. At the same time, it is argued that there are a lot of fatty acids in the bone, which will help with hemorrhoids. Perhaps acids really contribute to the release of feces, but where will the body get them from?

There is an answer to this: the bones are completely digested in the intestines. About the mechanism of plant reproduction with the help of drupes, which is studied in biology lessons at school, is modestly silent.

In the process of evolution, the dogwood has adapted to expand its range with the help of herbivores and to benefit from eating drupes. He did not count on a man. The gastrointestinal tract in herbivores is much better adapted to the processing of rough plant foods than in humans. But the dogwood bones came out intact with the droppings. Someone really thinks that the human gastrointestinal tract will cope with the bone, which the deer could not cope with with the roe deer?

Plus the timing of germination. The dogwood drupe must rot for 2 years before the seed can germinate. In nature, no organism can afford to waste time. The digestive tract of herbivores damaged the bone, but the seed (with fatty acids) remained intact and germinated the next year. Are we not thinking too highly of ourselves, believing that our intestines will be able to cope with bones?

Thus, when the bones are swallowed, at best, these foreign objects will pass through.

When swallowing garden dogwood, the chances of a bowel blockage are significantly higher. Besides the fact that the drupes are larger, the seeds of garden varieties have very sharp tips. Perhaps these tips will have time to dissolve. Or maybe they scream into the gastrointestinal mucosa.In the photo below, the seeds of the garden dogwood.

If the intestines are clogged with such bones, the patient will inevitably end up on the operating table. That's where his surgeon will get rid of hemorrhoids.

The benefits of dogwood for hemorrhoids without cheating

From therapy it is necessary to exclude the "miraculousness" of the bones and pay attention to the real useful properties of dogwood. The use of the pulp of berries and dogwood decoctions really helps to prevent exacerbations and alleviates symptoms during attacks:

• essential oils contained in drupes have an anti-inflammatory effect;
• tannins relieve discomfort and itching in the anus;
• minerals help to restore blood circulation in hemorrhoids;
• organic acids thin the blood, preventing the formation of blood clots;
• iron prevents the formation of blood clots in hemorrhoids.

The therapeutic benefit of dogwood pulp for hemorrhoids is beyond doubt, but there is no need to eat bones.

But many other components are destroyed. To benefit from the use of cornel berries for hemorrhoids, they must be eaten fresh or dried. Usually, half an hour before meals, eat 15-20 dogwood berries. It is impossible to use a decoction of the leaves for hemorrhoids.

Is it possible to take dogwood for gout

For gout, cornel root is used, which also has beneficial properties. But in the manufacture of the broth, they mix it with the grass of the paw-shaped kirkazon. For 300 ml of boiling water, a teaspoon of chopped root and a teaspoon of herbs. Insist 8 hours.

How to take dogwood from pressure

A decoction of rose hips and dogwood can normalize the pressure: 0.5 liters of water per 1 tbsp. rose hips and 2 tbsp. dogwood drupes. Boil for 20 minutes. Cool down. Dosage not specified. You can simply consume half a glass of fresh dogwood juice. In this case, there will be more benefits. But only if there are no contraindications.

Is it possible to dogwood with pancreatitis

Experts have not come to a consensus, since pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that requires a special diet. Until it is clear whether the use of dogwood fruits will be beneficial or harmful, it is better not to eat dogwood.

Will dogwood help with diarrhea

The useful properties of dogwood are not only in the miraculous berries. There are many tannins in the leaves and bark of this plant.

For diarrhea, it is better to use bark or leaves that are more astringent than drupes and will benefit from other parts of the plant.

Cornel in folk medicine

Since the useful properties of dogwood trees have long been noticed by the people, the fruits of dogwood were used wherever possible. From wood products to applying marshmallows to purulent wounds. In the years when there were no antibiotics and people died at the age of 30, mankind could not help but pay attention to various infusions and decoctions. Cornelian fruits are not overlooked either. And that was more beneficial than bloodletting.

Why is dogwood juice useful?

The benefits of cornel juice are almost as good as the beneficial properties of fruits. The juice has a wide range of effects. It is used like:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• immunostimulant;
• blood pressure regulator;
• vitamin preparation;
• astringent for diarrhea.

The production of juice provides for special equipment for separating the pulp from the seeds, so in everyday life there will be more benefits from decoctions, tinctures and syrups.

Why is dogwood fruit drink useful?

The recipe for making fruit drink is simple: dilute the juice with water and sweeten it. Useful properties of fruit drink are the same as that of juice. But you need to drink more fruit drink.

The benefits of dogwood compote

The beneficial properties of compote are weaker than those of juice due to the lower concentration of substances. But you can benefit from compote even in winter by brewing dried fruits. Only fresh dogwood is needed for juice.

The recipe for making compote is simple. Dried fruits are poured with water to cover the fruits. Depending on the required concentration, water can be added. Then the fruits are boiled for about 10 minutes over medium heat with the lid closed. Sugar is added to taste either directly into the pan or into a separate glass.

Dogwood syrup

Cook compote. Add sugar at the rate of 0.5 kg per 1 liter of water. While stirring, boil everything down to the desired thickness. There is almost no benefit due to the breakdown of vitamin C during the preparation of the syrup, but it will help against diarrhea.

Dogwood infusion

The fruits are poured with boiling water and left to infuse for several hours in a warm place. There are more benefits from the infusion than from the syrup, but less than from the compote. When poured with boiling water, not all active substances pass from the fruit to the water the first time. Especially if dry fruits were chosen for the preparation of the infusion.

What properties does cornel honey have?

The benefits of cornel honey are similar to other varieties of this product. It is a naturally potent antibiotic. Among other varieties, it can stand out with a smell. The rest of the product of nectar processing by the stomach of a bee does not differ from other types of honey.

Dogwood tea

Plain tea has astringent properties and is used to stop diarrhea. But regular tea also contains more caffeine than natural coffee. Caffeine raises blood pressure and is contraindicated for hypertensive patients. The benefit of dogwood leaf tea is not only that it can stop diarrhea, but also that it does not cause other consequences.

The benefits of dogwood marshmallow

Pastila is an old, well-forgotten Tatar lavash of the Middle Ages made from grated cornel fruit pulp. In this form, all the useful properties of the original product are preserved as much as possible. And in winter, you can get a lot of useful vitamins and minerals from the marshmallow. Plus, it's just delicious.

Is it possible to take dogwood for weight loss

The age-old female question "What to eat to lose weight." Losing weight with dogwood is real. It is enough to use dogwood in the morning and in the evening. Before or after meals? Instead.

Cornel fruits have a low calorie content, but if you consume other foods with them, then the calories will come from other foods and there will be no benefit from the diet. There are no foods that, if eaten, would reduce weight. At one time, they also advertised the benefits of pineapple and wolfberry (goji berry) for weight loss.

In fact, any diet is a deprivation of the body of any nutrients. In an attempt to find these substances, the body begins to burn fat. You can even lose weight on fried potatoes with bacon. If you eat it at night and at the same time:

• not be able to eat to the full;
• work a day on hard physical work.

But the body will not benefit from such mockery.

At the same time, the principle of "eat less, move more" continues to operate and brings more benefits than diets.

The diet regimen should be prescribed by a doctor. And the benefit of cornel fruits lies only in the fact that they supply the body with the necessary minerals and vitamins. Thanks to the beneficial properties of the fruits, you can arrange a fasting day for yourself once a week with the use of only dogwood and fortified natural drinks.

Useful properties of dogwood leaves

Leaves also have beneficial properties, but very narrowly focused. They contain up to 14% tannins - tannins. You can use the leaves for bowel disorders to stop diarrhea.

In such cases, the bark is more useful, it contains up to 25% tannins.But the bark is inconvenient to harvest and then brew. In addition, harvesting the bark will lead to the death of a useful plant. And the loss of a certain amount of leaves will not affect the well-being of the dogwood bush. And the leaves dry better.

Limitations and contraindications for taking dogwood

Sometimes dogwood is more harmful than good. With increased acidity in the stomach, berries should not be consumed, as they will add acid. Heartburn is a very unpleasant sensation.

People suffering from constipation should not drink tea from the leaves and need to be careful when eating the fruit. Due to the danger of an allergic reaction, it is undesirable to use dogwood in baby food.

It is undesirable to drink dogwood juice before bedtime. Because of the tonic effect, there is a chance to drive away sleep and, instead of benefit, harm. The amount of fruit required for such an effect is unlikely to be eaten.

Conclusion

The useful properties of dogwood are not questioned by anyone. But this is not a panacea for all diseases. Overestimating the benefits of this plant and trying to self-medicate with dogwood can lead to complications or death due to late seeking qualified medical help.

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