Unique cranberry leaf and its properties

Cowberry is an evergreen half-shrub up to 25 cm high. The plant is widespread in the European part of the Russian Federation, in its mixed, pine, deciduous and dark coniferous forests, as well as in forest zones of Siberia, mountainous areas and tundra. Cowberry leaf is shiny and leathery in appearance, dark green on top, below - light green. It has an obovate or elliptical shape; on the leaves below, dark-brown strips are noticeable. Cowberry leaf is notch or obtuse, slightly serrate along the edges or even entire, on short petioles.

On the veins and at the base the leaf of the plant is pubescent, its edges slightly folded down. On average, the length of a cranberry leaf is 1-3 cm, but in width it is not more than 1.5 cm.

Flowering of red bilberry occurs in May-June, new leaves accrue immediately after flowering. Collection of leaves is done manually before the beginning of flowering of red bilberry , less often - in autumn after picking berries. In the summer, the leaves do not collect, unnecessarily so they dry up when they are dried. Raw materials are dried under canopies in the open air, as well as in attics with good ventilation. To do this, the collected raw materials are laid out in a thin layer and often mixed. Store cranberry leaf in bags, in ventilated rooms no longer than 3 years.

Chemical composition of cowberry leaf

Cowberry leaf contains glycosides - arbutin and hyperoside. With them, in many ways, the curative effect is associated. In the body, arbutin is split into sugars and hydroquinone (a powerful antiseptic). In addition, quinine, ellagic, ursolic, tartaric acids, flavonoids, tannin, many tannins and ascorbic acid and other substances are found in the leaves.

Indications for the use of cranberry leaf and its properties

Drug collection "Cowberry Leaf", the instruction of which says that this phytopreparation of plant origin with pronounced disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diuretic and choleretic actions, is produced in packs of 50 or 100 grams in the form of dried raw materials or in filter bags.

Cowberry leaf also has a capillary-strengthening property, i.e. Helps reduce the fragility of capillaries. In addition, it is active against staphylococcus aureus, significantly increases the effectiveness of antibiotics, regulates nitrogen metabolism, stimulates phagocytosis and other protective forces of our body.

Cowberry leaf is used as a part of complex therapy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the urinary system, pyelonephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis, prostatitis, nephropathy of pregnant women.

Antiseptic properties of the leaf help with oral lesions. With stomatitis, tonsillitis, gingivitis, periodontitis and ulcers of the oral mucosa, decoction is used.

Since the drugs made from cowberry leaf can reduce blood sugar, they serve as an additional means of treating diabetes.

In addition, the effectiveness of cranberry leaf in case of edematous syndrome, hepatic ailments, flatulence, constipation, gastritis and gastroenteritis has been proved.

The anti-inflammatory properties of this medicinal plant help to reduce pain in osteochondrosis, arthritis, spondylosis, rheumatism and gout.

The constant use of weak tea on the basis of cranberry leaves perfectly tones and helps to relieve the feeling of fatigue.

As an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent, cranberry leaf is used for bronchitis and pneumonia.

Cowberry leaf: methods of application

Prepare broths and infusions of cranberry leaves in the proportion of 1:10. As a diuretic, take 1 tbsp. L. Per day for 3 rubles. Such infusions and decoctions are used for nephropathy and for the removal of edema in pregnant women, as well as diabetes in expectant mothers.

With angina, gingivitis, periodontal disease, tonsillitis, stomatitis and oral cavity ulcers, decoction three times a day rinse the mouth after eating.

With urine and cholelithiasis, enuresis, gastritis with low acidity, prolonged rheumatism of the joints, it is useful to drink the following broth: pour 20 g of leaves with three glasses of water, bring to a boil, 10 minutes. Boiled and filtered. The entire amount is drunk in 3 doses throughout the day.

Exactly the same broth is consumed, but already for 200 g, before meals three times a day for cystitis, hypertension, liver or kidney ailments, colitis, cough and cold.

Tea made from leaves of cranberries is prepared this way: 1 teaspoon of tea is poured. Crushed raw materials in a glass of boiling water for half an hour. Drink three times a day for 50-100 g before meals. This drink is shown with an anatomic gastritis.

Cowberry leaf: contraindications

Do not take this medication only with hypersensitivity or individual intolerance to the plant. Side effects can be allergic reactions. During pregnancy and lactation, you can take a cowberry leaf.