Schisandra - useful properties and contraindications

Schisandra is also called schizandra. The plant is a liana bush with inflorescences of a white hue, red berries and brackish-sweet taste. Schisandra, as the name implies, smells like citrus fruit lemon.

Lemongrass composition

This plant is valued for its schizandrins and schizandrols, which are naturally occurring essential oils. They are famous for their bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, regenerating and tonic properties.

However, it is interesting that the final list of input substances depends on which specific part of the liana bush is being considered. Fruits occupy a special place in the field of use, so let's look at what they contain.

The composition contains a lot of acids, among them citric, malic, tartaric and others. There are tannins, flavonoids, pectin compounds, coloring pigments, natural saccharides (represented by glucose and fructose) in lemongrass.

The plant also focuses a decent amount of polyoxyphenols, these are methyl esters, they tone the body and cleanse the tissues. Of the minerals, potassium, magnesium, silicon, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, copper, and boron take pride of place.

Fatty acids are available that can replace fish oil intake. A lot of iodine, molybdenum, selenium is concentrated in the bark of the plant. The stems are dominated by esters, as well as minerals in the form of manganese, sodium, phosphorus. The calorie content of lemongrass is low, in a portion of 100 gr. only 11 kcal.

The benefits of lemongrass

1. To be useful, you need to take the berry daily or at least three times a week. It tones the body, relieves chronic fatigue, gives vitality and strengthens the immune system.
2. Useful liana fruits affect the eyes, so lemongrass is indicated for use by people with low vision. Also, the berry normalizes the psychoemotional environment of a person, fights depression and insomnia.
3. Not without beneficial effects on the brain. The stimulation of neurons is carried out, the activity of absolutely all important cognitive functions is being established.
4. There is even a special therapy based on lemongrass. It consists in the fact that for a month you need to eat a berry, drink tea with it, consume decoctions. So you will significantly strengthen the immune system during the spread of SARS and influenza.
5. Another main feature of the fruit is the improvement of digestive processes. Frequent consumption of berries leads to an increase in metabolism, food does not lie in the intestines.
6. Due to the accumulation of folic acid, lemongrass is prescribed to girls who are in a ticklish position. During pregnancy, red berries will increase vitality, remove excess fluid, relieve swelling and eliminate constipation.

Ways to use lemongrass

1. Fresh berries are rarely used, because they knit the tongue and strongly acidify. But on the lemongrass make all kinds of tinctures, medicinal decoctions, teas, fruit drinks, wine, juices, preserves. Also eat fruits in dried form.
2. It is interesting that in the process of heat treatment by means of an oven with a converter, lemongrass almost does not lose valuable substances. It also retains the lion's share of minerals, acids, vitamins. First, drying is carried out at 40 degrees, then the temperature is increased to 60 and dried.
3. Juice also has the ability to be stored for a long time. It is prepared using a special device - a juicer or the old fashioned way through a sieve and gauze.Before a drink, a refreshing drink should be diluted with water to reduce the concentration of acids.

Rules for the collection and storage of lemongrass

1. All parts of the liana plant are successfully used for therapeutic purposes. Seeds, bark, berries, leaflets - all this is suitable for collection and storage.
2. As for the collection of bark, the procedure is best done in the spring. Creepers are harvested when lemongrass begins to bear fruit. In order to preserve the healing properties of the leaves, they need to be collected when the flowers bloom.
3. Some folk healers prefer to harvest the mucus mass obtained from foliage. Then the procedure is postponed until the beginning of leaf fall. After collecting, the shoots with leaves are dried and laid out on linen bags.
4. Berries are to be harvested only in ripened form, because this way you can be sure that the chemical list of substances is fully formed. In unripe copies will not be so much use.
5. In the process of gathering, the fruits of the brush are cut with a knife and stacked in a basket. Further, the treatment should be carried out during the day, lemongrass can not lie for a long time.

The use of lemongrass in cosmetology

1. Valuable enzymes that are present in the fruit make it possible to apply magnolia vine extract for cosmetic purposes. Many manufacturers of body care products include the active ingredients that make up lemongrass. As a result of this, an improvement in metabolic processes in the tissues of the epidermis occurs.
2. The oil of the presented plant brightens the skin well and narrows the pores, solving problems with acne. The systematic use of lemongrass juice perfectly nourishes and moisturizes the epidermis. As a result, natural rejuvenation occurs, small wrinkles and creases disappear. The skin gains natural elasticity.
3. For daily care of the epidermis, it is enough to add 6 drops of plant extract in a baby cream. Thanks to this procedure, the skin noticeably softens and tones. You can also resort to the help of a rejuvenating facial mask.
4. To do this, combine 50 gr. rustic sour cream and 15 gr. pulp of magnolia vine fruits. Spread the homogeneous composition in a dense layer on the face, neck and décolleté. Wait a third of an hour, then wash with water at room temperature.
5. To strengthen the hair and improve the structure, it is recommended to systematically use infusion from the leaves of the presented plant. Also on sale you can find skin care products around the eyes based on parsley and lemongrass. In addition, various anti-fatty strand formulations and preparations for aging skin are supplied.

The use of lemongrass in folk medicine

1. Official medicine also did not bypass the plant. In pharmacies, you can buy drugs based on product extracts. Such medicines act as an adaptogen. The composition is used for the treatment and prevention of colds in children and adults.
2. As for traditional medicine, an effective recipe will help to get rid or prevent the development of gastritis. Grind the dried fruit into powder. Take raw materials of 3 g. twice a day. The tool also helps to increase blood pressure.
3. To get rid of scurvy will help deciduous decoctions. Turn into pulp 50 gr. fresh fruit and place in an enamel container. Pour in 300 ml. boiling water. Boil the ingredients for about a quarter of an hour in a steam bath. Take a composition of 30 ml. twice a day.

Contraindications lemongrass

1. Schisandra is very popular in folk medicine and is of great benefit to the human body. Like any product, raw materials have their drawbacks in the form of contraindications. It is forbidden to take lemongrass with individual intolerance.
2. It is also worth noting that the product can significantly harm a person with impaired cardiac activity, increased irritability, arterial hypertension, epilepsy, vegetative-vascular dystonia, high intracranial pressure, insomnia and infectious ailments occurring in acute form.
3. It is not recommended to include lemongrass in the diet during breastfeeding and during gestation. Also, do not give the product to children who are under 12 years old. If necessary, consult a specialist. The fact is that lemongrass is considered a powerful stimulant.
4. If you abuse the raw materials, soon you will experience a severe headache, tachycardia will begin, problems with sleep, an allergic reaction will occur. If you encounter this, stop taking the product immediately. In the future, it is worth significantly reducing the portion of the consumed composition.

In the medical and cosmetological orientation, the plant is often used in dried rather than fresh form. But in fruit-based cooking, they prepare various decoctions, teas and infusions made from fresh lemongrass.

Video: healing properties of lemongrass