Aspen is a unique and beautiful plant. Since ancient times, it has been used in medicine, and superstitious people consider it a protector from damage and all evil spirits. Probably everyone who watched horror films knows that aspen stake is the most effective remedy for vampires.
What gives aspen so many useful properties? The fact is that its roots are able to penetrate almost to the record depth of the earth's soil, where rare elements are stored.
In Russia, aspen is common in the middle zone of the country. At first glance, the tree looks completely inconspicuous, but in autumn it attracts with its bright golden color. Nearby at this time of the year, mushrooms grow, which are called aspen mushrooms.
An aspen tree lives for about ninety years, although under favorable conditions this figure can be much higher. Its height can reach thirty-five meters, the trunk has a thickness of up to one meter. What does aspen bark look like? It is very smooth and can be grey-green or olive green in color. Photo of himselftree and its bark you have the opportunity to see in the article. The shape of aspen leaves is round-rhombic. However, they are quite long. Aspen is one of the dioecious plants. The female tree is distinguished by short and narrow green earrings. In male plants, they will be noticeably longer, and their color has a reddish tint. The shape of the aspen fruit is in the form of a small box in which its seeds are stored. The wind carries them a long distance from the tree, because these seeds have a kind of puff.
Aspen is most often found in countries with a cold temperate climate, which is typical primarily for the Northern Hemisphere. This tree likes to grow in wetlands, in ravines, not far from the banks of the river. It also happens in the forests of mountainous regions.
Aspen differs from other trees in resistance to fires. Even if the plant loses its ground part during such an incident, it has a good chance to recover in the future due to the fact that the root system is located deep in the ground and does not suffer from fire.
Man uses aspen for a variety of purposes. For example, it can act as a building material. Bees extract propolis from it. In medicine, aspen bark is especially valued, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which we will discuss in our article.
Useful properties
Before you start listing the beneficial properties and contraindications of aspen bark, you should understand its chemical composition, from which they,in fact, they depend. This point has been studied quite well by scientists, because the bark of the tree is used not only in folk medicine, but also in traditional medicine. First of all, it is rich in organic acids. Almost no process that takes place in the body can do without them. Organic acids significantly improve the functioning of internal organs, restore metabolism, fight poisonous substances.
Useful for humans and tannins, which are rich in aspen bark. They improve blood composition, help stop diarrhea and eliminate other problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Also, these substances are anti-inflammatory and regenerating.
Valuable chemicals like glycosides are found only in plants. There are plenty of them in aspen. Why are these mysterious glycosides useful? They have a positive effect on the human cardiovascular system, strengthen blood vessels, and also tone the heart muscle. As for those glycosides that aspen is rich in, they also have a diuretic, disinfectant, and calming effect.
Even children probably know about the benefits of vitamin C. Due to the presence of this element, aspen bark helps to get rid of toxins, promotes regenerative and oxidative processes in the body.
Fatty oils, which are rich in plant bark, are responsible for the absorption of vitamins and minerals by the body. And the ethereal, in particular, prevents the overstrain of the nervous system and normalizes the functioning of the intestines.
Chemicalcompounds called bitters.
What are their benefits for the human body? The bitterness present in aspen bark is valuable in that it accelerates the production of insulin, increases appetite and normalizes sugar levels. They also have a positive effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
Carotene, which is rich in aspen bark, not only improves immunity, but even prevents the development of cancer cells. It also maintains bone tissue in a normal state and removes toxins from the human body.
Antiparasitic effect is exerted on the body by phenolcarbon compounds, also found in aspen bark, the properties and contraindications of which have been studied for many years. Information that has been repeatedly verified has come to us.
The chemical composition of aspen bark is very, very rich. This explains why it is used as a cure for many ailments and has not lost its popularity for many years. Aspen bark is sold in pharmacies. Fortunately, the prices for this tool, as a rule, are very democratic. Aspen bark can be prepared independently. This will be discussed later.
Can bark be harmful?
Every phenomenon in our world has two sides. Despite the fact that aspen bark has such an impressive list of useful properties, there are also contraindications to its use, however, like every plant used in traditional medicine. Individual intolerance to this remedy is quite rare, but still it exists. Patients who suffer from chronic constipation and gastrointestinal disorders should take aspen bark very carefully. The fact is that it has an astringent effect and, if abused, can only aggravate such diseases. Alcohol tinctures on aspen bark can also be dangerous.
Women who are in an interesting position, before taking aspen bark, still should consult with their doctor. It also does not hurt to consult a doctor if you want to treat some kind of disease in a child with this remedy. Remember that self-medication can cause serious harm to he alth.
How to cook?
If you have the opportunity to prepare aspen bark yourself, and not buy it in a pharmacy, then you need to know some subtleties about this process. The raw materials contain most of the healing substances during the period of sap flow in the spring. So it is necessary to harvest aspen bark at this time of the year. This is done by cutting it from young shoots. It is best to avoid trees that grow in big cities or close to busy highways. The collected material will contain not so much useful substances as harmful secretions.
Cut the bark very carefully so as not to harm the tree. When the bark from young trees is collected, it must be thoroughly dried and then crushed. We will use the resulting powder for treatment. You can store it from one to three years. It is desirable that the storage place is not damp and does not get direct sunlight. Aspen buds and leaves also have certain healing properties. Themcan also be prepared if desired. True, they are much less useful than the bark of this tree.
Aspen bark for diabetes
It has already been mentioned above that the bark of this miraculous tree normalizes the level of sugar in a person's blood. That is why it is so actively used to treat diabetes. The effect will be especially good at the initial stages of the development of the disease. There are several recipes. Here are the most popular ones.
Recipe 1
In folk medicine, a remedy prepared according to this recipe received a lot of positive feedback. You need to take a spoonful of chopped dry aspen bark and pour a small amount of boiling water. Boil the resulting substance over low heat for ten minutes. We filter our decoction. The recommended dosage is half a glass. Best taken chilled in the morning.
Recipe 2
The remedy prepared according to this recipe also has many supporters. People say that after using it they felt a significant improvement in their well-being. The preparation of the composition is very simple. Grind raw aspen bark with a blender. Fill with water in a ratio of one to three. The resulting mixture must be infused for at least several hours in a dark place. You also need to take half a glass.
Given that the bark of the tree speeds up the metabolism, the above recipes are also suitable for those people who want to lose weight. However, the use of aspen bark in order to lose weight will be effective only in combination with sports,eating right and living a he althy lifestyle.
It is also necessary to remember that before deciding to be treated with one of the folk remedies, it is necessary to undergo an examination and get expert advice, since self-medication can only aggravate the situation.
Prostatitis treatment
Recently, prostatitis has become a fairly common problem among the representatives of the strong half of humanity. The disease is very serious and requires medical treatment. The fact that aspen bark can become a means of combating prostatitis was also confirmed by doctors. But, of course, the treatment itself should be complex and consist of many stages.
Some adherents of traditional medicine may recommend infusions of aspen bark on alcohol for this ailment. However, it is still better to give preference to decoctions. For cooking, you need one hundred grams of dry powder from aspen bark and a liter of boiling water. We cook all this over low heat for twelve to fifteen minutes and insist at least three hours. We strain the mixture and drink it every day. There are no special dose restrictions. It can be a whole glass or half of it.
About the benefits of decoction of aspen
The recipe described above can be used not only for the treatment of prostate aspen bark, but also for other purposes. For example, he showed himself very well in the fight against diarrhea and gastritis, thanks to his astringent and softening properties. Some patients claim that a decoction of aspen bark helped them get rid of body aches. In any case, the composition is quite rich in vitamins and withalmost any illness will help restore strength. Also, such a decoction awakens appetite, perhaps someone has problems with this. It is worth mentioning that aspen bark contains salicyl. Therefore, decoctions from it fight colds, fevers and even malaria.
Bark against helminths
Science has long known about the antiparasitic effects of aspen bark. At the same time, experts note that in the fight against helminths this is one of the most effective means that generally exist. This drug, unlike medicines, does not cause any harm to the body, but it helps to cure giardiasis and opisthorchiasis. The process of getting rid of parasites is easy and gentle. Glycosides present in aspen bark help to completely cleanse the body.
Ointment
Aspen bark ointment is quite effective in the treatment of various skin diseases. Helps to heal wounds, burns, ulcers. It's not that hard to cook it. In addition to tree bark, we will also need high-quality baby cream or interior pork fat. We burn the aspen bark and mix the resulting ash with the second component. It is better to store the ointment in the refrigerator.
By the way, aspen extract is widely used in industrial cosmetology. Creams, lotions, face masks are prepared from it.
For the treatment of boils, inflamed acne, pustules, alcohol tincture of aspen bark is well suited.
Aspen for other diseases
What other diseases will aspen bark be effective against? Therapy of diseases of the urinarybladder and kidneys practically cannot do without this ingredient. It's all about its pronounced anti-inflammatory action. In addition, aspen bark flushes out toxins from the body, significantly increasing the amount of urine. It also destroys pathogenic bacteria.
Bronchial asthma, coughing fits and even tuberculosis are treated with the bark of the plant. It not only eliminates cough, but also soothes the center of its occurrence, prevents the accumulation of sputum.
Recommended for arthrosis, rheumatic, arthritic pain, sciatica. The tool relieves inflammation, swelling, pain in the joints and muscles, improves blood flow, prevents s alt deposition.
With regard to gynecology, some sources claim that aspen relieves inflammation of the ovaries, but such an effect has not yet been scientifically proven.
Interesting facts about aspen
We figured out what diseases aspen bark helps with. Finally, here are some interesting facts about this tree:
- Aspen is pollinated by the wind, not by insects.
- Deer, hares and elk love to feast on the leaves of this tree, as they are very nutritious.
- Aspen's closest relatives are willow and poplar.
- In Russia, aspen is used in the production of matches.
- The Netherlands used to make shoes from aspen.
- In the Christian religion, aspen is usually called a cursed tree, because Judas allegedly hanged himself on it.
- Aspen is a very noisy tree whose leavesrustle loudly even with the slightest breath of wind.
- The bark has been used for tanning leather since ancient times.
- This tree is growing very fast.
- Aspen roots can crawl up to fifty meters from the trunk.
- Aspen boasts healing properties, but the tree itself often suffers from many diseases.
- A huge number of folk sayings and proverbs in our culture are associated with aspen (for example, "shivers like an aspen leaf").
Our ancestors gave us really valuable knowledge. Based on them and our own experience, we can judge what medicinal properties and contraindications the aspen bark is characterized by. Their use in combination with modern therapy gives a tangible result. The main thing is to treat your he alth with full responsibility, not self-medicate and listen to the advice of knowledgeable people. Stay he althy!
