Herb name: Blueberry, vaccinium myrtillus
Family: Ericaceae
Useful plant parts: fruits and leaves
Description: Blueberry is a shrub-like plant, and usually grows to about 50 cm in height. Branches are green and sharp-edged, covered with leaves on short stems. Leaves are egg-shaped, slightly sharpened towards the top. Blueberry has bell-shaped flowers, which are developed in the spring. Berries start to form in early summer.
Collecting period and locations: Blueberry usually blooms from May to June, and the collection of fruits can start after this period, when the berries fully mature. Apart from the grapes, young leaves can also be picked. They are later dried in shady and warm places. Blueberries can be found in continental regions, in coniferous and mixed forests with slightly acidic soil. On some locations they can be found in larger quantities.
Medicinal properties and applications: Dried berries are mostly used, as an excellent cure for diarrhea, especially for smaller children. Blueberries can quickly and for longer period of time stop diarrhea, which was created as a result of rotting processes in intestines. They can be taken as raw dried parts, or even better, as concentrated tea. Tea can also be used to treat various types of inflammation.
Active compounds: Tannins, fruit acids, mineral compounds, vitamins, flavones, arbutin, glycosides.
Recipe: 3 full tea spoons of dried fruits are added to a quarter liter of cold water and heated until boiling temperature. The heating is continued for another 10-15 minutes. After that, the tea can be strained and drinked when cool. |
