Red viburnum: benefits and harms of medicinal berries

There are contraindications, consultation with a specialist is required

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.

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.

Plant composition

Viburnum is so saturated with substances beneficial to health that it can cope with, perhaps, any ailment.

It contains:

vitamins C, E, K, group B;
carotene;
organic acids;
tannins;
flavonoids;
catechins;
fatty acid;
sucrose;
fructose;
glucose;
fatty oil;
pectin;
cellulose;
resins;
coumarins;
trace elements – iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, molybdenum;
macroelements – magnesium, potassium, calcium.

The highest concentration of these components is in fruits and bark, from which medicinal products are prepared.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A little botany

Red or common viburnum is a perennial shrub up to 4 meters high. Loves floodplain forests, undergrowth, swamps and banks of reservoirs in the temperate climate zone.

It blooms for 2-3 weeks, starting from the end of May, with lush white or slightly pinkish inflorescences. In their place, by the end of summer, clusters of bright red, less often black or yellow, juicy berries ripen. Ripe fruits remain on the branches until frost, decorating the forest and helping birds survive the winter.

The leaves are carved, three-lobed, up to 10 cm wide, and in the fall they are colored with bright orange and purple colors.

The value of viburnum is that all parts of the plant have a healing effect. Among more than 160 species of viburnum, there are not only medicinal, but also ornamental shrubs. They are used in landscape design to create hedges and delight the eye with rich flowering.

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.

In home cosmetology

Rich in useful elements, viburnum is used in cosmetology, as it nourishes, tones and moisturizes the skin, smoothes out small wrinkles, and eliminates inflammatory foci. It is recommended to make homemade masks based on juicy berries no more than twice a week.

To prepare a moisturizing and nourishing mask, combine ground pitted viburnum berries, soft cottage cheese and oatmeal - 1 tsp each. While stirring, add the yolk. The homogeneous mass is kept on the skin for 20 minutes.

To cleanse the skin of acne, the pulp from viburnum berries ground through a sieve is combined in equal parts with fresh sour cream. Distribute to problem areas. After 10 min. the remains are removed with a cotton pad and washed.

To eliminate excess oil, we recommend a viburnum face mask, enhanced by the introduction of clay:

The berries are pre-ground using a sieve.
The resulting slurry is thoroughly mixed with blue or white powdered clay to the consistency of a homogeneous cream.
Apply the mixture onto the face in an even, generous layer.
Cover the top with a moistened cloth.
Wash off the mask after 20 minutes.
It is recommended to apply a thin layer of moisturizer.

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.

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.

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.