Blood-red hawthorn (Crataegus sanguinea); glit, glot, glozhina; the Rose family (Rosaceae); blood-red hawthorn
During the whole year, this low tree, sometimes a bush, pleases the eyes. In the flowering season, it is covered with white-pink flowers that attract bees and other pollinating insects. In summer, the lacy, juicy, dark green leaves of the plant look fresh and elegant. In autumn, the bright fruits of hawthorn can be seen from afar. Even in winter, fastidiously curved strong branches with prickly shoots attract the eye. In addition, the plant is extremely useful.
The genus to which the hawthorn belongs is very large, according to various sources, it has from 200 to 1000 species. In Russia, there are more than 50 species, but only a few of them are the most common. Blood-red hawthorn has the most important, mostly medicinal and food value. It is usually a tree 4-6 m tall, but sometimes it is also a tall bush. Hawthorn grows in the European part of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia in groups in sparse forests, sometimes singly, on the edges of forests and on the shores of reservoirs. Introduced into culture. In Ukraine, it is grown as an ornamental plant.
There are spines 2.5-5 cm long on the purple-brown shoots of the plant. The leaves are dark green on top, and light green on the bottom, obovate, sometimes wide-rhombic, 3-7-lobed or large-toothed, with rough-serrated edges. The flowers are regular, bisexual, pale pink, in dense shield-like inflorescences, blooming in May-June. The fruit is a large, red, apple-shaped object that ripens in early autumn. Sometimes it is yellow, yellow-hot, and in other species it is black. Hawthorn lives for a long time, up to 300 years. The plant is often used in landscaping. As it grows, it forms an impenetrable thorny hedge.
In scientific and folk medicine, flowers with leaves and fruits of blood-red hawthorn are used (in addition to this species, flowers and fruits of 5-6 other species can be collected). Flowers are collected at the beginning of flowering, when only a part of them has bloomed. Dry in the shade in the air. The fruits are collected at the time of their full ripeness. Dry in ovens or dryers at a temperature of 50-60 °C.
The flowers of the plant contain flavonoids, quercetin, organic acids, amines; leaves — flavonoids, organic acids, essential oil. The fruits are rich in carotene, starch, sugars, organic acids and vitamins (C, A, K).
Hawthorn exhibits cardiotonic, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), sedative, antispasmodic and desensitizing (anti-\allergic) effects. The direction of action of plant products depends on their dosage. In small doses, the products tone the work of the heart, increase heart contractions, normalize blood pressure, in large doses, they have an antispasmodic and sedative effect. When they are used, a restful and restful sleep comes. Any derivatives of hawthorn are not toxic and do not cause side effects. Most often, they are used for coronary insufficiency with symptoms of angina pectoris, as well as for hypertension, atherosclerosis, increased nervous excitability, loss of consciousness, acute form of articular rheumatism. Infusions of flowers and fruits help with climacteric neuroses.
Hawthorn flowers and fruits are often added to medicinal teas and collections. The most effective products are made from fresh flowers. Hawthorn berries are especially useful for diabetics.
Hawthorn is famous not only as a medicine. The fruits of the plant, which are called apples (in fact, they are miniature apples), are quite suitable for consumption. they can be used raw, dried, and prepared in various dishes. Raw fruits are quite sweet and floury. Dried apples are ground, brewed and used to fill pies. In Siberia, ground dried fruits of hawthorn used to be added to grain flour. For compotes and jelly, there is no better piquant addition than dry apples of this plant. To get jelly from hawthorn, the fruits are boiled with milk, after boiling the jelly turns into a wonderful pastille, which you cannot buy in stores.
However, you should not eat a lot of raw berries, as this can cause mild discomfort.
Hawthorn leaves are used as a substitute for tea, and roasted berries, mixed with other plant components, are brewed to imitate a coffee drink.
Hawthorn is a wonderful spring honey plant, its honey productivity reaches 50 kg from 1 hectare of plantations.
The wood of this plant is very strong, suitable for the manufacture of various products, and the crushed roots of Hawthorn are a high-quality raw material for obtaining a yellow food dye.
Tincture of flowers. 10 g of fresh flowers are poured with 100 ml of 70% alcohol, infused for 2 weeks, filtered. Take 15-20 drops in a glass of water 3 times a day. When using the tincture as a sedative, the dose is increased by 2-3 times.
Infusion of flowers. 1 tablespoon of dry flowers is poured with 200 ml of boiling water, infused until cooled, filtered. Take 1/2 cup from 2 to 8 times a day.
Tincture of fruits. 10 g of dry crushed fruits are infused in 100 ml of 70% alcohol for 2 weeks, filtered. Take 30-40 drops in a glass of water.
Fruit infusion. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dry, chopped fruits, infuse until cool, filter. Take 1/2-1/3 cup 2-3 times a day.