Brew blackcurrant leaves. Recipes for tea from leaves and berries of black and red currants, preparation methods
Black currant is a common plant, the benefits of which everyone has heard. Its berries are used as food in their pure form, they are used to make jam, compotes, and bake pies. But it turns out that black currant leaves also have beneficial properties. Due to their high content of useful substances, tea made from currant leaves can relieve many diseases.
Beneficial features
Our ancestors knew about the benefits and harms of tea made from black currant leaves, who regularly used it to treat various ailments. It contains vitamins, microelements, anthocyanins, mineral salts, antioxidants and tannins. The beneficial properties of this drink include:
- Strengthening the body's defenses. Therefore, it is recommended to drink tea from currant leaves during the season of viral infections.
- The drink is able to cleanse the body, maintain fluid balance in it and trigger restoration processes in tissues.
- Benefits for the cardiovascular system. Regular consumption of currant tea significantly reduces the likelihood of a stroke. It is useful for varicose veins and atherosclerosis, as it can improve blood circulation.
- Improving digestion and normalizing the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Those who drink tea made from currant leaves after meals note a decrease in heartburn.
- Antihelminthic property.
- Decoctions and infusions have a diuretic effect. They are used to cleanse the kidneys of sand and stones, and for diseases of the liver and pancreas.
- Reduced blood sugar levels.
- Remedies from the leaves of the bush have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. They help cope with infection and inflammation. Thanks to the diaphoretic effect, they are able to reduce temperature.
- Black currant has antiallergic properties. Its effectiveness has been proven even for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis.
- Calming effect. The drink helps relieve fatigue and improve memory. It is recommended to drink it for insomnia.
Blackcurrant tea can not only be drunk, but also used for external use. Neem is recommended to wash wounds or lubricate the insect bite site to relieve itching. In the form of a compress, it is recommended for wounds that do not heal for a long time. Tea made from blackcurrant leaves is also useful for strengthening bone and dental tissues.
Contraindications
Like any other medicine, this tea has some contraindications for use. These include:
- Thrombophlebitis. This is due to the fact that regular consumption of the drink activates the process of blood clotting, which can cause the formation of blood clots.
- Increased acidity of gastric juice, inflammatory diseases of the duodenum and peptic ulcer.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not drink concentrated currant tea. This may contribute to the development of side effects and allergic reactions.
- Individual intolerance or the presence of allergic reactions to black currants.
Therefore, before starting treatment, you should consult your doctor.
How to prepare currant leaves for tea
In order for currant tea to be as healthy as possible, you need to know how to properly collect and dry the leaves and twigs, from which you can then prepare a drink or medicine. Fresh currant leaves are collected during the period when the plant blooms. This should be done in clear, dry weather. It is important that the currant leaves are not damaged.
Properly drying blackcurrant leaves for tea is not difficult - you need to do this in a dry, dark room, spreading them out in a thin layer.
- the leaves are spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet and left in the shade;
- those leaves that have begun to dry out at the edges are placed in a stack of 5 pieces;
- Place the stacks in an enamel pan, cover with a damp cloth and leave in a warm place;
- after 12 hours they are placed in a warm oven, where they dry at 100 degrees.
In addition to leaves, you can harvest currant branches. Tea made from currant branches has all the same properties as a drink made from the leaves of the plant.
How to brew tea from currant leaves correctly
There are different ways to brew currant leaf tea. The simplest one is this:
- 2 tablespoons of dried and crushed currant leaves are mixed with 1 spoon of long tea (black or green to taste), poured with a glass of boiling water.
- You need to leave it for at least 25 minutes, covering it with a lid.
- Sugar and honey are added to taste.
Young shoots with buds are suitable for making tea from branches. 100 g of raw material is poured into 2 liters of boiling water and kept in a water bath for 15 minutes. After this, the decoction should sit for 10–12 hours. After this time, strain the drink, heat (but do not boil) and drink with honey or sugar.
Tea with currant leaves will be even more tasty and healthy if, at the stage of preparing the drink, you add other medicinal plants (melissa, rose hips, raspberries, strawberries, etc.). These teas are prepared as follows:
- Currant and raspberry leaves (leaves or fruits of another medicinal plant) are taken in equal proportions.
- The raw materials are mixed with 1 teaspoon of tea leaves (green or black to choose from).
- Everything is placed in a thermos and filled with 1 liter of boiling water.
- The drink must steep for at least 2 hours, after which it must be strained.
- Honey, sugar and lemon are added to the finished tea to taste.
You can drink currant drinks both warm and cold. A warm drink in cold weather will help keep you warm and protect your body from diseases. In summer, chilled tea quenches thirst well and saturates the body with useful substances.
In conclusion, we invite you to look at another recipe for making tea from currant leaves.
Blackcurrant bushes are now found in every summer cottage. The berries of this plant are used both in cooking and for traditional medicine. But the leaves of the plant are undeservedly ignored, and yet they are no less useful than the fruits.
Benefits of currant leaves
The leaves of the black currant bush contain many useful substances. Based on these indicators, they can be called a real pantry of health. When used correctly, the leaves of the bush can help against a number of diseases:
- As a means to improve immune defense, currants are used to treat vitamin deficiency, asthenia and anemia.
- Due to its ability to relieve inflammation and disinfect, the leaves are used to eliminate gastrointestinal diseases. They help cope with pathogenic microorganisms that inhabit the human intestines.
- For skin diseases, apply compresses, masks or baths with currant leaf decoctions.
- With the help of the leaves of the bush in the process of treating gout or rheumatism, harmful uric acid is removed from the body.
- Decoctions and infusions of black currant leaves have a beneficial effect, which is useful in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary organs.
- Currant leaf is useful to use during seasonal exacerbations of colds. It lifts the body well and helps not to get sick.
- Elderly people are especially recommended to use currant leaf tinctures. This remedy has a good effect on the circulatory system, improves heart function, cleanses blood vessels, inhibits the development of sclerosis and helps maintain a clear mind.
Proper brewing of currant leaves
It’s quite simple to prepare the right one with currant leaves. Usually, already dried leaves of the plant are used for this purpose, but if necessary, you can also use fresh ones. If you take a fresh currant leaf, then it is first finely chopped. The leaves of the wild plant provide the greatest benefit, but the leaves of garden currants also contain many useful substances. You can simply buy already dried currant leaves at any pharmacy.
A tablespoon of dried leaf is needed per liter of cold water. If the tea is prepared from fresh leaves, then you need to double the portion. To make the currant leaf drink have a more pleasant taste and aroma, it is mixed with regular black or green tea in a 1:1 ratio.
Crushed currant leaves are mixed with black or green tea and steamed with a liter of boiling water. Cover the container with a lid and leave for a quarter of an hour. This time is enough for the currants to give all their beneficial substances to the drink. The finished healing drink can be strained through a strainer, but it can also be consumed as regular tea.
How to take a decoction of currant leaves
To get rid of colds, a decoction of currant leaves is prepared in the usual way, without adding any additional ingredients. Four full spoons of crushed dry currant leaves are poured into a liter of boiling water and heated in a water bath for half an hour. After this, the broth is allowed to cool, passed through a sieve and consumed three times a day.
To heal from kidney diseases, remove stones or sand, it is preferable to use an infusion of currant leaves rather than a decoction. For such a drink, take 1 large spoon of dry raw material per liter of boiling water and brew it in a thermos or in a saucepan wrapped in a warm blanket. In an hour, the infusion will be ready for use. They drink it up to six times a day, 1 glass. The same infusion is used to treat boils by applying napkins soaked in the infusion to them.
It is useful to use crushed leaves of this plant to improve the condition of the skin. For this purpose, fresh leaves are used, crushed and ground to a mushy state. After this, separate 2 tablespoons of the product and mix them with beaten whites from two raw eggs. The mixture is applied to the skin of the face and washed off with cool water after 20 minutes. With constant use of such a mask, the oiliness of the skin decreases, the pores narrow, and the skin becomes lighter. It is also useful to use the decoction for hair. They rinse the curls with it after washing. This procedure is especially recommended for oily hair.
Black currants today do not surprise anyone; berry bushes can be found on every plot of any summer resident.
The beneficial properties of fruits have long been studied; they have been actively used in home and official medicine since ancient times.
But for some reason, due attention was not paid to currant leaves, which, no less than berries, are saturated with useful substances and can treat many diseases.
What substances give currant leaves medicinal properties?
Blackcurrant leaves can be called a real storehouse of vitamins and various substances; they are very beneficial for health. The aromatic leaves are suitable for the treatment of various diseases, carrying their healing properties. Currant leaf is a truly universal plant that is used not only in the food industry, but also in the alcoholic beverage, pharmaceutical, canning and even cosmetic industries.
What causes the medicinal properties of currant leaves to appear?
1. Essential oils, thanks to which you can get rid of rheumatic inflammations, skin diseases, and strengthen the immune system. Essential oils are very effective in cosmetology.
2. Tannins can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body, are a good antiseptic and are suitable for treating colds, infections, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, and tones the body.
3. Antioxidants slow down the aging process in the body, increasing defenses and immunity.
4. Phytoncides have a calming and bactericidal effect. Thanks to these substances, tension is relieved, stress goes away, blood pressure is normalized, and diseases of the lungs and upper respiratory tract are effectively eliminated.
5. Sulfur is a substance that takes an active part in the construction of bone and cartilage tissue, as well as in the strengthening of nerve cells. Its functions include stabilizing the functioning of the nervous system, as well as normalizing blood sugar levels.
6. Manganese also takes part in the normalization of the nervous system; in addition, it improves brain function, metabolism in the body and prevents the appearance and development of rheumatism, arthrosis, and cataracts.
7. In addition to enhancing immunity, silver has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Thanks to silver, the development of cancer is slowed down and the appearance of cancerous tumors is prevented.
8. Copper takes part in most metabolic processes occurring in the body. Thanks to copper, diseases such as anemia, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, liver disease, gastrointestinal tract, and rickets can be prevented.
9. Magnesium improves immunity, relieves stress, is an anti-toxic element, relieves inflammation and allergic reactions. It is especially important for heart disease, nervous system disorders and ailments such as constipation and poisoning.
Also, blackcurrant leaves are very rich in vitamin C, which they contain much more than berries. The shrub is also rich in other vitamins, for example, E, D, A, K group B, PP. In addition to the listed substances, plant leaves contain zinc, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, boron, fluorine, sodium, cobalt, calcium, iron, organic acids such as citric, salicylic, tartaric, malic, succinic, flavonoids and pectins. It is thanks to the latter that toxins, radionuclides and heavy metal salts are actively removed from the body, which has a positive effect on health. Thanks to such a naturally rich composition, currant leaves can easily compete with any artificially created vitamin complex.
Currant leaves: medicinal properties of the plant
The medicinal properties of the plant are manifested in the treatment of a number of diseases:
1. As a vitamin remedy that strengthens the body, currant leaf can treat asthenia, vitamin deficiency, and anemia.
2. Its anti-inflammatory properties and antiseptic qualities are appropriate in the treatment of diseases of the stomach or intestines. The leaf is capable of killing pathogenic microflora that has settled and spreads in the digestive tract.
3. Masks, teas, compresses, baths based on currant leaves are effective for skin diseases.
4. The beneficial properties of the leaves remove uric acid during the treatment of rheumatism or gout.
5. The diuretic effect has a positive effect on cystitis, urolithiasis, and pyelonephritis.
6. Currant leaf actively fights viruses during viral epidemics and colds, strengthens the body's immunity.
7. Phytoncide in the leaves helps relieve the symptoms of tuberculosis, treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract, tonsillitis and bronchitis.
8. All the beneficial properties of currants are revealed in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, eye problems, and liver problems.
9. The leaf is also useful for older people, especially in the form of tinctures. It strengthens the circulatory system, heart, blood vessels, prevents the development of sclerosis and maintains mental sobriety.
Powerful anti-inflammatory effect;
Cleansing and diuretic effect;
Diaphoretic and mild laxative;
Excellent antiseptic and tonic effect.
Black currant leaves: contraindications for use
Like any medications, blackcurrant leaves also have contraindications. You should not use the leaves in the following cases:
For thrombophlebitis, since regular use of medications based on currant leaf leads to increased blood clotting;
If there is increased gastric acidity, the leaf decoction will be contraindicated; it should not be used to treat peptic ulcers and inflammation of the duodenum;
Concentrated leaves in any form are contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers to avoid allergic reactions and other side effects;
If you have an individual intolerance or allergy to the berry bush, it is better to consult your doctor first.
How to brew tea from blackcurrant leaves. Drink Recipes
Black currant leaves, which are part of teas, infusions, and decoctions, bring many benefits. In such drinks, not only all the properties of the plant are revealed to the maximum, but they are also preserved for a long time.
To brew leaf tea Black currant can be used both as a fresh plant and as prepared dry raw materials. To do this, you need to thoroughly chop the leaves and a portion of 1 tbsp. Pour boiling water over spoons. After this, the currants can be brewed with 0.5 liters of boiling water, and then drunk like ordinary tea. It will perfectly help you come to your senses with stomach and intestinal disorders, problems with the bladder, kidneys, and rheumatism.
An alternative to tea is a decoction, which is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. To get it, you need 2 tbsp. Bring tablespoons of crushed currant leaves with 200 ml of water in an enamel bowl to a boil, and then leave to simmer over low heat for about 15 minutes. When the mixture has cooled, it must be strained - and the decoction is ready. It is suitable for normalizing blood pressure, improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and for viruses and infections. To do this, you need to drink it in small sips. In the form of lotions, such a decoction saves from skin diseases, rashes, and excess fat.
You can make an infusion from currant leaves, but it will require other herbs and berries that will complement and enhance the beneficial qualities of currants. You can take rowan berries, viburnum, rose hips, dried raspberries, casting lingonberries and strawberries and others. Depending on the included ingredients, each infusion will have its own purpose to eliminate certain ailments.
Leaf baths are very beneficial for the skin, they eliminate problems on it, give it firmness, elasticity, give a healthy glow, reduce sweating and fight unpleasant odor. For one bath you will need 500 g of dried leaves, pour 5 liters of boiling water over them and let them boil for 30 minutes. The finished broth should sit for 12–15 minutes, and then only it can be poured into the bathroom. The optimal regimen for taking such baths is once every 2 days for 15 minutes. Baths with currants will help restore impaired metabolism, eliminate eye diseases and dermatitis.
Blackcurrant leaf tea has many beneficial properties. They are also possessed by parts of this plant: leaves, buds, young shoots. They are used to treat various diseases. Blackcurrant berries are one of the leaders in vitamin C content. But black currant leaves also have a fairly high content of vitamin C, since the berries and leaves are very similar in composition and content. Therefore, since ancient times, black currant leaves have been widely used in folk medicine.
Composition of black currant leaves
The plant contains the following useful elements:
- essential oils
- carotene;
- ascorbic acid;
- phytoncides;
- terpene alcohol;
- phenols.
Beneficial properties of blackcurrant leaf tea
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Treatment and prevention of vitamin deficiency
The vitamin composition of black currant berries and constant consumption of tea from the leaves of this plant can effectively protect you from vitamin deficiency. Tea made from blackcurrant leaves can be considered as an additional source of microelements in the form of iron, iodine, zinc and manganese.
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Cancer Prevention
Black currant leaf tea is a powerful antioxidant. Regular consumption of tea will reduce the risk of developing cancer, reduce the number of metastases and the growth of tumor cells. To prepare, you need to use the following recipe - 1 part currant leaf to 1 part black or green tea, infuse for 15 minutes, brew 1 tablespoon per 300 ml of water. When consumed, blackcurrant leaf tea is not diluted.
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Benefits for the female body.
Blackcurrant leaves can be actively used to treat symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, menopause, breast tenderness and painful periods. Blackcurrant tea enhances weak blood circulation, reduces cholesterol in the blood, removes waste and toxins from the blood, which leads to improved blood circulation.
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Help with weight loss
Nowadays, quite a lot of people are trying to use blackcurrant leaf for weight loss. Blackcurrant leaves have the following effects: laxative, diaphoretic and diuretic. Fat is not burned on its own. As a rule, when making tea, blackcurrant leaves are mixed with linden, dried berries, and raspberries. Brew 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 1 glass of hot, but not boiling water. A thermos may be required to make tea. It is necessary to drink it in warm weather. While taking this tea, you must avoid drafts and swimming in cold water.
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Kidney health
Regular consumption of blackcurrant leaf tea can help prevent the appearance of kidney stones. Having remarkable diuretic properties, black currant often leads to recovery from urolithiasis and various inflammatory processes in the bladder.
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Help with colds
Blackcurrant tea contains increased levels of vitamin C and has diaphoretic and antiseptic properties. This tea is widely used to prevent and treat colds, flu and sore throats. As a rule, blackcurrant tea is drunk at the first symptoms of the disease. Thanks to its antiseptic properties, blackcurrant tea protects the body from severe consequences.
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Hair health
Rinse your hair with a decoction of black currant leaves. A similar procedure is recommended for the treatment of oily seborrhea of the scalp. These leaves are also placed in water when taking foot baths. This will reduce sweating and help combat foot odor.
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Heart Health
Contraindications for drinking blackcurrant leaf tea
When losing weight, you should not rely solely on currant tea; it can be considered solely as an addition to a comprehensive diet. Excessive consumption of this tea can lead to dehydration.
Bathing procedures with currant tea are not recommended for unprepared persons. This can put increased stress on the heart and kidneys, and can also cause dehydration. Therefore, these procedures are contraindicated for people with heart disease, kidney disease, obesity and those who do not practice bath procedures on an ongoing basis.
Blackcurrant leaves can be used to treat colds, but this can lead to dehydration. To avoid this, it is recommended to drink more fluids.
- hepatitis;
- exacerbation of stomach or duodenal ulcers;
- individual intolerance;
- in a post-stroke state.
" Currant
Currant leaves are a gift from nature, possessing a wide range of beneficial properties for the internal health of the body and external beauty. This is an accessible raw material for the preparation of medicinal infusions and decoctions, culinary preparations and cosmetics. The beneficial properties of blackcurrant leaves are recognized by official medicine, and extracts are used by beauty concerns to prepare expensive care products.
The beneficial properties of each product for the human body are determined by the substances predominant in their composition, the combination of vitamins and macroelements.
During the flowering of the bush, a record amount of vitamin C accumulates in currant leaves (260 mg%). This is 1.5-2 times more than in the fruits of the crop, which is achieved due to the low content of enzymes that destroy ascorbic acid. Vitamin C contained in 100 g of product significantly exceeds the daily requirement of the human body (90 mg).
Without the participation of vitamin C, the formation of collagen and connective tissue is impossible. It ensures the density of bone and dental tissue, elasticity and firmness of the skin. Therefore, the external beauty of our body partly depends on vitamin C.
The organic compound regulates the process of blood clotting, reduces the permeability of vascular walls and suppresses the development of inflammatory processes. These properties are excellent for the prevention and auxiliary treatment of atherosclerosis, hypertension, vascular pathologies and viral diseases.
Vitamin C is not synthesized in the body, so it must be supplied steadily through food. The organic compound is easily destroyed by mechanical damage and improper heat treatment. Therefore, fresh currant leaves are used whole and placed only in boiling water.
Currant leaves differ in the content of polyphenolic compounds that is significant for the human body:
- flavonols 2700 mg%;
- free catechins 941 mg%;
- condensed catechins 4414 mg%;
- proanthocyanidins 2174 mg%;
- bioflavonoids 7365 mg%.
These are strong natural antioxidants that suppress the development of free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules that oxidize and destroy healthy cells. Excessive formation of free radicals disrupts all biochemical processes in the body, promotes malignant transformation of connective tissue. Therefore, currant leaves are useful for the diet of people after treatment for cancer or with a hereditary predisposition to it.
The benefits of currant leaves for people who smoke, live in areas with a predominance of background radiation and in cities with polluted air are undeniable. Natural antioxidants resist toxic substances and help eliminate them from the body.
Currant leaves contain an impressive amount of essential macronutrients:
- magnesium 370 mg%;
- calcium 327 mg%;
- potassium 178 mg%;
- phosphorus 7.5 mg%;
- sodium 2 mg%.
These minerals are responsible for the strength and growth of bones, the health of muscle mass and the motor function of the body.
The predominance of magnesium and potassium in currant leaves is especially useful for heart function and the prevention of heart attack. These macroelements strengthen the myocardium (heart muscle), regulate blood flow and restore heart rhythm.
In addition to the benefits, currant leaves can also cause harm to the body. The herbal component cannot be used in case of increased acidity of the body, acute gastritis and stomach ulcers, hepatitis. If you have chronic pathologies, it is important to consult a doctor before use.
Thrombophlebitis is a contraindication to the use of currants in any form. Blackcurrant leaves should not be overused, because of them, blood clotting may increase.
You should not take a decoction based on black currant leaves if gastric acidity is increased, if you have a peptic ulcer or an inflammatory process in the duodenum. Large quantities of medications should not be taken during pregnancy, breastfeeding, they lead to side effects and various allergic reactions.
Application of black and red currant leaves
Currant leaves can be used all year round. Thanks to the phytoncides in their composition, the beneficial substances of the plant are preserved almost in their natural form when dried and frozen.
Decoctions and infusions - benefits and harms
In addition to the undoubted medicinal properties, decoctions and infusions of currant leaves have a wonderful aroma.
When used systematically and correctly, they have a high therapeutic effect during prevention and treatment:
- bronchopulmonary diseases;
- inflammatory and cold pathologies;
- hypertension;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- atherosclerosis;
- dysentery;
- diabetes.
The plant component strengthens the immune system, visual functions, regulates the functioning of the liver and kidneys. Decoctions and infusions are used for daily cleansing of the skin, and lotions are applied to problem areas.. Such procedures suppress inflammatory processes in skin cells, a common cause of acne and systemic facial sepsis.
Therapeutic baths
The anti-inflammatory properties of currant leaves significantly alleviate the manifestation of dermatitis and other skin diseases.
Currant leaf baths are used to treat:
- all types of dermatitis;
- prickly heat in children;
- diathesis;
- radiculitis.
A bath of currant leaves is an excellent way to nourish the cells of the skin, nails and hair with beneficial substances. It is a good alternative for many spa treatments for women.
Healthy tea
Currant leaf tea is a good addition to your daily diet.. The drink has tonic and restorative properties. This is a worthy replacement for more aggressive drinks tea and coffee.
The diuretic properties of tea complement complex treatment:
- renal pathologies (cystitis, pyelonephritis)
- urolithiasis;
- gout (removal of uric acids);
- swelling.
Tea is especially beneficial for older people. At this time, significant disturbances in metabolism, blood circulation and the functioning of the nervous system occur in the body. The structures of the heart wear out and require increased support from nutrients supplied with food.
Tea made from currant leaves is a source of significant macroelements and vitamins, the mild effect of which does not disrupt the natural functioning of the body. The drink has no age restrictions and will be useful for children and adults.
Recipes for medicinal and cosmetic products
Treatment with currant leaves has been practiced for a long time; in addition, the beneficial properties of the plant component are constantly being studied. Therefore today we can use the best recipes for medicinal and cosmetic products from currant leaves.
Popular recipes:
- Decoction. To prepare the remedy, dry and crushed leaves (4 tbsp) are placed in boiling water (1 l) and kept in a water bath for 30 minutes. Strain and cool. Take 200 ml 3 times a day.
- Infusion. Dry raw materials (5 tbsp) are poured into a thermos and poured with boiling water (1 l). Leave for 2-3 hours, filter and cool. Take 100 ml 3-4 times a day. Using the infusion, lotions are made during acne inflammation. To do this, moisten a piece of gauze in a medicinal product and apply it to problem areas for 15 minutes.
- Therapeutic bath. You can also use plant branches to prepare a bath. To do this, 1 kg of raw material is poured with 10 liters of water and boiled for 30 minutes. After this, cover the dishes with a lid and leave for 1 hour, filter and add to the bath. The duration of the procedure is 25 minutes, the recommended frequency is 2 times a week.
- Tea. In summer, it is better to brew tea from fresh currant or raspberry leaves. To do this, leaves (5-6 pieces) are placed in boiling water (250 ml), kept on fire for 1 minute and left for 2-3 minutes. To improve the taste, add a spoonful of honey. Tea can be brewed with the addition of mint, in which case you will get a good sedative that promotes healthy sleep.
- Antiseptic compress. The treatment procedure is recommended for those with oily, acne-prone skin. Dried currant leaves (20 g), chamomile flowers (30 g), sea buckthorn fruits (50 g) are poured with boiling water (1 l) and exposed to a water bath for 20 minutes. Cool and filter. A gauze cloth soaked in the broth is applied to the face for 10-15 minutes. The recommended course of treatment is 5 days.
- Mask for the face. Chopped fresh leaves (6 pcs.) and curdled milk (150 ml) are thoroughly mixed and squeezed through gauze. The nourishing mixture is applied to the face and left for 20 minutes. In winter, an infusion of dry raw materials can be used as a component. The mask lightens pigments, evens out complexion, and has a softening effect.
Currant leaves are used not only for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Their extraordinary aroma makes them an excellent addition to salads and hot dishes. The leaves are also indispensable for preserving vegetables. The high content of phytoncides in their composition protects products from decay during long-term storage.
Collection and storage
Currant leaves will be useful only if properly prepared. The leaves are collected during currant flowering, when the content of vitamins and macroelements reaches its maximum. Collection is carried out at minimal ambient humidity.
To do this, choose a day without precipitation, a period between 10-12 hours, when the morning dew dries. Pluck off whole leaves of young shoots without signs of disease. Dry on the surface of the fabric in a dry and ventilated area without exposure to sunlight..
Store the product in tight fabric bags or glass jars, closed with a lid. The beneficial properties of raw materials are preserved for 2-3 years.
Despite the huge potential of healing and beneficial properties for the human body, currant leaves are unfairly pushed aside. This can be explained by the easy availability of raw materials and the lack of complete information about the amazing plant component. Therefore, it is important to take a closer look at the modest plants around us, the names of which are often mentioned in the composition of expensive creams and medicines.