Elderberry red in folk medicine. Elderberry red: medicinal properties and contraindications. Tincture: preparation, properties, use

Elderberry red - perennial, which represents small tree or low shrub. During the flowering period, brushes appear with flowers of a pale yellow hue. The fruits appear as deep red berries. Elderberry red is used to decorate park areas and garden plots, due to its unpretentiousness in care and aesthetic beauty, showiness this plant visible in the photo.

plant description

The red elderberry is a wide shrub that reaches 5 m in length. The bark of the plant has a grayish tint with vertical wrinkles. The leaves of this plant have complex shape with pointed ends. They have a rich green color. The flowers are collected in brushes of white or yellowish color. When the period of fruit formation comes, fleshy berries of a bright red color with 3 seeds inside appear. The fruits are collected in voluminous brushes, which cause a desire to try them. Therefore, the question arises: is the elderberry red edible or not? It is not recommended to eat unripe berries. Since they contain a high concentration of toxic substances. This can cause nausea, which will lead to vomiting.

Where does elderberry grow? Its greatest distribution in the mountains Western Europe. It is very common in the region of Western Ukraine, as well as in Russia. For favorable growth, elderberry chooses roadsides, as well as places near water bodies along the coast.

Planting a plant

This plant does not have specific features, but too poor soil can affect its appearance. For planting, it is better to choose places that are not shaded. Since the growth of a shrub in the shade will make it not as attractive as we would like. Therefore, it is better to choose a well-lit area.

There are several varieties of elderberry for planting:

Elderberry red. The most common variety. It has a specific smell, which prevents rodents and other pests from appearing on garden plots. Most beautiful view- Red elderberry Plumosa Aurea. It has an aesthetically pleasing appearance due to its leaves of golden yellow color.
Siberian elderberry. It is similar to the previous variety, the only difference is the fibrous formations on the leaves and stems. In height, it can reach a maximum of 3 m. It begins to bear fruit after 3 years of growth.
Elderberry Kamchatka. When flowering, the plant becomes beige colour, the fruits are also red in color.
Elderberry is fluffy. Depending on the type of plant of this variety, they may have an orange, yellow or white tint. In Russia and Ukraine, such a shrub reaches 2 m in height.
. A distinctive feature of this variety is that its fruits do not have any danger. They can be safely eaten. As the name implies, the berries are black in color and have a sweet and sour taste. But we should not forget that the bark and are poisonous.

After planting, water the plant and constantly monitor soil moisture. The elder does not require tying. Caring for her is not difficult. First of all, you should feed the plant organic fertilizers at the beginning of the summer season. In the spring it is better to prune to increase the growth of new shoots. It is also required to regularly monitor that pests (aphids or mites) do not infect the shrub. Otherwise, it must be treated with special substances to eliminate them.

Important to remember! Elderberry is a poisonous plant! Therefore, when planting this plant in your area, you need to ensure that children do not use it. After all, her berries have an appetizing appearance, which can attract their attention and desire to try.

These two varieties of plants have significant differences from each other. The photo shows that the main thing and red is the color of the fruit. As for the properties of these types of plants, they differ in this way:

red fruits are not recommended for eating, and black fruits can be eaten in unlimited quantities;
red shrub is an order of magnitude larger in height than black;
the shape of the leaves is also different;
the aroma emanating from plants is significantly different.

These varieties are most popular when choosing elderberry for planting. Knowing that the red variety cannot be consumed in large quantities, the question arises: is black elderberry poisonous or not? As already mentioned, you can eat as much as you like, but for this it is better to choose saturated ripe fruits. They are much more pleasant in taste and contain many useful substances.

Beneficial features

What is useful red elderberry? Since ancient times, the fruits, leaves and bark of this plant have been used in traditional medicine. traditional medicine on the this moment does not use red elderberry due to the poor knowledge of its composition and influence on human body. But, nevertheless, it contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. It has analgesic, antipyretic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects. Based on this plant, many tinctures, decoctions and other medicines are prepared. They are able to get rid of such diseases:

all kinds :
colds;
hormonal imbalance;
regular migraines;
skin diseases;
allergic reactions;
diseases of the cardiovascular system;
kidney and liver diseases.

And this is not the whole list. After all, the variety of nutrients in the plant allows you to use it for various types of diseases. Some people try to fight cancer of any location with red berry tincture.

Important to remember! Before using this plant as a medicine, you should consult a specialist! AT modern times the attitude of doctors to alternative medicine has become more loyal. Therefore, the doctor will be able to suggest the dosage of a natural medicine so as not to harm. But, in any case, in case of serious illnesses, it is better to use traditional medicine recipes in combination with medications.

Use of the plant for non-medical purposes

Elderberry can be used as a pest and rodent repellent. It is enough to spread the stems and leaves of the plant around the house. They contain the most dangerous toxic substances.

You can also use berries instead detergents. They wash hands well, despite the fact that they do not form foam. Enamelware can be cleaned by rubbing its surface with fruits.

Contraindications to the use of the plant

Since elderberry contains toxic substances, the intake of berries and medicines prepared on its basis in such cases:

individual intolerance to berries;
children under the age of 12;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
violation of the digestive system;
pregnancy (use for women is indicated only under the strict supervision of a specialist);
chronic diseases of the digestive system.

Medicines prepared at home based on this plant should be taken in small quantities, the same applies to eating fresh berries.

Common red elderberry, or racemose, is a branchy shrub belonging to the honeysuckle family. Elderberry is poisonous, it is used as a remedy against pests and rodents, as well as with caution in folk medicine.

Elderberry in nature

Elderberry exists in nature in three forms: black, herbaceous and red. Herbaceous elder is rare, with black and red being more common. Elderberry was brought to Russia from Europe. It has long been used to decorate gardens and parks. The unpretentious plant took root perfectly and quickly spread throughout Russia.

Red elderberry - poisonous bush With bad smell and taste. Its inflorescences are egg-shaped, a branch with fruits resembles a grape. Berries attract with their beautiful appearance, but it is better not to try them raw - they are not only tasteless, but also poisonous.

Given that elderberry is poisonous, it should be used with the utmost care, strictly following the prescribed dosages, under the supervision of a phytotherapeutist.

Official medicine does not use red elderberry in medicinal purposes, so it is poorly studied chemical composition. But it is known that it includes the glycoside sambunigrin, which forms hydrocyanic acid, and this is a well-known poison. However, this plant is used in folk medicine, and leaves, flowers, fruits, bark and roots are used as medicinal raw materials.

Useful properties of red elderberry and its application

The composition of the red elderberry contains the following useful substances:

vitamin C
routine
essential oil
greasy non-drying oil
Sahara
organic acids
phytoncides
tannins - glycosides

Infusions, decoctions are prepared from all parts of the plant, which are used to treat joints, tonsillitis, bronchitis, rheumatism, pain during displacement of the vertebrae and other serious diseases. External applications of red elderberry infusion for people suffering from osteochondrosis, heel spurs and other diseases associated with joint deformity turn out to be downright miraculous. Alcohol tincture from fresh elderberries is prepared in a glass jar. One quarter of its volume is occupied by the fruits of the plant, three quarters - vodka. The jar is tightly closed with a lid and placed in a dark place to infuse. Tincture is placed on sore spots in the form of compresses or simply rubbed.

Herbalists offer recipes even for cancer, but in this case you should not count such folk methods panacea - the main treatment should be carried out by traditional medicine

Elderberry is an unpretentious, rather beautiful deciduous shrub, whose homeland is Europe, North America, the Caucasus, Asia Minor. in garden design and personal plots so far rarely seen. More often it can be seen in neglected gardens, along ravines and wastelands, in suburban forests and forest belts, where it appears quite unexpectedly, being carried by birds.

This is what black elderberry looks like

Some consider elderberry a “weedy” plant, because they did not plant it and did not put any effort into growing it, others refer to ornamental species, appreciating the early green of its foliage, beautiful inflorescences, a spectacular array of red or black fruits, growth speed and great vitality.

About 40 species of elderberry are known, of which six grow in Russia. The greatest distribution and interest are three species and their garden forms. We offer you a description of black, red and Canadian elderberry.

Elder red, description

Elder red (carpal) is a shrub with branched thick shoots covered with large buds. Height up to 4 m, can grow in the form of a tree. Already in April, the shoots, dotted with numerous lentils, begin to shine from the rising juices, the buds swell and burst. From the inside, reddish leaves and grayish green inflorescences are shown. At this time, the carpal elderberry is decorative.

This is what a red elderberry looks like

The shrub blooms in May simultaneously with the appearance of leaves. Leaves pinnate with 5-7 leaflets, each 5-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide, pointed at the apex and drawn into pointed up to 1 cm long, serrated along the edge, bright green above, glabrous, lighter below, along the veins sometimes pubescent.

Pictured is a red elderberry

The elderberry flowers are first light yellow, then fade, brighten, taking on a yellowish-white, sometimes creamy color. They are collected in terminal dense ovoid panicles 3-6 cm long and stand out slightly against the background of foliage. Flowering lasts about two weeks. Then green fruits are tied, and the shrub does not stand out against the background of the general summer greenery.

But by the end of July, the beauty of this type of elder returns again, fiery red fruits become visible. The branches bend under their weight. The fruits adorn the plant for 1-1.5 months, until they "harvest" the crop of birds, for which this is a tasty food. At this time, yellow leaves are already appearing inside the crown of the shrub. In autumn, after the first frost, the leaves fall off, without having time to completely change color.

Where does red elderberry grow

Elderberry reproduces well by seeds, which are carried everywhere by birds. It grows rapidly, forming abundant shoots at the root neck. In culture, it is used for single and group plantings, for decorating slopes. She is very resistant to climatic conditions, but loves deep and loose fertile soils, responsive to fertilizers.

Large thickets of elderberry are found in pine forests, near cities where rooks nest. Here, the reaction of the plant to natural fertilizer in bird droppings. And the elderberry itself enriches the soil, since its leaves contain a significant amount of ash substances.

The photo shows red elderberry leaves

Elderberry has been known in culture since the end of the 16th century. During this time at seed propagation many decorative forms were selected. Among them, the form of plumosa is known with unevenly toothed leaves that acquire a purple color at the time of leaf fall. In the gardens there are bushes with deeply dissected leaves, the lobes of which resemble threads, this is a form of laciniata. There are forms with purple buds and pinkish flowers. Flavescens form is distinguished by yellow fruits.

Description of black elderberry

Black elder differs sharply from red. Shrub or tree with much larger compound leaves (up to 32 cm long). The kidneys are pointed. Blooms after full foliage. It is especially decorative during the flowering period, when it is completely covered with white umbellate inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter. A distinctive feature of this species is that the leaves smell unpleasant when rubbed, but the flowers are fragrant. Blooms in late May-early June.

Pictured is black elderberry Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’

Shiny black fruits 5-8 mm in diameter with 3-4 seeds ripen in September and adorn the bush for a long time even after the leaves have fallen. With the onset of winter, it is pecked by birds.

Unlike the red elderberry, whose berries are poisonous, the ripe fruits of its black relative are edible and even have medicinal value (diaphoretic, laxative and emetic).

Black Elderberry Black Lace

The black elder also grows quickly, but is more thermophilic than the red one. It tolerates the heat of the southern region well. To the north it becomes more light-loving, where it often freezes over, but with the onset of spring it grows quickly. Demanding on the soil and contributes to its improvement.

The pulp of the fruit is tasty, sweetish-sour, used to make jam, compotes, jelly, etc.

Black elderberry has been cultivated since ancient times. It is ubiquitous in plantations of parks and suburban areas.

Pictured is Aurea

It has many decorative forms, differing in habit (short, weeping, pyramidal), in leaf color, dissection of their leaves and fruit color. So, the variegated form has white-variegated leaves; aurea - golden yellow and cherry red fruits; laciniata - correctly and symmetrically deeply dissected leaves; luteo-variegata - yellow-flecked leaves; pendula - stands out with hanging branches.

In the photo, black elderberry Pendula

Black elderberry berries are used in folk medicine, but sometimes gardeners complain that despite the good, abundant flowering berries are not tied on the bushes. Most often this is due to improper cultivation of this shrub.

Planting and caring for elderberry

A black elderberry bush, planted alone, sometimes shows such oddities: some inflorescences form ovaries, others very little or no fruit set. But main reason not in the solitude of a bush, it can produce a crop, albeit a small one.

In order for the plants to give more fruits, which means they are better pollinated, you need to plant 2-3 bushes different forms: at a distance of 2-2.5 m from one another (black, racemose - wild, Siberian - used in folk medicine).

In some cases, elderberry does not set fruit due to malnutrition. This plant prefers fertile, moist soils and is responsive to fertilizers. AT landing pit make 7-8 kg of humus, 50 g of superphosphate, 40 g of potassium sulfate (potassium sulfate). After planting, the seedlings are watered, mulched, the aerial part is shortened to 25 cm. This dressing will last the plant for 2-3 years.

top dressing

Starting from the third year, in the spring they give nitrogen fertilization(25-30 g of urea), treated with zircon (1 ampoule per 10 l of water). In July, the plant is fed complex fertilizer(quoted). Treatment with zircon can be repeated after 15-20 days 3-4 times.

In autumn, before the bushes go into winter, trunk circle can be overlaid with a layer of humus 10 cm thick. You can lay a freshly cut mass of green manure.

Bush formation

Black elderberry is formed in the form of a bush with 10-12 branches of different ages, height 2-2.5 m. Branches older than 6 years are cut into a ring.

If the bush is thickened, prune it: remove old branches, add humus (bucket) under the bush, wood ash(0.5 liter jar), complex mineral fertilizers. Water it regularly: at least twice a month, and in hot, dry summers, once every 10 days. The greatest need for water is after flowering and during the filling of berries.

Black elder bears fruit on last year's branches. Therefore, this year it should grow new annual branches. To do this, in early spring, shorten the tops of the shoots by a bud directed outward, and the side branches by 2-3 buds.

Every year it is necessary to sanitary pruning: cut out dry, improperly growing shoots directed inside the crown of the bush.

Perhaps the weather interfered with pollination: strong wind, rain. Under such conditions, pollinating insects do not fly.

You can apply a natural stimulant of flowering and fruiting Bud. It contains gibberellic acids that promote fruit set.

Elder bushes are sprayed with it in the morning or in the evening in dry, calm weather. The leaves are moistened evenly.

To prepare a working solution, the required amount of the drug (10 g per 10 l of water) is dissolved in a small amount of water, mixed thoroughly, then topped up with water to 10 l, mixed again. It begins to act from the moment of treatment and continues for 1-3 months.

Canadian elderberry

Canadian elderberry is close to black elderberry. Originally from North America, it has large pinnate leaves, yellowish-white flowers, fragrant, small, collected in large (up to 30 cm in diameter) umbrellas. The fruits are spherical, dark purple, shiny, about 5 mm in diameter, edible. Shoots glabrous at first green, then dark purple, slightly ribbed, with numerous lenticels.

Canadian elderberry has many decorative garden forms with different dissection and color of leaves, with different fruits up to red. The most common form of acutifolia with strongly dissected leaves. It freezes annually, but blooms and bears fruit.

In culture, all types of elderberry are usually propagated by seeds, sowing them in the fall. For sowing in the spring, a long stratification (4 months) is required. 1000 pieces of red elderberry seeds weigh 2.5 g, and black - 3.3 g. Canadian elderberry forms root offspring. decorative forms elderberries, when grown from seeds, partially retain the characteristics of the mother plant. They can also be propagated by woody cuttings.

This is what Canadian elderberry looks like

Do you know that distinctive feature this shrub is not only the decorativeness of the plants themselves and its many forms?

Many gardeners have long noticed that there are no plant pests around the red elderberry, and they are trying to give this shrub a place on the site, propagating it with seeds, layering, and cuttings.

When growing elderberry, keep in mind that the inflorescences and bark contain valeric acid, which explains the love for it of cats that gnaw on the bark and often feast on the flowers of this beautiful and useful shrub.

photo of elderberry

In folk medicine, flowers, berries, leaves and bark of red elderberry are used. Raw materials are used in the form of infusions, decoctions, powders for internal and external use. What explains her medicinal properties?

Elderberry is used in folk medicine

The chemical composition of elderberry is rich and saturated with physiologically active elements (flavonoids). Rutin is found in the flowers of the plant. Its other name is vitamin R. Its use is a good prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. Vitamin P also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system.

Elderberries are rich in ascorbic acid and vitamin C, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the whole organism. They contain fatty oils, sugar (glucose and fructose) and organic acids. But in pure form they are not consumed because of the unpleasant taste.

Warning: unripe red elderberries are poisonous!

Elder bark is rich in phytosterol, which lowers cholesterol and strengthens the immune system. It contains choline (vitamin B4), which improves brain activity and memory.

Elderberry leaves, like berries, contain a high concentration of ascorbic acid. In addition, they contain provitamin A (carotene), which acts on the body as an antioxidant. It is necessary to protect cells from negative changes, including aging.

Beneficial features

In pharmaceutics, elderberry is practically not used. But in folk medicine, it is known for many medicinal properties:

diaphoretic;
Antipyretic;
Diuretic;
Laxative;
Anti-inflammatory;
Disinfectant.

Treatment with red elderberry

Alone, red elderberry serves as a preventive measure for many diseases and strengthens protective functions organism.

Elder red - good remedy from various ailments

Respiratory diseases

At colds it is useful to take an infusion of dried elderberry flowers. For its preparation 2 tsp. pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 10-15 minutes. Strained infusion is taken warm 1/2 2 times a day.
To alleviate the condition with bronchitis will help infusion of 1 tbsp. l. dry elderberry bark. It is poured with 250-300 ml of boiling water and left for 2 hours. Strained infusion drink 100 ml three times a day.
For rinsing with angina, pour 1 tbsp. l. dry flowers with a glass of water. It is necessary to heat the composition and boil for no more than 5 minutes. Gargle with warm decoction several times a day.

Problems of the musculoskeletal system

You can alleviate the symptoms of osteochondrosis with the help of compresses with tincture of fresh red elderberry berries. For its preparation, a glass jar is filled ¾ with fruits and poured with alcohol. After 30 days the composition is ready. Apply it 1-2 times a day.
For rheumatism, take an infusion of two teaspoons of dried flowers in a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes, strain and take ½ cup 2 times a day.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

If the gastric mucosa (ulcer) is affected, drug treatment can be supplemented with infusion ripe berries red elderberry. 1 st. l. dried fruit is brewed in three-liter jar hot water. The resulting infusion is taken 3 times a day before meals. After taking it, it is recommended to eat 25 g of butter.
Elderberry tincture is also shown as a mild laxative. ½ tsp pour 150 ml clean water(can be boiled). After 12 hours, the tincture is ready for use. You need to drink it once a day.
From stomach colic, pour a glass of water 1 tbsp. l. red elderberry leaves. Bring to a boil and leave to cool. Add a little honey to the finished broth and take 1 tbsp. l. up to three times a day.

Other ailments

During the onset of menopause, women are recommended to take drops based on elderberry. Dry flowers are poured with alcohol in proportions of 1:5 and left in a dark, cool place for 14 days. Remove the flowers from the alcohol infusion and take it 25 drops up to three times a day.
With a large accumulation of fluid in abdominal cavity(dropsy/ascites) elderberry bark is used. 200 g of crushed dry raw materials are poured with one liter of white wine. The composition should be infused for 2 days. Strained infusion is taken 100 ml daily.

Precautionary measures

Red elderberry contains hydrocyanic acid, which is a potent toxic substance. Its use can lead to serious complications up to a lethal outcome. Since its concentration is higher in young plants, it is highly not recommended to use them.

Young leaves and unripe berries are toxic and can cause poisoning. Its symptoms: headaches, nausea, diarrhea, general weakness. When they appear, the stomach is washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Also, caution should be taken in any form of elderberry with diarrhea.

In no case should you use more than the dosage that is written in the recipes or given by the attending physician.

Contraindications for use

Red elderberry - useful plant but should be used with caution. Especially in the presence of chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines, their inflammation and severe ulcerative lesions. Consultation with a doctor is necessary for patients with diabetes and allergies.

Exclude ingestion during pregnancy and lactation, for children under 12 years of age, with individual intolerance. Contraindications for external use - allergies, the appearance of uncomfortable sensations.

Elder flowers are harvested in late May and early June. Fully bloomed inflorescences are carefully cut and laid out to dry in the shade in a dry place. Finished raw materials are stored for up to two years.
The bark is harvested already in April, two-year-old plants are best suited for this purpose. Choose shoots that have already formed buds. The cut branches are cleaned of the top layer and the bark is removed with a sharp knife.
The leaves are harvested in late May or early June. Dry in the same way as inflorescences. Can be stored up to a year.
Harvesting of red elderberry berries does not begin until August. Toward the end of the month, they are collected and dried in hanging bunches or in bulk (but always with stalks). They have a short shelf life - six months.
In the same period, the roots are harvested. They are dug up, cleaned and washed. Crushed roots (preferably to a powdery state) do not lose their properties up to 5 years.

Red elderberry is used in folk medicine, everyday life, cooking, landscaping. The shrub is common in many regions of Russia. Almost all of its parts are suitable for use for recreational purposes, the main thing is not to overdo it with the dosage in the desire to defeat the disease.

Elderberry red has long gained popularity as a landscape designers and folk healers. it unpretentious plant has a high decorative effect, therefore it is actively used in decorating parks, alleys and private garden plots. In folk medicine, all parts of the plant are used to prepare medicines from various ailments.

Botanical description

Elderberry red, medicinal properties and contraindications for the use of which have long been known to folk medicine, is a branched shrub, usually not reaching a height of more than 3.5 m. The bark of the trunk and branches is covered with wrinkles and grooves, has a brown color, but on young shoots it acquires purple hue. The leaves are pinnate, have 5-7 pointed serrated leaflets oblong in shape.

Flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of a standing panicle. The calyx of each flower has 5 teeth, the petals of the corolla are soldered. When they first open, they have a greenish tint, later becoming yellowish-white. The bush begins to bloom around the end of April, and in July, brushes of bright red berries appear on it, which have an unpleasant sugary taste. Fruit type - drupe. Inside each berry there are 3-4 seeds. Birds eating them in large quantities, contribute to the active dispersion of culture over long distances.

Red elderberry is a shrub that has a high growth rate, growing almost a meter per season. Due to their propensity for abundant branching, the red elderberry is often used as a hedge. Fruiting begins at 3-4 years of age.

Chemical composition

To understand whether this elderberry is edible or not, you need to study its chemical composition. All parts of the plant are medicinal, but their composition varies slightly. For example, flowers contain the following substances:

In the bark of the tree, in addition to these elements, there are also phytosterol, ceryl alcohol, and also quite a large number of pectin substances. And the fruits also contain sambunigrin, because of which they are toxic to humans. Available in berries and fatty oils, vitamin C, amino acids.

In ancient times, the juice of red elderberries was used as a dye. The spongy tissue inside the branches is now used as an insulating layer in various precision instruments.

Procurement of raw materials

Red elderberry, like black elderberry, must be properly harvested. The collection of each part of the plant is carried out at a strictly defined optimal time. The bark for medicinal purposes is cut only from young trees. It is best to harvest in the spring, when sap flow begins.

Flowers are harvested at the moment when they are fully opened.. Berries are cut only when ripe, as unripe fruits are extremely toxic.

Raw materials are dried in a shady and well-ventilated place, protected from moisture and direct sun rays. After drying, the stalks are separated from the berries, the flowers are crushed and sieved. The bark is cut and ground in a coffee grinder. Store in a tightly closed glass container at an air humidity of not more than 65% and a temperature of +5 to +25 degrees Celsius out of the reach of children. The leaves are harvested during flowering, the roots are also used for medicinal purposes.

Use in traditional medicine

elderberry red, beneficial features which are used in medicine for the treatment various diseases, serves as the basis for the preparation of many medicines. Traditional healers use the plant as follows:

From fresh fruits of red elderberry, excellent jams and preserves are prepared, and juice is also squeezed out. For cooking healthy juice the berries are scalded, rubbed through a sieve, and the resulting juice with pulp is brought to a boil with the addition of sugar or honey to taste. But you need to use it in a strict dosage of not more than 50 g per day. The juice of the fruits of this plant helps to restore metabolism, has an immunomodulatory and tonic effect.

Elderberry jam helps people with pronounced weather sensitivity to endure weather changes and geomagnetic storms.

Contraindications for use

Despite the long list of useful medicinal properties, it must be remembered that the red elderberry is still a poisonous plant, therefore it has a number of contraindications. . Medicines based on this plant are forbidden to be taken by people of the following categories:

children under 14;
pregnant and breastfeeding women;
people with chronic gastrointestinal diseases or diabetes.

For a warning acute poisoning hydrocyanic acid, it is necessary to adhere to the strictly described dosage, and also not to eat fresh unripe fruits, leaves and stems for food.

Dried berries and leaves are devoid of toxic substances, however, like any other folk remedy, they require caution in use - it is necessary to use medicines based on elderberry carefully, carefully monitoring the body's reaction and well-being. A decoction of the roots has a high concentration of active ingredients, therefore it is used mainly externally.

Medicines can be used only if the technology of preparation and harvesting of plant materials is observed.

Side effects and overdose

Infusions and decoctions of red elderberries are moderately toxic. If the recommended dosages are exceeded, drugs based on this plant can cause nausea and vomiting. Hydrocyanic acid, contained in the fruits and bark of the shrub, provokes oxygen starvation on cellular level and can cause cardiac arrest, so elderberry preparations must be used with caution.

The first signs of hypoxia of the tissues of the body are manifested in the form of shortness of breath and an increase in the rhythm of breathing. Against this background, blood pressure may increase, and the pulse, on the contrary, slow down. If nothing is done, then death is possible.

Excessive intoxication can be caused by unripe berries. This can provoke a strong decrease in body temperature, loose stools, vomiting, as well as a general deterioration in health. Oxygen starvation in brain cells can result in irreversible processes of death in it. nerve cells and other pathological changes. As a result, irreparable damage will be done to the body.

Due to all contraindications and side effects a logical question arises: is it advisable to use such dangerous plant to treat yourself and your family, or is it still better to entrust your health to officially recognized medicines? In any case, the use of various folk remedies remains on your conscience.

Elderberry in the economy and cosmetology

There are also safe ways to use this culture. On the farm, elderberry leaves and branches are used to repel rodents - they do not like its smell and they try to avoid both the places where this plant is decomposed and the houses near which it is planted.

The tree is actively used in landscape design how ornamental plant, and as a soil strengthener - its roots prevent possible landslides.

In cosmetology, this culture is highly valued due to healing properties. Thanks to the plant, the skin of the face and neck acquires a healthy tone, silky texture and gets rid of the annoying manifestations of the aging process - small and large mimic wrinkles, as well as small scars and enlarged pores.

To restore sensitive skin, the following folk cosmetology recipe is used:

6-7 dried whole inflorescences;
200 ml of boiling water.

The ingredients are mixed and infused for 15-20 minutes, after which they are filtered through a sieve. Infusion wipe the skin twice a day - in the morning and before bedtime. The procedure is repeated for two weeks, preparing a fresh remedy every day.

The whitening effect of the fruit is also known. A tonic is prepared from them, which is used to lighten freckled skin. For this, 3 tbsp. l. fresh berries pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, insist a little, and then boil for 10 minutes. After cooling, filter and wipe problem areas.

Ripe berries can be used to thoroughly clean the skin of the hands after working in the garden - just rub them in the palms. Due to the content of acids, elderberry is able to clean any dirt up to the resin. coniferous trees. In addition, it softens the skin well and prevents flaking and drying.

More than forty are known in nature various kinds elderberries. In our area, only red and black elderberries are found in the wild. Both varieties are actively used both in traditional medicine and in landscape gardening. However, when using medicines from red elderberry, one should not forget about its toxicity, and also warn children that its red berries should not be eaten.

Observing elementary safety rules, you can safely decorate your site with a hedge from this beautiful fast-growing shrub, which will delight you most of the year with lush greenery, beautiful panicles of yellowish loose inflorescences, and by the end of summer with dense clusters of bright red berries.