In ancient times, oak was a tree from which almost everything was made: buildings and dug canoes, weapons and tools, and even medicines. The most sought after medicine is oak bark. About her today and talk.
Chemical composition
The bark contains a large amount of tannins, they contain up to 20%, and there are also proteins, gallic and ellagic acids, flabaphen and flavonoids, levulin and pectin.
Use: medicinal properties
The therapeutic effect of taking the bark is explained by several properties:
- astringent action - due to the content of tannins, with problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- anti-inflammatory effect - achieved through pentosans (polysaccharides that are precursors of antibiotics). Helps with inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, women's problems;
- wound healing and hemostatic properties - are achieved by applying oak powder to wounds and mucous membranes;
- anti-aging and antioxidant action - are achieved thanks to flavonoids. They smooth out wrinkles and tighten the skin.
Medical applications
Oak bark is widely used in traditional medicine. It is used in the treatment of both female and male ailments.
For women
Oak bark is very often used in gynecology. Good effect is observed when douching.
We advise you to find out how to use onosma, bay leaf, blood burner, white acacia, burdock juice, birch fungus in gynecology.
They have such an effect as:
- infection control;
- regeneration of mucous membranes;
- analgesic effect;
- acceleration of healing and scarring.
- Take 2 tbsp. l raw materials and pour 1 cup boiling water.
- On the water bath, boil for 20 minutes.
- Strain and bring to a volume of 1 liter of boiled water.
- Syringe need to 3 times a day.
Important! Douching is a safe procedure. Often it is prescribed when it is impossible to treat with drugs, for example, during pregnancy.
For men
The most common health problems for men are prostatitis, urethritis, and premature ejaculation (ejaculation). Their causes may be neurological disorders, feelings of fear and anxiety, irregular sex life. To help solve these problems can decoction of oak, which is prepared as follows:
- take 1 tsp. powder;
- pour 1 cup boiling water;
- 10 minutes soak in a water bath.
Male problems can aggravate the presence of hemorrhoids. To alleviate this disease will help bath with oak bark. They will relieve inflammation.
For oral cavity
In the spring, when the body is weakened due to a lack of vitamins, many gums start to inflame and bleed. In addition to taking vitamins, rinsing with an oak tincture will help solve this problem. It can also be used for inflammatory diseases in the oral cavity, with an unpleasant smell from the mouth. When periodontal disease will help decoction of oak bark. The main rule: rinse your mouth as often as possible (the allowable interval between the rinses is an hour).
In case of inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, gargling from raspberry, cilantro, meadow sage, barberry, sunflower honey, grass dope will be helpful.
Oak bark strengthens tooth enamel and even cleans the tonsils. This is the safest tooth whitening product that does not spoil the enamel and does not contribute to the appearance of caries.
Application in cosmetology
Oak infusions and decoctions not only help to care for the skin and hair, but also treat many dermatological diseases.
A decoction of bark perfectly helps to eliminate oily hair. It is also suitable for:
- strengthen and accelerate hair growth, as it improves blood circulation;
- getting rid of dandruff, because bacteria and fungus die, and the scalp is renewed;
- eliminating fragility of hair - tanning and binding substances with a film cover hair along its entire length;
- getting rid of split ends;
- painting over gray hair;
- protection from the harmful effects of sunlight.
For dyeing hair, you can add natural coffee, but when using decoction with chamomile we get the effect of a small clarification.The presence of pentosans in oak extract has a drying effect on the skin, and the presence of starch eliminates sweating. For this purpose, decoctions, infusions, lotions and masks are used. Often, lemon juice, honey or propolis tincture are added to folk recipes.
Creams and lotions, in addition to narrowing the pores and cleansing the skin, also have a tonic and tightening effect, smoothing wrinkles. Tannins help in the fight against cellulite, strengthen blood vessels, relieve acne and various rashes.
Did you know? Marquise de Pompadour was washed every morning with ice water to make her skin look young and fresh. And Empress Catherine II used ice cubes for this.
The broth can be frozen in a special container for ice and wipe the skin in the morning and evening with such cosmetic ice. This procedure promotes facial rejuvenation.
For legs, with excessive sweating of the feet, baths are used:
- 200 g of bark half an hour boil in 1 liter of water, dilute 1 tbsp. l decoction in 1 liter of warm (+37 ° C) water.
White willow bark, lavender essential oil, skoumpia, viburnum, fir, gentian will help to get rid of excessive sweating of the feet.
Indications for use: treatment
Due to its beneficial properties, oak bark is used in the treatment of such diseases:
- problems with the digestive tract (diarrhea, dysentery, gastritis, colitis);
- diseases of the oral cavity (stomatitis, sore throat, gingivitis, periodontal disease);
- gynecological diseases (thrush, colpitis, erosion, leucorrhea and inflammatory processes);
- "male" problems (prostatitis, urethritis, premature ejaculation);
- with burns, wounds, seborrhea, sweating;
- with helminthiasis.
Harm and side effects
Despite all the benefits of the use of oak raw materials, like any medicine, it has side effects. His admission may cause some deviations in the work of various organs:
- excessive use reduces the sensitivity of nerve endings, and, consequently, tissue;
- frequent rinsing can cause a decrease in smell. This is due to the presence of a large amount of tannins in the bark;
- overdose in the intestine increases absorption function. It can cause constipation, as well as intoxication and vomiting;
- in pregnant women, the uterus can be toned and provoke a miscarriage;
- when breastfeeding, getting into the milk, causes vomiting and diarrhea in the child;
- at higher doses, a sharp drop in temperature is possible.
Important! You can not take oak bark for more than two weeks, in the treatment you need to take a break of up to 1 month.
Contraindications
Using in the treatment and rehabilitation of oak extract, it is necessary to remember about contraindications. The following categories of people are at risk:
- having problems with the kidneys, gall bladder or liver;
- undergoing acute gastritis, ulcers or cholecystitis;
- having problems with defecation (constipation);
- pregnant and lactating women;
- children under 3 years old.
Harvesting and storage of raw materials
In folk medicine, most often used raw materials from lateral annual branches. The bark of old branches loses some of the healing properties.
Harvesting is carried out in strictly designated areas. Oaks are mainly used for sanitary felling. Cracked or damaged by lichen raw materials are not harvested. The thickness of the bark should not exceed 6 mm. The workpiece is carried out during sap flow in early spring, when the bark is well separated. At a distance of about 30 cm, cuts are made in semirings, then the bark is still notched along the fibers.
It is possible to grow an oak from an acorn even at home.
The drying place should be in the shade, be dry and well ventilated. Raw materials periodically overturn. After drying, bundled and stored in bags for up to 5 years. Properly harvested bark smells good.
Did you know? In ancient times, oak was considered a sacred tree, so only priests could allow to cut branches and use them in treatment.
Cooking recipe: how to take
On the basis of oak bark, tinctures, infusions, decoctions with healing properties are prepared. Consider the recipes for the preparation and use of these drugs.
Alcohol tincture
To obtain an alcohol tincture you need 10 g of raw materials, pour 200 g of vodka. Insist week in a dark cool place. Strain and can be used.
Tincture is recommended to take when:
- problems with gums, stomatitis, gingivitis, bad breath and sore throat - in the form of gargles. To do this, the tincture must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3;
- diarrhea and dysentery - take orally 15-20 drops 30 minutes before meals.
Honey can be added to the tincture to improve the taste and greater benefits.Important! Do not exceed the recommended dose, so as not to cause poisoning.
Infusion
To prepare the infusion, the bark is filled with not vodka, but water (10 g of bark and 250 ml of water), and infused for up to 10 hours. To speed up the process, you can use hot boiled water. In this case, it is enough to insist for an hour.
Infusion is used:
- in inflammatory diseases of the throat (rinse);
- with heavy periods;
- with ulcer and gastritis;
- with sweating feet (baths);
- to strengthen the hair roots (rinsing).
Broth: how to brew
To get a decoction, you need 20 g of bark, pour 200 ml of water and boil in a water bath for 30 minutes. Strain with hot gauze folded in half, squeeze and top up to 200 ml with boiled water. In the refrigerator you can store 48 hours. 
Shake before use, take up to 6 times a day in such cases:
- burns (use a 20 percent decoction);
- diarrhea and intestinal bleeding;
- sweating (baths);
- stomatitis, periodontal disease and flux (rinsing);
- thrush and inflammation (douching).
