Useful and medicinal properties of hazel, use in medicine and contraindications

Many people who try to do without pharmaceutical drugs, replacing them with natural medicine, are interested in the beneficial properties and contraindications of hazel. The unique composition of the plant and its fruits can comprehensively strengthen the body and stabilize the functioning of organ systems. It is considered a real find in cases where it is necessary to restore health by making a variety of therapeutic and prophylactic agents in the form of decoctions, tinctures, and oils.

What does hazel look like and where does it grow?

Common hazel is a shrub from the Birch family, decorating coniferous-deciduous forests. The culture grows in the European part of Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Belarus, and the Caucasus.

The plant grows up to 3-7 meters in height, characterized by broadly oval, heart-shaped leaves, large in size and having a sharp tip. The flexible branches are covered with brown bark and strewn with many lentils. Male flowers are collected in inflorescences - catkins, female flowers - similar to buds. The fruits are presented in the form of yellow-brown nuts in a leaf wrapper.

Useful properties of the plant

Hazel is popular in both official and folk medicine, as its chemical composition is rich in beneficial substances. The plant has a positive effect on the functioning of many organs and systems, since it is capable of:

• reduce body temperature;
• stimulate the immune system;
• prevent the development of bacterial diseases;
• normalize and facilitate digestion;
• remove stones and sand from the genitourinary system;
• dilate blood vessels;
• accelerate skin regeneration, speed up wound healing;
• strengthen bones, teeth and joints;
• protect from stress and nervous tension;
• restore sexual function.

Both hazel fruits and other parts of the plant: leaves, bark are used as medicinal raw materials.

Uses of the nut

The hazel fruit is actively used not only by the food industry, but also by traditional healers for preventive and therapeutic purposes against many diseases.

Due to its high calorie content, the product is able to relieve hunger for a long time, saturate and relax the body during stress, physical and mental stress.

An infusion is made from hazel fruits for colds, kidney diseases, swelling and problems of the urinary system. A decoction is the most effective way to treat dysentery and hormonal disorders. During lactation, women use the product to increase the quantity and nutritional value of breast milk. During pregnancy, hazel has a beneficial effect on the growth and formation of the fetus, strengthening its bone and nervous system.

Application of bark

Hazel bark is considered an excellent antiseptic and vasodilator. An infusion based on it copes with trophic ulcers, diabetes, and poor blood circulation. The beneficial properties of decoctions are used for colds, fever, and gastrointestinal disorders. With the help of this part of the plant, you can alleviate the general condition of varicose ulcers, thrombophlebitis, and psoriasis.

Benefits of leaves

The medicinal properties of hazelnut leaves for human health are invaluable from the point of view of both folk and official medicine. Their rich chemical composition is distinguished by a large number of valuable essential oils, bioflavonoids, vitamins B, C and K. Decoctions and infusions based on hazel leaves can relieve problems such as:

• anemia;
• avitaminosis;
• rickets;
• urolithiasis disease;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• dysfunction of the liver and prostate gland;
• diseases of the digestive system.

The main area of ​​application of this natural raw material is improving men's health. The beneficial properties of infusions and tinctures made from crushed hazel leaves can save a man from prostate adenoma.

Use of oil

Hazel fruit oil contains fatty acids such as stearic, oleic, linolenic, and palmitic. The product is quickly absorbed by the body and has a positive effect on the immune and circulatory systems, preventing the development of atherosclerosis. The oil is used as an antihistamine to get rid of roundworms. For burns, you can add egg white to the product and apply the resulting composition to the affected parts of the body.

Hazel oil is an indispensable product in cosmetology. Contains in strengthening agents to prevent hair breakage and against split ends. It is enough to rub a few drops into the roots daily.

Features of application

The branches and trunks of the plant are used to weave baskets, rims for barrels, fishing rods and other devices needed on the farm. According to popular beliefs, hazel, endowed with sacred power, can help you gain wealth. The fruits of the plant are widely used in perfumes.

They are also used in the confectionery industry to produce sweet products such as cakes, candies and other desserts.

In addition to the food and cosmetic industries, hazel is known to be used in medicine. All vegetative parts of hazel are used to treat various diseases, making healing tinctures, infusions, and decoctions from them.

Traditional recipes using the plant

Despite the rapid progress in the pharmaceutical industry and thanks to innovation, laboratory tests and trials, many people consider natural treatments, methods and recipes passed down from generation to generation, to be safer and more effective.

Treatment of prostatitis

Warming up is a simple home procedure that is actively used in the treatment of prostatitis to relieve inflammation, relax the urinary tract and quickly pass urine. To do this, fill the pan with hazel leaves and bark, add water and cook for 25 minutes. Filter the resulting broth, pour into a basin and warm the prostate area over it. In the morning and evening, carry out a similar procedure exclusively with freshly brewed medicine.

A tincture of hazel leaves will also help relieve inflammation of the prostate. To do this, take 2 tbsp dry raw materials. l. and grind with a coffee grinder, pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse in a warm place for 2 hours. Filter and drink every day 4 times before meals. To improve the taste, add honey and lemon.

For varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, trophic ulcers

The result of compression of the pelvic vessels: difficulty in the outflow of blood to the lower extremities, the development of a number of diseases. Medicinal products based on common hazel will help correct the situation:

1. Take 2 tbsp. l. dry mass of bark, leaves and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Place the solution in a water bath for 30 minutes, then cool. Filter and drink 3 times a day, 1/3 cup.
2. Combine 250 ml of vodka with 3 tbsp. l. dry hazel leaves, leave for 10 days. Strain and use 2 times a day, 35 drops.

For fever

Step by step recipe:

1. Turning on low heat, simmer for 15 minutes a mixture of 1 liter of boiling water and 3 tbsp. l. dried hazel bark. Cool, strain, add a little boiled water so that the volume is 1 liter. Drink 1/3 glass before meals until symptoms disappear.
2. Grind 200 g of fruit kernels as finely as possible and combine with 200 ml of water.Drink the resulting mixture 50 ml 3 times a day.
3. Grind 1 tbsp. l. bark in a coffee grinder until smooth, pour 500 ml of boiling water and place in a water bath for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture and dilute a little with boiled water. Drink 100 ml 4 times a day before meals.

For bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy

Traditional recipes:

1. Grind 50 g of hazel fruits using a coffee grinder, combine them with 200 ml of heated milk. Drink 100 ml three times a day 2 hours after meals.
2. Combine a handful of hazel fruits with boiling water and leave for 12 hours. Grind the infusion in a blender and place over low heat, bringing to a boil. Cool and filter the resulting liquid, add 5 tbsp. l. cream and 1 tbsp. l. honey Mix thoroughly, consume 30 g 2 times a day before meals for about 2 weeks.

For helminthiasis

In case of ascariasis, take 1 tbsp for 3 weeks. l. hazel fruit oil 4 times a day 20 minutes before meals.

For diarrhea

Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 20 g of dry hazel leaves, leave for 2 hours and filter. Drink 50 ml 4 times a day.

For the treatment of jaundice

Half fill a 1 liter jar with dried hazel leaves and add dry white wine. Seal tightly and place in a warm place for 7 days, shake regularly. Filter and drink 50 ml 3 times a day for 3 weeks.

For burns

Take 3-5 hazel kernels and grind them to a powder and mix with the white of one egg. Apply to affected areas of skin, rinse gently after 20 minutes.
For urolithiasis, put dry hazel leaves crushed to a powder into a thermos and pour 500 ml of boiling water.Leave for 8 hours and consume 50 ml 4 times a day before meals for no more than a month.

For loss of strength and anemia

Squeeze the juice from the vegetative parts of the bush and drink 2 tbsp. l., mixing with ½ tsp. honey, on an empty stomach 3 times a day for 1 month.

Contraindications for use

Hazel is a fairly allergenic product, so before supplementing your diet with it and using it as a treatment, you should make sure there is no allergy.

Restrictions on taking hazel:

• obesity;
• severe diabetes;
• diathesis;
• serious dysfunction of the kidneys and liver;
• exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases associated with high acidity.

It should be taken with caution if you have hypertension, neurodermatitis, psoriasis and other skin-related problems. The daily intake of the fetus is 30-50 g; exceeding the specified dose will cause heaviness in the stomach, headache, and in case of severe overeating, rashes and anaphylactic shock.

It is recommended for a child from the age of three to include hazel in the menu, gradually increasing the dose, starting with 2 fruits.

The use of hazel in cosmetology

Hazel oil is actively used in cosmetology. It can be seen in many medications, moisturizers, and preparations for strengthening hair and nails. Hazel oil is an excellent remedy for massaging the whole body and preventing sunburn while relaxing on the beach.

Tips for collection and storage

Hazel fruits are harvested at the end of August - beginning of September. The ripeness of a nut is determined by the yellowing of its wrapper. You can harvest if the fruits begin to fall off when you shake the bush. Peel the collected hazelnuts and place them in one layer in room conditions for 1-2 weeks.Check readiness for long-term storage by the ringing sound when scattering a handful of nuts. Only then should they be stored in bags made of thick fabric or paper that allow air to pass through well.

For thousands of years, people, consuming hazel every day, do not even suspect the benefits the product brings to the body and how it can be used for their own purposes. To extract the maximum amount of medicinal properties, you must definitely read the information provided and use the product not only because of its pleasant taste, but because of its healing power.