Chokeberry is a small shrub or tree, about 1.5 meters high, with leaves that look like cherry leaves. The berries are sweet, tasty, slightly acidic, especially immature. Aronia is often grown as an ornamental and fruity plant, as well as as amateur medicinal gardeners, summer residents, on specialized farms. Chokeberry de patria (chokeberry) - the eastern part of North America.
Aronia has been growing there on dry stony soils and on the steep banks of rivers, in dunes and in forests, and even in swamps. At the beginning of the 18th century, the black chokeberry was introduced to Europe, and about a hundred years later it arrived in Russia. The cultivated mountain ash was cultivated until the beginning of the 20th century only as an ornamental crop. In fact, the white shields of chokeberry flowers and dense dark green leaves look very elegant.
In autumn, clusters of bright black fruits stand out clearly on the bottom of the red-orange leaves. The berries are harvested in the autumn, dried outdoors, in dryers. Store dried berries in a dry room, no more than 2 years. And also compotes, jams, wine and many other things are made of black chokeberry berries.
The chokeberry berries have a nice bittersweet and spicy flavor. Aronia is a true storehouse of useful substances. Contains a rich natural vitamin complex (P, C, E, K, B1, B2, B6, beta-carotene), macro and microelements (boron, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, fluorine), sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose) , pectin and tannins. For example, in the fruits of chokeberry, vitamin P is 2 times more than in black currants and 20 times more than in oranges and apples. And the content of iodine in black fruit is 4 times higher than in strawberries, currants and raspberries. Due to the finely balanced nature of the combination in the fruits of black chokeberry (chokeberry) so many biologically active substances, they have valuable healing properties.
Aronia berries and juices are used to treat and, most importantly, prevent hypertension and atherosclerosis. They are prescribed for gastritis with reduced secretion, some vascular diseases accompanied by an increase in permeability and fragility of the vascular wall (capillary toxicosis, allergic vasculitis, measles, scarlet fever, eczema). The pectin substances contained in chokeberry ash remove heavy metals and radioactive substances from the body, retain and eliminate various types of pathogenic microorganisms.
Pectins normalize the functioning of the intestines, eliminate cramps and have a choleretic effect. The therapeutic properties of chokeberry contribute to strengthening the walls of blood vessels, improving their elasticity and elasticity. Also among the most beneficial properties of this berry are the normalization of blood pressure and the reduction of the level of cholesterol in the blood. The fruits of black insects are prescribed for various disorders in the blood coagulation system, bleeding, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and allergic diseases. Studies in recent years have shown that chokeberry improves liver function, and regular consumption of this berry improves immunity and positively affects the endocrine system. It is recommended for diabetes mellitus, especially with lesions of the capillaries, with diseases of the thyroid gland, as a diuretic for kidney diseases, allergies, scarlet fever, typhus. Aronia Aronia is used as an antispasmodic, vasodilator, hemostatic, haematopoietic, appetizing, choleretic and diuretic.
When drinking juice, the decoction of the Aroniya berries promotes the expansion of the blood vessels, resulting in an increase in their permeability, activates the function of the blood, which is useful in radiation sickness, bleeding. Chokeberry promotes the regulation of digestion, improves appetite, increases acidity, activates the liver, promotes the formation and secretion of bile. Broth of chokeberry fruits (black chokeberry) - 20 g of fruit per 200 ml of boiling water. Applied for the purpose of treatment by 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day for hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, glomerulonephritis and allergic conditions.
The fruits of mountain ash are contraindicated by hypotension, increased blood clotting, increased acidity of the gastric juice, gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. It is not recommended to take it with low blood pressure.