Viburnum Red In Folk Medicine

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Read part 1. ← Cultivation of red viburnum in the garden

The medicinal properties of the viburnum ordinary

The beauty of the common viburnum is valuable, it is planted in dachas to decorate the site, but not only for this. Because its medicinal properties, which have been used in folk medicine for a very long time, are even more valuable.

Decoctions and infusions of fruits, flowers and bark were used by traditional healers as a means of stopping internal bleeding, for colds and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for bronchitis and pneumonia, for hemorrhoids, liver diseases, as a sedative for hysteria and convulsions, as a general tonic remedy for other diseases.

Viburnum berries tone the body, improve heart function, are useful for vascular spasms, hypertension, neuroses. They have a calming effect. They are used as an astringent and diuretic.

Research by scientists has shown that such a wide range of medicinal properties of preparations from viburnum is explained by the rich chemical composition of various parts of this plant.

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The bark of viburnum ordinary contains ester-like resinous and tannins, from which, during processing, valeric and isovaleric acids are formed, as well as formic, acetic, butyric, palmitic and other acids, as well as the glycoside viburnin, phytosterol and other compounds.

It is the valeric and isovaleric acids contained in the preparations prepared from the viburnum bark that have an antispasmodic effect, reduce the excitability of the central nervous system, and increase the duration of the action of hypnotics.

The content of unsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols in the plant helps to lower blood cholesterol, they exhibit a diuretic and cardiotonic effect, helping to regulate blood pressure levels. Due to the presence of viburnin glycoside and tannins, viburnum preparations have an astringent, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory effect.

Viburnum fruits increase the power of heart contractions, improve bowel function. They are prescribed as a general tonic for convalescent patients, with edema of cardiac and renal origin, with hypertension, gastritis, colitis and liver diseases.

In official medicine, liquid extract of viburnum, decoction of viburnum bark and infusion of the fruits of this plant are used for medicinal purposes.

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Viburnum extract

Viburnum liquid extract in pharmaceuticals is obtained by extracting viburnum bark powder with 50% alcohol in a ratio of 1:10. Available in 25 ml bottles.

Take the extract, 30-40 drops 2-3 times a day before meals as a hemostatic agent for uterine bleeding.

Viburnum bark decoction

As a hemostatic and antiseptic, a decoction of viburnum bark is also used for gynecological diseases.

To obtain it, one tablespoon of dry viburnum bark (10 g) is placed in an enamel bowl and poured with one glass (200 ml) of hot boiled water. Cover the dish with a lid and put it in a water bath for half an hour. Then the broth is cooled, the raw material is squeezed out and added with boiled water to the original volume (200 ml). Take 1-2 tablespoons three times a day after meals.

Viburnum infusion

To obtain it, two tablespoons of dry fruits (10 g) are placed in an enamel bowl, ground there and poured with one glass (200 ml) of hot boiled water. Then close the dish with a lid and put in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. After it is cooled at room temperature for about an hour, the infusion is filtered, the raw materials are squeezed out and added with boiled water to the original volume (200 ml). This infusion, like the broth, can be stored in a cool place for no more than two days.

This infusion is taken 3-4 times a day for a third of a glass as a vitamin, tonic, diaphoretic and laxative.

To prepare such preparations, you need viburnum bark and fruits. They can now be purchased from pharmacies. They are packaged in packs of 50 grams.

If you have the opportunity to prepare the bark, fruits and flowers of the viburnum on your own, then the main thing here is to take care of the bush when harvesting the bark, so as not to harm it with your actions. The bark is stored in the spring in April or early May, when there is active sap flow, and the bark is easily separated from the wood. It can be harvested either from the growth, cutting it off at a distance of at least 10 cm from the ground, so that later the growth of the growth will resume, or from branches that are cut from the plant during crown thinning.

Then the bark on these branches is first cut with annular cuts, and then with a longitudinal cut. After this, the bark is easily removed from the branches or overgrowth. The stored bark is dried either in the attic and under awnings with good ventilation, or in a dryer at temperatures up to + 60 ° C.

Viburnum flowers are harvested during flowering in May - June. They are also dried, laid out in the shade under awnings or in the attic, the fruits are usually harvested in September - October, when they are fully ripe. They are first dried in air, and then dried in the oven until they are solid at a temperature not exceeding + 40 ° C.

In folk medicine, juice and decoction of berries with honey are drunk for colds of the upper respiratory tract - with persistent colds, with bronchitis and pneumonia, with colds, as a diaphoretic and with a hoarse voice. Berries, infused with hot honey for 6-7 hours, are used for bronchitis, pneumonia and liver diseases. Infusion of flowers and leaves gargle with sore throat.

Viburnum bark is used as a hemostatic and astringent agent, for scrofula in children, for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as a diuretic, for hemorrhoids, as a sedative for hysteria and convulsions.

Viburnum bark decoction

It is prepared from 10 g of dry raw materials, which is poured with one glass (200 ml) of boiling water. Then they put it in a boiling water bath for half an hour, after which it is cooled at room temperature for 10 minutes, filtered, the raw material is squeezed out. The resulting broth is added with boiled water to the original volume (200 ml). Take it 1-2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day after meals. This decoction of viburnum bark is useful for eczema and dermatoses. It is also used for hemorrhoids.

Infusion of viburnum flowers

It is used as an antipyretic agent. To obtain it, one teaspoon of dried viburnum flowers is poured with one glass of boiling water (200 ml) and infused for 10 minutes. They drink this infusion 2-3 glasses a day.

Viburnum tea

It is simple to prepare it: one tablespoon of viburnum fruits is brewed with a glass of boiling water (200 ml). Then take as tea, half a glass three times a day after meals. This tea is a good diuretic, diaphoretic and sedative.

Infusion of fruits for dentistry

To make it, 1-2 tablespoons of viburnum berries are ground and brewed with one glass of boiling water (200 ml), insisted for one hour. Then the raw material is filtered and squeezed out. The resulting infusion is rinsed into the mouth as an antiseptic and vasoconstrictor. The same effect is given by the infusion of viburnum bark.

Contraindications

Like many other medicinal plants, viburnum has some contraindications. Experts recommend refraining from taking drugs from this plant in case of stomach and duodenal ulcers with high acidity, with exacerbation of pancreatitis. Viburnum is not recommended during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. An individual intolerance to preparations from viburnum is also possible. The attending physician will be able to say for sure: can you take red viburnum.

Anatoly Petrov

Photo by Olga Rubtsova