The sycamore maple
.Sycamore maple grows in our European broadleaf and mixed forests. It is cultivated in parks and gardens. The tree reaches a height of 20 meters. Its crown is spreading, the bark is gray-brown, young shoots are reddish. Leaves on long petioles, palmately five-lobed. Maple flowers are yellowish green. The fruit is flat, with two wings (splits into 2 nuts). The tree blooms in April and May and bears fruit in September.
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Sycamore maple is harvested for medicinal purposes, namely its root and branch bark. The leaves are harvested in the summer, the fruit in the fall, and the juice in the spring.
Alkaloids, saponins, tannins and tannins have been found in maple fruits, roots and branches. The juice contains vitamin C and various organic acids.
In folk medicine, sycamore maple has long been used in the treatment of kidney and bladder diseases, as well as an expectorant for colds. Infusion of crushed fruits washed purulent and difficult to heal wounds. Maple sap replenishes vitamin C in the body, it is also taken as a tonic.
Noble laurel (bobwhite tree)
Rare hostess will not throw in the soup bayberry, because thanks to it the dish turns out more delicious and flavorful. In Hellas and ancient Rome, the noble laurel was considered a sacred tree. It was planted at temples dedicated to the Sun god and the standard of male beauty, the winner was always depicted with a laurel wreath on his head. From time immemorial, the laurel has been a symbol of greatness and victory. But not everyone knows that laurel is a real healer.
Laurel noble is an evergreen tree up to 18 meters tall. Its bark is brown, smooth, and its crown is thick. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, leathery, shiny from above, with a spicy peculiar odor. The flowers are unisexual, consisting of 4 leaflets, they are collected in numerous axillary umbrellas. The fruit is a black-blue elliptic knuckle. Noble laurel blooms in March - May, fruiting in October-November. The tree is cultivated as an ornamental plant.
The leaves are harvested in winter, and the fruit is harvested after ripening.
Laurel is rich in phytoncides, contains many trace elements we need, tannins. Its leaves are rich in essential oil, acids (acetic, valerian, caproic). The fruits contain essential oil, phytosterol, resins, and alcohol.
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Noble laurel is able to detoxify the body, improve immunity. Infusion of it drives out sand and stones from the kidneys, relieves spasms, stimulates the appetite. It is part of a vegetable oil that is used in the treatment of arthritis, myositis, and neuralgia. Infusion is useful to drink with skin diseases, rheumatism, osteochondrosis.
Laurel oil is used externally for the above mentioned diseases.
Lemon (lemon citrus)
Lemon is known to be an evergreen tree, reaching a height of 3-4 meters, the crown of the tree is pyramidal or spreading, prickly. Leaves are oblong-ovate, acuminate, leathery, shiny, with a characteristic odor. The fruit is white, berry-shaped, wrinkled, with seeds. Citrus lemon blooms in May-June, fruiting in November-December.
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The fruit, peel (zest) and juice are harvested for medicinal purposes.
The fruit has citric acid, sugars, potassium salts, copper, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, P, flavonoids, phytoncides. The rind of the fruit, the leaves and the seeds contain essential oil.
Citrus lemon, due to its high content of citric acid, is a good thirst quencher, has diuretic and choleretic effect. Lemon also has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anthelmintic effects.
Tincture of lemon zest excites the appetite, acts soothingly. It has and analgesic effect in rheumatism, gout, sciatica.
Lemon juice is indicated for patients with salt deposition, gout, rheumatism, chronic gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice. And lemon juice diluted with water is used as a mouth and throat rinse. It is used to wipe the skin affected by fungi, and also used to remove freckles and birthmarks..
