Thorn

Thistle is a small round black and blue fruit with a green fleshy part and a sour pungent taste. It is a precursor of plums, and the latter owes much of its properties to useful blue fruits.

Composition of thistle

• sugars (glucose, fructose);
• organic acids (malic, phenolic);
• pectin;
• carbohydrates;
• cellulose;
• nitrogenous substances;
• coumarins;
• tannins;
• steroids;
• triterpenoids;
• catechins;
• flavonoids;
• glycosides;
• fats (unsaturated fatty acids: oleic, linoleic, palmitic, stearic);
• vitamins C, E, A, P;
• minerals: molybdenum, cobalt, iron, copper, potassium, chromium, manganese, calcium, iodine, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, magnesium.

Health benefits of thistle for the human body:

• has diuretic properties;
• has an astringent effect (helps with diarrhea, digestive disorders);
• characterized by pathogenic properties (helps with fever, cold);
• eliminates nausea, stops vomiting;
• has an antiseptic effect (kills germs and bacteria);
• helps to normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
• contributes to reducing the risk of developing gastritis, colitis, gastric ulcers;
• shown in flatulence;
• used as a means of weight loss;
• fights nervous disorders and general weakness of the body;
• relieves PMS in women and reduces pain during menstruation.

Tea is brewed from the leaves of the plant, which acts as a diuretic, laxative and wound healing agent. Liquid compresses help with skin injuries.

The leaves and fruits are useful in diseases of the genitourinary system (cystitis, nephritis, urolithiasis).

Thorns help fight swelling, nonspecific colitis, dysentery, intoxication, candidiasis and vaginitis. In case of food poisoning, the consumption of small fruits promotes the faster removal of toxins from the body, cleanses the intestines and normalizes the work of the digestive tract.

Decoction of the branches of the bush can be used by patients with gout, the liquid contributes to the removal of uric acid salts from the body.

Infusion of the flowers of the plant has an excellent effect on metabolism, normalizing it, also has a positive effect on liver function.

The flowers of the bush are also useful in the treatment of prostatitis, neuralgia and shortness of breath; the medicines that contain them have an expectorant effect.

Flavonoids and antioxidants in the composition of thorns improve blood circulation, reduce the permeability of capillaries, and have a beneficial effect on blood clotting.

Blue-black fruits help to normalize blood pressure (lower it if it is elevated).

Harm and contraindications

The fruits are not suitable for consumption if you suffer from :

• gastritis with high acidity;
• allergic reaction or individual intolerance to the fetus;
• gastric ulcer in the acute stage;
• increased stomach acidity.

Small plums damage tooth enamel to the point that they turn blue, and the discoloration washes off after a few days. However, they are very useful for the gums.

It is important to know that the seeds of thorns contain the substance amygdalin, which is considered poisonous. For this reason, it is not good to store the fruit in water, because the interaction of the component with the aquatic environment, it will give the liquid poisonous particles, leading to intoxication.