Lingonberry is an amazing berry that has a mass of healing properties. Even ancient healers used the leaves of the shrub for therapeutic purposes to treat various pathologies. The plant contains a lot of useful components such as vitamins, minerals, phytoncides and other substances. Lingonberry leaves are used to prepare various decoctions, tinctures and herbal mixtures, which have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action.
Medicinal properties and application
Lingonberry has a rich biochemical composition, which includes:
- glycosides;
- antioxidant lycopene;
- tannins;
- organic acids;
- free hydrochloride;
- vitamins.
The presence in the plant of a high concentration of tannins and organic acids gives the leaves of the plant a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect. Experts recommend drinking cowberry leaf-based products in order to increase the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy. In addition, with the help of the leaves of the plant, it is possible to remove excess fluid from the body, that is, to eliminate the swelling of tissues. It is possible to achieve such a pronounced diuretic effect due to hydrolysis, during which the splitting of arbutin into hydroquinone occurs.
In traditional medicine, lingonberry leaves are used to produce diuretic, disinfectant and choleretic products. The content of phytoncides in a plant allows to suppress the activity of such dangerous microorganisms as staphylococcus. With the help of herbal remedies, it is possible to increase the body's defenses and start phagocytosis, to strengthen small blood vessels.
When and how to collect and dry
It is necessary to harvest cowberry leaves immediately after the snow melts, that is, at the very beginning of spring. Pine groves, mixed forests and oak forests are the habitats. In addition, it is allowed to engage in harvesting plants in the fall, immediately after the collection of berries.
It is necessary to dry vegetable raw materials under sheds, on verandas and attics, where there is sufficiently dry and good air circulation. After the bilberry leaves are completely dry, they should be stored in paper bags in a dark place with good ventilation.
The value of cowberry leaves for men
Lingonberry is a plant that has a positive effect on men's health. Fresh berries are recommended for men in case of prostate gland pathologies, and also to prepare fruit drinks and juices on its basis. In order to achieve a speedy recovery, it is recommended to combine the reception of funds from the cranberries with medical therapy.
Men are advised to drink tea brewed from the leaves of lingonberries. With its help, it is possible to improve the functioning of the immune system and strengthen the general condition of the body, as well as cope with prostatitis. In addition, a lingonberry drink helps to cope with male impotence, but there are some limitations to its reception.
It should be remembered that:
- drinking tea from the leaves of lingonberry is necessary only before eating;
- It is not allowed to eat fresh berries if a man suffers from chronic gastritis or an ulcer.
The combination of drug therapy with traditional treatment allows men to achieve the expected result and get rid of prostatitis. In addition, with the help of lingonberry it is possible to fill the body with vitamins and useful microelements.
Lingonberry leaf during pregnancy from edema
Often, women use cranberries during pregnancy to combat swelling. On the basis of the leaves of the plant, you can prepare a variety of infusions and decoctions that have a positive effect on the body.
During pregnancy, it is recommended to take funds from the green part of the plant to those patients who are concerned about edema. Usually, women face this problem in the last weeks of pregnancy, when fetal weight increases and the uterus quickly grows. This leads to the fact that there is stagnation of fluid in the tissues and increases the load on the kidneys. Reception of a lingonberry leaf during pregnancy contributes to the removal of fluid from the body and helps to reduce the concentration of protein in the blood, which prevents preeclampsia.
Quite often, future mothers develop cystitis and pyelonephritis, because the urinary system organs have a double load. With the help of decoctions of the leaves of the plant, it is possible to achieve an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect and quickly stop the inflammatory process.
However, despite the mass of positive properties of lingonberry leaves, doctors still do not have a common opinion about whether it is possible to drink products prepared on their basis for pregnant women. This is due to the fact that the plant has a powerful pharmacological effect, and the intake of drugs from lingonberries can affect the development of the child. For this reason, it is not recommended to drink decoctions and infusions in the first trimester of pregnancy.
How to make cowberry leaves
Means of lingonberry leaves can be taken to treat such pathologies as hypertension, rheumatism, tuberculosis and abdominal pain. In addition, with the help of such a plant it is possible to achieve a positive result in the treatment of cystitis and kidney pathologies.
Cowberry leaf tea
Lingonberry tea experts recommend taking to increase the body's defenses, because it gives energy, strength and uplifting.
To prepare the drink you need:
- 20 grams of herbal medicine pour a liter of boiling water, cover the dishes with a lid and leave for 15 minutes;
- to improve the effectiveness of the drug is recommended to wrap the container with tea in a towel;
- before taking the drink is allowed to add some honey.
Cowberry leaf tea can be drunk several times during the day as a regular drink.
Cowberry leaf decoction
In order to prepare a decoction of lingonberry leaves, you need:
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable raw materials pour 200 ml of hot water;
- put the resulting mixture on low heat, close the lid and simmer for half an hour;
- After a while, remove the broth from the stove, cool and filter.
In the treatment of diseases of the bladder, it is necessary to take such a decoction of 1/2 cup in the form of heat half an hour after eating. Before taking it is allowed to dilute the product with brewed black tea or rosehip broth in equal proportions.
After the treatment is completed, it is necessary to take a break for a while. This is due to the fact that lingonberry leaves have a diuretic effect and flush out large amounts of calcium and potassium from the body. During pregnancy, the decoction is allowed to drink 1/4 cup 1 time per day.
Infusion on lingonberry leaves
Infusion of leaves of bilberry is an effective folk remedy that helps to restore the body tone. It is recommended to take it in the period of colds or after recovery for prophylactic purposes. The presence of arbutin and tannins in such a drink gives it an expectorant effect, which explains the popularity of the plant in the complex therapy of bronchitis.
For the preparation of infusion of leaves of bilberry is necessary:
- chop the vegetable raw materials well and 2 tablespoons of the leaves pour 200 ml of boiling water;
- insist the resulting mixture for 30 minutes in a sealed container or thermos.
It is usually recommended to drink a tonic infusion 1/2 cup before meals during the day. In that case, if the infusion is used to treat rheumatism, then ½ cup is given every 6 hours. When gallstone disease you need to drink 20 ml of the drug up to 6 times per day. In addition, the prepared drug from the leaves of cranberries are allowed to take in the treatment of colds.
Contraindications
It is not recommended to take funds on the basis of cowberry leaves in the event that the body is prone to the development of allergic reactions or the person suffers from individual intolerance to some components of the plant.
It is necessary to refuse therapy in the following cases:
- peptic ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer;
- gastritis with high acidity;
- low pressure;
- renal failure.
In addition, it is not allowed to give funds on the basis of lingonberry leaves to children under 12 years old. Tea is allowed to drink during pregnancy, which allows you to cope with edema. However, expectant mothers can take this tool only after consulting with a specialist.
Some women use the lingonberry leaf for weight loss because it helps remove excess fluid from the body. This leads to the fact that the weight is rapidly decreasing, which creates the illusion of losing weight. However, prolonged use of bilberry leaves and improper dosage may cause dehydration.
Lingonberry leaves and preparations based on them are quite potent agents, so they are allowed to be used in strict accordance with the instructions. It is important to consider not only contraindications, but also the individual reaction of the body. With a deterioration of health and the appearance of adverse reactions, it is necessary to stop taking funds with lingonberries.
