Lemongrass: description of the plant, time and rules for its collection, rules for drying and use

Often, during the recovery of the body, many people prefer to use folk recipes, which are based on various herbs and berries. And they really help as well as pharmacy drugs, and sometimes even better in keeping the body in good shape, in the treatment of chronic and viral diseases. One of the best healing remedies is lemongrass. But in order to use it, it is necessary to know the description of the plant, the time and rules of its collection, the rules of drying and use, and also how best to prepare it, so that it retains all its beneficial properties throughout the winter.

The most common and well-known name is Chinese Schizandra, its Latin name is Shizandra. But there are other species of it, which are called Far Eastern and Manchurian Schizandra. You can often hear from the Chinese its other name, which sounds like uve-tzu, but translated as a berry that has five flavors. It really has a lot of notes - and sweet, and sour, and bitter.

Lemongrass in China looks like a vine, whose length varies from four to fifteen meters. It all depends on the area in which it lives - in the southern plant reaches a greater length, and in the north - no.

The girth of the stem is two centimeters, its surface is rough and resembles the usual tree bark, which has a brown tint, but the fresh shoots are yellow. The leaves of the plant are in the form of an ellipse, the tips are slightly pointed. And the leaves and shoots have a very subtle pleasant aroma, reminiscent of the smell of lemon. The flowers appearing on the shoots are white, their size is no more than two centimeters in diameter. By the end of the moment of flowering white flowers turn into pink. After tied berries, which grow in the form of brushes and have a red color.

Very nice of him hedges. First, the bushes are decorated with white flowers, then pink, and during the ripeness of the red clusters are also a bright accent in any garden. Therefore, gardeners do not always seek to harvest faster, and leave berries on the bushes until the last moment, the more they can maintain their appearance and taste for a long time. The main thing - to have time to collect it before the first frost and quickly process the crop. Keep lemongrass in untreated form can not be long.

Different types of lemongrass grow in Japan, China and Korea. In Russia, its habitat is considered the Far East. It can often be found in the forests of Primorye, the Khabarovsk Territory, Sakhalin and the Kuriles. It grows on hills or along reservoirs. Most often it is the whole areas where the shrubs are closely intertwined.

And although there are more than twenty varieties, in Russia there are mainly two species. Variety "Garden" grows up to two meters in height, on one brush can be up to thirty berries. From one bush you can collect about two kilograms of fruit.

Greater harvest gives the variety "Firstborn". With one bunch you can collect up to forty fruits. It can be grown in any region, it takes root equally well and bears fruit in the Moscow region, and in the Leningrad region, and in colder areas. The main thing is to choose the right place, prepare the soil and provide optimal care. Moreover, the plant is considered unpretentious, even though it is not met in every garden.

This will also be a wonderful element of landscape design. If the bushes grow in free space, you need to build constructions along which the vines will curl. This is a prerequisite. You can build an arch,

There are no special requirements for the land, except that it should be well fertilized. For these purposes, suitable peat, humus, wood ash. And also need to provide drainage. The best breeding for the plant cuttings. Then the chance increases that in the second year of life the plant will begin to bear fruit. The landing process must begin in late April or early May; it all depends on the region. But this should be done when there is already confidence that there will be no frost. Otherwise there is a risk of death of the plant.

It is better to plant bushes at a distance of at least one meter from each other. Caring for lemongrass is sufficient watering, loosening the land, removing weeds. If the plant is grown from seeds, the seeds that have been planted in autumn will only germinate next summer. Growth will be pretty slow. Lemongrass needs pruning only if dry branches are formed or those that no longer bear fruit.

Before the onset of winter lemongrass cover. To do this, creepers are lowered to the ground, covered with foliage, needles, sawdust and other material. In the spring before the plant begins to bloom, it must be fertilized. For this, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen must be added to the soil.

Flowers on lemongrass appear in early June and adorn the plant for two weeks or a little more. The berries begin to ripen in August and can be on the bush until the beginning of October. In order to properly prepare lemongrass, you need to know when it ripens, as well as the time in which you need to collect fruits, leaves or bark, because all parts of the plant are considered useful. So, spring is suitable for harvesting bark. Stems need to be cut when the plant is bearing fruit. And take just those on which there is no fruit, or those that are redundant, that is, thicken the plant.

The leaves are best harvested in August - this is the time when they gather the most useful substances. It is better to cut the leaves from those branches that do not bear fruit, so as not to spoil the tree. Those that grow from the side that is more in the shade, contain more juice. Berries can be harvested in August and in September, and even in October until it freezes. Ripe fruits taste sour with the presence of bitterness. Brush cut very carefully with a sharp knife, in no case do not need to tear them with your hands, so you can damage the vine, which can stop bearing fruit if damaged.

The fruits are very carefully placed in containers, but not metal. Such a neighborhood is detrimental to the berries, they may even lose some of their beneficial properties. The best option would be to choose a basket for harvesting. You need to recycle berries very quickly, they should not be stored for more than a day. It is necessary to touch them immediately after harvesting, removing damaged berries, leaves, and occasional garbage. Then choose the optimal method of processing, which depends on how you plan to use lemongrass in the future.

If you have to go for lemongrass in the forest, you also need to carefully treat nature and cut off the brush with a knife, as in your garden. It is better to put it in a container that keeps its shape. The ideal option would be a basket or a box box, but by no means an iron bucket, since all valuable substances will be lost. But the enamel bucket fits. Thus, the berry will be preserved throughout the journey through the forest, it will not foul and will not give juice ahead of time. Well and, besides, going to the forest, you should take precautions, take in any case a supply of water and food, a compass, put on clothes covering the whole body to protect yourself from ticks.

The fruits of lemongrass, not only you can eat, but also need. The main areas of its application are medicine, cooking and cosmetology. Use it in creating landscape design. Since ancient times, lemongrass berries have been eaten by people who find themselves in the forest without food. It could be hunters and misguided travelers. With the help of the fruits of the plant it was possible to satisfy hunger and recuperate for further travel.

To preserve the beneficial properties of lemongrass, the berries are frozen. First they are washed well, then they are thrown back into a colander and allowed to drain. After that, the berries are laid in a thin layer on cling film and covered on top, putting them in the freezer.

To eat healthy berries all winter, strengthening your health, it is enough to fill lemongrass with sugar, using proportions of one to one. After standing for a day, lemongrass will give a sufficient amount of juice. It is possible to use this juice for the preparation of vitamin Morses, which in the period of winter and autumn illnesses will help restore strength and cope with the disease more quickly. Daily use of this drink will also be useful. Berries can be eaten simply with sugar. In this form in the refrigerator lemongrass can be stored all winter.

There is another option to preserve healthy berries - cook jam. And then the algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. first you need to sort out and rinse the fruit, cover with sugar, stand for a day;
2. then put on a slow fire and cook, but just a short time, ten minutes is enough;
3. Then the jam must be decomposed into clean jars.

There is another interesting way of making jam, which is successfully used by the hostess. You must perform the following steps:

1. lemongrass berries must be rubbed through a sieve to make a puree mass;
2. then add one and a half cups of sugar to each glass of such puree;
3. boil all this for ten minutes, adding apple juice at the end of a half-glass;
4. then transfer the resulting mass to clean containers and send to a cool place.

Prepared from lemongrass and compote for the winter. The algorithm for its preparation is as follows:

1. carefully washed berries are placed in sterile jars, and in the meantime they make a syrup from water and sugar;
2. when the liquid begins to boil, and the sugar is completely dissolved, you can pour the berries and twist the lids on the cans.

Another option is represented by a recipe such as:

1. berries are covered with sugar and allowed to infuse;
2. then this juice is boiled, adding sugar and, if necessary, a little more water;
3. then berries are poured with this syrup and vitamin compote is ready for winter.

If you make jam from lemongrass, you can add it to fillings for pies, cakes, homemade sweets. It is prepared very simply, namely:

1. lemongrass rubbed through a sieve, add sugar, boil for ten minutes;
2. then cool and bring to a boil again.

It is easy to cook delicious and healthy kissel from lemongrass. To do this, follow the following algorithm:

1. the berries are rubbed through a sieve so that there are no seeds and skins;
2. then add sugar and water, bring to a boil;
3. meanwhile, in hot water, the starch is dissolved in a separate container; to make the starch without lumps, it is poured out in a thin stream, while quickly stirring continuously;
4. then pour it all over the lemongrass with sugar, mix well and turn it off;
5. if kissel needs liquid, then starch needs to be diluted quite a bit; the more starch, the thicker the jelly.

Lemongrass can serve as a useful and very tasty treat for children if you make jelly from it. You must perform the following steps:

• the berries must first be well ground, add sugar;
• make gelatin by dissolving the bag in warm water;
• then gelatin is poured into lemongrass, poured the resulting composition into molds;
• You can optionally add pieces of fruit there, well suited pineapple or orange slices;
• then placed in the fridge.

In winter, frozen berries spread in a container, pour honey. It turns out not just an excellent delicacy, but also a vitamin remedy for the treatment of various ailments. Honey combined with lemongrass enhances the healing effect. Apply this mixture with a breakdown, lack of vitamins and excessive fatigue.

In order to preserve the berries, and then prepare curative broths, teas and simply delicious drinks from them, they need not only to be processed, turned into jam or compote, but also dried in various ways. The drying process is lengthy, so be patient and do it right. Indeed, the quality of the berries depends on compliance with the technology.

First, the berries are placed in the open air, but in the shade in such containers that the berries do not scatter when the weather is windy. Periodically they are slightly shaken. In this form, they are dried for at least three days. Then the berries are carefully cut off with a brush and placed in the oven, where they reach a temperature of about +50 degrees. The fruits are periodically stirred and checked for readiness.

In another version, which is considered more laborious, you need to remove the seeds from the berries, and only then dry both of them separately in the oven. Seeds, by the way, are also useful and are widely used in traditional medicine and cosmetic industry. Dry berries can be a simple method. It should be laid out in a warm room with a thin layer on trays, periodically they need to stir up. So the berries will be dried for several days.

Before drying the leaves, they are subjected to a fermentation process, which allows to obtain better quality raw materials for tea. This process is as follows:

1. at the initial stage, the collected leaves are well washed, laid out to dry on a clean dry surface;
2. then the leaves fold and knead slightly in the hands;
3. placed in a container, preferably in a clay pot, crushed, covered with a damp, clean cloth and cleaned in a warm place for the day;
4. after the fermentation process is completed, it is drying time — the folded leaves are cut into small pieces, laid out on a baking sheet, dried in an oven for an hour at a temperature of +60 degrees; can be scattered and dried naturally for several days;
5. when the leaves are dry, they are placed in fabric bags or boxes.

It is interesting that the twigs of lemongrass also have healing properties. They are added when brewing black or green tea. Pruned those branches that will no longer bear fruit, or those that are redundant, as well as when pruning shrubs - spring or autumn.Sprigs break into small pieces and dry either in air or in a ventilated room. To speed up the process, you can also put them in the oven. Store as well as the leaves in containers that are designed for regular tea.

Those who need exactly the seeds of lemongrass because of the high concentration of useful substances in them, can dry them separately. You will have to devote enough time to this, because the process is lengthy. This process is as follows:

1. after preparing the berries, you need to pull the seeds out of them;
2. You can make jam or jam from the berries, pour them with honey or cover them with sugar, because any of the selected options will bring many benefits in the winter; they can be dried in the open air or in the oven;
3. the seeds should be given time to dry in the fresh air under the shelter so as not to scatter, or in a warm, but ventilated room;
4. after a few days you need to finish the drying procedure in the oven, spreading them in a thin layer, stirring occasionally, at a temperature of about sixty degrees.

The use of lemongrass is possible with various diseases. And in order to apply it for its intended purpose, you need to know its useful properties, as well as under what diseases it helps. In all parts of the plant - berries, leaflets, bark seeds - lignins and catechins are contained, which increase the body's resistance to various infections, improve overall health, improve mood and feel a surge of vitality. In addition, lemongrass is rich in calcium, various acids, vitamins C and E.

Daily morning tea, brewed on the basis of lemongrass, will give strength for the whole day, and it can be both leaves and berries. You can take a pinch of leaves or dried fruit and add to black or green tea, which will give it a pleasant taste and aroma. Those who prefer to drink tea with sugar can add it to tea, but it is much better if it is a spoon of honey. This tea will be useful when you cough, sore throat, because lemongrass is a good anti-inflammatory agent.

If you have problems with the liver, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, it is better to make a decoction. To do this, a handful of berries poured boiling water and allowed to infuse for half an hour. Do the same with sprigs or leaves. This broth has a beneficial effect on the liver, stomach, improves metabolism, normalizes cholesterol levels. In addition, it belongs to the anti-depressant drugs. People with nervous disorders will suit such a drink.

Lemongrass is also used for skin problems, for example, it can fight acne, redness and various rashes. Normalize decoctions from this plant also work the kidneys.

In pharmacies, for example, they also sell lemongrass tincture, which is used for medicinal purposes, and how to use it is indicated on the packaging. But many people prefer to cook decoctions, tinctures and teas at home using their own recipes. Especially if lemongrass grows in the garden. This plant is unique in that absolutely all parts are useful. If you use berries, leaves and stems, there will be a softer effect on the body.If you need a more potent agent, it is recommended to make tinctures and decoctions of the seeds, because they contain the greatest number of useful substances.

It is worth considering several options for using lemongrass for various purposes.

• For a tonic effect, giving vitality and strength prepare the tincture. Just one teaspoon in the morning is enough to be in perfect order and feel good. Twenty grams of dried fruit is poured into fifty milliliters of alcohol and removed in a dark, cool place, but not in a refrigerator. Within ten days, the tincture should be shaken periodically. After that, strain through cheesecloth - a useful product is ready for use. Take the tincture in the morning half an hour before breakfast, one teaspoon per month. Then you can take a break for a month and repeat the course.
• Women have adapted to use this tool for weight loss. But we must take into account the moment that it serves only as an auxiliary one. Its main functions are to provide the body with vitamins, as well as help to remove toxins and toxins from the body. At the same time it is necessary to follow a diet that is not strict, but contains useful products, and at least minimal physical loads are desirable. To make a decoction, the leaves, twigs and berries should be chopped in a blender, then boiled over, wrap and put in a warm place to infuse for half an hour. Take the broth to half an hour before meals for a third cup.

• Will help in the fight against overweight pounds, composed of lemongrass, cinnamon, hibiscus and ginger root, which must first be grated. This drink will speed up the metabolism and remove excess fat accumulation. To take such a drink should be within a month, not forgetting about diet and exercise.
• Effective drink in the fight against colds get, if lemongrass mixed with other ingredients. Add ground cinnamon and turmeric, insist and take half a cup three times a day. Such a drink not only speeds up the metabolism, but also helps to fight fat deposits.
• If you add chamomile, mint and jasmine to lemongrass, get an excellent tool in the fight against depression.
• Some doctors recommend to use the decoction during pregnancy in order to normalize pressure, to combat toxicosis and improve overall well-being. But when taking such a tool is better to consult a doctor, because each case is different. For example, berries of lemongrass increase pressure, and shoots, on the contrary, lower. The optimal time for eating lemongrass is morning or noon, as it has a rather encouraging effect. Those who do not suffer from insomnia can drink a cup of fragrant tea in the evening. But if there are sleep disorders, it is better not to aggravate the situation.
• With large physical and mental stress lemongrass is recommended to drink regularly. At the same time, dried fruits and leaves should be mixed in equal proportions with green and black tea.

In any course of treatment with lemongrass, it does not matter to enhance immunity or to improve the performance of the gastrointestinal tract, You must follow the following rules so as not to spoil the whole effect of the treatment:

• you should not drink strong coffee or tea, at this time it is better to limit yourself to green tea, juices, milk;

• It is not recommended to drink alcohol, much less abuse it;
• if other medicines are taken, it is necessary to consider in more detail how it combines with one another, and this will most likely help the doctor;
• for each plant there is a list of drugs with which it is compatible, and which do not get along well with it;
• for all its benefits, lemongrass can also trigger side effects - a rash on the skin, itching, the appearance of edema, and rapid heartbeat; if such symptoms appear, you should refuse to take the decoction or tincture of schisandra and check with the doctor what this may be connected with.

Besides the fact that lemongrass is actively used for the purpose of healing, it can also be used in cosmetology, using it to make homemade masks, adding different ingredients, depending on what effect you want to achieve.

• For dry and dull skin This mask will do: grind a handful of berries, add a spoonful of cream to them, apply on face and wait half an hour. Then remove the mask gently with a napkin and wipe the face with a milk or tonic, at least with a cotton swab dipped in boiled water. But it is not necessary to flush with running water. After applying such a mask, the skin will be smoother, softer and more saturated with moisture. But such a mask should be done at least once a week so that the positive effect is maintained.
• For oily skin will suit another option. You need to make a lotion and apply it daily in the morning and evening. It will take several days to prepare it, but it will bring a lot of benefit to the skin. A handful of berries is poured with alcohol (0.5 l) and removed for a week in a dark place. After the composition is infused, add a spoonful of glycerin. This composition cleanses the face, it will help rid the skin of oily shine and clean the pores. If the solution turned out to be too concentrated, you can dilute it with pure boiled or mineral water, pour it into bottles and put it in a cool place. They rub their face and neck.
• Marked effective effect of lemongrass and hair. Each time before washing the head is required to prepare a fresh decoction. Two tablespoons of dried fruit, leaves and twigs pour a liter of boiling water and insist half an hour. Then all this is filtered and this broth rinsed hair at the final stage. First you need to wash your hair with shampoo, apply a balm, rinse, and only then use the healing broth. Flush it is not necessary.

It can be vitamins, and so-called food supplements based on lemongrass, and herbal teas, which add other berries or herbs, and tinctures, cooked in alcohol, sweet syrups, and dried fruits, and even in the form of butter.

Lemongrass is known for a very long time, so many have learned how to use it to heal their bodies and share their experience on various sites and social networks. And many have learned to grow it in their plots, multiply and extract the maximum benefit from it. Avid gardeners say that it is very convenient and very easy to grow lemongrass on their plots. The main thing is to water and sometimes fertilize in time, and some even do without fertilizers. The lemongrass grown on its own plot allows harvesting at a convenient time and harvesting for the winter. So say gardeners.

But those who love forest walks get pleasure from hiking in the woods, considering that wild lemongrass is better. But everyone has their own opinion on this. But everyone is unanimous in the fact that lemongrass is simply an irreplaceable thing, when the body needs vitamins and strength to cope with the disease. He is a great help to those who have problems with pressure. So, those who take it regularly lemongrass, gradually notes that the pressure is normalized, headaches and dizziness go away. Even many pregnant women say that it is difficult to do without it.

Many people say that tea with lemongrass is a wonderful tonic drink, which since the morning energizes the body. And if in the evening the forces are already running out, and important events are still ahead, again, a cup of tea helps to cope with these difficulties. Mistresses say that, in addition to the well-known blanks of lemongrass, you can come up with many interesting dishes, just turn on the imagination. Home cooks add it to desserts, the more it is combined with many fruits and berries, and its sour taste and light bitterness balance the sweetness of other ingredients. It turns out very tasty.

Women have learned to use it, making lotions and beauty masks. Many people believe that such a mask is much more useful and more effective than products purchased at a pharmacy or cosmetic stores. When making cosmetics, lemongrass is combined with honey, cream, sour cream, other fruits and berries. Judging by the reviews, for many lemongrass is one of the favorite healing tools. Everyone finds something of his own. Those who have long been engaged in the cultivation of this plant, recommends that beginners should definitely try to grow this wonderful plant on their plot.

On the selection of seedlings of berries of Schisandra Chinese, the rules of planting and care, see the video below.