Useful and medicinal properties of hazel, use in medicine and contraindications
Many people who try to do without pharmaceutical preparations, replacing them with a natural medicine, are interested in the beneficial properties and contraindications of hazel. The unique composition of the plant and its fruits is able to comprehensively strengthen the body, stabilize the work of organ systems. It is considered a real find in cases when you need to restore health by making a variety of therapeutic and prophylactic agents in the form of decoctions, tinctures, oils.
What does hazel look like and where does it grow
Common hazel is a shrub from the Birch family that adorns coniferous-deciduous forests. The culture grows in the European part of Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Belarus, the Caucasus.
The plant grows up to 3-7 meters in height, is characterized by broad-oval heart-shaped leaves, large in size and having a sharp top. The flexible branches are covered with brown bark and are strewn with many lentils. Male flowers are collected in inflorescences - earrings, female ones - like buds. The fruits are presented in the form of yellow-brown nuts in a sheet wrapper.
Useful properties of the plant
Hazel is popular in both official and folk medicine, as its chemical composition is rich in useful substances. The plant has a positive effect on the functioning of many organs and systems, since it is capable of:
- lower body temperature;
- stimulate the immune system;
- prevent the development of bacterial diseases;
- normalize, facilitate digestion;
- remove stones, sand from the genitourinary system;
- expand blood vessels;
- accelerate the regeneration of the skin, accelerate wound healing;
- strengthen bones, teeth and joints;
- protect against stress and nervous strain;
- restore sexual function.
As a medicinal raw material, both hazel fruits and other parts of the plant are used: leaves, bark.
Nut use
The fruit of hazel is actively used not only by the food industry, but also by traditional healers for preventive and therapeutic purposes against many diseases.
Due to its high calorie content, the product is able to relieve hunger for a long time, saturate and relax the body during stress, physical and mental stress.
From the fruits of hazel, an infusion is made for colds, kidney diseases, edema and problems of the urinary system.Broth is the most effective way to treat dysentery, hormonal disorders. During lactation, women use the product to increase the amount and nutritional value of breast milk. During pregnancy, hazel has a beneficial effect on the growth and formation of the fetus, strengthening its bone and nervous system.
Bark application
Hazel bark is considered an excellent antiseptic and vasodilator. An infusion based on it copes with trophic ulcers, diabetes, poor blood circulation. The useful properties of broths are used for colds, fever, gastrointestinal upset. With the help of this part of the plant, you can alleviate the general condition with varicose ulcers, thrombophlebitis, psoriasis.
The benefits of leaves
The medicinal properties of hazelnut leaves for human health are invaluable from the point of view of both traditional and official medicine. Their rich chemical composition is distinguished by a large amount of valuable essential oils, bioflavonoids, vitamins of groups B, C and K. Decoctions, infusions based on hazel leaves can get rid of such problems as:
- anemia;
- avitaminosis;
- rickets;
- urolithiasis disease;
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- dysfunction of the liver and prostate gland;
- diseases of the digestive system.
The main area of application of this natural raw material is to improve men's health. The beneficial properties of infusions and tinctures from crushed hazel leaves can relieve a man of prostate adenoma.
Oil use
The composition of the oil of the fruit of hazel contains such fatty acids as stearic, oleic, linolenic, palmitic. The product is quickly absorbed by the body and has a positive effect on the immune and circulatory system, prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The oil is used as an antihistamine to get rid of ascaris. In case of burns, egg white can be added to the product, and the resulting composition can be applied to the affected parts of the body.
Hazelnut oil is an irreplaceable product in cosmetology. Contained in fortifiers to prevent breakage and split ends. It is enough to rub a few drops daily into the roots.
Application features
The branches and trunks of the plant are used for weaving baskets, rims for barrels, fishing rods and other devices needed on the farm. If you believe popular beliefs, hazel, endowed with sacred power, can help you gain wealth. The fruits of the plant are widely used in perfumery.
They are also used in confectionery, for the production of sweet products such as cakes, sweets and other desserts.
In addition to the food and cosmetic industry, the use of hazel in medicine is known. All vegetative parts of hazel are used to treat various diseases, making medicinal tinctures, infusions, decoctions from them.
Folk recipes using the plant
Despite the rapid progress in the pharmaceutical industry and through innovation, laboratory testing and testing, many people find natural therapies that have been passed down from generation to generation to be safer and more effective.
Treatment of prostatitis
Warming up is a simple home procedure that is actively used in the treatment of prostatitis to relieve inflammation, relax the urinary tract and quickly pass urine. To do this, fill a saucepan with hazel leaves and bark, add water and cook for 25 minutes. Filter the resulting broth, pour into a basin and warm the prostate area over it. In the morning and in the evening, carry out a similar procedure exclusively from freshly brewed medicinal products.
A tincture of hazel leaves will also help relieve inflammation of the prostate. To do this, take dry raw materials 2 tbsp. l.and grind with a coffee grinder, pour 500 ml of boiling water and set aside for infusion in the heat for 2 hours. Filter and drink every day 4 times before meals. Add honey and lemon to enhance the taste.
With varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers
The result of squeezing the vessels of the small pelvis: difficulty in the outflow of blood to the lower extremities, the development of a number of diseases. Medicines based on common hazel will help correct the situation:
- Take 2 tbsp. l. dry mass from bark, foliage and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Send the solution to a water bath for 30 minutes, then cool. Filter and drink 3 times a day for 1/3 cup.
- Combine 250 ml of vodka with 3 tbsp. l. dry hazel leaves, leave for 10 days. Strain and consume 35 drops 2 times a day.
With a fever
Step by step recipe:
- Turning on a slow fire, boil a mixture of 1 liter of boiling water and 3 tbsp for 15 minutes. l. dried hazel bark. Cool, strain, add a little boiled water so that the volume is 1 liter. Drink 1/3 cup before meals until symptoms disappear.
- Grind 200 g of fruit kernels as small as possible and combine with 200 ml of water. Drink the resulting mixture, 50 ml 3 times a day.
- Grind 1 tbsp. l. bark in a coffee grinder until smooth, pour 500 ml of boiling water and send for 15 minutes to a water bath. Strain the composition, dilute a little with boiled water. Drink 100 ml 4 times a day before meals.
With bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy
Folk recipes:
- Grind 50 g of hazel fruits using a coffee grinder, combine them with 200 ml of warmed milk. Drink 100 ml three times a day 2 hours after meals.
- Combine a handful of hazel fruits with boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Grind the infusion in a blender and put on low heat, bring to a boil. Cool and filter the resulting liquid, add 5 tbsp. l. cream and 1 tbsp. l. honey. Mix thoroughly, consume 30 g 2 times a day before meals for about 2 weeks.
With helminthiasis
In the case of ascariasis, take 1 tbsp for 3 weeks. l. hazelnut oil 4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.
With diarrhea
Pour 200 ml of boiling water with 20 g of dry hazel leaves, leave for 2 hours and filter. Drink 50 ml 4 times a day.
For the treatment of jaundice
Fill a 1L jar halfway with dried hazel leaves and pour over with dry white wine. Seal tightly and send to a warm place for 7 days, shake regularly. Filter and drink 50 ml 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
With burns
Take 3-5 kernels of hazel fruits and grind to a powder and mix with the protein of one egg. Apply to affected skin, rinse gently after 20 minutes.
In case of urolithiasis Dry hazel leaves crushed to a powder state are sent to a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Insist 8 hours and use 50 ml 4 times a day before meals for no more than a month.
With a breakdown and anemia
Squeeze the juice from the vegetative parts of the bush and drink 2 tbsp. l., stirring with ½ tsp. honey, on an empty stomach 3 times a day for 1 month.
Contraindications to use
Hazel is a fairly allergenic product, so before supplementing it with a diet and using it as a treatment, you should make sure that there is no allergy.
Restriction on taking hazel:
- obesity;
- severe diabetes;
- diathesis;
- serious violations of the functioning of the kidneys and liver;
- exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases associated with high acidity.
It should be taken with caution in case of hypertension, neurodermatitis, psoriasis and other skin problems. The daily intake of the fetus is 30-50 g, exceeding the specified dose will provoke heaviness in the stomach, headache, and with severe overeating - rashes, anaphylactic shock.
A child from the age of three is recommended to include hazel in the menu, gradually increasing the dose, starting from 2 fruits.
The use of hazel in cosmetology
Hazel oil is actively used in cosmetology. It can be seen in many medicines, moisturizers, hair and nail strengthening products. Hazelnut oil is a great way to massage the whole body and prevent sunburn while relaxing on the beach.
Collection and storage tips
Harvesting of hazel fruits occurs at the end of August - beginning of September. The ripeness of a nut is determined by the yellowing of its wrapper. You can harvest if the fruit begins to fall off when you shake the bush. Peel the collected hazelnuts and arrange in one layer at room conditions for 1-2 weeks. Check readiness for long-term storage by a ringing sound when a handful of nuts are scattered. Only then should they be sent for storage in bags made of thick fabric or paper that allow air to pass through well.
For thousands of years, people, using hazel every day, do not even suspect what benefits the product brings to the body and how it can be used for their own purposes. In order to remove the maximum number of medicinal properties, it is imperative to familiarize yourself with the information provided and use the product not only because of its pleasant taste, but because of its healing power.
