Actinidia belongs to plants that help to cope with a huge number of diseases. Most people know it because of the fruit called kiwi. It is known that these fruits have useful properties, but which ones, very few people know. We will talk about the properties of actinidia and contraindications to its use below.
Content
What actinidia looks like
This plant looks like a lianawhich resembles grapes. Very often for this reason, it is wound up as a decorative element of the interior of a house or summer cottage. The branch of the plant is long and tree-like, flexible. It can reach about 25 meters, it braids objects counterclockwise.
Actinidia has a lot of wrinkled leaves, their characteristic feature is the frequent color change during growth. They can be bronze at first, and then turn white and even bright red or purple. The flowers are white, they are large and grow on stalks. The fruits of actinidia are oval in shape, reaching up to 3 centimeters in length. The fruits are soft, tasty and have a pleasant smell. The plant itself has a strong odor that is somewhat reminiscent of jasmine.
Habitat
In natural conditions, such a plant occurs in the following regions of the world:
Himalayas;- Sakhalin;
- Kuriles;
- Southeast Asia;
- China;
- South Africa;
- Primorye;
- New Zealand.
Such a spread is obtained due to the fact that some plant species are able to withstand temperatures below zero up to 40 degrees. The length of the branches in natural conditions can be up to 100 meters, and the plant itself becomes a bush about 3 meters high.
What does the fruit contain?
As we already understood, the geography of distribution of actinidia is very wide. In the fruits of the plant contains a lot of vitamins and other beneficial substances that are suitable for people living in all these regions and not only.
Especially the fruits of actinidia are rich in vitamin C. Therefore, you should pay attention to contraindications if you are allergic to it.
In addition, the fruits of actinidia contain such useful components:
- provitamins and vitamins of several groups;
- fiber;
- potassium;
- zinc;
- iron;
- calcium;
- copper;
- manganese;
- Sahara;
- oils;
- organic matter;
- tanning and pectin components;
- ash and much more.
What are the beneficial properties of actinidia?
Actinidia has a lot of useful properties that will help to cure a large number of different ailments. First of all, actinidia is an excellent medicine for vitamin deficiency. Just two fruits are enough to satisfy the body's daily need for ascorbic acid.
Besides, its properties are as follows:
removes poisons and toxins;- acts as a protection against radioactive effects;
- has a calming, expectorant, laxative and hemostatic effect;
- acts as a pain reliever;
- helps with whooping cough and tuberculosis;
- relieves worms;
- used in the prevention and treatment of caries in children and not only.
Actinidia fruits help well with the following diseases and symptoms:
- diseases of the digestive system;
- gastric diseases;
- lung problems;
- bronchitis;
- scurvy;
- anemia;
- joint diseases;
- dizziness;
- headaches;
- paralysis;
- indigestion, heartburn, or belching.
Actinidia and traditional medicine
With the help of actinidia fruits can lower blood pressureif there are up to 5 kiwi fruit per day. With fevers, take decoctions and juices. If the patient suffers from wet eczema, then you need to put lotions on the wounds for a couple of hours from the peel and kiwi juice.
In folk medicine, not only the fruits of actinidia are used, but also its other parts:
- leaves;
- bark;
- flowers;
- berries on a liana.
On their basis, ointments, infusions and decoctions are made. They are also used to prepare hot drinks, the properties of which are comparable to those of lemon.
Deciduous infusions good for wraps for gout, radiculitis, rheumatism or other joint diseases. They are made on the basis of dry leaves and flowers. Also, infusions are taken orally by a third of a glass three times a day.
And actinidia berries have a tonic effect if you prepare a decoction on their basis, take a tablespoon of berries in a glass of boiled water and take half a glass twice a day. This is especially good if the blood circulation in the brain is impaired. Dry berries are used to prepare a decoction that helps with diseases such as anemia and digestive ailments.
Infusion of actinidia berries is good for the prevention of cancer due to the presence in it of a rare substance that helps suppress cancer cells. It should be taken after meals and in very limited doses.
Also fresh juice of berries, squeezed by hand, helps to improve appetite and overcome seasonal hypervitaminosis. In the absence of contraindications, they can be eaten fresh for both children and adults.
If there are problems with the oral cavity, then a decoction based on actinidia bark will help you. But the root-based infusion is actively used for douching for female diseases.
A decoction from the bark is used to treat diseases of the oral cavity, and the infusion prepared from its roots is an excellent tool for use in medical tampons and douching for diseases of the female genital area.
Actinidia based recipes
Below is list of some recipesthat are suitable for the treatment of certain diseases:
to make an infusion against rheumatism and angina pectoris, you will need 20 grams of the leaves and flowers of the plant in crushed form, pour them with a glass of boiling water and set them up for 15 minutes in a water bath. Cool and taste. Take a third of a glass three times a day;- to prepare a decoction for the treatment of anemia, metabolic disorders and problems with the gastrointestinal tract, you need to take two tablespoons of dry berries and pour them with a liter of boiling water. We leave in a thermos overnight, then take a glass three times a day before meals;
- for gum disease and stomatitis, it is recommended to take an infusion of actinidia roots. We clean the roots, grind and pour boiling water, then evaporate it in a water bath. The same infusion is suitable for lotions, tampons or douching to treat inflammation in women;
- after fractures, you can use an ointment based on the fruits of the bitter varieties of actinidia for massage. They should be ground and mixed with pork or other fat, and mustard seeds should be added to the mixture in a ground form;
- a universal bark-based broth is made from 20 grams of crushed bark, which is poured with a glass of boiling water and infused in a water bath for half an hour. After that, it must be cooled and filtered. Take the broth three times, 2 large spoons three times a day;
- in case of cerebral circulation disorders, berry infusion is recommended. Pour a tablespoon of berries with a glass of boiling water and take half a glass twice a day.
Actinidia in cooking
Kiwi fruit most often consumed fresh... But sometimes they are used to prepare drinks and dishes such as:
- juice;
- jelly;
- compote;
- syrup;
- jam;
- marmalade;
- mousse;
- jelly;
- marshmallow and much more.
They are also used as a decoration for festive dishes... The fruits of some varieties of actinidia are very pungent, so it is difficult to eat them. In regions where such kiwi are found, not fruits are eaten, but the leaves and shoots of actinidia. This applies to Japan and China.
We bring to your attention several delicious dishes based on actinidia:
- to make jam, take a kilogram of fruit, knead it and fill it with two kilograms of sugar. We put everything in darkened jars, half and three quarters of their volume. We put it in a dark and cool place. Ready jam can be stored for up to 3 years;
- to make jelly, also knead the kiwi and add sugar in a one-to-one ratio. Mix everything thoroughly and set to simmer until the mixture becomes viscous;
- and to please your family with compote, put the fruits in a jar up to the top, and fill them with boiling fresh syrup based on sugar and water. For 10 minutes we pasteurize at a temperature of 80 degrees;
- you can make actinidia with sugar as a dessert. We take a kilogram of fruit, wipe it with a sieve and mix with 0.5 kg of sugar. Place in jars and cover with parchment. Then place the dish in a cold place.
The presence of contraindications
There are practically no contraindications for the use of actinidia, and its fruits. However, there are exceptions:
- phlebeurysm;
- intolerance and allergies;
- thrombophlebitis;
- increased blood clotting.
It is also worth observing the norms when using this product, otherwise it may provoke digestive problems.
Now we have learned what actinidia is and why fruits such as kiwi are good. They can be used by almost everyone, and they also help to overcome many diseases.
