Blackcurrant leaves: medicinal properties and contraindications, benefits and harms

The healing properties of plants are difficult to underestimate, because this is a real pantry of vitamins and other useful substances. However, many mistakenly believe that only the fruits of the plant have beneficial properties. An example of this is the currant: everyone understands that the berries are useful, but few people know about the healing power of the leaves. Below we will understand why blackcurrant leaves are so useful, analyze the medicinal properties and learn how to make tea from dried currant leaves.

Composition: vitamins and trace elements

Currant tea and other drinks are considered he althy for a reason. It's all about the rich composition of the plant. It includes such useful compounds as:

1. Vitamins of the group: B, K, A, C, PP and E.
2. Antioxidants.
3. Copper.
4. Sodium.
5. Organic acids.
6. Manganese.
7. Flavonoids.
8. Phytoncides.

All this, together, creates a real bomb of vitamins and minerals that charges the body with he alth and energy.

Useful properties of black and red currant leaves

Like any other product on Earth, currants are beneficial and harmful to humans. Let's see what the beneficial properties are expressed in, and in what cases the use of the plant is dangerous to he alth.

Benefit:

1. Cleanses the body of waste and toxins.
2. Strengthens the immune system.
3. Has a healing effect in diseases of the digestive system.
4. Regulates blood clotting.
5. Positive effect on human skin.
6. Reduces excess fluid.
7. Reduces inflammation.
8. Helps with diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Not recommended for:

1. Allergic reactions to product.
2. Stomach ulcer.
3. Gastritis with high levels of acidity.
4. Thrombosis with inflammation of the vein wall.

Important! Prevention and treatment with currants is not recommended to be extended for more than one month. After this period, the intake must be stopped and the body should be allowed to rest.

For men

For men, the plant will help in the following:

• to cope with the dysfunction of the reproductive system;
• reducing the risk of a heart attack;
• normalizes the activity of the urinary system;

For women

For women, the plant will be useful for the following properties:

• slows down the aging process in the body;
• normalizes metabolism;
• saturates the body with folic acid.

Before using for medicinal purposes, make sure that your blood has good clotting, and the acidity in the stomach does not exceed the norm. Not recommended for use while breastfeeding.

For kids

The benefits for the child's body are as follows:

• improves memory;
• strengthens bones;
• stimulates brain activity.

In what areas is used

The scope of application is quite wide, and the beneficial properties of currants are applied in:

• folk medicine;
• Cosmetology;
• cooking.

Traditional medicine

The use of blackcurrant is actively practiced in traditional medicine, and recipes based on it help to deal with:

• rheumatism;
• Urolithiasis;
• gout;
• cold;
• scurvy;
• sore throat;
• diathesis;
• cough.

Cosmetology

For cosmetologists, the plant is a real treasure, because on its basis creams and masks have been developed that help with:

• pigment spots and freckles;
• reduces wrinkles, rejuvenates and tones the skin;
• relieves dead skin cells, accelerating the natural regeneration process;
• strengthens hair for a natural, beautiful shine;
• strengthens nails.

When to collect and how to properly dry

To get the maximum benefit, the product must be properly assembled and prepared, choosing a favorable time for this. For currants, this period is considered the time of flowering. In different regions, it may occur at different times. In one region, it will be the end of May, while in another, currants can bloom only in August.

For the correct collection of fresh leaves, the following conditions must be met:

• weather during collection should be warm and dry;
• it is desirable that a few days before the collection there will be a light rain that will wash away all the dirt from the leaves;
• It will not be superfluous to focus on the lunar cycles, because the highest concentration of nutrients in the leaves is observed in the phase of the growing moon.

Pay attention! Do not wash the leaves after picking, as this will prevent proper drying, causing the product to deteriorate and rot.

Drying

The collected leaves are evenly distributed on a clean piece of cloth and sent to a specially prepared place that meets the following conditions:

• well ventilated;
• warm;
• protected from direct sunlight;
• low humidity.

Such conditions will protect the crop from mold and help to properly prepare the material for use. Remember to stir the leaves periodically, checking them for spoilage. The leaves are ready the moment their structure becomes brittle. Then you can finish drying, and send the collection for storage.

Fermentation

Fermentation occurs as follows:

1. During the day, dry the leaves, distributing them evenly on a piece of clean cloth, in a place covered with a shadow.
2. Juice is released from the dried leaves, for this they are finely chopped, ground in a mortar or scrolled in a meat grinder.
3. The resulting mass is unloaded into a prepared container, which is covered with a damp piece of cloth. We leave the container alone for 6 hours and let the mass ferment properly.
4. Dry the mass in the oven, at a temperature of 100 ^{o until the mass becomes brittle to the touch.}

Try not to overdry the leaves - because of this, they will become less fragrant and tasty.

How to store in winter

Dry leaves are stored whole or broken into small fragments, which are poured into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. The container is stored in a place protected from sunlight, such as a kitchen cabinet.

What components can be combined with

Blackcurrant leaves go great with:

• raspberry leaves;
• mint;
• juniper;
• coffee;
• almonds;
• redcurrant;
• cherries;
• gooseberries.

Cooking recipes

Not every housewife knows the appropriate recipes for making blackcurrant leaves. Below we will look at three of the most popular recipes that give the maximum healing effect when consumed:

• tincture;
• tea from medicinal twigs and leaves;
• decoction.

The benefits of each of them have been tested by generations of our ancestors, which speaks of the quality of the recipe best of all.

Tincture

Ingredients in the leaf tincture:

• water - one liter;
• shredded blackcurrant leaves - 6 large spoons.

Cooking algorithm:

• prepare the leaves;
• boil water;
• put the leaves in boiling water and remove the container from the fire;
• let it brew for an hour;
• strain the infusion.

Use no more than 250 milliliters of infusion per day, for 3-6 approaches.

Healing tea from twigs and leaves

For the preparation of tea, a collection of berries and leaves of the plant is used, which must be brewed together with black tea. Ingredients:

• water - 0.5 liters;
• granulated sugar - to taste;
• blackcurrant leaves - two large spoons;
• a small spoonful of black or green tea.

Recipe:

• wash and grind leaves;
• put them in boiling water and let it brew for 10-15 minutes;
• fill in the tea and let it brew for another 1-2 minutes;
• strain the liquid and add sugar or honey to taste.

Pay attention! If desired, the composition can be diversified by adding leaves of other plants, such as mint or raspberry, to it.

Decoction

Used for medicinal purposes, and for cooking you will need to prepare:

• leaves and berries - 4 things each;
• water - 300 milliliters.

Cooking:

• boil water;
• add leaves and berries;
• cook for 20 minutes at the minimum power of the stove;
• filter;
• cool the broth.

Indications for use

Currant does not lose its medicinal properties in any form, be it a drink or a fresh product. Its use helps to cope with many ailments, and doctors advise using the plant for the following diseases:

• rheumatism;
• diabetes;
• flu and colds;
• at elevated temperature;
• for weight loss.

Rheumatism

Cleanses the body of excess uric and oxalic acid, thus helping to fight rheumatism, joint pain and gout. Helps the elderly well.

Diabetic

Recommended by doctors due to the high fructose content of the berries. Suitable for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Leaves cleanse the body, removing toxins and other harmful substances.

For flu and colds

An effective tool that allows the body to fight pathogens, saturating it with a shock dose of vitamins and useful trace elements. Helps well in the form of tea and various tinctures.

To reduce temperature

Tea made from the leaves of black or red currant is an excellent antipyretic that allows you to bring down the temperature quickly and for the benefit of the body.

Slimming benefits

It has fat-burning properties due to the high content of vitamin C. Not only black, but also red, and even white currants have such properties.

Can women use during pregnancy

Pregnant women are allowed to consume blackcurrant in moderation as it helps with:

• diarrhea;
• from edema;
• is a good antidepressant;
• reduces high blood pressure;
• mitigates the effects of toxicosis in the early stages of pregnancy.

Important! Before use, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

Contraindications for use

As mentioned above, it is not advisable to use the product when:

• gastritis;
• gastric ulcer;
• kidney stones;
• allergies;
• glaucoma.

Otherwise, when used in moderation, the plant will benefit the body, strengthening it and energizing it for a long time.

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