Acorns (oak)

Oak is a monoecious plant, bark which has many medicinal properties. Its flowers are unisexual, but bloom only on one tree. Male flowers have an attractive appearance - yellow-green earrings, long and thin. Women's are quite small and sometimes it is problematic to see them. They are small grains with a red top. They are located separately, while the male ones hang in bunches, on the tips of thin twigs. Nearby there may be from 1 to 3 female flowers. It is from the flowers that acorns grow. Their ripening time is autumn.

Acorns have an unusual appearance - the nut in the shell "sits" in a special cup. Each nut has only one seed inside.

To date, scientists have counted more than 450 species of oak. Accordingly, they have a variety of acorns.

Let's talk about the most popular types of oak and how their fruits differ:

1. Black has round acorns with a sharp tip. Their size is about 20 millimeters. The calyx is scaly, almost half covering the fruit.
2. large-fruited has the largest acorns, the length of which reaches 40 millimeters. The calyx (flate) is deep, covering half of the fruit.
3. Red has small acorns enclosed in a small cup. The length of the fetus is approximately 10 millimeters.
4. laurel also bears small fruits about 10 millimeters long. However, they grow in pairs. The calyx covers only a quarter of the nut.
5. Stone or Verginsky on one stalk they have 3-5 acorns, capable of growing to a maximum of 25 millimeters. They can be elongated or round with a sharp tip. The plush covers a quarter of the nut. The color of acorns is black and shiny.
6. lyre-shaped - one of the few on which the nuts are almost completely covered with a plush.
7. Small bears long brown fruits about 20 millimeters long. Almost half of the cup overlaps the walnut.
8. White Oregon has long large acorns, but the plush is very small.

Despite the mighty oak, this tree does not tolerate excessive heat and cold. You can meet different types of wood in different parts of the world. For example, in Russia, the most famous and valuable species of oak grows in terms of its properties - pedunculate. In Spain shrub oaks grow, in Central America and the USA - red ones, in Mexico and the Mississippi region - marsh (white).

To get the maximum benefit from acorns, you need to learn how to collect them, as well as properly process them.

The collection period is from late September to early October. In early September, many acorns may fall from the tree. But this only says that the fruits are sick or infected.

Preparation of acorn flour:

1. To get rid of toxins in nuts that are dangerous to humans, just soak them. The peel is peeled, the nut is cut into four parts and filled with water.Soaking lasts 48 hours, while three times a day you need to change the water. Some housewives do not remove the peel and soak the acorns whole.
2. After the acorns are soaked, they need to be filled with water (take twice as much water as the acorns) and bring to a boil. Now the fruits can be laid out on a cloth and allowed to dry.
3. Once dry, run through a mill to make flour or grits. Rinse through a sieve. Grind again if necessary.

From the resulting acorn flour, you can cook various pastries.

Store flour in a dark place.

To get acorn coffee:

1. Peel the acorns and grind the kernels.
2. Pour the powder with water in a ratio of 1: 2 and cook until a mushy state. Bake this gruel in the oven or fry in a pan until pinkish. After cooling, peel and grind in a coffee grinder or blender.
3. To make coffee, 1 tsp. dilute the resulting powder in 250-300 ml. hot water or milk. Sugar can be added if desired.

To choose good oak fruits, you need to know some features:

1. It is better to collect them in the fall. If you are in the forest gathering acorns, then pick up only those that have fallen to the ground. This indicates that they are ripe. Also suitable are fruits that are easily removed from the branches, requiring no effort.
2. If the acorns are green, they should not be consumed.
3. Plus must be present. It is also a sign that the acorn is good.
4. There should be no wormholes, holes or other damage on the nut.
5. Almost all acorns are edible. However, black oak fruits are bitter and take a long time to cook. However, you should not be afraid of poisoning.

Acorns are a nutritious and very useful product. Many underestimate these fruits as a food product. It is important to note that for 100 grams of this nut there are:

• Proteins - 8.1 grams;
• Fat - 31.4 grams;
• Carbohydrates - 53.7 grams;
• Calories - 509 kcal.

From acorns you can get an impressive portion of useful microelements and macronutrients.

Macronutrients: Mg, K, Ca, P.

Trace elements: Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu.

As we have noted, acorns are often underestimated. However, the benefits that can be obtained from them are enormous.

You just need to know about the main useful properties of the product:

1. Nuts contribute to the fight against bacteria and the formation of cancerous tumors, have an enveloping effect;
2. Acorns act as an alternative in the treatment of ulcers of the chest, lungs, and spitting up blood;
3. Fruits help stop bleeding during heavy periods;
4. With their help, you can strengthen and cleanse the stomach. For this, a tincture of acorns is made. The recipe is simple - 1 tsp. Pour boiling water over processed nuts, insist and strain. Take 100 ml three times a day for a whole month;
5. Juice obtained from acorns strengthens the bladder, improves potency;
6. Oak fruits are recommended for severe food poisoning;
7. Hair is dyed with acorns;
8. With their help, hernia, diabetes, pancreatitis, asthma, heart problems, cough, etc. are treated.

There are several features of these fruits that you should know before eating:

• You can not eat fruits that were collected in early September (fallen from trees). They tend to be infected and dangerous;
• Nuts are digested in the stomach rather slowly, therefore, if the stomach is weak, it is better not to use them;
• In order not to harm the bladder, do not eat raw acorns.
• Do not use oak fruits excessively so that the benefit does not turn into harm.

Oil can also be obtained from acorns by squeezing the fruit. About 300 grams of oil comes out of a kilogram of fruit.

It was previously used by hunters in North America to attract animals and mask their own scents. However, at that time, this oil was not used in food.

Some oak species produce soft nuts (North Africa, Europe), from which refined oil is obtained. According to its characteristics and appearance, it is similar to olive oil and is considered a delicacy in many countries.

Frankly, acorns have not found wide application in the matter of cooking. Some varieties are used simply as nuts, although their taste is not for everyone.

The main scope of application is confectionery, pastries and coffee.

• So, earlier acorns were fried or dried, after which they were covered with a layer of sugar. Healthy, sweet and tasty enough;
• And in the 19th century, few people could afford coffee. And people have found an alternative in acorns. They were roasted, ground and made into a hot drink. Many drink acorn coffee today;
• To make bread, the fruits are ground into flour, after which masterpieces can be created;
• Another area of ​​application is a thickener. The high starch content makes it possible to thicken liquid dishes using acorns;
• Sometimes there is acorn oil, similar to almond and peanut butter;
• Acorns are most popular in Korea.Here they are used in national cuisine, they cook jelly, noodles.

1. Infusion from the stomach. It is recommended to use in case of problems with the intestines, genitourinary system, as well as in case of severe poisoning, pain in the gums, tuberculosis, diabetes, diseases of the nervous system. Preparing it is quite simple. The fruits are ground in a coffee grinder along with the shell. Pour half a teaspoon of the resulting mixture with 200 milliliters of water and bring to a boil, but only over low heat. Leave for 15 minutes, divide into three parts and consume three times a day before meals.

1. Healthy acorn coffee is also easy to make. Take about half a teaspoon of powdered acorn and 1 teaspoon of the coffee itself. The proportions can be changed depending on your preferences. Such a drink tones, gives energy, and also has a beneficial effect on almost the entire body.

1. In diseases of the stomach, coffee from the acorn is also suitable. But it needs to be cooked differently. Take in equal proportions an acorn, grains of wheat or barley, fry them, then add chicory root and dandelion to your liking. Grind the composition and use it to make coffee.

1. In case of heart problems, it is recommended to roast acorns until red, make a powder from the fruits and brew like regular coffee. Add sugar to taste, and to improve the taste - milk. Such a drink is useful for children with bronchitis or a severe cough.

1. For diabetics, the following recipe is recommended. Dry and grind a glass of fruit with a meat grinder and pour one and a half liters of water. Boil the mixture for 30 minutes on low heat, then insist for 24 hours. After that, boil again and also for half an hour.Leave for 24 hours, strain and dilute with a glass of vodka. The tincture is stored in the refrigerator and taken within two weeks six times a day. One serving is two dessert spoons.

Many people dream of growing an oak tree on their own plot. This is a perennial tree that can stand for more than one hundred years.

The main difficulty in growing oak with acorns is finding suitable fruits and preserving them until planting. Should be planted in the spring. It is also allowed in autumn, but there is a high probability that mice will eat acorns in winter.

So it is advisable to collect them in early October. Find a tall, powerful tree and look for the largest and most beautiful fruits.

To keep them, place the nuts in the basement, or just leave them in the refrigerator. Fruits require zero temperature, moderate humidity and circulating air. So there is no need to pack fruits. If stored at a temperature of about 15-20 degrees, the nuts will dry out and nothing will be grown from them.

Fetal viability can be determined in two ways:

1. By color. Dead nuts are black in color, while suitable for planting have a light yellow nut under the shell.
2. With the help of water. Place the fruit in a glass of water. If the nut is unusable, then it will float to the surface. A good fruit will sink.

In the spring, as soon as the ground warms up, you can start planting. If desired, you can grow several seedlings.

Acorns should be laid in grooves located in parallel.The distance between them is about 20 cm.

The acorns themselves are placed 2-10 centimeters apart. If the chosen place is permanent, then make the distance about 15 centimeters. The depth of the oak walnut is 20-30 millimeters. The fruits are placed horizontally. The root begins to develop first, so you will not see an escape until 30 days later.

Almost everyone knows how majestic and powerful oaks can be. However, not everyone knows what features the bark of this tree boasts.

The list of these features of this product is extensive, and therefore we will focus on the main ones.

1. It has an anti-inflammatory effect.
2. Disinfects, fights bacteria, has astringent property.
3. An astringent from oak bark is used for hemorrhoidal bleeding.
4. Helps to cope with dysentery, as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Burns, wounds and inflammation are removed with oak decoctions and bark-based infusions.
6. With inflammation and to strengthen the gums.
7. The mucosa in the mouth is being treated.
8. It has a healing effect on vaginitis and colpitis.
9. Restore hair, eliminate dandruff, strengthen.

The following components predominate in the composition of the oak bark:

• Pentosans - 14 percent. They have a strong anti-inflammatory effect;
• Pectins - 6 percent;
• 20 percent tannins (their percentage grows as the oak grows);
• Sugar;
• Starch;
• Squirrels.

Preparing a decoction based on oak bark is quite simple.

There are several common recipes:

1. Take 1 tbsp. l. bark, fill it with 400-500 milliliters of boiling water and boil over low heat for 10 minutes.The decoction is infused for half an hour, after which it is filtered and consumed.

1. Pour 20 grams of ground bark with 200 ml of boiled but chilled water and place in a boiling water bath. Cooking lasts about 30 minutes, accompanied by constant stirring. After that, the broth is cooled, filtered and taken.

How to use: A decoction of 100 ml is used three times a day.

Useful for:

• diarrhea
• stomach problems
• angina.

In the case of angina, gargling is prescribed.

Add 200 ml of water to 40 g of bark and boil for 30 minutes. The broth is infused for 2 hours, after which it is filtered and used as lotions, enemas or baths.

Treats for:

• burns
• sweaty hands,
• hemorrhoids,
• ran,
• ulcers.

In case of mushroom poisoning or excessive menstruation, such a decoction can be taken orally.

It is quite possible to make an alcohol-based tincture using oak bark at home. For this, 1 tsp is taken. ground bark and poured with 400 milliliters of high-quality vodka. The mixture must be infused for a week, then strain.

It is used in the treatment of stomach ulcers. Taken on an empty stomach 1 drop per day. You need to add a little sugar to the tincture. Drink milk.

Tincture is also made on the basis of spring water:

• When used internally, 200 milliliters of boiling water is added to 10 grams of the bark and taken three times a day, 1 tablespoon.
• For external use, 200 milliliters of boiling water is taken per 20 grams of bark.

It is also easy to prepare an infusion from the bark. Take a teaspoon of the product, add 0.5 liters of boiled but chilled water. Insist 8-10 hours.

A decoction is taken during the day in equal portions, into which 500 milliliters of infusion should be divided. It can be used for enema.

It is perfectly possible to achieve beauty, strength and health of hair with the help of oak bark. To do this, there are several simple, but very useful recipes.

For example, strengthening and giving splendor, as well as eliminating dandruff is achieved by rinsing with decoctions from the bark. Also, masks, balms are made from the bark, hair is dyed.

How to brew:

1. For conditioner. For 1 st. l. bark, add 500 ml of boiling water and boil the mixture for 10 minutes. Allow the composition to cool, after which it can be applied. A decoction is used after shampooing.
2. For coloring. If you want to make the color darker, then add natural brewed coffee to the indicated recipe (just take fresh, not yesterday). If the goal is to lighten the hair, then dried chamomile will be an additional ingredient to the decoction. Also used as conditioners.
3. Against hair loss. Take equal amounts of dandelion, psyllium, and mint and bark. Grind everything thoroughly. Add 2-3 tbsp. l. burdock oil and make a porridge from the mixture. After infusing the product and heating it in a water bath, apply to the scalp, distribute the mixture over all hair. After that, a polyethylene cap is put on and the head is wrapped in a towel. You need to hold for about an hour, and then rinse with shampoo and rinse your hair with a decoction prepared on the basis of the bark. Strengthening the result is achieved by a 10-day course of such procedures.

Diarrhea is an extremely unpleasant “event” in a person’s life, therefore it is advisable to always have remedies against it at hand. We offer you two effective recipes that allow you to quickly deal with the problem.

Can be brewed in two ways:

1. Add a tablespoon (tablespoon) of bark to 200 ml of boiling water.The mixture is infused for an hour, then filtered. You need to drink all day for 1-2 tsp. The resulting infusion should be enough for a day.

2. Fill the crushed bark with vodka (0.4 l). It is infused for a week, so it is better to prepare in advance. Reception is carried out twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. Serving - 20 drops.

Intense sweating is familiar to many. These are unpleasant sensations that deliver you and even those around you. Particularly affected by sweating are people who, on duty, have to meet acquaintances and new people every day. But there is an effective remedy for such a problem.

How to brew: It is necessary to pour about 50 grams of bark into 1000 ml of boiling water. When the mixture has cooled to a comfortable room temperature, immerse your feet in the bath and hold for about 20 minutes. 10 days of the course and sweating is gone. If sweating is associated with the hands, rinse your hands regularly in this infusion. The effect is similar to foot baths.

With problems with the gums, oak bark has also proven itself well. All you need is to prepare a quality product.

How to brew: Add 200 ml of boiled water to 3 tablespoons of bark. Warm the mixture with a water bath for 20-25 minutes. Due to the use of the bath, the maximum preservation of the useful components of the bark is achieved. Strain the broth, squeeze out the thick and remove it. Add more boiled water to the remaining water. In total, 300 milliliters of broth should be obtained.

Store in a cool place and use within 2 days. Rinse your mouth at least 8 times during the day. The same recipe helps with sore throats and stomatitis.

The following recipe involves the combined use of bark and chamomile. The resulting product perfectly copes with thrush.

How to brew: Take bark and chamomile (inflorescences) in equal proportions, mix with knotweed grass and nettle leaves. Pour the resulting mixture with liters of water and put on fire so that the components boil for about 5 minutes. Then cool, strain the broth. It is used for douching or for making tampons.

If you have a sore throat, it can be effectively treated with bark. To do this, prepare a simple decoction for rinsing.

How to brew: For 1 tsp. bark, add about 250 ml of water. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes using a water bath, then infused and filtered. Gargle with the resulting decoction 3-4 times a day.

As we noted earlier, oak bark is contraindicated in children. And this applies, first of all, to babies under 2 years old.

Older children can use bark treatment, but only after consultation with a specialist:

• In case of sore throat, tonsillitis, mouth rinsing is allowed.
• The problem of prickly heat can be eliminated by preparing a bath based on oak bark. With its help, many cope with the problems of the skin of children.

First of all, you need to remember one main rule regarding the reception of funds based on oak bark. It consists in the fact that the course of treatment should not exceed 14 days. Plus, the use of this product for therapeutic or even preventive purposes requires a consultation with a doctor.

The negative effects of oak bark can manifest themselves in the following:

1. Prolonged rinsing of the mouth with a decoction or infusions can provoke a deterioration in the sense of smell, and an overdose of the drug causes vomiting.
2. In some cases, the product causes allergies.
3. Children are contraindicated in taking drugs from this ingredient.
4. Contraindicated in hemorrhoids and constipation.
5. Lactating and pregnant women can take oak bark and preparations from it only after consulting with specialists.
6. Prolonged use of decoctions can lead to stomach diseases.
7. Individual intolerance.

Of course, the easiest way to buy this medicinal product is in pharmacies. Here it is sold in a fully prepared form and even crushed. Instructions for use and preparation of decoctions are included on the packaging.

However, you can collect oak bark yourself. The bark from a young tree has the most useful properties.