Sea buckthorn has been famous for its healing properties since ancient times. Because of the bright orange berries, it has many names: "Orange Queen", "Sunny berry", "Golden Tree", and due to the light pineapple flavor, the berry is called "Siberian pineapple".
Many mistakenly think that only sea buckthorn berries have healing properties, but this is far from the case. Sea buckthorn is a truly unique plant – each of its parts is a kind of medicine for any serious illness or ailment.
In this article, we will look at the healing properties of bark and leaves harvested from sea buckthorn bushes, as well as how to make delicious tea from them.
Hawthorn liqueur is not just a delicious, fragrant and pleasant-colored drink, but also a great folk remedy for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. In moderation, experts recommend using it for migraines, exhaustion of the central nervous system, increased cholesterol in the blood and other ailments.
Most often, amateur winemakers use in the preparation of liqueur not only the hawthorn berries themselves, but also flowers with leaves. As a result, whatever recipe the winemaker uses, he will receive a high-quality and pleasant-tasting alcoholic drink at the end. Which recipe the home master chooses will depend on their personal preferences.
Classic liqueur recipe.
Most winemakers follow the classical, traditional Siberian technology of making hawthorn liqueur, which involves the use of the following ingredients:
Many people have a question: why sea buckthorn berries are so oily? The answer is simple: this berry is greasy, as a very useful oil is made from it, hence these properties.
The main factors that affect the mineral and vitamin composition of sea buckthorn are:
During the autumn period, the maximum amount of minerals accumulate in berries in comparison, for example, with the August harvest. However, this rule is not universal, because there are more vitamins such as magnesium, potassium, and iron in fruits in autumn compared to summer, and less calcium, phosphorus, and sodium.
About sea buckthorn oil.
Sea buckthorn oil "Oleum Hippophaes" is an oil squeezed (cold pressed) from the berries of sea buckthorn. It can be also obtained in several other ways, by extraction of chemical solvents, maceration of dried pulp, and skin of sea buckthorn fruits using vegetable oils, for example, sunflower or olive. It is also obtained by extraction with liquefied carbon dioxide, centrifugation of sea buckthorn fruit juice, etc. But the best and the healthiest method is cold-pressing.
Ashwagandha: an effective soothing Adaptogen.
Ashwagandha has traditionally been used in India for more than 4,000 years. It is considered both a food and a tonic to improve energy, memory, and learning, increase libido and prevent premature aging.
Ashwagandha soothes and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is used to improve sleep, reduce anxiety, improve memory, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress (damage from inflammation). Ashwagandha strengthens the immune system, is used in the treatment of arthritis, and can be useful in the treatment of fertility problems.
Eleutherococcus: an assistant to all athletes and an amplifier of the body's capabilities.
“Siberian Ginseng” is one of the most studied Adaptogens to date. It is used to increase mental activity and performance, increase concentration, increase energy and endurance, reduce stress and fatigue, as well as to enhance immunity, and improve detoxification. It has anabolic properties, which means that it promotes muscle growth and prevents their destruction with age.
Shilajit is collected in inaccessible mountain gorges, rock crevices, and caves, which usually coincide with the habitats of bats and rodents.
Harvesters prefer solid raw Shilajit, black conglomerates with a specific smell, where the natural resin is mixed with stones, grass, sand. They are crushed, soaked in water, and defended, waiting for the ballast to settle. Then the dark liquid is thoroughly stirred and filtered through gauze. Excess moisture is removed by evaporation. It turns out a purified Shilajit – a thick viscous mass of dark brown color, completely soluble in water.
Ancient traditions of collecting Shilajit of indigenous Siberian people.
The inhabitants of Siberia have for many centuries preferred to collect during the period from the feast of Ivan Kupala (July 7) to Ilyin's Day (July 20). Historians explain this by the ancient traditions of collecting herbs in this region. According to the beliefs of indigenous tribes of residents, it was from July 7 to July 20 that pagan spirits transmitted their power to herbs, stones, resins, and other natural elements.
Slightly different traditions were in Southern Siberia. So, the indigenous people began collecting Shilajit on the holidays of the heyday of Nature, the Orthodox Trinity, or the Slavic holiday Zelenets (Birch Day), when the onset of summer is celebrated for three days, that is, either in the very last days of May or in the first week of June. This is not surprising, since it is much milder in the south of Siberia than in its other regions.
Siberians believed that resin collected on Trinity Day, or better on its eve, was considered the most healing and was used by healers and shamans to treat the most complex diseases and ailments. They were gathered in clean light clothes by the younger members of the family (clan) – young men and women.
Hawthorn from Siberia is a shrub with white flowers and small red or black berries. Both components can be used for medicinal purposes, however, berries are still used more often than inflorescences. The plant contains many compounds that provide tremendous benefits for the heart. At the same time, blood pressure is also affected to normalize it.
Among the useful components of hawthorn we can find:
Siberian hawthorn is rightfully considered a record holder for the content of useful minerals and vitamins. Per 100 g of berry there is:
Hawthorn berries are enriched with flavonoids, which in themselves are antioxidants capable of blocking the destructive effects of free radicals on all cells in the human body. It has been scientifically proven that these elements in the composition of hawthorn berries have the following positive effects:
The use of hawthorn berries also helps to improve the work of the heart muscle and increase physical endurance.
Sea buckthorn is a unique berry. It is loved or hated, but anyone who has tried her at least once will not be indifferent to her. It has a reputation for being unimaginably useful, with a piercingly sour taste of berries, about the "joys" of harvesting which many know firsthand.
But the most memorable feature of sea buckthorn is a complex, very specific, difficult-to-explain aroma, fruity, with a very characteristic oily and even slightly rancid aspect.
What is the secret of the unique aroma of sea buckthorn?
Oddly enough, there are quite a large number of scientific papers that tell about the research of the aroma of sea buckthorn. One of the first is an article by German scientists dated 1984. They have identified about 60 key components that determine the aroma of sea buckthorn.
Among the key odorants, several esters are noted, primarily ethylcaproate, which makes the main contribution to the formation of odor. In its pure form, this ester has a smell reminiscent of pineapple and green banana, which partly explains the common nickname of sea buckthorn "Siberian pineapple".
They also noted some strangeness - isoamyl acetate, the most common ester of isoamyl alcohol in nature, is completely absent in the aroma of sea buckthorn, although other esters of isoamyl spirit, as they say, are in the assortment. Esters of leaf alcohol, cis-3-hexenol are mentioned, they give the fragrance a green tint and herbiness.
In addition, they found a certain amount of terpenes (limonene, ocimene), free lower alcohols and phenols, carbonyl compounds, and carboxylic acids, which, apparently, give the smell of sea buckthorn a characteristic sourness and oiliness.
There is a popular opinion that hawthorn is useful for the heart and blood vessels in any form. In ancient times, the juice was squeezed out of it, decoctions and teas were prepared.
All parts of this plant are useful for the human heart, however, berries bring the maximum benefit. This is ensured by the presence of elements such as hyperoside and vitexin. These are flavonoids that can accelerate the process of glucose oxidation and ensure the release of energy from carbohydrates. The result is an increase in the level of oxygen in the blood and vasodilation.
Hawthorn from Siberia is a shrub with white flowers and small red or black berries. Both components can be used for medicinal purposes, however, berries are still used more often than inflorescences. The plant contains many compounds that provide tremendous benefits for the heart. At the same time, blood pressure is also affected to normalize it.
Among the useful components of hawthorn we can find:
Siberia is rich in ancient mysteries of nature that may never be known to man. The more valuable are the secrets that are already known and serve us today. One of these secrets is the ancient art of brewing coniferous tea, inherited from the shamans of the indigenous Siberian tribes.
Coniferous tea is a traditional drink of the inhabitants of the Siberian taiga, who are famous all over the world for their good health and longevity. Pine, spruce, fir needles contain vitamins and trace elements that strengthen the immune system in winter. In this article, you will learn about why white pine needle tea is considered one of the healthiest drinks in the world.
Siberian cedar is the oldest representative of the pine family. The tree is famous for its beauty and slimness. The love of this coniferous plant for sunlight is known. Being a long-lived pine, White Pine can reach the age of 400 years, although on average this figure is 200 - 250 years. Pinus sibirica begins to bear fruit only from the age of 15 - 40 with a sufficient amount of sunlight.
The healing properties of White Pine have been known for a long time. Due to the presence of biologically active substances in its composition, it is possible to successfully use this plant in the complex treatment of many diseases. Speaking of medicinal raw materials, it is worth noting that pine needles, resin (oleoresin), nuts, and their shells possess them. White Pine needles also have medicinal properties, and they bring the greatest benefit in the form of tea prepared according to old Siberian traditions.
Eleutherococcus is a plant widespread in South East Asia, from Siberia to Vietnam, China, and Japan and it has received the greatest practical application. Eleutherococcus produces small black fruits similar to berries, but its main strength is not in the fruits, but the roots. Phytochemical compounds responsible for beneficial effects on the human body can be found in them.
In this article, we will look at where the name "Eleutherococcus" came from and why this plant is often called "Siberian ginseng".
What are the health benefits of «Siberian Ginseng»?
Eleutherococcus has a multidirectional beneficial effect on the human body: it helps to get rid of muscle fatigue, activates the immune system, and increases concentration during training and work.
All the beneficial properties of Eleutherococcus are based on the influence of eleutherosides, which consist of chemicals of various natures (tannins, triterpenes, lignans). Polysaccharides and polyphenols contained in Siberian Eleuthero extract can activate the endocrine glands, stimulate organs and biological processes at several levels.
Cherry flour is one of the bases intended for the preparation of coffee, jelly, compotes, pastries, etc. This product is characterized by low calorie content. It is able to give drinks and products a delicate aroma and spicy bitterness.
For the first time, this flour began to be made by the indigenous inhabitants of Western Siberia several centuries ago. Local cooks used it for the purpose of making sweet dough. To date, baking based on it is still popular, and recipes are passed down from generation to generation.
However, along with the development of technology, new types of drinks are also emerging. For example, today you can make coffee from cherry flour in a coffee machine. It will turn out a delicious and healthy drink. It is recommended to mix with classic coffee in proportions of 50-50. This will provide not only an exquisite taste, but also a taste of rum, which will make the drink truly unusual.
