Kalina. Tincture on vodka - a medicine or an alcoholic drink?

Kalina vulgaris is a shrub (less often a tree), reaching a height of 4 meters. The viburnum loves shady moist forests, but it also gets well in gardens and parks. It blossoms with bright white clusters of small flowers.

Kalina red, viburnum ripened

By the way, the flowers of the viburnum in Russia were a symbol of maiden beauty, purity, innocence, and at the beginning of summer its flowers were decorated at home during the celebration of weddings. And the viburnum itself was considered a symbol of a married woman, her hard fate, a symbol of motherhood. A huge number of poems, beliefs, proverbs are devoted to such a seemingly unremarkable plant. So, it has long been believed that when a family moves to a new house, the first thing the landlord must plant is a bush of the viburnum under the windows, otherwise there will be no happiness in the house. And when a woman expects a child, then from the twig of the viburnum you need to make a pipe, and play in the evenings on this pipe. Then the boy will certainly be born! Well, in the latter case it is clear that this is nothing more than a beautiful belief, but the use of viburnum in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases is more than certain.

Kalina in folk medicine

So when and how to apply viburnum? Tincture on vodka - perhaps, one of the most popular recipes of traditional medicine. Also used decoctions of bark or berries. Tincture on vodka from viburnum is used to lower blood pressure, to boost immunity, as a vitamin drink, as well as for treatment of colds.

The healing properties of the Kalina are known since the 16th century. Mentioned of recipes from berries and bark of the Kalina found in herbal books of the times of Kievan Rus. Later in the autumn, in the gardens, forests and parks, a viburnum adorns with purple brushes. By the way, this is not only a joy for the eyes of passers-by, but also a wonderful food for bullfinches and other birds.

Tincture on vodka is prepared in the winter, after the first frost. Earlier, the harvest of the viburnum is not collected, since the berries do not have time to lose their bitterness. It leaves only after a short frost. It should only be remembered that this is more a drug, not an alcoholic beverage, and it should be applied very moderately.

In small quantities - medicine, in large - poison!

So, the viburnum (tincture on vodka) is prepared as follows. You will need a glass, tightly closed container. The volume does not matter. If there is a bottle of dark glass with a tight lid - use it. The berries of the viburnum, as we have already said, are collected only after the first frosts, and mine and dried on paper. We take about 1/3 of the volume of the container and we press the berries a little with a wooden or porcelain tolstick. Metal can not be used. We add the remaining volume of vodka. We remove into a dark warm place for three weeks. So the viburnum is prepared on vodka. The recipe can be modified by adding cognac instead of vodka. Tincture is used for colds, bronchitis, hypertension, as a remedy, 3 times a day, on an empty stomach, 1 teaspoonful.

How else is used in folk medicine of viburnum? Tincture on vodka is not the only recipe. For children, they make tea or a decoction of viburnum. To make it, a handful of washed berries are poured with a glass of boiling water, add mint, cool a little, and then dissolve a spoonful of honey. Helps such a drink to restore strength after the illness, as concomitant treatment for bronchitis, ARVI.

Kalina is a tincture on vodka, a decoction of berries is a wonderful remedy that can be used and needed. However, it should be remembered that the doctor should prescribe the treatment after the appropriate examination. Self-medication can lead to irreversible consequences!