» Plum varieties
A modest shrub from the genus Plum - sloe, does not bring any trouble during cultivation and is of high value to humans.
The chemical composition of all parts of the plant became the basis for many medicines V traditional medicine and in folk therapy.
Jam, jam and berry compote- a real decoration and pride of any table.
Thorn (thorn) - branching thorny shrub, reaching a height of 3.5 to 4.5 m. Less commonly, the plant can be found in the form of a tree up to 8 m in height.
A distinctive feature of the shrub is its high root-forming ability. After several years of development, impenetrable thickets are formed from numerous root shoots.
Natural habitat of the bush hillsides, ravines and forest edges of Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Mediterranean, Western Siberia and Europe.
It is assumed that the sloe evolved from the cherry plum as a result of modification of the tissues of the bush under the influence of gradual changes in the microclimate.
The sloe is highly frost-resistant and is able to withstand low temperatures up to 40 °C. The shrub can survive drought without much stress.
Thorn develops well on the soils of the Moscow region, which are not suitable for growing other crops, so it is often placed on the borders of a personal plot where the soil is salinized.
The young branches of the bush are covered with pubescent bark and form sharp spines at the end. The leathery leaves are obovate, toothed and dark green in color. They are located on short petioles and reach a length of up to 5 cm.
Before the leaves bloom Sloes bloom profusely in April and May. The flowers of the plant are small, white and are located in pairs or singly on short peduncles.
During this period the bush looks large white ball, and the area around it is filled with the aroma of almonds.
Bush begins to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. The fruit is single druped, round in shape and small size up to 15 mm in diameter.
Under the thin black-blue peel lies green pulp and an inseparable seed. The fruits ripen at the end of summer and can last on the bush all winter.
The fruits of the bush have a tart and sour taste: This is due to the high content of tannins, which are neutralized after exposure to low temperature.
Therefore, many gardeners prefer to harvest not immediately after the fruits ripen, but after the first frost.
Fruiting is regular, 3-4 kg of fruit can be collected from one bush.
Thorn is a self-sterile plant and is unable to set fruit from its own pollen. To ripen the fruits, the plant requires cross-pollination. It is mainly produced by bees.
Shrub propagates seeds, dividing the bush and root cuttings. It is preferable to sow the seeds in the fall immediately after separation from the pulp.
For spring sowing Correct long-term stratification of an average of 160 days will be required. To do this, the pit is washed from the pulp, placed in layers of moss and put in a cold place with a temperature from 0°C to +5°C.
A month before planting, the temperature is reduced to -1°C. The seeds are kept in a slightly moist environment.
About the readiness of the seed for transplanting into the substrate can be judged by the cracks on the surface. For temporary development, you will need a container of at least 20-25 cm in diameter.
The optimal substrate for the development of damson seedlings consists of:
Further care of the seedling consists of regular watering and fertilizing once a month with minerals.
Seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place in two years of age. Sloes grown from seed will bear fruit 4-5 years after planting.
Many gardeners prefer the method of propagation by seeds. to obtain frost-resistant rootstocks for more capricious crops.
Young shoots are separated from the mother plant in the fall, for this purpose the connecting root is cut. At the end of April, the separated shrub is transplanted to the intended site.
Plum variety Thorn (thorn) reproduces well by dividing rhizomes. To do this, you need to dig up the roots in the fall at a distance of 1 to 1.5 m from the trunk. A good planting material is a root with an average thickness of 1.5 cm and a length of 15 cm.
Until spring, the roots are stored in layers of damp sawdust or moss in a cool room, ideally a basement.
At the end of April, the cuttings are transplanted into soil (sand, peat 1: 3) under a film. They are placed at a distance of 5 cm vertically at a slight angle.
The top ends should remain at a depth of 2 cm, after which the soil surface is mulched with sawdust. Root cuttings need to be provided with regular watering and 3-4 feedings per season, mainly with nitrogen fertilizers.
Next autumn the plant is transplanted into temporary soil, similar to when planting seeds and grow to 1 m, after which they are transplanted into a personal plot.
Characteristic feature of the thorn absolute unpretentiousness to growing conditions. On the contrary, excessive care and constant feeding of the bush lead to abundant growth and suppression of neighboring plants.
For planting thorns, a well-lit or semi-shaded area is preferable. The soil should be drained, moisture-absorbing and neutral acidity. The optimal distance between bushes is at least 2 m.
Anti-aging pruning is carried out in March, removing damaged and rotten branches. Ideally, there will be 3-4 skeletal branches left on the bush.
This will significantly increase the quality and quantity of the harvest and protect the bush from severe thickening of the crown.
Watering the sloe only in very dry weather. To improve the quality of fruits and the formation of new shoots during flowering, organic matter is added to the tree trunk circle: compost or rotted manure. The blackthorn does not require winter shelter.
The beneficial properties of the fruits of the bush are determined by special chemical composition , which concentrates:
Sloe fruit especially valuable for gastrointestinal tract . At constant use sloe restores the balance of microflora, reducing attacks of gastritis and colitis. Thanks to its diuretic properties, waste and toxins are removed from the body.
Sloe fruits are especially valuable for their high content of vitamin P. This is a flavonoid, which contains more than 120 substances beneficial to the body.
Constant intake of these substances into the body normalizes blood pressure , reduces vascular permeability, balances heart rate.
Under their influence stimulates the adrenal cortex- This important factor to balance hormonal levels.
Sloe fruits - natural antiseptics. Many dentists recommend applying fruit pulp to inflamed gums.
Additionally, the composition of the fruit will absorb everything unpleasant odors from the mouth. The only drawback is the coloring properties of the fruit., a persistent bluish tint will last for several days.
Fruit seeds tend to accumulate the substance amygdalin. At high concentrations it has a toxic effect on the body. Therefore it is recommended preserve jams and compotes with seeds for no more than a year.
It has been proven that drugs from different parts shrubs have a healing effect on the body:
These properties of thorn fruits actively used in traditional and folk medicine, for general and symptomatic treatment of serious pathologies.
The medicinal ingredient is prepared before the buds open. Infusions and decoctions of flowers treat hypertension, constipation, liver disease, prostate adenoma, rheumatism and atherosclerosis.
Medicines based on flowers have a diuretic, diaphoretic and sedative effect.
Medicines based on thorn flowers have a strong antimicrobial effect and they will useful for treatment skin diseases . To do this, wipe problem areas with a cotton pad soaked in a decoction or infusion in the morning and evening.
Sloe roots are harvested in the fall. In order not to harm the bush, the medicinal ingredient is dug up at a distance of 1-1.5 m from the trunk. After this, they are thoroughly washed and dried at a temperature of +60°C.
Decoction of thorn roots has antipyretic, diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory effects. Used when colds and to cleanse the body of toxins.
To treat leucorrhoea, douching is done, and for skin inflammations, lotions with medicine are used.
To prepare the decoction crushed raw materials (10 g) are poured with cold water (500 ml) and boiled over low heat for 15 minutes. Take 100 ml 3 times a day. For douching medicine diluted with water 1:1.
The bark is collected from bushes to be cut down and before the plant blooms.. After this, they are washed and dried in the same way as the roots.
Used as a means to cleanse the blood, treat women's inflammatory diseases, boils and erysipelas on the skin.
To prepare the decoction you need pour crushed bark (1 tsp) with water (250 ml) and boil for 15 minutes. Take 100 ml 3 times a day. For douching, dilute with water 1:1.
Sloe fruits are harvested in the second ten days of October. After this, they must be dried for a week, if possible in the open air or in an oven at low temperature.
Medicinal raw materials are used for gastrointestinal diseases, microflora imbalance, genitourinary system, food poisoning, vascular and fungal pathologies.
Preparation of medicines:
Sloe juice has a strengthening effect and will be useful for diarrhea.
The fruits of the bush are rarely consumed fresh. But various jams and jams of these have a piquant taste and are popular among children and adults.
Ingredients:
Sorted and washed fruits cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Place in a colander and remove the seeds. The peeled fruits are placed in the same broth and sugar is added.
After the sugar has completely dissolved, the jam must be cooked for 15 minutes. For storage, the product is poured into sterilized jars.
Sloe jam:
Ingredients:
Washed and pitted fruits add water and cook for 30 minutes over low heat. After this, you need to rub the berries through a sieve. Place the mixture in a container, add water, sugar and cook for 30 minutes.
The readiness of the jam can be judged by the thickness of the product. The prepared jam is poured into sterilized jars.
Ingredients:
The washed fruits are placed in boiling syrup and cook for 5 minutes. After this, the fruits are placed in jars and filled with syrup.
Covered jars are placed in a container of water and boiled at 75°C for 15 minutes and hermetically sealed with lids. While cooling, the jars of compote are turned upside down.
Ingredients:
Slightly frozen fruits are dried for 2 days.. After this, the berries are kneaded, placed in a container along with the seeds, and filled with water.
Leave to ferment for 3 days in a warm place. When bubbles appear on the surface, the composition must be filtered.
For each liter of raw material received, 300 g of sugar is added, mixed and bottled. After 30-45 days, the wine sediment is separated and poured into new containers.
Sloe wine:
For adding to tea or steaming on its own harvest thorn leaves and flowers. To do this, they need to be dried and packaged in paper bags.
Many housewives add dried and crushed blackthorn fruits to tea, which make the drink not only healthy, but also aromatic.
In the recent past, sloe cultivation was practiced everywhere. Despite its absolute practicality and economic benefits, shrub cultivation has been unfairly pushed aside.
However, the massive use of shrubs as raw materials for medicinal products is only growing and every year leads to a greater shortage of sources of useful ingredients.
Thus, we can conclude that growing sloe is profitable and useful not only within garden plot , but also an excellent option for business.
Blackthorn is a shrub known in many countries. Some people know about thorns because they made a wreath from it for Jesus, but it is more famous as a medicinal plant, in which everything is useful:
And in this article we will focus specifically on the benefits and harms of thorn berries, the predecessor of the usual one. Some say that sloe berries have numerous beneficial properties for human health, others disdainfully repeat that they positive influence on our body is practically not noticeable. So where is the truth? This is worth looking into in detail.
In fact, no matter what anyone says, thorn berries are very healthy and you can cook an abundance of them delicious dishes. They contain large amounts of nutrients and healing substances, thanks to which sloe berries have the following effects on the body:
Sloe berries help in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system, such as urolithiasis, nephritis and cystitis. In case of poisoning, this remedy will not only speed up the process of removing bacteria, infections and poisons from the body, but will also cleanse the intestines and stabilize the functioning of the digestive system.
Sloe berries are also rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, which, in combination with vitamin C, which they also have in abundance, thin the blood and improve its circulation through the vessels, increase blood clotting and strengthen capillaries. It is worth paying attention to this product for those who have weak veins or who have spider veins on the surface of the skin.
In addition, the use of prickly plum berries is effective for high blood pressure. Anthocyanins contained in sloe berries destroy fungi and bacteria in the body, and also relieve tumors. It is recommended to take these berries for those who have vision problems. Anthocyanins accumulate in tissues retina, strengthen blood vessels and connective tissues and normalize intraocular pressure. So, sloe berries can be used for prevention and treatment the following diseases eye:
Very good are hot ones made from sloe berry jam, which churns high temperatures for colds and strengthen the immune system. Extreme benefits of sloe berries are also observed in the treatment of genitourinary system infections, kidney diseases and edema.
The pulp of fresh berries can be used to rinse the mouth for inflammation or infections, as well as stomatitis. This is the best natural antibiotic, which destroys bacteria and neutralizes ulcers no worse than various chemicals.
Sloe berries practically do not harm human health, but there are several nuances that should be followed in order not to harm your body. First of all, it is worth considering that the seeds of berries contain a toxic glycoside, so before consuming them it is best to separate the berries from the seeds.
In addition, canned sloe berries that contain seeds cannot be stored for more than a year, because then these poisons spread from the seeds into the berries themselves. Excessive consumption of fresh sloe berries can cause stomach upset.
To summarize, we can say that before adding this product to your diet, you should familiarize yourself with the benefits and harms of sloe berries, since on the one hand it makes a huge contribution to our health, and on the other hand there is a risk of poisoning with toxic substances, if not know how to take them correctly.
Once the folk healer Nosal said: “There are two medicinal plants, which are slowly and purposefully destroyed by the population." One of these plants, according to an expert traditional medicine, is the prickly thorn ( Latin name Prunus spinosa). Sloes are a close relative of the domestic plum, so it is not for nothing that people call it “sour plum.” By the way, sloe shoots are considered an excellent rootstock for domestic plums and cherry plums. Among other popular names, the thorn is known as “goat berry” and “black thorn”.
From time immemorial, a hop liqueur was prepared from sloe berries, which was called “thorn”; the fruits were also used to make dumplings and pies. And different parts of the thorn have extraordinary healing properties.
Wild thorn bushes can often be found on abandoned rural estates; the plant is also found on sunny mountain slopes and forest edges.
Almost all parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes: flowers, leaves, berries, bark and even roots. Harvesting of sloe flowers is carried out in March - April, and the leaves are collected at the end of flowering - they are still young at this time. Berry picking is carried out in late autumn, when the fruits are fully ripe. For cooking, it is better to harvest berries after the first frost - then increased formation of carbohydrates occurs in them and the specific astringency disappears. Bark and roots must be collected at the end of the plant growing season or in early spring, before active sap flow begins.
Leaves and flowers of sloe, in order to avoid loss of beneficial properties, are preferably dried in natural conditions, for example, in the attic or using awnings. Drying sloe berries can be done in a cooling oven or using electric dryers.
Cracks in the bark of sloe exude a "glue" (as does cherry or apricot), and sloe gum can also be used for medicinal purposes.
In sloe flowers, a glycoside of hydrocyanic acid, amygdalin, is formed, and flavone group glycosides and coumarin derivatives are also synthesized. Sloe leaves are rich mainly in tannins and bitter substances. Sloe fruits are rich in vitamins, organic acids, carbohydrates, tannins and anthocyanins, which give the berries their characteristic color. Sloe kernels contain amygdalin. The bark and roots of thorns are rich in tannins.
Sloe flowers have a diuretic and laxative effect, as do young leaves; old leaves, as well as bark and roots, in which tannins predominate, have astringent properties.
Sloe fruits, as well as their juice, stimulate digestive processes and stimulate appetite. For example, your appetite will be excellent if you take 1 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach. juice from sloe berries.
In folk medicine, various parts of the thorn are used in treatment wide range diseases. For example, tea based on the flowers and young leaves of sloe is used to treat diarrhea, including infectious ones. Thorn is used for ascites, in particular caused by a violation water-salt metabolism and diseases of the urinary system. Astringent properties sloe determine its use in the treatment various violations in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and intestines, in case of internal and external bleeding, etc. Preparations based on thorns have shown high efficiency in the treatment of certain diseases of the female genital area.
For long-term storage, you can prepare thorn juice or make jam, which will later be used as medicine.
Sloe juice. Juice from sloe fruits is not obtained by pressing, since its berries contain quite a bit of water. To prepare the juice, you need to wash the berries and pour boiling water so that the liquid completely covers the layer of fruit. After a couple of days, the liquid turns dark red, indicating readiness. The “juice” must be strained, added sugar at the rate of 500 g per liter of liquid and cooked at a moderate boil until the formation of foam stops (it must be constantly removed using a slotted spoon). After cooking, pour the sloe syrup into glass bottles and store in a cool place. Sloe juice is used both for treatment and for the preparation of refreshing and vitamin drinks.
Jam with wine. Blanch the washed sloe berries, then add cold water and leave to soak overnight. At the end of soaking, drain the liquid and pour wine mixed with water over the fruits. For 1 kg of berries you will need 250 ml of wine and 750 ml of water. Cook at moderate boil until the berries are soft (remember to stir constantly). Rub the cooled mixture through a sieve to make a puree. Next, add wine (250 ml) and sugar (375 g) to the puree (per 1 kg), put on fire and cook until the jam reaches the required consistency. Some recipes use 3% vinegar or citric acid instead of wine. Sloe jam is useful for those who have decreased secretion gastric juice- it is necessary to consume 1 - 2 tbsp in the morning on an empty stomach. "tasty medicine"
Diarrhea. To stop diarrhea caused by food poisoning, healers recommend taking a decoction of thorn roots that is at least 3 years old. For half a liter of boiling water you need to take 2 tbsp. crushed raw materials into shavings, cook for a quarter of an hour and leave for the same time. Take 50 ml of the strained broth every hour. In most cases, diarrhea goes away within a day. By the way, this decoction can also be used for dysenteric diarrhea.
Kidney stones. Prepare a collection that includes: thorn root, dandelion, parsley and rose hips, wild carrots(grass with flowers), knotweed (knotweed), nettle leaves, bean leaves and fresh rye straw. You need to take 1 tbsp of each component. (based on 10 glasses of water). Pour the ingredients with water in an enamel or glass heat-resistant container and soak overnight. In the morning, bring the liquid to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Store the cooled broth in the refrigerator. The decoction should be taken half an hour before meals (warm to 40°C before use). The indicated amount of decoction is calculated to pass full course treatment. As a rule, stones begin to break down and come out within 2–3 days. When stones pass, they are often noted severe pain, therefore, it is necessary to stock up on pain-relieving injections (for example, Baralgin) in advance. The decoction is effective in the presence of oxalates and urates (oxal salt and uric acid respectively).
To remove oxalates. To get rid of oxalates - oxalic acid salts - traditional healers It is recommended to take a decoction of a mixture of thorn and rosehip roots. For 500 ml of water - 1 tbsp. crushed raw materials. First, the raw materials are poured with boiling water and cooked for 10 minutes. At the end of cooking, filter the hot broth, add cold water and cook at moderate boil for a quarter of an hour. Pour both fractions of the broth into a single container and drink in small portions per day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. To get rid of oxalates, you must take at least 2 courses, with a week break between them.
Menorrhagia. Prepare the collection: thorn bark and chicory root - 15 g each; lanceolate and greater plantain leaves, dubrovnik (herb) and marshmallow root - 10 g each; fragrant rue leaves - 3 g. Pour the indicated amount into half a liter cold water and leave for 6 - 8 hours. At the same time, prepare an infusion of elderberry roots - pour half a liter of water over 20 g of raw material. It is advisable to carry out the preparation at night so that in the morning you can start preparing the medications directly. Elderberry root must be boiled for half an hour, then strain the broth. Boil the herb mixture for 5 minutes, filter. Mix both decoctions and take 2 tbsp every hour.
Oligomenorrhea central genesis . Included medicinal collection includes valerian root, St. John's wort herb and blackthorn in equal proportions. For 200 ml of boiling water you need to take 1 tbsp. herbal mixture and leave until cool (this daily dose). The infusion should be taken in the evening on an empty stomach.
Psoriasis. Collection: tops of flowering nettles and leaves, thorn flowers and dandelion grass - in equal proportions. For half a liter of boiling water - 2 tbsp. herbal mixture. Leave in a thermos for 2 hours. Divide the infusion into 3 equal parts and take it a day.
Febrifuge. In ancient times, a decoction of sloe roots was used for colds, as it has antipyretic properties. For a glass of water, 1 tbsp is required. raw materials; cook for 10 - 15 minutes. Take 50 ml 2 hours after breakfast and before bed.
Diabetes mellitus. Pour water over the roots or twigs of thorns (for 2 liters of liquid – 500 - 600 g of raw material). Cook until 600 ml of liquid remains. Next, add 1 sunflower flower (until seeds form), bring the volume of liquid to 2 liters and boil again until 600 ml remains. Drink the decoction throughout the day. The treatment is quite long (from six months or more), and is effective only in initial stage diseases.
Prevention of myocardial infarction. According to experts in traditional medicine, drinking sloe berry tea serves as a prevention of myocardial infarction, and also significantly alleviates pre-infarction state sick. For a glass of boiling water you will need 6 - 8 sloe berries. Crush the berries, pour boiling water over them and leave for a quarter of an hour. Drink tea on an empty stomach for 4 days (if necessary, the duration of the preventive course can be increased).
Contraindications and side effects during treatment with sloe preparations, it was not detected.
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The thorn bush is a small and thorny plant belonging to the genus Plum. The shrub has become quite widespread in landscape decoration and is often used to design beautiful hedges in home gardens.
The wild perennial shrub looks very similar to the garden plum. The height of the above-ground part of the plant can vary between 3.5-4.5 m. Sometimes relatively low-growing plants are found, but some trees can be up to 7-8 m high. During the process of growth, the area of plantings expands due to the formation large quantity root suckers.
This perennial forms dense and very prickly, rather impenetrable thickets with numerous branches. The foliage is elliptical or obovate, with jagged edges, no more than 4-5 cm long. The flowers are small, white, blooming in early spring, before the leaves bloom. After flowering, rounded single-drug fruits are formed, reminiscent of plum fruits, with a bluish, waxy coating. The taste of fully ripened fruits is tart and sour. Maturation is quite late.
Blackthorn flowers bloom in early spring, before the leaves appear
In the thorn bush valuable qualities Absolutely all parts are characterized. Useful properties plant roots, as well as wood and stripped bark. Well known medicinal products , made from flowers and fruits, as well as the upper pigmented layer of the bark.
Blackthorn berries are very often used in medical purposes. Such herbal raw materials increase appetite, help get rid of gastric disorders, and have also proven themselves to be an effective diuretic.
Flower and seed infusions can be used for sedation nervous system, and are also used as lotions or compresses for pustular diseases skin. Among other things, juice is prepared from sloe berries, which, after squeezing and boiling, can be rolled into jars and used in winter period as nasal drops for frequent and severe nosebleeds. The product is very suitable for gargling for sore throats. And oral cavity for dental pathologies.
The roots, as well as the bark, young wood and foliage of this plant can have diaphoretic properties and antipyretic effects. The foliage of the plant contains a significant amount of vitamins, as well as flavonoids, anthocyanins and organic acids. Decoctions of the bark are used in the treatment of malaria and erysipelas skin. In gynecology, decoctions are used for douching.
To get the maximum healing effect from the use of plant raw materials, it is very important to carry out proper collection and follow storage rules. Harvesting thorns is required in early spring., at the very beginning of the flowering stage. The collected buds, as well as all half-opened flowers, should be dried in the shade, with a sufficient draft. After the perennial plant has flowered, young, newly opened leaves are collected, which are also dried in a well-ventilated area or under special canopies.
Sloe berries are best harvested only after the first frost. To properly dry the fruits, it is recommended to use special drying devices, but if necessary, you can dry the collected berries in an oven or in a conventional oven. The collection of young shoots is carried out in the spring, even before the foliage fully opens. The roots and bark are collected in the fall. Drying of the removed bark, branches and roots is carried out in warm and well-ventilated areas, in dryers or on a stove. Dried flowers, berries and foliage can be stored without loss of quality for a year, and bark and roots should be stored for no more than three years.
Sloe berries are best picked only after the first frost.
Before consuming blackthorn fruits, you need to remember that Thorn seeds contain a very toxic toxic substance - glycoside. It is for this reason that rolled jam or compotes based on sloe cannot be stored for more than a year. Even under conditions of proper storage of such preservation, all toxic substances from the seeds can, after some time, pass into the product and make it unsuitable for food consumption.
As such, special contraindications or severe harmful properties Blackthorn fruits, flowers, leaves, bark, wood and roots are almost completely absent, but their use should not be abused. It's important to remember that an excessive amount of fresh berries can cause quite persistent stomach disorders. Among other things, it is not recommended to use decoctions, tinctures and infusions without first consulting your doctor, as individual intolerance and allergic reactions are sometimes noted.
Before consuming thorn fruits, you need to remember that thorn seeds contain a very toxic toxic substance - glycoside
Damson berries have an astringent and blood purifying effect. It should be noted that all ripe fruits are quite strongly knit and significantly reduce the number of urges during diarrhea, at the same time, blackthorn flowers have a laxative effect.
You can make liqueurs from damsons, which not only have a very pleasant and delicate taste, but also have healing properties, which allows the use of such a product as an astringent and fixing agent for various intestinal disorders. For the purpose of preparation, the fruits are placed in glass bottles, covered with sugar and placed in a warm place. The fermented juice is poured into clean bottles, sealed and allowed to settle for four months. A wonderful and very piquant seasoning for meat and fish dishes is prepared from sloe berries, as well as preserves, syrups, compotes, jellies and jams.
You can make jam from damsons
Plant raw materials obtained from blackthorn are very effective in the treatment and prevention of many diseases:
To heal wounds, a decoction of blackthorn bark is used externally.
