Many have heard about the benefits of blueberries, but few know that blueberry leaves also have healing properties.
Today we will look at information about blueberries, and specifically - why they use blueberries, discuss useful properties and contraindications to using the product.
Chemical composition
Blueberry leaves are appreciated thanks to high content inulin, flavonoids, anthocyanins.
Did you know? From the Latin, the scientific name blueberry translates as "cow" because the leaves of some plant species are suitable for feeding cows.
Also there is an increased content in the leaves:
- glycosides: neomirtillina - up to 2% and mirtillina - up to 1%;
- phenolic compounds: arbutin, methylarbutin - 2%;
- triterpenic saponins: ursolic and oleic acid;
- β-amyrin;
- alkaloids - myrtin;
- aliphatic hydrocarbons.
What are the benefits of blueberry leaves
Through the use of the considered raw materials can be achieved:
- body saturation with antioxidants;
- protection from harmful external influences;
- aid in the treatment of urogenital infections;
- beneficial effect on vision;
- relieving inflammation and irritation of the skin;
- benefits to the kidneys;
- help with intestinal and stomach diseases;
- regulation of sugar and cholesterol in the blood;
- prevent stressful phenomena;
- sedative effect;
- beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system;
Read also about the beneficial properties and application of raspberry and cherry leaves.
When to collect and how to dry
Consider when it is better to collect blueberry leaves and how to dry the raw materials for tea.
It is necessary to collect raw materials in order to be dried and further used for medicinal purposes at the end of spring. 
The main condition for the collection - no berries on the bushesso that they are young, only in this case they will contain the maximum amount of useful substances and will have the necessary effect.
Blueberries are very sensitive to the purity of the environment and can absorb toxic substances. If you see spots of white or brown color, black impregnations on a deciduous plate, dried twigs, then collecting raw materials on such a bush is not recommended.
Did you know? In Russian, the word "blueberry" (from the word "blacken") arose because of the ink effect that the berries of the plant give.
It is necessary to dry the raw materials outside, but not in direct sunlight, but in a shaded place. To dry the plant, you can use a special dryer for fruit: the temperature should be set at about 40 ° C. After complete drying, the drug does not change color and remains bright green. If you suddenly notice that some elements have darkened, you cannot use them - such raw materials are considered to be of poor quality. 
How to store at home
Linen or canvas bags are suitable for storing the raw materials obtained so that the contents are well ventilated.
During long-term storage, it should be checked for the presence of insect pests or mold. Shelf life is 2 years if stored in a dark, not damp, warm place.
We advise you to read about the benefits and dangers of tea made from mint, lemon balm, white acacia, linden, magonia, hazel, Chinese magnolia vine, goldenrod, woodlouse, groundwort, quinoa, mother and stepmother, burdock, chervil.
How to make blueberry tea
Tea made from blueberry leaves is very similar to a decoction of fresh berries: the only difference is that there is no sourness, which is characteristic of berries.
Consider how to properly brew blueberry leaves to get healthy tea.
To brew delicious tea from blueberry raw materials for daily use, you must use on liter of boiling water 4 teaspoons chopped blueberry raw materials, and in the tea pot insist about half an hour. 
Blueberry Leaf Recipes
There are many recipes that allow the use of this drug for the treatment of various diseases, as well as home cosmetic products, so we consider in more detail their description and methods of use.
We advise you to read about the methods of harvesting (in particular, freezing) blueberries for the winter.
In folk medicine
Bilberry raw material for weight loss is used as hunger-reducing drugs, allows you to speed up the metabolic processes in the body. For the preparation of infusion should use 2 tsp. raw materials and 500 ml of boiling water. The mixture is better to pour in a thermos and insist about 4 hours. After that, drain and drink 100 ml in the morning and evening, during the period of weight loss.
Good help blueberry leaves when diabetesas well as people with pneumonia, inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract. It is necessary to prepare the medicine with one tablespoon of finely chopped blueberry raw materials and a glass of boiling water. It is advisable to close the container tightly and insist 60 minutes. Next, the resulting tool is strained and cooled, used 200 ml four times a day.
Cure for hemorrhoids: it will take 60 g of dry bilberry raw material to prepare the product, which is poured with 1 l of boiling water, then you should wait 1 hour, tightly closing the container with a lid. Strain the mixture and heat it to 36 ° C before each use. The resulting fluid is used for the enema, which is injected in the evening before sleep. 
With skin lesions: Since the drug has a healing and antiseptic effect, well-crushed young blueberries are applied to the wound, which are fixed with a bandage dressing. When the wound is still fresh, the dressing should be changed every 3 hours, and when it heals a little, then every 8 hours.
People sick anemiaIt is recommended to prepare the medicine from blueberry leaves. For this you need to use 6 tbsp. l dry blueberry raw materials, pour a liter of boiling water. Wait 3 hours, drain and drink four times a day, in an amount of 250 ml.
Learn how tea from rosehip, hawthorn, blueberry, sea buckthorn, red mountain ash, princess, chokeberry, apples is useful for the body.
In home cosmetology
Blueberry leaves are very valuable in cosmetology and are used as masks - they nourish, moisturize and tone up the skin.
Important! Most women who actively use blueberries in home cosmetology, know that blueberry leaves do not leave a dark pigment that is difficult to remove, unlike berries. Therefore, to use the product from such raw materials can be without fear.
Crushed fresh or dry blueberry raw materials can be used to make gruel, which is added a spoonful of cream and mixed, and then put the mask on the neck, face and leave for 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. 
Blueberry raw materials have antiseptic and wound-healing properties that allow to dry the rash and remove the effects of acne. To do this, you can prepare the usual decoction of blueberry raw materials and treat them face.
Also, finely chopped medicine can be brewed in boiling water to form a slurry, insist and use as a basis for masks, in which to add whipped protein or cosmetic clay.
Contraindications and harm
The raw material in question is a harmless product, but there are still some limitations to its use.
Important! The main contraindication to the use of blueberry leaves is oxalaturia.
There are the following nuances that must be considered when blueberry drug use:
- If you have a tendency to constipation, then it is recommended to be treated with blueberry leaves very carefully and for a not long period, as the development of intestinal lethargy is possible.
- Gently use blueberry leaves if you have pancreatic diseases.
- Considering that plants contain large quantities of hydroquinone, in the long-term administration it is necessary to take short breaks, as a possible carcinogenic effect on the body.
- Allergic reactions may occur, but they occur rarely enough and depend on the body's sensitivity to this product.
Thus, blueberry leaves help to cure many diseases, the main thing is to take into account the characteristics of the body and select a recipe in accordance with the existing problem.
