Red viburnum: benefits and harms of medicinal berries

Viburnum is a shrub with red berries and white inflorescences that are popular in folk and traditional medicine. The secret to the demand for berries is the presence of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants necessary for a healthy lifestyle. The beneficial properties of viburnum have been carefully studied at the world level; Studies have shown that constant consumption of this berry reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal problems and other diseases. Viburnum berries prevent the occurrence of cancer and fight possible complications when bearing babies.

There are contraindications: you must consult a specialist (doctor).

Useful properties of viburnum

There are six scientifically proven facts about the benefits of viburnum.

Ideal composition.
Despite the fact that this is a low-calorie product, it is very rich in vitamins and minerals. It also contains a lot of tannins, essential oils, phytoncides, pectin, and iodine. In terms of the presence of iron, vital for hematopoiesis, it is compared to blueberries and rose hips.
Antioxidant effect.
Viburnum contains a large amount of antioxidants that block the effects of free radicals at the cellular level. Due to free radicals, malignant formations arise, diseases develop in the endocrine system, and early aging of the skin and the body as a whole occurs.
Decreased blood pressure.
Back in 1972, scientists discovered the ability of viburnum to naturally dilate arterial vessels by relaxing smooth muscles. It is worth considering that the berry has a weak hypotensive effect and can be used for prevention in the early stages of the development of hypertension.
Fighting cancer.
An important beneficial property of red viburnum is its pronounced effect on the growth of tumors, especially cancerous ones. During experiments, it was discovered that its components not only suppress the occurrence of dangerous neoplasms, but even lead to their death. Viburnum is allowed to be consumed together with medications, since the berry enhances their medicinal properties and reduces the harm from drug treatment.
Benefit for women.
Another healing property of viburnum for endometriosis, cysts, and dysmenoria, which often bother women: the berry “works” effectively for problems with the menstrual cycle.
Therefore, it is recommended in minimal doses for pregnant women: it helps to cope with severe toxic manifestations, protects against miscarriage both early and late. Plus, viburnum lowers blood pressure and minimizes the risk of eclampsia. With its help, the expectant mother can strengthen not only her own immunity, but also that of her child. Before consuming it, a pregnant woman should definitely consult with her supervising gynecologist.
Increase in hemoglobin.
The unique ability of this miracle berry is that it can increase the number of red blood cells, thereby increasing the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Doctors recommend that people suffering from anemia take viburnum in different forms.

Geography and origin

Our country has known this plant since ancient times. In Russia it is widespread almost everywhere, although it has its own preferences:

Humid environment. You can find shrubs not only along small rivers, but also in swampy areas.

Coniferous forests. The denser the forest, the greater the likelihood of seeing red fruits there.

However, it cannot be said that the plant is whimsical. It is well adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of central Russia. Gourmets recommend starting to collect the “harvest” with the onset of the first frost. The cold drives out all the bitterness and acid from the berries.

Only the fruits are considered edible, but this does not mean that the remaining parts of the bush have not found use in human life. The bark, roots and leaves of the plant are actively used. All of them are rich in healing properties, and therefore serve as excellent raw materials for the preparation of many medicines.

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But do not forget that viburnum berries are not only beneficial, but also harmful to human health; there are a number of contraindications for use. Take them into account so as not to accidentally harm yourself during treatment, weight loss or culinary experiments. To properly include berries in your diet, consult a specialist.

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Composition and calorie content of berries

There are only 26 calories in 100 grams of the product - this is a very low figure, which means that it is impossible to gain weight with viburnum berries. They contain essential vitamins A, B5, B9, C, and also contain a lot of vitamin K: 98 percent of the daily dose. Plus they have a lot of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron and manganese. In addition, medicinal viburnum is rich in polyphenolic compounds, which are known for their antioxidant activity, so the berries are recommended to be used for the prevention of most chronic heart and vascular diseases. Viburnum juice owes its specific sour taste to the presence of formic, oleic and acetic acids. The berry seeds themselves, more often called seeds, are rich in fatty oils, which also have a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Cooking recipes

Many recipes have been developed based on viburnum. Below are the most common ones.

Compote

Required:

800 ml water;
200 grams of sugar;
2,000 grams of viburnum berries.

Recipe:

Rinse thoroughly and select the berries, dry in the open air.
Place the berries in a saucepan and sprinkle sugar on top. Leave in this state for 30–45 minutes.
Add water. Boil.
Cook over low heat for at least 10 minutes. Remove from the stove, let cool.

Viburnum with honey

Ingredients:

100 grams of viburnum berries;
200 grams of honey.

Recipe:

Sort and wash the berries.
Mash the fruit to a puree-like consistency. To do this, you can use a blender or a fork.
Add honey and mix thoroughly.
Place in a glass container, close with a lid and leave at room temperature for 7–8 days.

Morse

Necessary:

600 grams of viburnum berries;
1,500 ml water;
100 grams of sugar;
honey - to taste.

Cooking diagram:

Wash and select the berries.
Mash with a masher. Separate the pulp from the juice using a sieve. Place the juice in the refrigerator temporarily.
Pour water over the cake, add honey and sugar.
Bring to a boil, then immediately turn off the gas.
Strain and add juice. Keep refrigerated.

Tea

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. l. dried viburnum leaves;
2 tbsp. l. dried viburnum flowers;
400 ml water.

Preparation:

Place the leaves and flowers in a glass or ceramic container.
Add 400 ml boiling water. Let sit for about 15–20 minutes.

Medicinal properties of viburnum

Healers and healers have known the beneficial properties of red viburnum for a very long time. Their recipes for tinctures and compresses have come down to us thanks to numerous medical books of antiquity. So, for example, the bark of this shrub was soaked and infused to create medicines that had healing powers for liver and kidney diseases, complaints about gastrointestinal tract functions, suffocation, and were also used as an antispasmodic agent.

Decoctions were considered a natural antibiotic that could have anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects. This is a truly proven folk remedy in the fight against colds and infectious diseases. It helps with chest cough, hoarseness, and high body temperature.

Indeed, this berry has various beneficial properties, including:

anti-inflammatory, antipyretic effect;
sedative, calming effect;
tonic, restorative effect;
wound healing, hemostatic, antiseptic effect;
increased appetite;
antiviral, antispasmodic effect.

Brown rice

Brown rice contains a large amount of hyaluronic acid, which is used in the development of injections to treat joint diseases. Hyaluronic acid is a kind of lubricant for joints. It acts as a shock absorber. It is often used to treat minor cartilage injuries. Therefore, foods high in this substance should always be in the diet of a person who has joint problems.

In addition to brown rice, carrots and beef are high in hyaluronic acid.

Viburnum in traditional medicine

Berries are used to treat edema, hypertensive pathologies, neuroses, anacid gastritis, as well as respiratory and skin diseases. Dermatologists and cosmetologists use freshly squeezed juice against acne, pimples, pigmentation on the face, to treat wounds and eczema. In traditional medicine, the fruits are widely used as a tonic and health booster. The berries have shown themselves well in the fight against skin blemishes - boils, ulcers, eczema.

Apply juice compresses to problem areas for 1–2 hours. After two weeks, it is important to take a break for seven days, then repeat the procedure. For a successful and permanent result, two to four courses may be required. Drinking half a liter of pure juice daily also helps with eczema. It is not for nothing that drugs with viburnum extract are prescribed to patients all over the world.

Use for treatment

Before using viburnum to treat various diseases, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of its use for medical purposes.

Viburnum juice

Freshly squeezed viburnum juice is used to get rid of problems in the digestive system and to cure colds. Some people use the juice to prevent the development of colds.

To prepare the remedy, you will need:

kilogram of fruit;
250 milliliters of water;
220 grams of sugar.

First, the berries are washed and then poured with boiling water for 10 minutes. Then the liquid is drained, and the berries are squeezed through cheesecloth, mixed with water and boiled for 10-15 minutes. The prepared product is drunk daily.

Treatment of colds, coughs, sore throats

Here are some tips for quickly treating colds.

General strengthening agent

To get sick less often, it is recommended to use a general strengthening viburnum composition, which not only treats colds, but also improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system. To prepare it, you will have to stir four spoons of berries with 550 milliliters of boiled water.

The liquid is infused for 10-12 hours, then the soaked berries are squeezed out and mixed with sugar and honey.

Cold

Viburnum tea is most often used when cold symptoms appear. However, sometimes bark is brewed instead. It is pre-crushed and poured into a glass of hot boiled water. After fifteen minutes, sugar is added to the broth and left to cool. When the product has cooled, it is passed through cheesecloth and drunk before meals.

Fever

Sometimes illnesses are accompanied by fever, which can be relieved with the help of raspberry medicines. Add 100 grams of ripe viburnum berries to 300 milliliters of boiling water. The container is carefully wrapped in a towel and left for 2-3 hours. The composition is taken daily, 100 milliliters three times a day.

Bronchitis or pneumonia

When bronchitis develops, experts advise drinking decoctions made from bark and berries. Such liquids help to liquefy and remove mucus from the body. To prepare the medicine, the berries are grated and mixed with heated honey. Then everything is infused for five hours and taken before meals. The tincture is taken daily until recovery.

Chronic cough

Some people have a chronic cough that they want to get rid of. A remedy made from viburnum fruits will help you cope with a cough. 120 grams of berries are added to half a liter of water, boiled for an hour, stirred with honey and left for an hour and a half. The medicine is taken 30-35 minutes after eating.

Angina

For sore throat and the development of other inflammatory processes in the body, use a flower decoction. It is used not only to eliminate the disease, but also to increase appetite and reduce excessive sweating.

120-150 grams of flowers are poured with boiling water, sugar is added and left for 3-4 hours. Drink the infusion daily in the morning and before bed.

Sore throat

Colds are often accompanied by a sore throat. To get rid of pain, you can use viburnum rinse. 50 grams of flowers with berries are poured with hot water and left for three hours.

When the mixture has cooled, it is used to gargle. Some people make throat compresses from the infusion.

Cardiovascular diseases

The beneficial properties of the plant allow it to be used to eliminate diseases associated with the cardiovascular system.

Heartache

If unpleasant pain sensations appear in the heart area, you need to pour one hundred grams of berries with hot boiled liquid. They are infused for three and a half hours, after which the mixture is filtered with gauze and poured into a separate container. The tincture is taken before meals three times a day.

Vasodilation

To create your own medicine to dilate narrowed blood vessels, you need to squeeze juice out of five hundred grams of berries. Then it is mixed with water in a ratio of one to three and boiled for half an hour. Honey is also added to the liquid, which gives the composition vasodilating properties. Take the medicine once a day before or after meals.

Hypertension

When signs of hypertension appear, prepare a decoction of honey and fresh viburnum fruits. 300 grams of viburnum are covered with sugar and left for 2 hours until the juice begins to stand out. Then everything is mixed with 120 milliliters of honey and a liter of water. The prepared drink is drunk chilled daily.

With regular use of this product, the pressure will not rise above normal.

Headache

People who suffer from frequent headaches should take viburnum medicines more often. Freshly squeezed juice mixed with a small amount of sugar or honey is considered an effective remedy for dizziness. You will have to drink the medicinal liquid at least twice a day, in the morning and evening.

Liver diseases

There are several liver diseases that can be cured using viburnum decoctions.

Liver cleansing

Sometimes people have to cleanse their liver of accumulated toxins. To do this, you can use a cleanser made from viburnum berries. 450 grams of the plant are mixed with the same amount of water and boiled over low heat. When the fruits soften, they are filtered and mixed with honey.

Blood purification

Freshly squeezed viburnum juice has beneficial properties and helps reduce cholesterol and blood sugar. It also cleanses it of heavy metals and toxins that can impair blood circulation. Experts recommend drinking juice at least twice daily.

Against stones

Some people are concerned about kidney or gallstones. To get rid of them, you need to eat ten viburnum seeds every day. They promote the resorption of stones and help cleanse the organs of unnecessary waste and other accumulations.

Choleretic infusion

Viburnum is considered an excellent choleretic agent. Decoctions and teas are prepared from it, which help get rid of accumulated bile. You need to drink such remedies regularly, at least once a day.

Gastrointestinal diseases

There are six common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that can be cured with viburnum decoctions.

Gastritis

People who suffer from gastritis often feel unwell. To make you feel better, you can use viburnum fruits. They are poured with hot boiled water and infused for at least five hours. The medicinal composition is drunk every day half an hour before eating.

Indigestion

Many people experience indigestion, which is accompanied by unpleasant pain inside the abdomen. To eliminate this problem, you will have to prepare a medicinal decoction from viburnum seeds. They drink it every day for a week.

Peptic ulcer

Gastric ulcers are considered a dangerous disease that can only be treated in a comprehensive manner. In this case, you can use not only medications, but also viburnum decoctions. To prepare it, the berries are crushed, mixed with cold water, infused and drunk after meals.

Constipation

Constipation is considered a common problem of the gastrointestinal tract. Regular consumption of berries will help improve the functioning of the digestive system. Every day you need to eat at least forty pieces to cleanse the intestines and get rid of stagnation.

Diarrhea

People who have problems with bowel movements regularly suffer from diarrhea. A remedy made from liquid honey and crushed viburnum fruits will help get rid of it. The ingredients are mixed in a ratio of one to two. Eat a spoonful of the product every day.

Haemorrhoids

Viburnum bark is used to treat hemorrhoids. It is finely chopped with a knife and poured with boiling water. The liquid is infused for at least six hours, after which it can be drunk. To make the broth more tasty, sugar or honey is added to it.

Nervous overload, fatigue

Viburnum fruits can eliminate nervous tension and help relax a person. To create a relaxing infusion, add a tablespoon of crushed bark to a glass of boiling water. Some people add lemon balm to the mixture.

External use

The external use of viburnum medicinal compositions is also popular.

Eczema

People suffering from eczema can use fresh viburnum juice during treatment. It is recommended to drink half a liter of freshly squeezed juice daily. A decoction made from dried berries is also considered an effective remedy.

Ulcers, wounds

To speed up the healing of wounds and ulcers, tinctures from ripened berries are used. A tablespoon of fruit is added to a glass of hot water, then everything is infused for 6-8 hours and filtered with gauze. Honey is added to the liquid for flavor.

Increased sweating of the feet and hands

Excessive sweating of the upper extremities is a common problem that many people face. To reduce the amount of sweat produced, add a spoonful of bark to water, boil for 15 minutes and leave to infuse for a day. Drink the product once a day.

Malignant formations

In this case, viburnum juice mixed with honey will be useful. This mixture is taken four times every day.

Viburnum in folk medicine

Since the berries stay fresh for a long time if frozen, people stock up on them in advance. Thanks to freezing, the bitterness of the berries is reduced, but the benefits remain. Also in folk medicine they are consumed dried, which helps to contract the heart muscles and increase urine output. The benefits of tincture of viburnum flowers are also widely known; it is used internally as an antipyretic. It is recommended for men as an active aid in the painless functioning of the reproductive and excretory systems.

Recipe for cold symptoms: take 100 g of berries, lemon, a handful of nuts, grind everything, add a spoonful of honey, take three times a day.
Recipe for cough: pour boiling water over 100 g of berries; when the berries have cooled, add honey to taste. Allowed to be consumed 2-3 times a day.
Recipe for heart pain: boil 3-4 tablespoons of fruit in one glass of boiled water, after four hours you need to pass the broth through a strainer. You can drink three times a day.
Recipe for stones in the bladder: swallow one stone up to 15 times a day.
Recipe at high temperatures: boil 10 g of bark in a glass of water and leave to steep for two hours. Allowed to drink twice a day.
Recipe for hypertension: puree softened berries, add buckwheat honey. The course is 2-3 weeks, after a two-week break it can be repeated.

Procurement of raw materials

Viburnum is very beautiful with white flowers in spring, emerald leaves in summer and bright red berries in autumn.

The bark should be harvested during the sap flow period, in April - May. At this time, it is easily separated from the wood. The bark should be dried by spreading it in a thin layer on a clean mat, and be sure to protect it from dust.

At the end of drying, the bark develops an unpleasant odor and a bitter, astringent taste. Dry bark breaks, and under-dried bark bends.

Because of the bitterness, the berries are not eaten fresh. After the first frost, the bitterness decreases and the berries can be collected for food and medicinal purposes. The berries need to be air-dried and then dried to a free-flowing state in a cool place.

The fruits do not lose color and retain their nutritional and healing qualities for several months. Frozen berries can be stored until spring.

In oriental medicine

In medicine in eastern countries, in particular Chinese, they use not only berries, but also leaves of the bush for laxative and emetic effects. In addition, many Eastern doctors prescribe the fruits and juice to people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. Their regular use opens the pores, thereby facilitating the removal of waste and toxins, which helps improve blood flow.

In the East, red viburnum is added to many cosmetics; it is especially often included in shampoos, masks and facial lotions. After all, the berry has an antiseptic, drying effect, so at home those with oily, problem skin can wipe their face with viburnum juice.

Collection and storage

The fruits reach full maturity in September or October. This is evidenced by their uniform red color. But at this time, the berries still retain a bitter taste, which disappears after the first frost, so it is advisable to harvest the fruits at the end of October or early November.

You need to pick berries on the branches, completely preserving their stalks. To do this, they are cut with pruning shears and placed in a basket so as not to damage their integrity. You cannot pick the berries separately: in this case, the skin will burst and the juice will leak out.

The clusters can be hung in the attic or dry basement. In this form they will retain their freshness for several months.

If there is no unheated room, viburnum can be stored in the refrigerator, in the lower section, or frozen in the freezer and defrosted as needed. Before freezing, the berries need to be washed, dried and the stalks removed. Then they are laid out in the freezer in one layer and periodically turned over to ensure even freezing. When the berries become hard, they are transferred to a container convenient for storage.

Scientific research on the benefits of viburnum

The medicinal properties of red viburnum have been comprehensively studied. Here is just a small list of works:

An article was published under the authorship of V. G. Sprygin, N. F. Kushnerova, and S. E. Fomenko on the stress-protective characteristics of fruits in stimulating metabolism in liver fat metabolism.
The scientific work of Tsekhina N.N., Khasyanova N.G., Orekhova S.V. proves the antioxidant effect of viburnum on the body as a whole.
Two types of viburnum were subject to deep phytoanalysis by S. M. Ilyasova, who wrote a dissertation on this topic.
The traditional use of viburnum in the fight against kidney stones is proven in a scientific article by authors Ilhan M., Ergen B., Suntar I.
Scientists Ersoy N., Ersisli S. and Gundogdu M. assessed the agromorphogenetic, biochemical and bioactive indicators of the effect of the berry on the body.

Viburnum diet for cleansing and restoration

It is recommended to adhere to the following diet for three days and evaluate all the dietary properties of viburnum:

For breakfast - any porridge or viburnum compote. For lunch - vegetable soup, and for dessert - banana and berries. For an afternoon snack - a whole grain bun without yeast and a couple of spoons of berry jam. For dinner - vegetable stew and viburnum tea.
For breakfast - some oatmeal cookies and viburnum berries. For lunch - bean soup with bran bread, and for dessert - tea with viburnum and honey. For an afternoon snack - nuts and viburnum jam. For dinner - steamed vegetables and viburnum tea.
For breakfast - cereal bread and viburnum compote. For lunch - porridge with viburnum berries, and for dessert - apricot nectar. For an afternoon snack - avocado, some berries. For dinner - vegetable casserole and viburnum tea.

Since viburnum has a high content of vitamins and nutrients, this diet perfectly tones the body and starts all life processes.

How to store for the winter?

There are a number of ways to preserve berries for a long time. These include:

Freezing. The most useful option, since frozen viburnum retains almost all vitamins and antioxidants. To do this, the berries are laid out on a tray and frozen for 8 to 12 hours. Then the fruits can be poured into a bag and stored in the freezer for up to a year.
Grinding with sugar . Leads to a significant loss of the biological potential of berries. To prepare, you need to pass the berries through a meat grinder or beat with a blender and mix with sugar in a ratio of 1:2. Store in glass jars with a tightly closed lid in the refrigerator for up to two to three months.
Jam. The scope of healing properties is almost the same as the previous version. To prepare, you need 1 kg of berries and 1 kg of sugar, pour 360 ml of boiling water. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Cool the jam, then bring to a boil again and cook for another 5 minutes. Roll into pre-sterilized jars.
Drying. Increases the concentration of fiber and sugar several times, while significantly reducing the content of vitamins and antioxidants. The berries should be placed on a tray in the oven and dried at 60°C for 4–6 hours. Store in a dry place for six months.
Tincture. To prepare you will need: 200 viburnum juice, 200 ml of water, 400 grams of sugar and 700 ml of vodka. All components are mixed in a glass vessel, which must be left in a cool, dark place for 72 hours. Viburnum tincture retains a significant amount of vitamins, but contains virtually no polyphenols.

It is important to note that jam, as well as viburnum pureed with sugar, should not be consumed if you have diabetes or obesity. Dried fruits are subject to a similar ban.

The tincture is not recommended for use in cases of coronary heart disease and arterial hypertension.

There are several basic ways to store berries for a long time. The most useful is freezing.

Using viburnum in cooking

How many tasty, healthy, and sometimes vital things can be prepared from its berries. For the first acquaintance with the medicinal properties of viburnum, you should start consuming it fresh, as a slightly sour dessert for tea, or adding it to porridge. By the way, you can enjoy it all year round, just buy it or harvest it and place it in the freezer. You can also dry it or dry it, squeeze out the juice, make jam, marmalade, or pastille from it.

The aroma is magical, it hangs in the air for days, many people think it is the smell of apples and valerian grass. There are different varieties of viburnum in nature, the fruits have a variety of shades - from bright burgundy to dark purple. Here are a few proven recipes for every day or for storing for the whole year in large quantities:

Sauce: Take equal portions of berries and sugar. Pour boiling water over the berries, grind, separate the resulting mass from the seeds by rubbing it through a strainer. Pour sugar into the resulting mass and heat the mixture slightly in a water bath. Do not bring to a boil, just wait until the sugar dissolves. This sauce goes great with oven-roasted vegetables!
A la coffee drink from viburnum: dried berry seeds are fried in a dry frying pan until they become coffee-colored. Then grind them and pour them into an airtight glass jar. One spoon per glass of hot water is enough. This drink is not only delicious, but also tones you up for the whole day, even better than coffee.
Syrup: you will need 350 g of berries, sugar - 350 g, water - 200 ml. To get rid of unpleasant bitterness, put the berries in the freezer for a day, grind them into “porridge,” add sugar, and boil. Done, you can pour it over ice cream or other desserts. This syrup has a spicy, sweet and sour taste, will protect against colds, and support the heart and blood vessels.
Viburnum jam: since its seeds contain many useful substances, it is better to prepare jam with seeds. You just need to add sugar in equal proportions, grated orange, and you have a fragrant, unforgettable jam.
Compote with apple slices: take 200 g of viburnum, 400 g of apples, 2 liters of water, 1.5 cups of sugar. Pour boiling water over the berries for 10 minutes. Cut the apples into slices. Cook for no more than 7–8 minutes. Add sugar and wait for it to dissolve. Cool and enjoy the benefits of the drink.
Cabbage and viburnum berry salad: chop 100 g of white cabbage, crush and add salt. Add berries (fresh or frozen). we pick from the branch. We treat ourselves to a colorful and mega-healthy salad.
Fruit juice: grind the berries into a “porridge”, pour boiling water over them. When the fruit drink has cooled to room temperature, strain.
Viburnum with orange: defrost the berries, chop them with fruit, mix with sugar, wait 20 minutes until the sugar dissolves, then transfer to jars.

The berries are also used in baking: the famous “kalinniki” - pies, pies and flatbreads filled with viburnum fruits. People who lead a healthy lifestyle will appreciate viburnum tea, widely known for its strengthening effect, especially in the autumn and winter, when colds worsen. Make a pie, roll or sweet envelopes from this healthy and tasty berry once, and you will definitely become its ardent fan. After all, its benefits have been known since ancient times, and daily warm tea with viburnum was the best medicine for colds.

Dishes and drinks made from viburnum are very popular in the autumn-winter season, when they are used to strengthen the immune system or for treatment. This berry has a very rich taste and a characteristic smell that cannot be confused with anything else. Try it!

How to use it correctly?

Below are the answers to the most popular questions regarding the consumption and use of viburnum:

Dosage. The recommended intake for fresh berries is 75 grams per day, 4-5 times a week.
Time of receipt. Viburnum is strictly forbidden to be taken in the morning on an empty stomach (due to the possible irritating effect on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract), as well as in the evening (before bedtime, it will cause overload of the digestive system and insomnia).
Use in cooking. Viburnum is actively used for making jams, syrups, preserves, jelly, juice and fruit drinks. The fruits, flowers, branches and leaves of viburnum are used to prepare decoctions, teas, tinctures and other medicinal drinks.
Properties of the seeds. Viburnum fruit seeds contain many antioxidants and are used to alleviate a number of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and urolithiasis.
Application of oil . Viburnum oil is rich in vitamins (A and E). It reduces the risk of developing malignant tumors. It is also used to relieve gastritis and peptic ulcers (orally) or speed up wound healing (topically).
Application of bark. Viburnum bark is commonly used to stop local bleeding (nosebleeds) and as an antimicrobial agent for inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity.

There are a number of rules that will allow you to get the maximum benefit from berries.

Dangerous properties of viburnum and contraindications

Despite the benefits, there are certain dangerous properties of these berries. In particular, viburnum has contraindications, because the components of the plant may not be suitable for everyone.

Before using berries as a remedy, people with the following diseases should be careful:

liver and kidney diseases;
gastritis, ulcers;
arterial hypotension;
allergies (for example, to high levels of vitamin C);
excessive production of gastric juice,
blood diseases (for example, high coagulability, thrombosis).

Pregnant women can also experience significant harm from viburnum, since the berries contain many components identical to female hormones. An increase in them in the female bloodstream can adversely affect the developing fetus. In severe cases, the composition of viburnum can lead to miscarriage.

Chemical composition

The bark contains the bitter glycoside viburnin, resin, starch, valeric and isovaleric acids, tannins, vitamins C and K, and carotene.

Viburnum fruits have also been used in medicine, containing polysaccharides, pectin, provitamin A, vitamins C, P, iron, phosphorus, manganese, calcium, iodine, and copper.

There is also evidence that flowers and leaves exhibit an antimicrobial effect. It is similar to berry juice. At 7% concentration, viburnum juice is detrimental to typhoid and dysentery bacilli.

How to choose viburnum berries

Modern gardeners are divided into two camps: some believe that they need to pick berries immediately after they turn red, without greenery or unnatural specks, while others focus on the time of picking - after the first frost. Then the bitterness disappears, and sweetness appears with a slight tart note and a drop of bitterness.

We recommend that when purchasing or picking, look at the color of the berries: they should have a bright, rich red tint, no pink reflections. Inhale the aroma of the berry; it should be sour and sweet, with a slightly tart aroma. You need to collect or buy it after frost, when it loses its bitterness. Plus, berries picked after frost accumulate more useful micro- and macroelements than when picked before the outside temperature dropped.

Description of the plant and its types

Viburnum ordinary, or red, is a representative of the Adoxaceae family. This plant is a low deciduous tree or spreading bush with shoots covered with brownish-gray bark.

Bare or ribbed branches are covered with opposite leaves up to 10 cm in size. The leaf blades with a heart-shaped base are divided into 3 or 5 lobes. The upper, smooth side has a dark green color, the lower, with weak pubescence along the veins, is grayish-green.

Viburnum common

In the upper part of the young shoots, flat, shield-shaped inflorescences are formed from small flowers with a strong aroma, white or slightly pinkish in color.

The flowering period begins at the end of May and ends in July. The fruits - red oval drupes - ripen from August to September.

This plant grows quite quickly. A young specimen grows from 30 to 40 cm per year. The average lifespan of viburnum is 50 years.

Kalina Gordovina

In addition to the usual red viburnum, there are about two hundred more varieties of it in nature. For medicinal purposes, black is also used, which is also called pride. The homeland of this species is America. It is a small deciduous tree with dark gray bark. The leaves have an oblong oval shape and are densely pubescent.

The fruits are black berry drupes. This species is grown mainly in gardens and park areas as an ornamental plant.