Berry honeysuckle - a whole storehouse of nutrients

More than 200 species of honeysuckle grow throughout the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. About 50 of them are found on the territory of Russia. But only one species possesses edible berries, and all the others are poisonous. And this is the answer to the question of why it is impossible to consume honeysuckle berries all in a row.

Honeysuckle is edible, just about this type of speech, it grows only in Eastern Siberia, on Sakhalin, the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and in Kamchatka. It is a branchy deciduous shrub with a brown bark growing to 2.5 m. Its leaves are elliptical, and the oblong berry of honeysuckle (the photo shows this clearly) has a dark blue color with a blue bloom. Its main advantages include the ripening and maintenance of a large number of vitamins.

Blooms bush from the beginning and the middle of May. At this time there are fragrant beautiful flowers of yellow or light yellow color. This is a wonderful honey plant that pollinates bees, wasps and bumblebees. Depending on the weather conditions, the plant can bloom from 2 to 4 weeks. Berry honeysuckle does not mature at the same time, so the harvest is held several times. Maturation begins from late May to mid-June. Among the narrow leaves appear seated berries.

It tastes like blueberry, although its taste depends on the place of its growth. If it is a humid and cool climate, then the berry honeysuckle contains more acid and vitamin C. In the hot climate, the content of coloring and tanning substances will be increased , which causes a slight bitterness. In the temperate continental climate, the berry will be sweet, with a high content of vitamin C and sugars.

Berry honeysuckle is very valuable. It consists of vitamins P and C. In addition, it contains many elements: iron and calcium, potassium and iodine, magnesium, phosphorus and copper. And also the berry is rich in carbohydrates, pigments and organic acids.

If we talk about its usefulness, then, firstly, it is the prevention of scurvy. Decoction of honeysuckle is used for all kinds of inflammations for rinsing the mouth and washing the eyes. It is very useful to use fresh berries for anemia, hypertension and in the treatment of malaria. It also helps in the breakdown of the gastrointestinal tract. And for the prevention of cancer and reducing the aging of cells, the berry honeysuckle will be an excellent and tasty remedy.

In addition to berries, honeysuckle uses stems, flowers and leaves. Decoctions of them are used as an analgesic and diuretic (spastic colitis), they also have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, excrete excess fluid from the body.

Prepared from berries of honeysuckle juice is used to treat ulcers, psoriasis, depriving and eczema. Also, with skin diseases, baths from her young twigs help. And their infusion can rinse hair. Decoction of the branches is used in sick kidneys, it also increases appetite well.

From berries of honeysuckle, jam, jelly, mors, jelly and pie fillings are prepared. For the winter they can be harvested as raspberries or black currants: just rub with sugar at a rate of 1: 1. And you can prepare them with the help of drying, the properties of honeysuckle will not give way to prunes and dried apricots. So do not deny yourself this tasty and useful berries.