Bella Adams
We cannot ignore the importance of berries with medicinal properties, because they are much better than medicines. A berry-like viburnum is a natural source with various healing properties and limited adverse effects. In addition, viburnum is much cheaper compared to medicines. So what are the benefits of viburnum? Let’s talk!
Viburnum composition
Viburnum berries with low-calorie content, and high content of vitamins and minerals help our body to function properly.
The caloric content of red viburnum is only 26 kcal (100 g). The berry contains no proteins, fats, or fiber, only carbohydrates in the amount of 7 g per 100 grams of the product.
Vitamins: vitamin C; vitamin B2; vitamin E; vitamin PP; vitamin K.
Micro- and macro elements: magnesium; copper; iron; zinc; manganese.
Viburnum contains three times more iron than apples and rose hips.
Useful properties of viburnum
Red viburnum is an ideal assistant in maintaining immunity, as its pulp contains a lot of vitamins C and PP.
Viburnum is used in medicine as a tonic.
Thanks to its antiseptic substances, viburnum promotes rapid wound healing and is useful for any skin disease.
Viburnum berries have diuretic properties, so it is useful to use them in case of renal failure and urinary disorders.
Viburnum raises the level of red blood cells, so it will be very useful for people with low hemoglobin, as well as for young mothers in the postpartum period.
Ripe viburnum berries are very useful for women. Viburnum can also help with gynecological diseases, namely uterine bleeding. It will also help to endure painful menstruation.
Viburnum is used for hemorrhoids and acute intestinal diseases.
Pectin substances normalize digestion.
The substances contained in viburnum berries have a positive effect on the heart, and vitamin PP strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
Viburnum juice is very useful for bronchitis and bronchial asthma. A decoction of the berries is used as an expectorant to treat bronchial cough. It is useful in relieving or getting rid of bronchial spasms and symptoms of bronchitis.
The alkaline salts contained in viburnum are quite effective in the treatment of various disorders associated with arrhythmia and anxiety. The alkaloids present in the berries are known to have a calming effect, helping in the treatment of various ailments associated with nervous exhaustion.
In general, viburnum berries have a sedative (calming) effect.
In Japan, berry extract is used to make vinegar, which is used to treat liver cirrhosis.
Application in cosmetology
In cosmetology, viburnum is used in the same way as in medicine, using not only the fruits but also the bark, flowers, and leaves.
Fresh berry juice is used to wipe oily skin to refresh and remove blackheads. In addition, the juice mixed with sour cream helps to eliminate age spots, and discolored freckles and simply lightens the skin after a strong sunburn.
A homemade mask made from freshly chopped viburnum leaves has a refreshing and tonic effect. It should be applied to a greasy cream so as not to damage the skin.
For sweating hands and feet, you can use a decoction of viburnum bark.
Warm hand baths made from sea salt and viburnum juice have a strengthening effect on nails.
In addition, after such baths, the skin of your hands will become as soft as a baby’s.
With the help of viburnum, you can even fight the appearance of wrinkles by simply freezing viburnum juice in ice cube trays. Daily rubbing with this product will give the skin elasticity.
Viburnum can be used to make many different lotions that will help rejuvenate, moisturize, and refresh the skin.
Viburnum in folk medicine
Not only viburnum berries are used for medicinal purposes. First of all, its bark is considered especially valuable. It is collected by making cuts and carefully separating it from the trunk. The resulting pieces of bark are dried and used in dried form.
They are used to make decoctions to stop bleeding, especially in the postpartum period. In the case of hemorrhoids, it is useful to take a decoction of viburnum bark inside.
Viburnum berry juice is widely used for the prevention of cancer. Constant intake of viburnum juice has a positive effect on the general well-being of patients suffering from tumors of the digestive tract.
Viburnum leaves, flowers, and roots are also widely used in medicine, mostly dried. Decoctions of viburnum roots are used for excessive sweating, rheumatism, and diarrhea. They make lotions for skin diseases and purulent conjunctivitis.
Viburnum flowers are used to make a tea that relieves nervous tension. This tea also has a diuretic effect.
Viburnum flower infusions are useful for various types of rashes. It is good to rinse the mouth with these infusions in case of a sore throat, as viburnum is very useful for the throat.
Viburnum seed oil is very valuable. It is used in both medicine and cosmetology, as it contains a large number of useful substances: vitamins A, K, E, C, PP, calcium, manganese, iron, chromium, nickel, carotene, and others.
Viburnum in dietetics
Viburnum is a dietary non-caloric product with incredibly useful properties for people suffering from obesity.
The medicinal properties of viburnum (cleansing, diuretic) help in the fight against bloating and cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract.
Low sugar content makes viburnum a safe berry for people with diabetes.
Viburnum in cooking
Viburnum berries are used to make jams, preserves, vitaminized juices, compotes, and sauces for meat. Fresh fruits may seem too sour, even a little bitter in taste, so they are sweetened with sugar or a healthier option – honey.
Red viburnum goes well: with other berries (cranberries, rose hips, raspberries, blueberries, red and black currants, sea buckthorn, mountain ash); with fruits (apples, quince, apricot); with vegetables (pumpkin); with herbs (mint, sage, thyme, bay leaf); with meat (pork, lamb); with fish (pollock); with citrus fruits (lemon, orange); with fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, cottage cheese); with cereals (oatmeal, rice); with spices (cinnamon, ginger, almond extract, vanilla); with legumes (peas, beans); with honey.
Most often, berries are used for medicinal purposes, but they also make incredibly tasty and flavorful pies and other dishes.
Harms and contraindications for eating viburnum
If you eat red berries too often, you can provoke diseases such as ischemia, hypertension, and hypoxia.
High blood pressure and too high a concentration of trace elements in viburnum can cause blood clots and lead to dire consequences.
Viburnum can be harmful to both children and adults in cases of an allergic reaction.
Since the red berries of viburnum and the fruit drink made from them are effective diuretics, they can be harmful if consumed in excess.
In the treatment of gout, urolithiasis, and arthritis, viburnum is contraindicated due to purine, which increases the level of uric acid in the body.
People with high acidity of gastric juice, gastritis, and gastric ulcers should be careful when using viburnum, as it increases the secretion of gastric juice.
Viburnum also lowers blood pressure, so it can cause fainting in people suffering from hypotension.
How to choose and store red viburnum
Red viburnum berries ripen in the fall. You can pick them up yourself at the end of September or buy them in a store. It is better to choose those berries that are sold with stems. This way, they retain their fresh appearance and beneficial properties longer. Ripe fruits should have a deep red color (it is this color that determines the medicinal properties of viburnum).
Red viburnum berries are essential vitamins for the winter period. There are several ways to preserve their beneficial properties for a long time.
Freezing: the berries are cleaned from the stalks, and unripe or spoiled fruits are removed, washed, dried, then transferred to a container and put in the freezer.
Viburnum in sugar: peeled and washed berries are placed in a jar, and sugar is poured on top to cover the berries, then closed with a lid and placed in the refrigerator.
Dried viburnum: fresh berries must be washed, dried, placed on a baking sheet, and dried at 60 ° in the oven, then transferred to a cloth bag and kept on a shelf.
Alternatively, the berries (along with the pit) can be ground in a blender along with sugar (1 kg of sugar per 700 g of berries), put in jars, and refrigerated.
So, despite the fact that red viburnum has pronounced medicinal properties, do not forget about the contraindications mentioned above. Take care of yourself and be healthy!
