Common red elderberry - poisonous or not? Application
Content:
Red elderberry is a shrub up to 5 meters high, its bark has a grayish tint. The leaves are elongated, oval in shape, there are small denticles along the edges, they are located close to each other. Their color is bright green, but there are exceptions when the leaves are with a purple undertone.
Elderberry red description
When does it bloom?
Red elderberry begins to bloom in late spring, usually in the second half of May. During this period, the shrubs are covered with small yellowish flowers. Elderberry smells very bad, so it is very easy to recognize it.
Where does elderberry grow
Red elderberry usually grows in northern regions, in countries such as Russia, Japan, China, North America. Most often, the berry is found in ravines and wastelands, as well as in parks.
Are red elderberries poisonous?
It is said to be a toxic plant, and it is. But culinary specialists often use berries. It should be noted that it is used only after special heat treatment. Raw berries are really dangerous and forbidden to eat.
Ripening time of red elderberry
Elderberries begin to ripen by the end of August, during this period the berries turn red, slightly increase in size and, like the flowers, smell bad.
What time do you need to collect elderberry?
It is very important to wait until the berries are fully ripe, as they are very dangerous when unripe. They must be collected in the second half of August. Collect them in bunches so as not to damage the berries.
How to distinguish black elderberry from red
The clear difference between the berries is color, but there are other differences:
1. The height of the black elderberry reaches up to 10 meters, and the red elderberry rarely reaches 5 meters.
2. The red elderberry has an unpleasant aroma, while the black elderberry smells like almonds.
3. Raw red berries are hazardous to health and must be processed, while black elderberries can be safely eaten.
4. Leaves differ in shape and color, but this is very little. Black elderberry leaves are paler than red ones.
Useful properties of red elderberry
The berry contains many vitamins, amino acids, copper, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and others.
When used correctly, elderberry has a good effect on humans and their bodies. From the red elderberry, you can make various tinctures that are used outside.
How does red elderberry affect oncology?
Traditional healers claim that the toxic property of red elderberry is valuable in oncology, since the berry is able to slightly eliminate pathogenic cells. To prepare the medicine you need:
1. Take a half-liter jar and pour berries into it to a height of 3 centimeters. The berries must be ripe.
2. Then add sugar in the same amount on top of the berries.
3. Carefully close the jar and place in a dark place for 30 days.
After 30 days, all components are well mixed and the product can be used. It should be taken orally, after a meal. It is necessary to take the remedy in a flat tablespoon, three times a day for a month. Depending on the stage, the course is extended up to 1.5 months.
Before using such a drug, it is imperative to consult an oncologist. If the doctor forbids, then you should not do it yourself, otherwise you will greatly harm your body.
Benefits of red elderberry for spur
Elderberry can help with heel spurs, it is used for external use. For the solution you will need: a liter jar, berries, alcohol. First you need to fill the jar with berries and pour in the alcohol. After the components are mixed, the jar is tightly closed. The jar should be placed in a dark place for 30 days. After the elapsed time, the solution can be used for compresses.
Depending on the symptoms, the tincture is used a different number of times, but the most optimal is 2 times a day. This tincture helps with spur, arthrosis and hernia.
It is important that the abuse of such a solution can have a bad effect on the body, since the elderberry contains toxic substances, which, with frequent external use, begin to poison the body. Therefore, it is not recommended to use the tincture for more than 5 days.
Application of red elderberry
It is necessary to use the plant in any activity with sufficient care.
From berries and flowers, excellent solutions, tinctures and decoctions are obtained, which are used for many diseases. Such as problems with the respiratory tract, liver, kidneys, joint disease, inflammation.
But the most important thing in this matter is adherence to dosages.
The use of red elderberry for other purposes.
The plant can also be used for cosmetic purposes. In cosmetology, not fruits are used, but flowers and leaves of a plant.
Elderberry helps to cope with inflammation, helps to regulate the oily skin, and also to increase its elasticity.
Cosmetologists recommend rinsing hair after washing with a decoction of red elderberry, as it helps against hair loss.
Red elderberry is used in cooking, but rarely because of its toxicity. It is used in small quantities in sweets and alcohol. This gives the drinks and food an interesting flavor, but the red elderberry must undergo a special treatment before any use. Such processing is carried out under the influence of very high temperatures.
Most often, red elderberry is used to scare away pests in the garden. From the likes of rodents, flies and other other insects.
Restrictions on the use of red elderberry
Compliance with the dosage in small quantities is very important! But there are contraindications in which such infusions cannot be used in any case. For diseases such as gastritis, stomach ulcers, diabetes, red elderberry is contraindicated. Also, you can not use red elderberry for children under 14 years of age and pregnant women.
Elderberry red - symptoms of berry poisoning
Since the berries are toxic, they can be poisoned, usually this happens when small doses are not followed. Symptoms of such poisoning include:
1 vomiting
2 diarrhea
3 nausea
4 abdominal pain
5 bitterness in the mouth
6 sore throat
7 dizziness
8. Pain in the heart.
If you have symptoms, you should contact a specialist, if you understand that the doctor will not arrive soon, then you need to cleanse the stomach yourself. To do this, you need to induce vomiting using potassium permanganate. Thus, the stomach will be cleansed and the likelihood of poisoning will be less.
Elderberry red in landscape design
The red elderberry is a very beautiful plant that is often used in landscape design.
1. The plant can be used to decorate flower beds, greenhouses.
2. Elderberry looks good among other plants, as the red berries stand out noticeably against the light green background.
3.Fences can be made from red elderberry, since it is tall and has a spreading crown, the hedge will look very good.
In conclusion, I would like to say that red elderberry is an interesting berry with a medicinal effect. But you have to be very careful with it, because of its toxic properties.
Elderberry photo