Strawberry leaves

Strawberries not only have delicious, aromatic berries, but their leaves also contain a large amount of nutritional and medicinal components. You can meet it in garden beds or forest clearings. Homemade strawberries grow on larger bushes, but wild strawberries have a special aroma and a higher concentration of essential oils.

Properties of strawberry leaves

The medicinal properties of the plant are due to the rich chemical composition of the leaves, they contain:

• Organic acids: citric, malic, quinic. The components participate in carbohydrate-fat metabolism, normalizing it.
• Tannins needed by the body for skin diseases.
• Essential oils that strengthen the immune system and have antibacterial effects.
• Flavonoids (quercetin), alkaloids (fragarine), carotonides.
• Vitamins: retinol (A), ascorbic acid (C). The components increase the overall tone of the body.
• Microelements: fluorine, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus. The components participate in metabolic processes and improve the condition of joints and blood vessels.
• Nicotine, folic, caffeic acid.

Strawberry leaves can act on the body as a wound-healing, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and sedative. The decoction has a slight diuretic effect, which is important for pregnant women with swelling, elderly people.

Strawberry infusions and decoctions are recommended for digestive problems. They help eliminate gas formation, eliminate colic, and reduce spasmodic manifestations. Drinking the tincture before meals helps restore appetite and improve the condition of the mucous membranes during gastritis and ulcers.

The high content of vitamins provides a tonic effect of infusions; they are prescribed in the autumn-winter period, for vitamin deficiencies. By adding berries to dried leaves, you can achieve normalization of blood pressure.

Application of strawberry leaves

For cosmetic purposes, decoctions are recommended for women with uneven complexion. Compresses and masks help lighten pigmentation and freckles. After courses of procedures, skin turgor increases.

Vitamin tea from dried strawberries has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is recommended for colds, throat and nasopharynx infections. With regular consumption of tea, the body's defenses increase and recovery occurs faster.

Fermented tea is prepared using a special technology.

1. When preparing fresh leaves, you need to select the largest ones, with an even bright color. No more than 3 leaves are removed from one plant.
2. The collected leaves are left to dry outdoors in the shade for 6-7 hours. The leaves should be arranged in a thin layer; during drying, excess moisture will be removed from them.
3. The dried strawberries are placed in a glass container and kneaded with your hands or a masher until the juice of the leaves appears. The volume of harvested raw materials will decrease; the process may take up to 30 minutes.
4. Next, the mass is left outdoors in the shade. Upon contact with oxygen molecules, oxidative processes occur in the leaves, they are called fermentation. Maximum fermentation ensures greater strength of the finished drink.
5. The final stage of preparation is final drying. To do this, you can use an electric dryer, oven, or Russian oven. Recommended temperature is no more than 50 degrees.

The medicinal properties of strawberries are used for gynecological purposes. For heavy menstrual flow, it is recommended to take an infusion to reduce it. An additional effect is manifested in a decrease in pain. The product can increase the muscle tone of the uterus, which is necessary during childbirth.

The presence of tannins in the leaves allows you to treat bleeding gums with infusion. Rinsing will help get rid of bad breath.

Compresses from the infusion applied to sore joints relieve pain and help relieve internal inflammation.

Traditional recipe for making infusion: 2 tbsp. l. crushed dried strawberries pour a glass of hot water. The container is placed in a water bath for 15 minutes, then filtered. The finished product is taken 2 tbsp. l. before every meal. To increase the usefulness of the product, you can add honey

The infusion has a beneficial effect on the heart muscle, helps increase vascular tone, and normalize blood pressure. The drug is used to prevent atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, and hypertension.

The decoction is popular for diseases of the endocrine system. With regular use in the thyroid gland, the active absorption of iodine decreases.

To improve the condition of your hair, you need to regularly rinse it with a weak infusion of strawberry. The product helps get rid of irritation of the epidermis of the head, eliminate dandruff and flaking. Curls gain shine, strength and elasticity.

Contraindications for strawberry leaves

Dried strawberry tea is aromatic, healthy and very tasty. But if you drink it in too large quantities, you can get an allergic reaction. It is also contraindicated in cases of individual intolerance to the components. It manifests itself in the appearance of skin rashes, headaches, peeling and redness of certain areas.

The ability to tone the muscles of the uterus can negatively affect pregnancy. Therefore pregnant ladies It is better to refuse the drink or drink it very rarely.

In case of serious disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, excessive production of gastric juice, the infusion can be taken only after a doctor’s prescription. Otherwise, you can worsen your health condition and get stomach cramps.