Elder is black and red. Red – poisonous, it is also applied only as ornamental shrub. And black is famous for curative properties and it is used in traditional medicine.
At black elder all parts of plant are considered as curative: berries, leaves, flowers and even bark. Each component is suitable for disease of a certain type and has the conditions of preparation. So, berries use in the dried look, as well as flowers. The last are sensitive to humidity and demand careful storage, and crush bark and roots by means of sieve.
Useful properties
All parts of black elder are rich with useful substances, as causes such broad application in traditional medicine:
- Berries contain ascorbic acid, sambutsin, glucose, tyrosine, pitch, free acids, carotene, fructose, amino acids and dyes. They are useful at treatment of hepatitis as they support functions of liver, neuralgia of various etiology and also stomach ulcer. Dried berries decoction stimulates production of bile that normalizes work of gall bladder and protects from formation of stones, improves visual acuity, having influence, in many respects similar to bilberry. In addition, decoction from berries of black elder improves condition of women at myoma of uterus, mastopathy and endometriosis.
- Leaves are rich with vitamin C, carotene, A1 pro-vitamin, essential oils and resinous substances. Are useful at locks as have obvious laxative effect, are used and as febrifuge, and help with the steamed-out look at intertrigo, furuncles, burns and various skin diseases. Besides, broth from leaves of black elder has the expressed calming effect.
- Flowers of elder have the difficult chemical composition, are very rich with organic acids, essential oils, mucous, parafinopodobny and tannins, sambunigriny. Flowers infusion is useful in treatment of hemorrhoids, purulent skin wounds, burns, intertrigo, gout and catarrhal diseases. At cough infusion helps too because it promotes otkharkivaniye. At inflammation in kidneys tea from flowers considerably accelerates treatment.
- Roots of black elder use only as broth, and they are useful to those who have diabetes, headaches, inflammations in lungs and bronchial tubes, neurologic frustration, urination delay. And besides, broth from roots removes hypostases and has light laxative effect.
Besides traditional medicine, black elder is useful also in cosmetology. Berries if to clean them and thin skin to put to problem sites, save from acne rash, and flowers decoction helps to clarify skin and to cope with freckles. It is possible to make lotion which will render the toning effect of flowers of elder.
In economy, elder also finds application. For example, if in flowers of plant to pour apples, they will longer keep aroma. And from berries it is possible to cook kissel and jam, but at the same time it is better not to add sugar, using as basis honey or vegetable treacle.
Dangerous properties
Fruits of red elder have dangerous properties – cause serious poisoning and if in large number get to organism, can kill. After contact of berries with hands, hands should be washed and if juice has got on mucous or to cut, it is necessary to see doctor urgently.
To distinguish red elder from black on color of berries easily only during maturing, and during collecting branches and leaves to find distinction very difficult. Therefore if there is no 100% confidence, it is better not to risk and not to pick elder not to get serious poisoning.
Black elder is much safer, but also it has contraindications. So, in any kind the plant is forbidden at pregnancy and lactation, at disease Krone, sharp diseases of digestive system and not diabetes.
Infusions and broths of black elder should be drunk only at strict observance of dosage, otherwise symptoms of poisoning can appear. Berries and leaves cannot be used fresh – it will provoke nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.