Strawberry leaves

Strawberry has not only delicious aromatic berries, but also its leaves contain a large amount of nutritional and medicinal components. You can meet her in garden beds or forest glades. Homemade strawberries grow on larger bushes, but wild strawberries have a special aroma and an increased concentration of essential oils.

Strawberry leaf properties

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 are involved in carbohydrate-fat metabolism, normalizing it.
• Tannins required by the body for skin diseases.
• Essential oils that strengthen the immune system and have an antibacterial effect.
• Flavonoids (quercitin), alkaloids (fragarin), carotonides.
• Vitamins: retinol (A), ascorbic acid (C). The components increase the overall tone of the body.
• Trace elements: fluorine, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus. The components are involved in metabolic processes, improve the condition of the joints and blood vessels.
• Nicotine, folic, caffeic acid.

Strawberry leaves are capable of acting on the body as a wound healing, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and sedative agent. The broth has a mild diuretic effect, which is important for pregnant women with puffiness, elderly people.

Strawberry infusions and decoctions are recommended for digestive problems. They help eliminate gas formation, remove colic, and reduce spasmodic manifestations. The use of tincture before meals helps to restore appetite, improve the condition of the mucous membrane in case of gastritis and ulcers.

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

Strawberry leaf application

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

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

Fermented tea is prepared using a special technology.

1. When harvesting 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 in the open air in the shade for 6-7 hours. The leaves should be placed in a thin layer; when dried, excess moisture will go away from them.
3. Dried strawberries are placed in a glass container and kneaded by hand or with a crush until the leaves appear. The volume of harvested raw materials will decrease, the process can take up to 30 minutes.
4. Further, the mass is left in the open air in the shade. Upon contact with oxygen molecules, oxidative processes occur in the leaves, they are called fermentation. Maximum fermentation provides a high strength of the finished drink.
5. The final stage of cooking is final drying. To do this, you can use an electric dryer, an oven, a Russian stove. The recommended temperature is no more than 50 degrees.

The medicinal properties of strawberries are used for gynecological purposes. With heavy menstrual flow, it is recommended to take an infusion to reduce them. An additional effect is manifested in the reduction of 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 an infusion. Gargling can help get rid of bad breath.

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

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

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

The broth 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 the hair, you need to regularly rinse them with a weak extract of strawberry. The tool helps to get rid of irritation of the epidermis of the head, eliminate dandruff and flaking. Curls acquire shine, strength and elasticity.

Contraindications of strawberry leaves

Dried strawberry tea is fragrant, healthy and very tasty. But if you drink it in too large amounts, 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 the bearing of a child. 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 and get stomach cramps.