Chemical composition
.Because of its unique content of mineral salts and other biologically active substances, cranberries are considered one of the most beneficial berries found in nature.
The fruit contains calcium, potassium, iodine, iron, magnesium, silver, copper, lead, barium, manganese, and vitamins Bl, B2, K, C, and PP.
In addition, cranberries contain oflavonoids, glycoside vaccininin, triterpene acids - oleanolic and ursolic, as well as organic acids - benzoic, citric, cinnamic and oxaglutaric.
In addition, cranberry fruits contain glucose, fructose, pectin, tannins, tannins, nitrogenous and coloring substances and phytoncides.
In particular, the high amount of benzoic acid allows cranberries to be stored throughout the winter without heat treatment or added preservatives.
Application in folk medicine
In folk medicine, cranberries are used for many diseases (discussed below).
Above all, berries are recommended for various diseases of the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract.
Cranberry juice helps to cleanse festering wounds, they treat burns and long non-healing ulcers.
However, the medicinal raw material is not only cranberry berries, but also the leaves of the plant.
Cranberries have long been used as an antibacterial, thirst quencher, diuretic and antipyretic.
Its berries have the property to normalize the function of the pancreas and regulate blood clotting.
The latter makes the use of cranberries particularly valuable in cardiovascular diseases.
In these cases, cranberries are eaten fresh, unsweetened, several times a day.
Cranberry juice with honey is irreplaceable in coughs, and as an anti-cinching potion use an infusion made from fresh berries.
Bulgarian phytotherapists recommend cranberry as a tonic, which increases physical activity and mental abilities of a person.
You can use the cranberry plant as a vitamin supplement in therapeutic fasting.
To do this, you need to dilute 1 tablespoon of cranberry juice in 1 glass of clean water and sweeten the drink with a small amount of natural honey.
In order to tone up cranberries are used with rosehip infusion, as well as in the form of cranberry morsels (recipe see.
In chap.
5).
From cranberries prepare ointment that can reduce pain and relieve inflammation of the skin.
However, cranberries should not be used as a therapeutic agent for gastric or duodenal ulcers.
As for official medicine, scientists have long ago revealed the mechanism of how cranberry juice has a healing effect on the human body.
Cranberries owe their ability to resist pathogenic bacteria to their high concentration of tannin.
Numerous studies have proven that cranberry juice helps prevent infectious diseases.
The tannin present in cranberry juice prevents germs from entering the cells and, most remarkably, enhances the effects of any medication.
Experiments have confirmed the ability of cranberries to multiply the effects of antibiotics.
Therefore, cranberries are recommended in the treatment of not only colds, but also for many other diseases, such as genitourinary diseases.
In general, the course of such diseases depends largely on the composition of the urine.
If it has too many alkaline components, bacteria are allowed to multiply unhindered.
Cranberry juice naturally acidifies urine, which prevents the growth and development of pathological microflora.
In addition, recent studies have shown that some natural components of cranberries prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract, which has a devastating effect on their reproduction and prevents the progression of inflammatory processes.
Since cranberries have not only antimicrobial, but also a moderate diuretic effect, they are used for the prevention and treatment of any diseases of the genitourinary sphere diseases of the kidneys, bladder, inflammatory diseases of the female and male reproductive system, etc.
д.
Cranberries also prevent the formation of kidney and bladder stones, and in their presence significantly alleviates the condition of the patient.
The berry also finds use in getting rid of postpartum complications.
The cranberry plant is used for many diseases as a natural vitamin, antipyretic and thirst quencher.
The peoples of the North store cranberries for the winter as a source of vitamin C.
But the healing properties of cranberries are determined not only by the high content of ascorbic acid and tannin.
The unique mineral composition of the plant is also of great value.
For example, the potassium salts contained in the berries, having a diuretic effect, can help with edema accompanying diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Boron, iodine and manganese lower blood pressure.
In addition, folk medicine uses the plant cranberry as a tonic, increasing physical and mental activity of a person, appetite, promoting better digestion of food.
The famous cranberry morsels help not only with flu or sore throat, but also with rheumatism.
It is also given to angina patients as a mild vasodilator.
And if you add cranberries to the diet in a salt-free diet, it helps to improve the taste of food and partially replaces the absence of sodium salts.
Studies of the properties of cranberries, conducted in recent years, have shown that this berry is a unique means of protection against food poisoning, as it shows a unique ability to inhibit the growth and development of Escherichia coli bacteria, salmonella and other dangerous microorganisms in food.
Specifically, in the experiments, the scientists added cranberry juice to spoiled raw ground beef.
After a few days, they found that the amount of bacteria present in the mincemeat was significantly reduced.
The scientific opinion that the antimicrobial effect of cranberry juice will serve in the future to control the quality of foodstuffs and thereby contribute to the prevention of food poisoning can now be regarded as established.
The widespread use of cranberries in the treatment of urinary tract and gum diseases is due to the proanthocyanidin it contains, a natural component characterized by both antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.
It is due to the high content of proanthocyanidin, which exceeds the percentage of this substance in any other fruit or berry, cranberries are able to suppress harmful bacteria and simultaneously strengthen the body's defenses.
At the same time, its resistance to pathogens and free radicals increases to such an extent that it reduces the risk of serious chronic diseases, even such as heart disease.
