Buckthorn bark: medicinal properties and contraindications

Buckthorn is a small bush or undersized tree with black fruits called wolf berries. The bark of the woody part of the plant has the most effective effect - it contains the maximum amount of nutrients. Most often, buckthorn bark is used as a laxative - it gently weakens the intestines, strengthens its perilstatics, liquefies fecal masses, facilitating their natural excretion. A distinctive feature of buckthorn bark - it gives a delicate and soft relaxation. A person will get rid of constipation without abdominal pain and colic. However, the medicinal properties of this plant are not fixated only on the laxative effect. Buckthorn bark can affect many organs, eliminating various diseases.

The healing properties of buckthorn bark

Buckthorn bark is harvested in spring when the trees begin to come to life. For collection, it is better to choose not large, but younger trees. Cut the bark with a sharp knife and sprinkle it on paper in a cool and well-ventilated area. At times, the bark needs to be poured, and mixed so that it dries evenly. Remember, fresh bark can be dangerous - its decoction causes nausea and vomiting. But the bark, which has lain for a year or dried for an hour at a temperature of 100 degrees, will have a mild medicinal effect.

The composition of this raw material is very rich in all kinds of useful components. Buckthorn bark contains tannins, succinic and malic acids, a large amount of ascorbic acid, anthraquinones, various essential oils, anthraglycosides, alkaloids and pectins. Due to this, buckthorn bark has the following therapeutic effects.

1. Laxative. As noted, the laxative effect is one of the main properties of buckthorn bark. The weakening is caused precisely by antraglycosides, which enhance perilstatic, the intestine begins to actively push the stool to the exit. To prepare a laxative broth, you need to grind the buckthorn bark and pour boiling water over it - about a teaspoon of raw materials per glass of boiling water. Cover the container with a lid, insulate, let it brew. Then you need to strain the broth and drink it in small sips. Consider that the laxative effect will be achieved 8-12 hours after the use of the decoction, depending on the individual characteristics of the body. Therefore, it is best to drink the medicine in the evening, so that it works in the morning. Remember, buckthorn bark can be addictive - the intestines simply stop working on their own. Therefore, you can not take buckthorn for more than a month. It is better to alternate the decoction with other types of laxatives.
2. Hemorrhoids. Buckthorn bark is part of many hemorrhoid medicines. For complex treatment, you need to take the bark both inside and do external douching. Buckthorn relieves inflammation, reduces hemorrhagic bleeding and the size of the bump. This allows you to get rid of discomfort and discomfort. In addition, due to the softening of feces, hemorrhoids are less injured, which does not cause pain.
3. Liver. Buckthorn bark is part of many phyto-collections to cleanse the liver and maintain its normal functioning. Prepare a decoction or tincture from the bark, take the medicine every day on an empty stomach. This will help you support the liver in hepatitis, food and alcohol poisoning, long-term medication, etc.
4. Swelling. A decoction of the cortex well removes excess fluid from the body, relieves edema of various origins - renal, cardiac, etc.
5. Losing weight. Buckthorn bark is actively used for weight loss.Getting rid of excess weight and centimeters is achieved by reducing puffiness, cleansing the intestines, accelerating metabolism. If you drink bark for a week constantly, the absorption of calories in the intestine worsens, you eat, but do not get fat. This is a real way to lose weight by one size, when an important event is on the nose, and you do not fit into the dress. However, it is important to understand that there is no escape from fat stores and long-term intake of buckthorn will not eliminate these deposits. Moreover, the prolonged intake of the decoction can lead to real problems - addiction and constipation against the background of withdrawal.
6. Gout. Buckthorn is very effective for gout. Prepare a decoction - two tablespoons of crushed bark for three liters of boiling water. When the broth cools down, you need to lower your legs into it. Buckthorn removes uric acid, relieves pain and swelling.
7. Skin diseases. Buckthorn is very effective against various skin diseases. Prepare a decoction of buckthorn and moisten a piece of clean bandage in it. Apply lotion to affected areas of the skin. After 10-15 minutes, itching, redness and swelling will pass, the inflammation will gradually subside. External use of buckthorn is effective for psoriasis, eczema, lichen, seborrhea, fungal skin lesions.
8. Climax Buckthorn bark stimulates the production of female sex hormones - estrogen. It helps women during menopause. Of course, this does not stop the onset of menopause, but it greatly facilitates the process. Regular consumption of buckthorn helps to get rid of hot flashes, insomnia, headaches, etc.
9. Diabetes. Buckthorn establishes metabolic processes in the body, this improves the endocrine system, reduces blood sugar. A decoction is often prescribed for diabetes.

Buckthorn bark is also useful for diseases of the genitourinary system, a decoction stimulates the production of bile with a deficiency of it. Such a treatment is effective for removing worms, reducing the acidity of the stomach, against dizziness.

It was previously described how to prepare a decoction of buckthorn bark. But if you have long-term treatment, it is better to prepare an infusion for alcohol - it is more convenient to use and longer stored. You need to fill a bottle of dark glass with bark, fill it with vodka or alcohol. Leave the container in a cool and dark place, periodically shake the vessel. After a couple of weeks, the composition should be filtered and transferred to the refrigerator. Take 10-20 drops, diluting in water.

Buckthorn for beauty

In cosmetology, not a laxative is used, but a brittle buckthorn - a slightly different type of tree. The name was given to buckthorn because of the excessive fragility of the branches - they do not bend, but break with a crunch. A decoction of the cortex has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. This allows you to fight acne and acne. With oily skin, you can wipe your face with alcohol tincture of the bark. If the skin is dry, you can do lotions. From a clean cloth, cut the oval of the face, make holes for the eyes. Dampen the cloth in warm broth and apply to the skin. The mask can be refreshed as it dries. In no case do not reuse the tissue - microbes and bacteria accumulate on it, which buckthorn draws from the upper layer of the epidermis. After the first procedure, you will notice that the swelling subsided, acne became much less noticeable, inflammation decreased.

Another great property of brittle buckthorn is its anti-aging effect. Broth stimulates the production of natural collagen. From the broth, you can freeze the cubes with which you should wipe your face in the morning and evening. With the regularity of the procedure, after a month you will notice that the skin of the face has become more elastic and elastic, the oval of the face has tightened, wrinkles have become less pronounced. Buckthorn is added to many anti-aging skin care products.

Buckthorn bark is also used as a natural dye for hair.She gives the curls a chestnut or brown tint. Dark hair will acquire overflows of red color, which will be noticeable only in the sun, and light tones will get a copper-golden shade of hair. For staining, you need to prepare a strong broth of buckthorn - three tablespoons of bark for half a liter of boiling water. Infuse the broth for a long time - at least three hours, so that the coloring pigment gets from the raw material into the water. Apply a decoction along the entire length of the hair, wrap and leave for an hour. After the first procedure, the shade will be weak, but will intensify if you repeat the staining several times in a row. Buckthorn is a real and safe way to change the shade of hair.

Contraindications

Like any other plant and medicine, buckthorn has a number of contraindications. Since the decoction has a laxative effect, the medicine should not be used for diarrhea and any other conditions associated with rapid bowel movements. If you have a weak intestine, prone to developing diarrhea, you should not consume buckthorn again, even for the treatment of other diseases. Buckthorn is not recommended for oral administration during pregnancy - this may unexpectedly affect its course and development of the fetus in the womb.

A decoction of buckthorn bark can not be taken orally for colic, narrowed lumen, "acute abdomen", bowel obstruction. Any serious violation in the structure of the gastrointestinal tract is an occasion to consult a doctor about a similar method of treatment. External use has no particular contraindications, however, during the first application, you need to carefully monitor the skin reaction in order to recognize allergies in time.

Judging by the historical notes of ancient doctors, the laxative property of buckthorn bark was noticed in the 14th century. Even then, people struggled with constipation in exactly the same way. Unfortunately, the modern sedentary rhythm of life and nutrition, based on fast carbohydrates, leads to frequent disruption of the intestines. Use natural remedies of relaxation - be treated competently!

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