Strawberry leaves: properties, collection and application

Strawberry leaves are fraught with great benefits. In their composition there are a number of vitamins and minerals that have a positive effect on the body.Dried leaves are often used as a vitamin supplement to tea. What is the use of such leaves and how to use them correctly? Answers to all questions are already waiting for you in our material.

In folk medicine, strawberry leaves have been used for a long time. These leaflets contain volatile production, Vitamin C, calcium and other beneficial substances. Due to this, a decoction or infusion of such berry leaves helps to fight inflammation. Broths are often used during seasonal colds; they do gargle for sore throats. In addition, their medicinal properties and the content of Vitamin C in them help to strengthen the immune system and protect the body from seasonal diseases.

Also, the infusion is a prophylactic against the formation of kidney stones, a positive effect on the liver, helps with anemia and loss of strength.

The beneficial properties of berry leaves help to normalize and improve digestion. In folk medicine, it is recommended to use a decoction or infusion of berry leaves as a sure remedy against nausea, abdominal distention, diarrhea and colic. A beneficial effect on digestion has a decoction due to tannins that are in the composition of the plant. In addition, this infusion helps to remove fluid from the joints, thereby relieving pain during diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism. Also decoction removes puffiness.

It is recommended to use such vitamin tea for women during pregnancy. It helps strengthen the immune system and the nervous system. Berry leaf decoction will also help women during heavy bleeding. After its use, the bleeding will slow down, and irritability and fatigue will not be felt.

For the health of an adult strawberry leaves, of course, will bring great benefits. But before you use tea with such an additive, you should learn about contraindications.

Like any useful product, strawberry leaves have their own contraindications. In that case, if revealed an allergy to strawberries, then use infusions and decoctions of its leaves in any case impossible. Also, you can not use such teas and decoctions for young children. It is advisable not to give healing infusions to babies for up to 5 years, as this can cause a serious allergic reaction.

You can not use these drinks in case of serious liver diseases, with low blood pressure, with high acidity and individual intolerance. Also, excessive consumption of decoction can harm even a healthy body.

Nowadays, you can buy anything your heart desires. Including a variety of teas with leaves of garden strawberries or wild strawberries. But you can prepare healing tea yourself. Ideally, these should be leaves from a homemade strawberry bed or collected in the forest. The best time to gather is August and early September. Leaves of forest strawberries have the same qualities as strawberry. Therefore, it is possible to make the preparation of them. As a rule, the leaves are harvested together with the stalks, as they contain a large amount of useful substances.

Choose only whole and intact leaves. To dry them in the sun can not, otherwise most of the nutrients will disappear. Therefore, it is recommended to dry the leaves only in the shade. Do not forget to periodically mix them so that the drying is uniform, and the process of rotting does not begin. Dried leaves should be stored in cloth bags in a dark and dry place. Such preparation is stored for a year, until the next harvest.

You can prepare the leaves in another way.Clean and washed leaves should be laid out on a towel. We leave them there for 10 hours, not forgetting to periodically mix. As a result, they will be easily wrinkled, while not torn. Next, we send them at 10 o'clock in the freezer, after putting in a regular package. After that, we take out the leaves, fold them in a small pile of 3-4 pieces and roll between two palms. The result is a "tube", and the leaves emit juice. Once all the leaves are prepared in this way, put them in a container and cover with a plate. From above you need to install a small load and cover with a damp cloth. Thus begins the process of fermentation.

After 6-7 hours, the leaves will change their color, become darker and acquire a bright aroma. Each "tube" cut into thin strips and lay out in the form, previously covered with baking paper. We send it to the oven, heated to 80 °, dry it with a slightly open door for 2 hours. After decreasing the temperature to 50 ° and let it dry for another 3 hours. Put the finished leaves in a bag of breathable fabric, hang them in the open air and leave them for 3 days. Then you can pour them into glass or tin containers. This tea is made from fragrant and healthy strawberry leaves.

Two ways to ferment strawberry leaf, see the following video.

Dried leaves are perfect for tea, you can also brew them separately, making the infusion. If you pour a teaspoon of dry leaves with a glass of boiling water and insist for half an hour, you will get a remedy that will help stop the bleeding in a disease like hemorrhoids. Infusion take a few sips 2-3 times a day.

In the event that diarrhea overcomes, you should insist in a glass of hot water a teaspoon of leaves for 30 minutes. After drink the whole infusion at a time. In case of insomnia or neurosis, it is recommended to add a little of this vitamin supplement to tea. On a standard kettle, just add half a teaspoon. It is recommended to drink this tea with honey.

In the case of mental fatigue should make a decoction. On a teaspoon of leaves, add a glass of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Broth should drink one tablespoon 3 times a day. If you add a small amount of leaves to tea, then this drink helps to get rid of the feeling of hunger. It helps especially those who adhere to a particular diet.

Due to the fact that strawberry leaves are able to fight various inflammatory processes, the infusion is recommended to be used for cosmetic purposes.