Lingonberry - a low-growing branching shrub that reaches a height of no more than 20 cm, with fine green foliage and red fruits. However, this small plant is a real storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. Here, a rich stock of elements has been collected that can adequately fight various diseases and defeat them, including such an ailment as cystitis.

Characteristics of berries and leaves of lingonberry

Lingonberry belongs to forest shrubs that grow safely in temperate climates. For the first time, it was cultivated in the second half of the 18th century, when the first attempts were made to grow a culture in the vicinity of St. Petersburg. Real cowberry plantations were planted only two centuries later. Now fruit and berry bushes are successfully grown in countries such as the USA, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, etc.

Did you know? Bushes lingonberries can be compared with oaks in life expectancy. The life of the plant can reach 300 years.

The desire to breed lingonberries is due to the fact that mankind appreciated its undeniable benefits as a vitamin and medicine. Shrub leaves have especially great healing potential, which, moreover, is easy to store in a dried state.

The chemical composition of berries and leaves

To understand why cowberries are so useful, it is necessary to consider its chemical composition. Berries are a real collection of biologically active substances.

It contains a large number of components such as:

• organic acids, including malic, citric, acetic, grape;
• beta-carotene (a substance is a powerful antioxidant);
• pectin (a valuable nutritional supplement);
• tannins (have a hemostatic, aseptic effect);
• fiber (dietary fiber that removes toxins from the body);
• vitamins of groups A, B, PP, C;
• minerals - sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus.

As for the leaves of lingonberry, it is worth noting, first of all, the presence in the composition of biologically active volatile substances - volatile, with antimicrobial action.

No less useful components are compounds such as:

• ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
• B vitamins;
• mineral components (phosphorus, potassium, manganese);
• citric, malic and acetic acid;
• arbutin glycoside (has a direct effect on the urinary tract system, cleansing it of germs and bacteria).

The healing properties of berries and leaves

Judging from the description of the chemical compositions of lingonberries and leaves, we can safely say that culture, when used properly, can bring great benefits to the human body. Decoctions and infusions from the leaves are a good diuretic, effectively removing swelling, as well as a panacea for inflammation of the bladder.

Means are also used for diseases such as dysentery, jaundice, intestinal infections. Deciduous decoctions have the property of lowering blood sugar levels, therefore, they are recommended for use in diabetes. Lingonberry fruits are used for vitamin deficiencies, visual impairment.

Important! Lingonberry — leader among plants in the tendency to accumulate radioactive substances. Only berries that are likely to have been collected far from factory complexes, highways and other dangerous objects can be eaten.

Infusions of berries are a good remedy for the treatment of dysentery, rheumatism, malaria, colds. Decoctions serve as antiseptic, antiseptic and bactericidal substances. Separately, it is worth noting the beneficial effect of the fruits in the treatment of cystitis, as evidenced by the reviews of Internet users who have experienced the effects of this wonderful remedy.

The benefits and contraindications of cranberries and leaves

Lingonberry is recognized as a useful product not only in traditional medicine. The healing power is also indicated by the fact that its components are part of many drugs manufactured in industrial production. In addition to healing properties, lingonberry has a general strengthening effect on the body, it is useful to eat it to increase immunity, increase vitality and get rid of depression.

Despite the large list of useful properties of lingonberries, do not be silent about the disadvantages of the product. It would be more correct to even say this - not about the shortcomings, but about the contraindications that accompany the reception of lingonberry decoctions and tinctures. First of all, it should be noted that you can not abuse the medicine for chronic diseases that can worsen if you take lingonberries daily for a long period.

• It is strongly not recommended to take the product in the following cases:
• with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and with gallstone disease;
• with heart failure and frequent malfunctions of the cardiovascular system;
• during periods of exacerbation of liver disease;
• in a state of increased nervous excitability.

Pregnant women should also limit their consumption of lingonberries if they are not needed.. It is also not recommended to give the product to children under 15 years of age and people suffering from low blood pressure. Sometimes, as a side effect, an allergic reaction manifests itself.

Features of the treatment of lingonberry cystitis

If you find yourself with symptoms of cystitis, you should not rush to buy antibiotics that will have only a temporary effect and, in addition, will significantly harm, killing beneficial microorganisms along the way.

The recipes of cowberry remedies in the form of juices, fruit drinks, decoctions, infusions, which can be done on their own, will help relieve inflammation and remove severe pain during urination. Such drinks well remove inflammatory processes from the walls of the bladder, destroying pathogenic microorganisms - pathogens of the disease.

Berry fruit drink

Lingonberry juice can be cooked from fresh berries or previously frozen.

For cooking, you will need the following components:

• lingonberry - 0.5 kg;
• honey or sugar - 1 tbsp. l .;
• water - 600 ml.

Washed (thawed) fruits are kneaded, ground through a sieve. The gruel is placed in a saucepan, sprinkled with sugar and poured with water. The container must be put on fire and brought to a boil, after which it is cooked for another quarter hour, stirring constantly. Now the fruit drink should cool; then it is filtered and reception begins. Drink it 3 times a day, 150 ml. If you keep the drink in the refrigerator, in hot weather it will also become an excellent tonic.

Did you know? The history of the preparation of honey drinks with berries dates back to the 15th century. In those days, especially valuable "set red honey" was popular in Russia, the recipe for which included lingonberries and cranberries.

Berry infusion

From berries you can prepare an infusion, which also effectively helps to cope with cystitis, and sometimes it is also recommended for liver diseases, colitis. To prepare the product, you need to take 200 g of fresh fruits, put in a colander and scald with boiling water. Still warm, pour the berries into a jar, pour 400 ml of cold (boiled) water, cover with a lid and leave to infuse for 6 hours. Take ½ cup 4 times a day before meals.

Decoction of leaves and branches

If you decide to stock up on lingonberries yourself, you can collect not only leaves, but also branches. The raw materials are thoroughly dried and placed in a dark place for storage (before drying, the branches need to be broken into small fragments).To prepare a decoction, take 1 tbsp. l dried leaves and branches, placed in a small pan, pour 400 ml of water and put on fire. After the mixture boils, it needs to be boiled for a few more minutes, then removed from the heat and left alone for another half hour. Now the tool is filtered and taken for 2 tbsp. 4-5 times a day. You can add a decoction to regular tea.

Important! Lingonberry leaves and shoots begin to collect as soon as the snow melts. Finish harvesting when the crop starts to color. You can re-collect material in the fall.

Infusion of leaves and berries

To prevent exacerbations in chronic cystitis, as well as as a prophylaxis, you can prepare an infusion of leaves and berries. At its core, it is tea, but with a targeted effect. A tablespoon of dried leaves and 10-12 berries are placed in a teapot, pour boiling water and let it brew for 30-40 minutes. The resulting infusion is mixed in half with ordinary tea and take 3 times a day for 1 glass.

Lingonberry picking

In pharmacies, you can often find lingonberry collection, which, in addition to the main component (lingonberry leaves), includes other herbs that are also useful for cystitis. 3Here may be dried peppermint, calendula, dill. Such compounds improve the condition of the urinary system, help to eliminate the processes of an inflammatory nature. Prepare and apply them according to the instructions.

If desired, you can collect the ingredients and prepare the collection yourself. To do this, pour 3 parts of dry lingonberry leaves into a thermos and 1 hour each of chamomile, marshmallow root and mint, pour 200 ml of boiling water, close and leave to infuse for 1 hour. Apply the collection should be 8 times a day for ¼ cup. After 3 days, they begin to reduce the number of receptions, removing one per day.

The use of lingonberries for cystitis in women

Cystitis in women often takes a chronic form, as a result of untimely treatment - family, household chores, careers often do not give time to go to the doctor. If you do not get rid of the disease in time, it can provoke the appearance of more serious diseases of the female genitourinary system. It’s very dangerous to choose pills on your own, but it’s quite possible to use folk remedies, unless, of course, there are contraindications mentioned above.

It is best to use a decoction of lingonberry leaves, which well removes inflammatory processes, has an antibacterial and antiseptic effect. Brew the product as follows: 2 tbsp. dried leaves are poured into 0.5 l of water, boiled for 15-20 minutes, filtered, the volume is brought back to 0.5 l (part of the water will evaporate when boiled) and taken 100 ml 3 times a day. Symptoms of cystitis can be quickly removed literally in 3-4 days. This does not mean that treatment can be discontinued - it should continue for another 2–4 weeks.

Summing up and evaluating all the advantages of lingonberries, we can say with confidence that the culture is quite worthy of attention. It is useful not only as a stimulant, improving the health of the body as a whole, but also as an effective medicine for many diseases.