Dogwood: beneficial properties and contraindications, harvesting, storage and use in folk medicine and cosmetology

Although many have heard about dogwood, not everyone knows how to cook from it. In fact, such knowledge and skills will not only allow you to make your menu more varied, but will also provide you with the opportunity to effectively use another extremely useful gift of nature in cooking.

What is dogwood?

Anyone who has never encountered such a plant and its fruits is interested in what dogwood looks like, what it tastes like, where to find it and how to try the miracle of nature.

Dogwood is a shrub, sometimes reaching up to seven meters in height.
The plant is most widespread in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Moldova, Central Asia and other regions with warm climates.
Thermophilia is due to early flowering: the first flowers appear in mid-March, and the bush bears fruit in late August - early September.
Dogwood fruits are red or burgundy berries, oblong in shape, sour and slightly tart in taste.
Inside each berry is a large seed, which, depending on the purpose of the fruit, is left or removed, based on the recommendations of the recipe.

Dogwood berries

Crimean legend, dogwood, devil's berry, red doctor - whatever people call the dogwood bush. According to legend, dogwood branches sprouted from a spear that the founder of Rome, Romulus, stuck on the hill where the ancient capital of the Roman Empire subsequently arose.

Over time, this plant became so widespread in the area that the Romans began to actively use it in everyday life - they made healing, strengthening decoctions from dogwood leaves and fruits, and used the branches to make sword handles.

Dogwood is one of the first trees to bloom in early spring

This plant was nicknamed the devil's berry because of its deceptive precocity: the dogwood bush is one of the first to bloom, but the berries themselves, although they turn red very early, become suitable for consumption only in the fall.

Sometimes such a plant is called “dogwood” - this corresponds to the literal translation from the Turkish and Chagatai languages (“dogwood” - literally “red”). Despite such an abundance of nicknames, only two remain traditional synonyms for this berry: “turf” and “dogwood”.

Externally, the fruits of the doren resemble a small red pear: they are dense in structure, fleshy, have a strong skin and an inedible seed. Color can vary from orange to dark purple. The average weight of one berry is 4 grams, of which about 80% is juicy pulp.

The taste of dogwood fruits is tart and astringent

Dogwood is one of the most ancient plants on earth - dogwood seeds were discovered during excavations of Neolithic settlements, the age of which is estimated at 5 thousand years.

How is dogwood beneficial for the human body?

The benefits of dogwood for the body are impressive in scale and encourage the unconditional use of berries in cooking. Even the listed incomplete list of the main properties of miraculous fruits reflects their special value.

Due to the high content of vitamin C, P and beta-carotene, dogwood helps with vitamin deficiency and has an antiscorbutic effect.
Tannins in berries have an astringent effect and help strengthen stool.
The consumption of dogwood is indicated for diabetics, as it lowers blood sugar levels and improves the functioning of the pancreas, its enzymatic activity and has a beneficial effect on the entire digestive system.
The substances contained in the fruits have a diuretic and choleretic effect, helping with liver and kidney diseases.
By regularly consuming dogwood, you will be able to reduce blood and cranial pressure, improve brain function and strengthen the nervous system.
The miraculous properties of dogwood are used for joint diseases, gout, or to strengthen the body and increase its protective properties in general.

Health benefits of dogwood

Due to its beneficial composition, dogwood is considered a storehouse of useful elements for humans. It has a beneficial effect on metabolism in the body and stimulates appetite. Beta-carotene, which red dogwood is rich in, strengthens vision and eye vessels. Pectin prevents toxic substances from entering the body, neutralizes the harmful effects of carcinogens, and supports the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

When consumed regularly, dogwood prevents the deposition of salts in joints, ensures full functioning of muscles, increases the body's protective functions, improves immunity, and participates in cell renewal, rejuvenating the body.

Dogwood is indicated for men who want to increase their libido. The berries of this plant are considered an oriental aphrodisiac. Also, dogwood is useful for men's health with its tonic properties; it allows you to quickly restore the emotional state and muscle structure of the body.

How to store dogwood?

Depending on what is made from dogwood, how it is used for food or stored for the winter, the method of storing the product will depend.

Fresh berries can be stored in a loosely covered container or bag with holes, placing it in the refrigerator, in the compartment for vegetables and fruits. The period of such storage is no more than 12 days.
The fruits can be dried in air, avoiding direct sunlight on the berries, or in a slightly open oven, maintaining a temperature of 50-60 degrees.
The ideal way to preserve a valuable product is to freeze the berries in bags that can be stored until the next harvest.
Heat-treated and hermetically sealed dogwood blanks are excellently stored even at room conditions for a year or more.

Harm to health of dogwood

Dogwood is a tonic, so it is contraindicated to use it before bed. This can cause insomnia and disruption of the body's nervous system. Not recommended for those who have problems with constipation. Due to the high acid content, dogwood has a number of contraindications for exacerbation of stomach ulcers, gastritis and other diseases.

It is necessary to consume dogwood in moderation, otherwise allergic reactions or serious stomach upsets may occur. In the presence of chronic or acute forms of diseases, consultation with your doctor is necessary.

Dogwood - recipes

If you have collected or purchased dogwood, what to cook from it, you can find out further. Simple recipes will help you pamper your family with healthy dishes, and knowing some of the secrets of technology will make their taste perfect and simplify the process.

Everyday dogwood dishes often require proper preliminary preparation of the starting product. When using berries as a filling for pies or as a component for sauce, the pulp is first separated from the seeds. To do this, crush the ripe fruits with a fork or the bottom of a glass and pick out the seeds with your hands, or simmer the berry mass in a small amount of water until softened, and then grind through a sieve.
To prepare compotes, jelly or tea, the berries can be used in their original form whole, or for a better result, work a little and get clean pulp by removing the seeds.

Dogwood pie

Baking with dogwood pleases not only with its nutritional value and valuable composition. The amazing taste of the resulting delicacy will amaze you with its originality and sophistication. Often the berries in the filling are complemented with fruits, in this case apples, which will most harmoniously emphasize the light tartness of healthy fruits.

Ingredients:

eggs – 3 pcs.;
flour – 3-4 cups;
margarine – 200 g;
sugar – 1 glass;
sour cream – 1.5 cups;
baking powder - 1 teaspoon;
powdered sugar – 2/3 cup;
apples – 4 pcs.;
peeled dogwood – 1 cup;
nuts.

Preparation

Beat eggs with sugar.
Stir in softened margarine and sour cream.
Add flour and baking powder in portions and knead into a soft but not sticky dough.
Distribute the dough in an oiled form with high sides, sprinkle the bottom with chopped nuts.
Place sliced apples and dogwood on top.
Bake the cake for 40 minutes at 180 degrees.
Beat sour cream with powder and pour cream over the pie.
After complete cooling and soaking, the pie is served.

Tea with dogwood

Dogwood tea is a recipe that can be made from fresh ripe berries. The resulting drink will provide energy to the body during colds or after illnesses, will have an invigorating effect and will increase vitality. In this case, sugar can be replaced with honey or jam, which will make the drink even more healthy.

Ingredients:

dogwood - 1 glass;
purified water – 1 l;
black tea – 4 teaspoons;
lemon – 1 pc.;
sugar - to taste.

Preparation

Berries get rid of seeds.
The pulp is crushed and the juice is squeezed out.
The pomace is boiled with added sugar and filtered.
Brew tea separately, mix with broth and juice and serve.

Dogwood sauce

Another way to use dogwood in cooking is in recipes for all kinds of sauces that will help improve and highlight the taste of any savory dish. One of the options for preparing a delicious addition to fried meat will be presented below. An indisputable condition for obtaining an ideal result is exceptionally ripe berries.

Ingredients:

dogwood – 500 g;
garlic – 5 cloves;
hot pepper – 1 pc.;
greens – 1 bunch;
hops-suneli – 1 teaspoon;
olive oil – 20 ml;
salt, sugar, wine vinegar - to taste.

Preparation

Ripe dogwood is poured with water until covered and boiled at low boil for 15 minutes.
Softened berries remove seeds.
The resulting pulp is combined in a blender container with herbs, oil, garlic and hot pepper and punched until the desired degree of grinding of the components is obtained.
The mass is placed in a saucepan, if necessary, adjusted to the desired thickness by adding dogwood decoction, and seasoned to taste.
Dogwood sauce for meat is heated to a boil and packaged in sterile jars.

Dogwood jelly

Like any other drinks made from dogwood, jelly turns out surprisingly tasty and unusually rich. The nutritional characteristics of such a dessert are also of considerable value, which can be used to complete a hearty lunch meal or serve it as an addition to the main course for an afternoon snack or dinner.

Ingredients:

dogwood – 150 g;
purified water – 1 l;
starch - 3-4 tbsp. spoons;
sugar – 150 g.

Preparation

Dogwood is boiled in water for 10 minutes.
Grind the berry mass through a sieve.
The puree is mixed with the broth and brought to a boil again, sweetening the base to taste in the process.
Dissolve starch in water and pour in a thin stream into a saucepan with dogwood infusion.
After boiling the mixture for a minute, allow the jelly to cool, after which, if desired, strain through cheesecloth.

Dogwood in cosmetology

In the field of cosmetology, masks and scrubs from dogwood fruits are actively used (the bark is used only in anti-inflammatory masks). From the pulp of this plant you can prepare a natural, moisturizing and inexpensive vitamin mask for skin and hair at home, and from the seeds you can make a scrub for the face and body.

Creams and masks with dogwood extract perfectly tone and moisturize the skin, cleanse pores, eliminate oily shine, blackheads, and wrinkles. Rinsing with dogwood decoction makes hair silky and also gets rid of dandruff.

Mask for the face

A very effective remedy for fighting wrinkles is this mask:

Ingredients:

30 g of fresh dogwood berries;
30 g banana pulp;
10 g oatmeal;
10 g potato starch.

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients well, bring to a mushy state.
Let it brew for 3-5 minutes.

Apply this mask for 30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. It is recommended to use this product daily, in the morning or evening. The effect will appear after 5 days of using this mask.

For dry skin, it is recommended to exclude cereals and starch, but add olive oil

Dogwood is an amazing plant: it is not only actively used in folk medicine, cosmetology and cooking, but is also useful in everyday life, and is also a beautiful shrub that can decorate even the most skillful garden plot.

This “red doctor,” as people say, can cure thousands of diseases, and its rich chemical composition, as well as the enormous beneficial effect it has on the human body, fully corresponds to this opinion.

What can you cook from dogwood for the winter?

If it is possible to save dogwood for future use, you will find out below what to cook from it for the winter. Proven recipes will help you replenish your supplies with a host of valuable preparations, including sweet desserts and snack dishes, as well as all kinds of drinks.

The easiest way to prepare dogwood for the winter is to cook a tasty and undoubtedly healthy compote from it. The concentration and richness of the drink will depend on the proportions of the ingredients and can be adjusted to taste.
An indispensable sweet treat for strengthening the immune system or simply adding to the dessert menu is jam or berry jam. In addition, seedless dogwood pulp can be simply twisted through a meat grinder and mixed with sugar in a 1:2 ratio. This sweetness should be stored refrigerated.
Fans of original preparations will appreciate the taste of pickled dogwood, and lovers of homemade alcohol will be pleased with the delicious berry liqueur.
If you have free space in the freezer, dogwood can be frozen and used as needed.

Dogwood compote for the winter without sterilization

Delicious prepared dogwood compote for the winter will be a worthy replacement for any store-bought drink. The basic recipe for the drink presented below can be used as a basis for experiments by adding other berries or fruits to the composition and thereby obtaining an even more refined and original taste of the drink.

Ingredients:

dogwood - 2 cups;
purified water – 3 l;
sugar – 1 glass.

Preparation

Dogwood is poured into sterile jars and poured boiling water for 30 minutes.
The water is drained, boiled, and sugar is poured into the jar.
Fill the contents of the containers with boiling infusion, seal them, turn the containers upside down, and insulate them until they cool.

Pitted dogwood jam - recipe

Pleasant to the taste, with an unobtrusive sourness and slight tartness, dogwood jam will appeal to both picky adults and children. In this case, you will have to tinker with removing the seeds, but the result will fully justify all the labor costs. Only ripe and aromatic fruits are suitable for harvesting.

Ingredients:

dogwood – 1 kg;
purified water – 300 ml;
sugar – 700 g.

Preparation

The berries are immersed in water and boiled for 15 minutes.
Grind the softened fruits through a large sieve, separating the seeds.
Add sugar to the puree mixed with the broth, boil the jam, stirring, for 30 minutes, seal in sterile jars.

Pickled dogwood

Pickled dogwood like olives will surprise you with its unusual original taste. Such a savory appetizer will be an effective addition to any feast and an exquisite decoration for salads and other dishes. Preserving the integrity of the fruits during heat treatment will help to pre-prick them with a toothpick or skewer.

Ingredients:

dogwood – 1 kg;
purified water – 300 ml;
vinegar – 100 ml;
salt – 1 tbsp. spoon;
sugar – 5 teaspoons;
cloves, bay, allspice and tarragon - to taste.

Preparation

Prepare the marinade by boiling water with sugar, salt and vinegar, and add the prepared dogwood.
Simmer the berries over low heat for 15 minutes.
Spices are placed at the bottom of sterile containers, and the jars are filled with boiled berries and marinade.
Seal the vessels and wrap them until they cool.

Dogwood liqueur

Lovers of homemade alcohol will love the liqueur made from dogwood. The drink can be obtained using technology similar to making wine, or you can use the recommendations from this recipe and greatly simplify the task. Crushed berries are infused with an alcoholic base, after which the drink is sweetened to taste.

Ingredients:

dogwood – 500 g;
vodka – 500 ml;
sugar – 500 g.

Preparation

Mash the berries with a masher, pour vodka, cover tightly with a lid and leave for a month.
The finished dogwood tincture is filtered, sweetened and aged for a week to normalize the taste.

How to freeze dogwood?

Dogwood is especially easy to freeze for the winter. The process of such harvesting of berries does not require any labor costs and is absolutely not troublesome. But as a result, throughout the year it will be possible to get the required portion of fruits from time to time and use it to prepare all kinds of drinks, desserts, baked goods, sauces and other dishes.

Ripe and high-quality fruits are selected, getting rid of spoiled and crushed specimens.
Wash the berry mass and spread it on a towel or piece of fabric to dry.
You can freeze whole berries by placing them in bags or special containers.
You can make a ready-made filling for baking or a component for preparing other dishes by freezing dogwood, first removing the seeds.

Several recipes for dogwood jam

Since the recipe for dogwood jam is very simple, there is no point in taking step-by-step photos. Dogwood berry – 1 kg. Sugar – 1.2 – 1.3 kg. Water – 50 ml.

That's right, so little water is required. (Especially if the dogwood is a garden dogwood) First you need to prepare the syrup by dissolving sugar and water in a thick-bottomed bowl, and then pour the berries into it. Continue cooking after boiling

There is also this version of dogwood jam in which the same amount of berries and sugar requires 200 ml of water (if the dogwood is forest):

Dogwood - 1 kg Water - 0.2 liters Sugar (sand) - 1.2 kg Boil water and gradually pour in sugar, stirring the mass well until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour this syrup over the dogwood and leave overnight. In the morning, boil for 10 minutes after boiling and close in sterilized jars, wrap and leave until cool.

How to grow dogwood

The dogwood tree is a heat-loving tree, feels good in warm, mild climates, but, if desired, you can choose a variety for moderately cold regions. The most favorable time for planting is autumn, when the leaves begin to fall. For dogwood, choose calcareous soil, a semi-lit area, on the south or southwest side of the garden, away from the fence.

A healthy seedling is the key to a rich harvest in the future and does not require additional costs for treatment and restoration. Requirements for seedlings:

Age 2 years
Height 1.5m
Presence of 3 to 5 skeletal branches
Living root system

After inspecting the seedlings and choosing a planting site, we prepare a hole with a radius of 60 cm and the same depth. To do this, remove the top fertile layer of soil with a shovel and mix it with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. We put the lower layers in the other direction. Next, we place the bush in a hole, while the root collar remains 3 cm above ground level, carefully unravel the roots, cover them with mixed soil, and fill them with two buckets of water. When the soil settles, add the required amount of remaining soil. It is advisable to tie a fragile seedling to a stake so that the plant quickly takes root.

This crop is always planted in pairs, which ensures timely pollination during early flowering, when the bees are in winter dormancy. Caring for dogwood is quite simple - do not allow the roots to dry out, loosen the soil, and monitor the appearance of pests and diseases.

Reproduction methods

Dogwood is propagated by seedlings, layering, cuttings, grafting, and seeds. With a variety of propagation methods, planting with seedlings is most often used, the technology of which was described earlier - the plant retains all the properties of the parent tree, taste, color, fertility, grows quickly, berries appear in the third year.

The next method to propagate dogwood is to make layering. To do this, in the fall, the annual shoots of the crop are bowed to the ground, pinned, covered with soil and watered. After a year, the tree is separated and moved to a permanent location.

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For propagation by cuttings in the summer, choose a one-year-old shoot of a healthy bush. Then cut out its central part 15-20 cm long, leave 2-3 leaves, soak in any solution of a growth stimulator. After 6 hours, they are planted in fertilized, moist soil of the site.

Budding or grafting is carried out on wild shrubs, bringing them into a cultivated form. At the end of summer, a shoot with 2-3 live buds is cut from a noble bush. An intact branch is selected from a wild bush and a T-shaped cut is made in the center of the bark. Next, the bark is separated from the wood with a knife and the scion is inserted into the resulting pocket and secured with adhesive tape. In the spring, a shoot will appear from the grafted bud and a branch will grow.

Seed propagation is the longest and most labor-intensive process, mainly used by breeders to develop new varieties. The pulp is removed from the ripe fruit, the seed is placed in a substrate of sawdust or moss for a year, regularly watered and fed. By next autumn, the seedlings reach 15 cm and are transferred to open ground, making sure that the soil dries out and is exposed to sunlight.