Lemongrass (berry): how to use and useful properties

Even in Ancient China, for the first time, lemongrass, a berry with a wide range of useful actions, was used for medicinal purposes. Today for the pharmaceutical industry whole plantations of this culture are grown. Often found and Schizandra, planted by amateur gardeners in their plots, where he performs a decorative function.

Description

The birthplace of this plant is China, but it has become quite common in Russia (mainly in the Far East), Japan, and Korea. It grows most often on the slopes, located at an altitude of 200 to 400 meters above the water level. Schizandra is a liana-like shrub whose branching stems have a thickness of up to 2 cm and reach a length of 15 m. They are covered with a reddish-brown smooth bark, which becomes more rough and flaky with age.

Fleshy leaves of light green color are located on long (up to 3 cm) petioles. Their shape is ellipsoidal, the edges with slightly denticulate. In late May - early June, the bush is covered with white, dioecious flowers, which have a delicate, pleasant aroma.

Later, in their place, fruit is formed, which finally ripen in September-October. The berries of Chinese magnolia vine are round, bright red. The flesh is juicy and soft, but the taste is very specific, bitter. The smell, like that of leaves and bark, is lemon, for which the plant received its name. Inside each berry there are two kidney-shaped seeds. Fruit yield is about 30 kg from 1 hectare.

Biochemical composition

A large number of useful components contained in this plant, makes it possible to widely use it in the pharmaceutical industry. Their complex and is due to its therapeutic effect.

A lot has been created for today of various medicinal preparations, in which the lemongrass is present. Its berry is rich in catechins, anthocyanins, essential oils, pectin and organic acids. It is an excellent source of vitamin C.

Rich in magnolia vine and micronutrients, such as copper (0.1 mg / g), manganese (0.22 mg / g), zinc (0.13 mg / g), nickel (0.33 mg / g) are rich. They found a large amount of potassium (19.2 mg / g), selenium (33.3 mg / g). All these components have a positive effect on the human body. No toxic substances were detected.

Healing properties of Schisandra

The popularity of this plant in pharmacology is due in large part to its toning and restoring actions. It is not for nothing that the Chinese hunters, when they set out on a long journey, always took with them the berries of Schisandra. The properties of these fruits stimulate the nervous and muscular system to help maintain a physical shape, for a long time to do without food and not to feel fatigued.

The fruit of magnolia vine strengthens positive reflexes, activates the metabolism, increases the immunity and photosensitivity of the eye. In addition, they stimulate cardiovascular activity and breathing, increase the motor secretion of the digestive tract, tone the uterus and skeletal muscles. The therapeutic effect is explained by the ability of the fetuses to enhance blood circulation in the diseased organ, and the biologically active substances in them help the coordinated work of the whole organism as a whole.

Lemongrass is a berry, irreplaceable in the process of intense mental work, when concentration, concentration and integrity of perception are especially needed.

Application in folk medicine

In general, funds are used on the basis of this plant in the event of loss of strength, to restore efficiency, and to overwork. Its fruits are recommended to people who have undergone severe debilitating diseases. Toning properties of them help to cope with increased mental stress.

Tannins contained in lemongrass contribute to recovery in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The ability to increase the pressure explains the effectiveness of the fruit in hypotension. Therefore, it is necessary to take carefully from the magnolia vine to those who suffer from increased pressure.

With asthma, bronchitis and other diseases of the respiratory system, various parts of the named plant are used. The berries of magnolia vine, the application of which is discussed in our article, are effective at short-sightedness, giving excellent results for increasing visual acuity.

Tinctures, prepared from the fruit of magnolia vine, help with impotence, various types of depressive conditions, for the prevention of influenza and colds. Essential oils, contained in the plant in large quantities, improve the work of the liver and heart, and possess antipruritic action when bitten by insects.

It is established that even to remove glycogen and reduce the level of sugar in the blood is capable of lemongrass.

Recipes

The fruits of this plant are used with a curative and preventive purpose in any form - fresh, dried, frozen. There are a lot of ways to prepare various products, among which the most popular are the following:

• Juice made from fresh berries. It is used to restore physical strength, adding to the tea one spoonful. Collected berries must be washed and squeezed through gauze. The juice is poured over sterilized jars, pasteurized and rolled for 15 minutes.
• Infusion of dried berries. Fruit of magnolia vine is placed in an enamel saucepan, poured with water (in a ratio of 1 glass to a spoonful of raw material) and boiled for 10 minutes, closing the lid. Then the resulting broth is infused, it is filtered and sugar is added to taste.
• For tincture on alcohol you need crushed berries of Schisandra. How to cook and how to use this tool is worth telling in more detail. Prepared berries are filled into a bottle and poured 70% with alcohol in a ratio of 1: 5. Tightly close the lid and leave in a dark place for 7-10 days. Periodically, the bottle must be shaken. Then drain the tincture, squeeze the berries and add the rest back to the filtrate. Infuse for another 2 days and filter again. The liquid in the bottle must be completely transparent. A ready tincture of lemongrass berries is used to increase efficiency, relieve fatigue, and to strengthen immunity. It is taken 30 drops 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
• Frozen berries with honey. This tool has not only a curative effect, but also an amazing taste. It is prepared from frozen berries, which are mixed with honey. Value - to taste. The combination of these two healthiest foods is very effective against many diseases. All due to the fact that each of them enhances the positive effect of the other. This mixture has anti-inflammatory, sedative effect, promotes the excretion of bile, lowers cholesterol, improves overall well-being. You can take it on a teaspoonful a day to both adults and children. Overwork, increased drowsiness, beriberi, anemia are far from being the whole list of problems that can be solved with the help of such a device.

Use in Cooking

The fruits of magnolia vine are successfully used for the preparation of fruit drinks and syrups. These drinks give vivacity and cheer up. In cooking, there are many options for what to do with lemongrass berries. From them you get a delicious jam, jam, jam and even marmalade.

Schisandra for weight loss

The main reasons for the appearance of excessive weight are quite a lot - it can be caused by malnutrition, hormonal disorders, slow metabolism, stress, low physical activity, etc. Schizandra is a berry that can eliminate many of them due to its amazing properties. It normalizes metabolic processes, reduces cholesterol, levels the hormonal background. In addition, by stimulating the body, Schizandra allows to increase energy expenditure. All this leads to the burning of fats.

Nutritionists believe that the sprinkling of food with magnolia vine reduces the absorption of sugar, excessive consumption of which is one of the causes of obesity. A large amount of vitamin C, contained in the fruits of this plant, normalizes the work of the intestine. Regular consumption of water with the addition of lemon juice or its berries allows you to lose up to 10 kg of excess weight.

Do not just abuse this diet. The course should not be more than a month, because otherwise the dysfunction of the stomach is possible.

Contraindications

Any means used in folk medicine should be taken only after consulting a doctor, since there are always any contraindications. It would seem that even harmless, apparently, magnolia berries are not recommended for people suffering from insomnia, disorders of gastric secretion, which have high blood pressure, as well as pregnant and lactating women.

Procurement and storage

The collection of Schizandra fruit is carried out at full maturity. Usually this occurs in September, before the onset of frost. Brushes neatly cut off, so as not to damage the vines and scatter on sackcloth. Approximately 2 days they are left in this form under a canopy. Then the berries are plucked and placed in a special dryer for 6-8 hours. The temperature should be maintained from 45 to 55 ° C. Store the dried raw material in hermetically sealed bags.

Schisandra Chinese is a plant with a lot of useful activities. All of them are rather long in time, therefore it is desirable to take funds from its fruits in the first half of the day.