How to brew lingonberry leaves. All about the beneficial properties of lingonberry leaves. Raw material requirements

Translated from Latin, "lingonberry" means "vine from Mount Ida", although this plant has nothing to do with grapes. Different from the heat-loving "Isabella" or "Ladyfingers", it grows in tundra zones, swamps and forests. Lingonberry is a useful plant, famous not only for its small berries, but also for its medicinal leaves. Official medicine recognizes their healing effect on a par with folk medicine. Why are lingonberry leaves so good: medicinal properties and contraindications - what does the plant have more of? What diseases are indicated for their use and is lingonberry leaf allowed during pregnancy and in childhood? We will try to find answers to all these questions.

Lingonberry leaves: medicinal properties and contraindications

Have you ever seen how lingonberries grow? Berries are scattered with droplets of blood on a carpet of foliage. They are visible to the birds from above, and the birds fly down for the berries, and then the lingonberry seeds are carried over long distances. So the berry travels.

Its bushes, the shoots of which have to make their way even in rotten stumps between the bark of trees, grow up to a meter in length, but the average size of a plant growing on the soil is about 10-12 centimeters. Lingonberry leaf, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which have long been studied, is a valuable part of the plant.

The leaves of lingonberries are leathery, arranged alternately, often with a shiny surface, no more than 3 centimeters long. The lower part of each leaflet is strewn with small dotted pits, in which a club-shaped formation is located. The walls of this formation are filled with mucus that absorbs moisture. Water, wetting the upper leaf surface, passes down, filling the pits and being absorbed by the leaf. Lingonberry belongs to the evergreen plant. Why are its leaves so useful?

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Composition and benefits

• phenolic glycosides;
• tannins;
• glycosides;
• acids - gallic, quinic, ellagic, tartaric;
• arbutin (natural antiseptic);
• flavonoids;
• macro- and microelements

Phytopreparation has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, astringent, choleretic properties. It is highly active in the fight against Staphylococcus aureus, enhances the action of antibiotics, activates the body's defenses, and participates in nitrogen metabolism.

Main indications for use:

• diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract (nephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, etc.);
• prostatitis;
• swelling;
• arthritis;
• diseases of the lower and upper respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, etc.);
• gastritis;
• diabetes;
• dental diseases (sores in the mouth, stomatitis);
• hepatitis, etc.

With these diseases, a decoction of lingonberry leaf is used as a medicine as part of a complex treatment. Please consult your doctor before using!

For women

The benefits of lingonberry leaf for women are invaluable. Firstly, it is a safe natural remedy for diseases of the female genitourinary system. Secondly, lingonberry leaf is a good helper in losing weight. Thirdly, a decoction of lingonberry leaves is a source of vitamins and useful components for the whole organism.

Cowberry leaves are allowed during pregnancy - this is one of the few herbal remedies prescribed by gynecologists. Many expectant mothers are faced with edema. This problem is especially evident in the third trimester. Lingonberry leaf during pregnancy from edema is a safe and effective remedy. The decoction has a diuretic effect, removing excess fluid from the body. Lingonberries during pregnancy can also be prescribed as a cure for cystitis, which also affects a woman who is expecting a baby.

For men

And what does the lingonberry leaf help the male sex from? A decoction of it relieves inflammation of the genitourinary system, it helps in the fight against prostatitis. Another lingonberry leaf can significantly increase immunity.

For kids

From what age is a lingonberry leaf allowed for children, what does it help from? Pediatricians do not recommend herbal remedies for young children because of possible allergic reactions. However, after three years, lingonberry tea can be given little by little to children with inflammatory processes and as a general tonic. After 12 years, there are practically no contraindications to the use of herbal medicine.

For the kidneys

As a cure for kidney diseases, both an extract from dry lingonberry leaves and a decoction based on them are used. Glycoside arbutin in their composition is an active active ingredient against urinary tract infections. Cowberry leaf is prescribed for such a kidney disease as pyelonephritis - this is a non-specific inflammation of the organ, it happens - with damage to the kidney tubules. This is a disease of a bacterial nature, can occur in both acute and chronic stages.

In addition to pyelonephritis, lingonberry leaf is effective for:

• hydronephrosis;
• glomerulonephritis;
• urolithiasis.

There is reason to believe that arbutin is a source of increased carcinogenic effects on the body. However, there is also a point of view that it can reduce the risk of cancer. Studies by German scientists have shown that up to 75% of arbutin is naturally excreted in the urine, and the same arbutin, which has been transformed into a potential carcinogen hydroquinone, has an antimicrobial effect on the urinary tract and kidneys, which explains the benefits of lingonberry leaf for the body. Therefore, there is no official confirmation that the risk of oncology from arbutin is real.

With cystitis

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. There are several forms of the disease.

Cystitis happens:

• primary;
• secondary;
• spicy;
• chronic;
• specific or nonspecific infectious;
• non-infectious: medicinal, chemical, toxic, allergic.

Secondary cystitis is characterized by a previous or "background" disease of the bladder or nearby organs. Infectious occurs due to urinary tract infections. Among pathogens, E. coli are more common. Frequent inflammation factors are injuries of the bladder mucosa, impaired venous outflow in the pelvic organs, hormonal disruptions, hypothermia, etc. Women are more prone to cystitis than men. According to statistics, at least once cystitis was in 40% of women on the planet.

Lingonberry leaves with cystitis have an antimicrobial effect, their role is a natural diuretic that allows you to achieve recovery.

For gout

Gout is an insidious disease, there is a deposition of uric acid salts in the organs. The concentration of uric acid in the blood with gout increases, which leads to acute arthritis and the formation of tophi - gouty nodes. Lingonberry leaf is used both as a prophylactic against the disease, and as an auxiliary therapeutic for blocking gout attacks.

Lingonberry leaves: instructions for use

Take lingonberry leaf for medicinal purposes inside. You can buy ready-made filter bags and brew like tea, or you can adjust the dosage using raw materials that are not packaged in bags, prepared both on your own and bought at a pharmacy.

The infusion is prepared as follows:

• A tablespoon of the leaf is steamed in a glass of boiling water, allowed to brew, filtered and taken orally 1/3 cup before meals three times a day to relieve swelling and strengthen the immune system.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of raw materials with 500 ml of boiling water and heat for 15 minutes in a water bath. Then let it brew for an hour, filter and bring with boiling water to the original volume. Before meals, take ¼ cup three times a day.
• As a diuretic, an infusion of 1 part of raw materials and 10 parts of water is taken 3-4 times a day before meals for a tablespoon.
• To rinse the mouth with stomatitis or the throat with acute respiratory infections, a decoction of a glass of boiling water and a teaspoon of lingonberry leaf is used.
• With pyelonephritis in the chronic stage, a decoction is made from lingonberry leaves, flaxseed and nettle seeds (20 grams each) and horsetail, birch leaf and dandelion root (10 grams each). A tablespoon of the herbal mixture is poured into 300 ml of boiling water, insisted and taken half a cup twice a day.

Price

What attracts in this herbal medicine is that it is possible to buy lingonberry leaves in a pharmacy for little money. A cardboard pack with raw materials in the amount of 50 grams costs about 50-80 rubles. Filter bags will be more expensive - from 85 rubles for 20 pieces. The price depends on the manufacturer of the drug and the margin of the pharmacy chain.

Lingonberry is a useful and widely known plant. In folk medicine, not only its berries are used, but also leaves, and even roots. Lingonberry leaves have many medicinal properties and are suitable for many patients, since they have very few contraindications for use. Lingonberry leaves are not inferior in therapeutic effect to many herbal remedies and medicines.

The composition of the leaves contains vitamins and minerals, flavonoids, acids, tannins, therefore, infusions and teas from this plant material are used both as a general tonic and as a medicine for various diseases. But, although herbal remedies are considered safe, it is worth studying the rules for using this raw material so as not to harm yourself.

Cowberry fruits and foliage contain a huge amount of components valuable for the human body, which determine the beneficial properties and contraindications for use:

What are lingonberry leaves good for?

To properly use the plant, you need to know exactly what it helps from and how to prepare medicines based on it. Lingonberry leaves are used in the treatment of such pathologies:

Application for women

For women during menopause, lingonberries help to cope with severe symptoms - intense hot flashes and nervousness, as well as reduce excessive sweating and blood stasis in the system. Also, decoctions of the leaves are used for painful urination or retention of urine in the body.

Good to know!

Also, infusions from the leaves are useful during pregnancy - this significantly reduces swelling, and also prevents the development of anemia in both the mother and the developing fetus.

Benefits for men

Prostatitis is one of the most common pathologies in men over 40 years of age. This disease not only brings discomfort and soreness in the pelvic organs, but also contributes to the development of impotence. Prostatitis develops due to both genital and urethral infections, as well as due to low immunity, frequent hypothermia, prolonged sexual abstinence, and addictions.

Lingonberry foliage will help relieve a man from the symptoms of prostatitis due to the following properties:

• diuretic action with disinfectant effect;
• anti-inflammatory action and immunostimulating effect.

You need to drink lingonberry tea twice a day - for 200 ml of boiling water, 12 g of crushed raw materials (leaves). Insist 10-15 minutes. You can add organic honey or sugar.

Despite the medicinal properties of lingonberries, there are also contraindications for use for men:

• low pressure indicators;
• stone disease of the kidneys, bladder.

The main contraindications and harm to the body

In order for lingonberry foliage to benefit the body, and not cause harm, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the rules of admission and contraindications. Leaves should not be taken if:

• hypotension (leaves lower the blood pressure index);
• allergies to components in the composition of this plant;
• increased acidity of gastric secretion;
• kidney dysfunction.

With low pressure and high acidity, there are no categorical prohibitions on the use of the leaves of this plant in therapy, but it is necessary to be treated in a course - 1-2 weeks with a monthly break. It is also necessary to monitor the state of the body, if negative symptoms occur when taking the remedy, then it is necessary to stop the course of therapy and consult a doctor.

How to take lingonberry leaves for swelling

To eliminate puffiness, lingonberry infusions and concentrated decoctions are most often used:

• 1 tsp leaves + 200 ml of boiling water;
• insist 30 minutes and filter;
• drink four times a day for 50 ml, or twice for 100 ml.

The pharmacy chain sells ready-made tea to reduce puffiness in filter bags. It is necessary to pour 2 sachets into 100 ml of boiling water for 30 minutes. After insisting, squeeze the bags and add 100 ml of boiling water. Take four times a day for 2 tbsp. l.

As a diuretic

The most powerful herbal diuretic is precisely the foliage of the lingonberry bush. Concentrated infusions have a pronounced diuretic effect. For 200 ml of boiling water, take 20-25 g of foliage and insist in a thermos for 6-8 hours. The dosage and frequency of administration are determined by the doctor based on the pathology and the degree of its progression.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, swelling can accompany a woman in all 3 trimesters. Edema is especially often manifested in the later stages of bearing a child. An infusion of lingonberry bush leaves from edema during pregnancy is prepared as follows:

• 1 tsp dry leaves + 200 ml of boiling water;
• insist 20-30 minutes and filter.

Attention!

Take no more than 200 ml per day, divided into 4 doses of 50 ml each.

In addition to swelling during pregnancy, other pathologies appear, in which it is necessary to take an infusion of lingonberry leaf plates:

• with an increase in the glucose index in the blood;
• to strengthen immunity and with viral pathologies;
• for the treatment and prevention of colds;
• with hyperthermic syndrome.

Reviews of doctors and patients about the use of edema during pregnancy

Reviews about the leaves of the lingonberry bush are mixed. Some pregnant patients literally saved themselves with this remedy, others noted the low effectiveness of the herbal remedy and increased allergenicity:

Angelica, 23 years old: “Cranberry did not help me at all, neither in the treatment of cystitis, nor in reducing swelling. I treated edema in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy with Kanefron. He helped me."

Maria, 29 years old: “Tea with lingonberry leaves helped me in all trimesters, and now, with the first symptoms of cystitis or swelling, I drink 200 ml of lingonberry tea three times a day.”

Anna, 30 years old: “I have constant edema, at the end of the day I don’t fit into shoes at all, lingonberry decoctions don’t help me at all, I try to treat puffiness with cranberry juice.”

Victoria, 33 years old: “I had terrible swelling in all 3 pregnancies. During the first pregnancy, I took Kanefron, and in the second and third, I save myself with lingonberry decoctions. They not only reduce swelling, but also replenish the body with healing components.

Natalya Sokolova, obstetrician-gynecologist: “It is necessary to use lingonberry herbal remedies during pregnancy with caution in order to avoid the development of allergies, which most often develop in pregnant women.”

Rules for the use of lingonberry leaves for various diseases

Rules for the use of herbal remedies based on lingonberry leaves for various pathologies:

• therapy with medicinal infusions or decoctions is carried out as a course;
• for auxiliary treatment for inflammation in the respiratory organs, inhalations with concentrated decoctions can be carried out;
• with urogenital pathologies, it is recommended to use lingonberry infusions for douching;
• lingonberry juice lowers blood pressure and has a beneficial effect on the epidermis, so it is added to masks for the treatment of facial skin;
• decoctions from dry foliage are used to treat dandruff and strengthen hair follicles;
• tea from the leaves and berries of lingonberries is recommended to drink daily for weight loss;
• dried leaves can be added to the dish as a condiment.

From high blood pressure

50 g of lingonberry leaves and inflorescences + 500 ml of water. Cook over very low heat for 20-25 minutes. Leave for 5 hours and filter. Take three times a day, 100 ml.

For gout

100 g dry leaves + 2500 ml boiling water. Insist 2 hours in a thermos. After filtering, add 200 ml of vodka to the infusion and put on a very low heat for 15 minutes. Drink 100 ml three times a day 20-30 minutes before eating.

For kidney disease

For the treatment of renal pathologies, you can use such an infusion - 10 g of lingonberry leaves + 100 ml of boiling water. Keep for 2 hours and filter. Drink three or four times a day for 1-2 tbsp. l.

With cystitis

With inflammation in the bladder, you need to take 1 tbsp. l. leaves crushed in 200 ml of boiling water. Infuse for 60 minutes and filter. Drink twice a day, 100 ml 20-30 minutes before meals.

With gallstone disease

With stones in the gallbladder or with cholecystitis, it is necessary to make such a decoction:

• 2 tbsp. l. leaves + 200 ml of boiling water;
• boil in a steam-water bath for 30 minutes and insist 60 minutes;
• filter and use twice or thrice a day for 70-100 ml.

For rheumatism

Using a leaf of a lingonberry bush will help to remove uric acid, which is the cause of almost all joint pathologies. Decoction recipe:

• 1 st. l. crushed dry leaves;
• 500 ml of water;
• cook on low heat for 15 minutes;
• let it brew for 3-4 hours and filter;
• drink 5 times a day, 100 ml.

For uterine bleeding

To reduce bleeding from the uterus, you can use this recipe:

• 3 art. l. crushed leaves + 500 ml of water;
• boil over low heat for 10 minutes and let the broth cool;
• after cooling, filter the liquid;
• divide the volume into 6-8 receptions. Therapeutic course - 3 days.

In the age of synthetic chemistry and an abundance of drugs, people began to pay attention to folk recipes and herbalists. Natural remedies are safer and their positive effect on the body has been proven, it is not denied by official medicine. But even in this case, the right approach and a well-thought-out treatment regimen are important. For example, many people know that lingonberry leaves have a diuretic effect, but for different health problems, their use is different.

Chemical composition

One of the main components in the composition of the lingonberry leaf is tannins (10%), which give the “healing potion” a characteristic taste. The anti-inflammatory and astringent properties of this ingredient have been used for diarrhea. It was this healing property that was considered the main one for a long time.

Biochemists, after conducting a detailed analysis of the composition of the leaves of the northern berry, discovered a whole range of useful substances:

• phytoncides that destroy microorganisms;
• flavonoids (plant pigments), which have antioxidant properties and keep the cardiovascular system in good shape;
• carotenoids (plant pigments), which normalize metabolic processes and protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals;
• phenolic glycosides (9%) that can relieve inflammation and have diuretic properties;
• organic acids that affect the condition of the skin and "control" the work of the digestive tract;
• vitamins A, C, E, group B and a set of trace elements, the medicinal properties of which are multifaceted;
• coumarins that can dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow, reducing the risk of thrombosis.

In its pure form, lingonberry leaf is used for diseases, most often associated with the excretory system. Its diuretic properties have been known since ancient times. In the collections, it is recommended for metabolic processes, helping the body recover and keeping it in good shape, since in terms of biochemical composition it is at the level of a number of medications.

Medicinal properties

The beneficial properties of lingonberry leaves are used as the main or auxiliary agent (depending on the severity of the disease) for treatment in urology and nephrology. These are the main areas of medicine where the leaves of the northern shrub are used.

A drink from a lingonberry leaf has the ability to remove excess fluid, removing puffiness in various pathologies. Due to tannins with antiseptic properties, the infusion is used in the treatment of infections of the oral cavity: with stomatitis, periodontal disease, gingivitis, tonsillitis, ulceration of the mucous membrane.

Lingonberry leaves for men are a lifesaver in the case when prostatitis develops. When using only the leaves of the Siberian berry, the medicinal properties are not as pronounced as when used in combination with other herbs. For example, a combination of horsetail, stinging nettle and lingonberry leaves give a stable positive result.

In addition to the traditional properties of lingonberry leaf, it is an additional remedy that is used:

• for cleansing of toxins and toxins;
• with low acidity of gastric juice;
• to increase the body's defenses;
• as a means of improving the processes of digestion;
• to improve the condition of the skin;
• as an antipyretic drink;
• with an unstable psyche;
• to improve protein metabolism.

Leaf decoctions in the treatment of herpes, arthritis, diabetes, osteochondrosis. In some cases, it is used as a prophylactic for iron deficiency anemia and as an additional remedy for allergies. The effect in the treatment of these diseases is individual and is not confirmed by official medicine.

Lingonberry leaves during pregnancy from edema

Cowberry leaf has the ability to maintain the physical condition of a pregnant woman due to the vitamin and mineral complex. It belongs to tonic drinks and improves the well-being of the mother and the unborn baby. But the main problem that lingonberry tea solves is swelling. According to statistics, they occur during pregnancy in 8 out of 10 women. The reason is the abundance of fluid in the body, which, according to the laws of gravity, rushes to the lower extremities.

Most often, swelling is observed in the last stages of pregnancy. Use lingonberries from edema in the form of tea. The filter bag is brewed in a glass of boiling water (100 ml) and taken with meals 2 times a day. For pregnant women, for whom most therapeutic synthetic drugs are contraindicated, this is a way out.

If during pregnancy a woman has urinary tract diseases or nephropathy (kidney tissue damage), then doctors prescribe a decoction of lingonberry leaves.

lingonberry leaves diuretic

The diuretic properties of the leaves are superior in their effect to some drugs, so their decoctions are used for:

• pyelonephritis;
• urolithiasis: with stones and sand in the kidneys and bladder;
• cholelithiasis, cleansing the ducts of the liver;
• urethritis;
• enuresis;
• cystitis.

If you take a tincture of a lingonberry leaf for a long time, then there is a crushing of urate stones in the kidneys and ureter into smaller stones that are easily washed out of the body (the opinion is debatable, there are contraindications). Decay products and pathogens are also excreted in the urine. Due to the diuretic effect, the excretory system is cleansed. Lingonberry leaves as a diuretic are actively used in the practice of official medicine.

Medicinal herb refers to strong diuretics. Taking several glasses of decoction per day leads to dehydration, so it is contraindicated during lactation. The ability to remove fluid provokes a decrease in mother's milk.

Lingonberry leaves for weight loss

Opinions about the use of lingonberry collection for weight loss are quite controversial. The components of the leaves of the shrub have a positive effect on metabolic processes, have a choleretic and diuretic effect. Lingonberries for weight loss are used based on the principle: we lose water - weight decreases.

This is the wrong way to lose weight. In order for the breakdown of fats to occur, it is important to maintain water balance, and not take a “hard step” towards dehydration. With the loss of water, the ability to decompose lipids is markedly reduced. Due to the diuretic property, the body is indeed able to lose 1-2 kg, but this is not the approach that overweight people should strive for.

How to take lingonberry leaves for kidneys

In the treatment of kidneys, not only the diuretic effect is important. In some cases it is necessary

• relieve inflammation;
• reduce pain;
• normalize blood pressure;
• improve metabolic processes;
• increase the body's resistance to infections.

Cowberry leaves have all these medicinal properties in full measure. Usually herbal collection is used in a mixture with other medicinal plants, which enhances the therapeutic effect.

Lingonberry leaves are taken as a diuretic and for other purposes in the form of teas, decoctions and infusions. The recipe depends on the specific disease and is prepared taking into account the patient's condition under the close supervision of a physician.

A lingonberry leaf can help or harm. Each of the kidney diseases proceeds with its own characteristics, which is important to consider. The strong diuretic properties of the herb in some cases lead to an exacerbation of the disease and poor health. For example, a lingonberry leaf is contraindicated in acute cystitis, which occurs against the background of severe pain.

How to brew and take lingonberry leaves

The therapeutic effect of the leaves of the Siberian shrub depends on the correctly selected method of brewing and the rate of consumption. The following points are important:

1. Compliance with the dosage: the amount of raw lingonberries should not be measured "by eye". If the dose of the medicinal drug is indicated in scales, then you need to weigh the lingonberry leaves on the scales. Dosage in teaspoons or tablespoons greatly simplifies measurement.
2. Compliance with the recipe: brew and infuse the herbal collection should be according to the instructions.
3. Compliance with the frequency and duration of admission. Only the recommended amount of the drink gives a therapeutic effect that can be beneficial. Children's doses are smaller and usually differ in concentration, which should be taken into account when preparing leaves of swamp wild plants.

Since the lingonberry leaf is dense and leathery, decoctions are used to achieve a diuretic effect. In this case, all the necessary components in high concentration are in the solution. Herbal preparations are often prepared in the form of decoctions or teas.

Lingonberry infusion

To influence the medicinal properties of a diuretic infusion, the following recipe is used:

• take 5 g of dried lingonberry leaves;
• steamed in 100 g of boiling water;
• insist for an hour;
• filter and divide into 4 portions;
• taken before meals throughout the day.

Vodka infusion is prepared on lingonberry leaves, which has a wide spectrum of action and is effective for inflammation of the genitourinary system and kidney diseases. The infusion also has a diuretic effect.

Lingonberry leaf tea

The benefits and harms of lingonberry leaf tea tend to be beneficial. It is not recommended only for hypertension and cholecystitis. In other cases, its healing properties are manifested. Tea is recommended in the diet for kidney diseases. His recipe is simple:

• 1 st. l. dry leaves pour 200 g of water and bring to a boil;
• boil for 15 minutes;
• strain and cool;
• take 1/2 cup 3 times a day.

In inflammatory processes of the urinary tract, drinks and fruit drinks are useful. Berry mix is ​​prepared from,. It helps to get rid of cystitis: due to the diuretic property, bacteria do not have time to create colonies on the mucous membranes and are quickly excreted from the body.

A decoction of lingonberry leaves

The broth is good because when boiling, all the necessary components are in full in solution. Since lingonberry leaves are leathery and dense, this method allows you to get a rich composition. It is especially useful when used as a single drug without other components.

You can prepare it in the following way:

1. Dry leaves in the amount of 10 g are poured into 200 ml of water.
2. Boil for 10 minutes (in the treatment of cystitis - half an hour).
3. Cool and filter.
4. Make up to 200 ml by adding water, green tea or decoction.
5. Take 1 tbsp. l. before meals (for cystitis - drink ½ cup of warm potion after meals).

The use of this recipe helps to soften and remove small pebbles and sand, cleanse the body of toxins and excess salts due to the diuretic effect.

Another healing property is the ability to cleanse the skin and give it tone, strengthening the vessels of the face. The composition of the decoction of lingonberry leaves protects the epidermis from adverse environmental factors, creating a "protective shell" on the surface.

10 g of leaves of a northern shrub are poured into 300 ml of water, put on fire and boiled for 8-10 minutes. Defend and filter. Lingonberries for the face are useful as a natural cleanser and make-up remover. The decoction is introduced into the composition of tonics, lotions, masks.

When to harvest, how to dry and store lingonberry leaves

The spring months are suitable for collecting leathery leaves, when the shrub has not yet bloomed, as well as the autumn period after the berries have ripened. The leaves are dried in a dry, ventilated room. Drying under a canopy in the air with through ventilation is also suitable.

Dried lingonberry leaves turn brown (sometimes black) in color. They are stored up to 3 years in canvas or paper bags. After this period, they lose their medicinal properties, and the diuretic effect is reduced to zero.

Cowberry leaves should be collected away from roads and industrial areas, as the leaves are highly absorbent and perfectly absorb everything that is in the air and the ground where they grow.

Lingonberry leaves contraindications

Despite the medicinal properties of lingonberry leaves and their excellent diuretic effect, in some cases, drinks from the leaves are categorically contraindicated. The leaves of the marsh shrub are not recommended for use:

• during pregnancy (debatable, depends on specific indications);
• during breastfeeding;
• in children under 12 years of age (sometimes used earlier in the treatment of enuresis);
• with general intoxication of the body;
• for rapid weight loss;
• with oncology;
• with temporary or permanent hypotension.

Harm can nullify all the positive properties of the Siberian shrub, so it is important to know the patient's history and approach treatment individually. The doctor must have complete information about the patient and control the intake of a drink from a lingonberry leaf in order to avoid undesirable health consequences.

Phytotherapy has always kept pace with conservative medicine. The pantries of nature give us sources of health, helping to cope with regular ailments. The protective forces of a person weaken and cannot cope with the load that occurs due to external reasons or due to internal malfunctions in the body. The leaves of lingonberries or other herbs provide an opportunity to improve your physical condition, and this is worth taking advantage of.

More and more people prefer not to buy chemicals in pharmacies, but to be treated with 100% natural remedies, such as lingonberry leaves. This unpretentious plant is widespread throughout almost the entire territory of the country; wild shrubs are found in coniferous and deciduous forests, in gardens and orchards. Lingonberry leaves are considered quite an official medicinal product, and the shrub itself is included in the register of medicinal plants.

Lingonberry leaves - composition and medicinal properties

Lingonberry is an evergreen low shrub from the heather family, its height rarely exceeds 20-25 cm, and dark leathery leaves remain green all year round. For treatment, leaves should be collected when they contain a maximum of useful substances - in spring, before flowering or in late autumn, when the berries are already harvested or withered.

Lingonberry leaves contain many useful substances and trace elements.

The most valuable substances are:

• arbutin glycoside - in the human body, this compound breaks down into glucose and hydroquinone, which is an active antiseptic. Due to the high content of arbutin and other similar substances, lingonberry leaves are considered one of the most effective remedies for the treatment of urinary tract and urinary tract infections. The active substances have a pronounced antiseptic effect on most pathogenic microorganisms living in the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract of a person. So, a decoction and infusion of lingonberry leaves helps get rid of Staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus and a number of other dangerous bacteria;
• flavonoids - these plant compounds are not only responsible for the color of fruits and flowers, but are also able to change the body's response to compounds alien to it, such as allergens, viruses and carcinogens. Bioflavonoids have anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral and anticarcinogenic effects (suppress the growth of tumor cells). In addition, the antioxidant activity of flavonoids has been proven, which protect cells and tissues from free radicals and oxidation;
• vaccinin, lycopene - these pigments are powerful antioxidants that protect cells from destruction. Deficiency of carotenoids, which include these substances, can provoke metabolic disorders and contribute to the development of diseases such as diabetes and even malignant tumors;
• organic acids - citric, salicylic, malic, tartaric, quinic, ellagic, benzoic - the lack of organic acids in the human diet primarily affects its appearance: the skin becomes less elastic, loses its elasticity, and hair and nails break. These changes are due to a violation of the acid-base balance, for the maintenance of which organic acids are “responsible”, problems in the intestines, where, in their absence, the normal processes of digestion and assimilation of food are disrupted, and the deterioration of regeneration processes, in which organic acids also take part;
• tannins - they provide antiseptic and wound-healing properties of drugs from lingonberry leaves, cleansing the urinary and respiratory tract from pathogenic microorganisms, reducing inflammation and accelerating the regeneration of mucous membranes;
• vitamins and microelements - lingonberry leaves are rich in B vitamins - B1, B3, B6, B9, vitamin C, E and A, they have a lot of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese and others.

Medicinal properties

Lingonberry leaves are traditionally used for diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, they act as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and wound healing agent at the same time.

Lingonberry leaves are considered not only effective, but also safe. With strict observance of all recommendations for the preparation and use of decoctions and infusions from lingonberry leaves, no side effects occur.

Decoctions of lingonberry leaves can be taken by pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as children over 7 years old.

The only contraindication to the use of lingonberry leaves is individual intolerance, which is very rare.

Caution should be taken in decoctions and infusions of the leaves of persons suffering from increased acidity of gastric juice and hypotension.

Lingonberry leaves - recipes

• Lingonberry leaf infusion- used for viral diseases: flu, colds, to strengthen the immune system and as a solution for gargling and mouthwash for colds and dental diseases.

  An infusion is prepared from 2 tbsp dry, crushed lingonberry leaves and 1 tbsp boiling water. The leaves are poured with boiling water and infused in enameled or glassware for 30 minutes. After the drink is filtered and cooled. Take an infusion of 1-2 tablespoons 3-6 times a day.

  To rinse the mouth and throat, the resulting solution is diluted with warm water 1: 1 and used 4-6 times a day. The infusion is drunk until recovery, usually 3-7 days.

• Decoction of lingonberry leaves- There are several types of decoction. The first is used to treat diseases associated with metabolic disorders, including joint diseases - rheumatism, arthritis, gout, diseases of the cardiovascular system and pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

  To prepare a decoction, 2 tablespoons of dry leaves are poured into 0.5 liters of water, brought to a boil over low heat, boiled for another 15 minutes, insisted for 30-40 minutes and filtered. Take a decoction of 1/2 tbsp 3-4 times a day for 14-20 days.

• A slightly different broth is prepared with various diseases of the genitourinary system- pyelonephritis, urethritis, cystitis and kidney stones. 3 tablespoons of leaves are poured into 3 tablespoons of boiling water, boiled for 10 minutes, then insisted for 1 hour, filtered and taken 1/2 tablespoon, starting to drink the decoction in the afternoon - from 15-16 hours - 3-4 times before bedtime. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease and is usually 2-4 weeks.
• Lingonberry leaf tea- you can drink it to prevent colds, to strengthen the immune system, with digestive problems, with edema during pregnancy, with chronic fatigue and stress. A drink made from lingonberry leaves quenches thirst well, lowers blood pressure, and helps to strengthen physical and mental health.

  To prepare tea, 2 tablespoons of dry leaves are poured into 1 liter of boiling water, the teapot is closed and wrapped, or tea is brewed in a thermos, leaving for 10-15 minutes. Drink tea warm, adding 1 tsp of honey or sugar, 3-4 times a day. Despite the therapeutic effect of tea, it is not recommended to drink it for a long time. Maximum - 14 consecutive days, after which you need to take a break for 10 days.

The medicinal properties of lingonberry leaves are a kind of double-edged sword: if in some cases the effects that lingonberry leaf preparations cause are beneficial for the patient, alleviate his condition and speed up recovery, then in other situations this same activity can aggravate the course of the disease, and the condition itself patient is a clear contraindication for taking such drugs.

Contraindications of lingonberry leaves are as strict as their effectiveness in the treatment of certain diseases.

For example, the most famous and frequently used useful property of lingonberry leaf is considered to be a diuretic, due to which drugs are taken for various diseases of the urinary tract. However, it is precisely because of the diuretic activity that drugs with lingonberry leaves cannot be used for acute cystitis, accompanied by severe pain, for some kidney diseases - in these cases, an enhanced diuretic effect can lead to an exacerbation of the disease and worsening of the patient's condition.

There are several such examples, and all of them quite eloquently confirm the rule that the application will be useful and safe only with a clear understanding of the cause of the disease and the effect that the remedy will have. Here are just the main useful properties and contraindications that are associated with these same properties.

Diuretic action and contraindications in acute cystitis and kidney disease

By the strength of its diuretic effect, lingonberry leaf surpasses some pharmaceutical diuretics. Judging by individual reviews, taking several glasses of leaf decoction per day can provoke dehydration of the body due to the intensive removal of fluid. This property is used for cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis to excrete inflammatory products and part of pathogenic bacteria in the urine, including dead microbes in the treatment of these diseases with antibiotics.

Rich lingonberry tea is yellow-brown in color and not very pleasant in taste.

Also, the diuretic effect is considered useful for various edema (except allergic), for diseases of the joints, provoked by a violation of the excretion of excess minerals from the body - arthritis, gout. In folk medicine, due to the diuretic action, the lingonberry leaf is even used to treat diabetes mellitus and anemia, but its use in these diseases has not been officially confirmed.

At the same time, it is precisely due to the pronounced diuretic effect that preparations based on lingonberry leaves are contraindicated in:

• Acute cystitis and urethritis, accompanied by severe pain. With increased diuresis and constant filling of the bladder with urine, as well as with the excretion of urine, the pain may increase, worsening the condition of the patient or patient;
• Glomerulonephritis and kidney failure - in these, stimulation of the kidneys can lead to life-threatening conditions. In fact, with these diseases, the kidneys do not cope with their functions, and an increase in the load on them can lead to a complete disruption of their work. For this reason, from kidney diseases, only pyelonephritis is an indication for the use of a decoction or infusion of a lingonberry leaf, in which, even despite inflammation, the work of the kidneys is not disturbed and they normally remove fluid from the body;
• The formation of large stones in the kidneys and bladder. In these cases, increased urination can lead to the movement of these calculi and blockage of the ureters by them. This will lead to inflammation and the need for surgery to remove the stones.

Also, due to the diuretic effect, lingonberry leaves are contraindicated in breastfeeding, since the removal of fluid from the body can provoke a decrease in lactation and a decrease in the amount of breast milk in the mother.

Antiseptic activity and risk of poisoning

Another useful property of lingonberry leaf is its ability to destroy bacteria in the urinary tract. This property is due to the content in the leaves of a large amount of arbutin - a component that is converted in the body into hydroquinone, known for its antiseptic properties.

On the one hand, hydroquinone is an antiseptic and diuretic, on the other hand, it is a rather toxic substance.

Also, antibacterial activity is known in benzoic acid and some other components of lingonberry leaves.

Due to these properties, in case of bacterial and urethritis, lingonberry preparations not only stimulate diuresis, but also enhance the effect of antibiotics, destroying some of the bacteria that are on the surface of the tissues of the bladder and ureters.

On the other hand, hydroquinone is toxic to humans. A possible excess of it in the body can lead to typical intoxication with characteristic symptoms - nausea, vomiting, and digestive disorders. Related to this are contraindications to the use of lingonberry leaf:

1. Pregnancy;
2. Children under 12 years of age, and leaf preparations cannot be used for children even with diseases of the bladder;
3. Poisoning caused by other substances.

In this case, the indications and contraindications of the remedy partially overlap. It is believed that due to the diuretic effect, lingonberry preparations alleviate the symptoms of intoxication, since the toxins themselves are excreted in the urine. However, this effect can be offset by poisoning with hydroquinone itself.

On a note

It is due to the antibacterial action that a decoction or infusion of lingonberry leaves and herbs are often used in gynecology for douching the vagina for certain infectious diseases. This practice, however, is very dangerous: douching itself, regardless of what means are used for them, can provoke microflora disturbances, epithelial damage and precancerous conditions. These procedures are especially dangerous for pregnant women, because according to statistics, the more often a woman douches, the higher her risk of miscarriage, premature birth, underweight and ectopic pregnancy. It is important to understand that these risks are not caused by lingonberries, but by the procedures themselves. It doesn’t matter if they are carried out with a lingonberry leaf decoction, chamomile preparations or a soda solution - they are equally dangerous, and this danger outweighs the benefits of the drug itself.

Antioxidant properties and contraindications in oncology

The next useful property of lingonberry leaf is its ability in the composition of drugs to suppress the activity of free radicals in the body and prevent damage to cell membranes in different tissues. This action is due to the activity of flavonoids (including those included in the vitamin P complex), vitamin C, lycopene and zeaxanthin. The same substances are contained in the leaves of a very famous bearberry plant - a close relative of lingonberries. Their leaves can be distinguished by their appearance - lingonberries have characteristic dark dots on the underside of the leaves that ensure the absorption of moisture, while bearberry leaves do not have such formations.

The photo below shows lingonberry leaves:

It is believed that due to these properties, tea, infusion or decoction of lingonberry leaves not only protects the body from the development of certain diseases, prevents the development of cosmetic defects (wrinkles, age spots) and reduces the severity of inflammatory processes, but also contributes to protecting the body from cancer.

At the same time, both for pure hydroquinone and for the lingonberry leaf preparations themselves, possible carcinogenic activity has been shown. It is confirmed by the results of animal studies, but has not yet been proven in humans. However, with oncology, it is impossible to drink lingonberry leaf preparations, as well as the risk of developing cancer is a contraindication for the use of these drugs.

Diuretic effect and its harm when losing weight

Many losing weight believe that due to the diuretic action of lingonberries will help them lose weight. The logic here is simple: losing fluid, the body also loses weight. As a result, many folk recipes for losing weight include the use of lingonberry leaf preparations.

In fact, such use of lingonberry leaves is a mistake that has nothing to do with medical use. When losing weight, it is very important to maintain the correct water balance in the body so that when fats are broken down in the urine, the largest amount of their decay products is most effectively removed. If at the same time a significant amount of water is removed from the body, the utilization of fat breakdown products will slow down, which will worsen the condition of the person who is losing weight.

It is much more rational, on the contrary, to “fill” the body with water so that the liquid is removed from it in natural quantities. Only in this case, weight loss will be as fast and effective as possible.

The very same loss of fluid by the body will give an insignificant effect - this will help to “lose” 1-2 kilograms, which will not affect the figure in any way, but can harm the body.

The ability to lower blood pressure and contraindications for hypotension

In folk medicine, the use of lingonberry preparations to lower pressure is also widely known. Although such drugs cannot cope with a severe attack of hypertension, they are able to prevent pressure surges and lower it in chronic hypertension.

To a greater extent, drinks from them are also used to obtain a hypotonic effect - juices and fruit drinks, since such an effect is expressed to the same extent as that of lingonberry leaves, but the berries themselves do not cause so many side effects. However, the hypotonic effect of the leaves must be taken into account when preparing a remedy for other disorders from them.

To reduce pressure, and especially with a hangover, lingonberry juice is much more effective than leaf tea.

As a result, chronic hypotension or a sharp decrease in pressure are a contraindication to the use of products with lingonberry leaves.

We draw the final conclusions - unequivocal contraindications to taking lingonberry leaves are:

• Pregnancy;
• The period of breastfeeding;
• Children's age up to 12 years;
• Intoxication of the body;
• Intensive weight loss;
• Oncology and predisposition to it;
• Hypotension and temporary decrease in pressure.

With all these conditions, the healing properties of the lingonberry leaf are completely negated by the harm and danger of unwanted side effects from taking this remedy. In these cases, pharmaceutical preparations are prescribed instead of lingonberry leaf-based products, even if their price is somewhat higher.

And like any drug, lingonberry leaf should not be taken if you are allergic to it. In general, with a strong allergy, even to other allergens, you should refrain from taking lingonberries: due to the content of a large amount of biologically active substances, it can aggravate the patient's pathological condition.