Wolfberry has been known to almost everyone since childhood, especially those who grew up or often visited the countryside. wolf eye or wolfberry outwardly resembles a currant - the fruits are small in size, round in shape. The berries themselves are red or black, depending on the type of plant. Now there is a huge hype around useful berry goji, which is used for a variety of purposes - treatment, weight loss, strengthening immunity. Wolfberry and goji have nothing in common, they are confused due to similar names - wolfberry (goji), a shrub originally from China, we know it under the name "common dereza", so you can not confuse it with a wolfberry.
Wolfberry - what is it
Why is the wolfberry so called? Everything is very simple, the name did not come from the fact that wolves or other forest animals feed on this bush. It’s just that the name has come from the old times, when the designation “wolf” meant everything evil, dangerous and harmful. Thus, everyone has known about the dangers of these berries for a very long time.
Wolfberry grows everywhere, found in the forests of America, as well as throughout Europe. Very common in central Russia, the Caucasus and Siberia. What does a wolfberry look like? Its description and properties can be found in any school biology textbook. The bush blooms very beautifully, the smell is intoxicating. By the way, thrushes love to feast on these berries. It is this bird that is the main seed carrier.
Privet is a small shrub on which round and small berries ripen. The shrub in the spring blooms very violently and beautifully, thanks to its small size(up to 5 m) is successfully used in landscape design. By autumn, the fruits ripen, and this is the mistake of many - they begin to be collected and used for food, to prepare teas and infusions. It is absolutely impossible to do this, because berries are poisonous and can cause not only poisoning, but also lead to death. Therefore, if you are interested in the question - is it possible to eat wolf berries - the answer is categorical - no!
Why are berries dangerous?
What happens if you eat a wolfberry? Almost 100% you can get poisoning and indigestion, but everything, of course, will depend on the amount. The fact is that the fruits contain solanine - the strongest poison, which provokes poisoning. If you do not provide first aid in a timely manner, do not call an ambulance, then a fatal outcome will be inevitable. About five berries can cause death.
Not only the fruits themselves are poisonous, but the entire shrub as a whole - branches, leaves. Thus, it is better not to touch the plant at all, but to admire it only from afar.
The composition of berries and bark contains a number of substances that cause poisoning. The main components are meserein, daphnetin, daphnin glycoside, coumarin. In almost all cases, poisoning does not go away without a trace, even after the treatment, various complications may occur, so it is very important to take all measures in a timely manner.
The wolf's bast berry causes severe poisoning, if you made a mistake and ate it, then the symptoms will be as follows:
- sensation of a burn of a mouth and all mucous;
- nausea, vomiting;
- profuse salivation, there may be difficulty in swallowing;
- diarrhea;
- eye inflammation, lacrimation;
- convulsions, general weakness are possible.
Wolfberry poisoning is severe, the degree will depend on the amount of fruit consumed. In its course, such poisoning has the form of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, death occurs mainly due to cardiac arrest.
If the juice of the plant gets on the skin, a burn or redness appears. With prolonged contact with the skin, the development of tumor-like destruction on the epidermis is quite possible. It is dangerous even to be near flowering plant- inhalation of pollen irritates the mucous membranes.
What to do in case of wolfberry poisoning
If a child or an adult ate a wolfberry, then you must immediately call ambulance and take first steps. First of all, it is necessary to remove the source of poisoning from the body, that is, induce vomiting. Suitable for this weak solution potassium permanganate (liquid should be light pink, not deep purple!). You can give the victim activated charcoal or any other sorbent. If possible, give the victim a cleansing enema.
Berry poisoning can cause convulsions and cardiac arrest. If there are heart preparations in the first-aid kit, it is necessary to give them to the patient following the recommendations and the correct dosage. After providing first aid, it is necessary to force the person to lie down, take a calm position and wait for the ambulance to arrive. In almost all cases, hospitalization and further inpatient treatment follow.
The whole wolfberry bush is poisonous, so if the juice gets on the skin or if the plant just scratched you, you need to wash the place with an antiseptic solution, if there is nothing at hand, potassium permanganate will do.
The dangers of using privet should be clear to everyone, it is especially important to convey this information to children. If you are planning a trip to the forest or live in the countryside, do not forget to tell your children about all the dangers that are fraught with attractive and tasty-looking berries. In addition to privet, there are many other plants, the touch of which can already carry unpleasant consequences.
Beneficial features
Many poisonous plants also have useful properties, but they must be used correctly, otherwise it is very life-threatening and can lead to unpredictable consequences.
Privet has long been used in conventional and folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases:
- of cardio-vascular system;
- kidneys and liver;
- neuroses and mental disorders;
- eye;
- joints.
Due to their toxicity, shrub products are not used in official medicine, but are used exclusively in homeopathy. Among the people, tinctures and decoctions from this plant are used to treat bronchitis, pneumonia, and colds. Privet has proven itself very well in folk medicine for the treatment of skin diseases.
Prepared tinctures and decoctions are never taken internally, they are used for rubbing, rinsing, lotions.
Plant blanks are made in the summer - branches, leaves are collected, roots are dug out. In autumn, you can harvest the fruits of the shrub.
It is worth remembering that in the event of any disease, self-treatment can be dangerous, especially if you prepare homemade tinctures and poisons from toxic plants. Remember that the plant contains a dangerous and poisonous substance, which even in small doses leads to heart failure, can cause cardiac arrest and death.
Application in everyday life
Privet has proven itself as a poison for agricultural needs. With its help, infusions are prepared against Colorado potato beetles and other pests.. Such a poison is only suitable for root crops, spray it with other plants and fruit trees highly discouraged, especially immediately before collection. It is best to spray in the spring, when the leaves are just beginning to form, there is no flowering and fruit. The use of this poison suburban area can be compared with simple chemicals Therefore, care must also be taken to use a mask and rubber gloves when spraying.
Previously, ink was made from black privet berries. Wolfberry is quite often found on suburban areas and in urban areas as a hedge. The shrub is quite dense, with beautiful leaves and lush bloom. It is drought-resistant, unpretentious in care. With the right circumcision, you can get a beautiful and perfect hedge up to 5 meters high. Now several varieties of common privet are artificially bred specifically for hedges. They can differ in color (during flowering), height, care features. In most cases, no special care is required - timely watering and pruning.
Thanks to the Internet and the spread of information about the miraculous goji berries, many people have already encountered an unpleasant situation - a mistake in collecting wolfberries instead of dereza. Keep in mind that real goji berries grow exclusively in the provinces of China. Some gardeners even grow these shrubs at home, but this is a long and laborious process. Dereza shrub in wild environment It is also quite rare, but in our territories it is the dangerous and poisonous privet that is most often found, the use of which can lead to death.
Pay attention to others dangerous bushes, which appearance leaves and berries can be similar to wolfberry - red-fruited raven, red elderberry, snowberry, crow's eye, brittle buckthorn. When eating all the berries from such bushes, 100% poisoning appears. Symptoms are common - vomiting, diarrhea, nausea. It is necessary to provide timely first aid and send the victim to the hospital.
Wolfberry is known as one of the most poisonous plants, its photo and description can be found in any botanical reference book. But information about this plant is often limited to indicating that it is extremely poisonous, and you can not only eat the fruits, but even smell and touch them, and after contact with the leaves, be sure to wash your hands. But poison can also be medicine. Is this the case with wolfberry?
Wolfberry is not one, but several types of plants. They are united by a noticeable color of fruits (red, orange, white, black) and at the same time their complete inedibility. In botany, under the name wolfberry, a shrub up to 1.5 m high is known. The plant has long straight stems that almost do not branch, small green leaves and very beautiful flowers in the form of tubes.
Wolfberry fruits are red berries resembling barberries. They are small, tightly pressed against the stem, grouping into a kind of clutch around it. There is a yellow variety of wolfberry - the fruits are also located, but unusual color may be misleading. The fruits can remain on the branches up to late autumn, over time losing toxic properties.
Where does it grow
Wolfberry is an extremely common plant. It prefers a temperate climate with snowy winters, easily survives frost and lack of sunlight. The area of distribution in Russia is all regions with the exception of the Far North and deserts. Outside of our country, the shrub lives almost throughout Europe, Asia, the USA and Canada. Not found in the southern hemisphere.
The figure shows a photo and description of a wolfberry.The plant is not demanding on soil, humidity and light - it can live both on dry stony soils and on fertile forest ones. It occurs in the mountains at an altitude of up to 2 km. Completely unsuitable for wolfberries are eternal Frost, salt marshes, desert soils and pebbly beaches.
Why is the berry poisonous
The plant contains the poisonous substance meserein. It is found in absolutely all parts of the plant. The substance has a local irritating effect and high volatility, so the plant is extremely dangerous for humans.
The composition of the leaves, fruits of the plant
In addition to meserein, the plant contains other toxins:
- daphnetoxin;
- daphne;
- daphnein.
These substances with similar names disrupt the metabolism of vitamin K and other anti-light components of the blood.
Their action is not as strong as that of meserein, but longer. They cause vascular fragility and increased bleeding, this effect can persist for several months after poisoning, especially if the victim does not take vitamin preparations. The poison is found in all parts of the plant.
Beneficial features
Despite all the danger to health, the wolfberry has and useful properties. Therapeutic effect exhibit the same substances that cause poisoning. In small doses, wolfberry poisons are used as a natural antiseptic, laxative, and local irritant. They are most often used externally.
You can use the wolfberry as an ornamental plant, a remedy for blood-sucking insects, and beekeepers value these berries as early honey plants. Honey is obtained from them completely harmless and very useful, sweet and fragrant. But, using medicinal properties, it is necessary to remember the precautionary measures - gloves and ventilation of the room.
Harm to the body
Wolfberry, the photo and description of which begins any reference book of poisonous plants, is extremely dangerous to health. Most poisonous part plants are berries. When ingested, they cause severe diarrhea with a risk of dehydration, convulsions, unconsciousness and death.
5 berries are considered a life-threatening dose. The stems and leaves of the plant, when ingested, produce a similar effect. Contact with the mucous membranes of the juice of the plant, the pulp of berries, bark or leaves, causes severe pain, burning sensation, inflammation.
If the substance enters the mouth, vomiting occurs. It is extremely difficult to cure the consequences of a chemical burn; mucosal injuries heal poorly. Contact with the skin causes poorly passing blisters, in the eyes - corneal wounds that do not heal for a long time.
Indications for admission
The tool is used as a folk remedy for pain in the joints and throat. Only external use is allowed, you need to work with raw materials with gloves, and when using, strictly observe the dosage.
Conditions that relieve wolfberry:
- back pain with osteochondrosis and rheumatism;
- joint pain in osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and other pathologies;
- sore throat with sore throat and colds;
- constipation (by mouth, in a highly diluted form);
- helminthic invasions (inside, in a highly diluted form);
- insomnia (in the form of inhalation, diluted solution).
Contraindications
Wolfberry (photo and description given above) is an extremely poisonous agent, and poses a health hazard even in a highly diluted form. Therefore, when deciding on treatment with the help of such an exotic remedy, the patient must take precautions, even if there are no contraindications to its use as such.
Wolfberry cannot be used in the following situations:
- pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood and adolescence;
- the presence of any skin diseases;
- damage to the skin at the site of rubbing (scratches, cuts);
- diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- ulcer, gastritis, intestinal diseases;
- any kind of allergies.
What helps wolfberry
Traditionally, the wolfberry is used to treat diseases of the joints and spine. Least dangerous way- this is an external application in the form of ointments, rubbing, baths and wetting. It is undesirable to do compresses - heat enhances the absorption of wolfberry alkaloids, which can lead to poisoning.
- with chronic pain in muscles and joints;
- for treating the skin around scratches and bites (in no case applying to the damaged area);
- as a local remedy for combating inflammatory processes in the throat - applying ointments with wolfberry gives an effect similar to mustard plasters.
Due to its antiseptic properties, the wolfberry is used to fight fungus and other infections on the skin (but not on the mucous membranes), and also treats helminthic invasions and constipation, if taken in a highly diluted form.
Recipes of folk remedies with a plant
Traditional medicine has large quantity medicines based on the wolfberry. Precautions must be taken to avoid poisoning.
- Any parts of the plant should be taken only with gloves, in no case allowing contact with bare skin.
- Do not allow raw materials or products to get into the eyes, mouth, nose and genital mucosa at any stage.
- The room where raw materials are stored and medicines are prepared must be well ventilated.
- Children and pets should be kept away from raw materials and medicines.
- Pregnant women are also not allowed to work with the wolfberry and go into the room where the treatment takes place.
- Wolfberry honey is boiled before use - this is the only raw material from this plant that is easy to neutralize.
For rheumatism
Wolfberry is used to treat rheumatism. The description of the recipe, the photo and the method of using the resulting product require some experience in herbal treatment. Insufficiently experienced supporters traditional medicine It is better to buy a remedy from a trusted herbalist.
Used to relieve joint pain in rheumatism alcohol tincture from the bark of the wolfberry. The agent is applied to the skin with 1-2 short strokes. Due to the irritating effect, a rush of blood occurs, and the inflammatory process ends faster.
From pain in the heart, the limbs are rubbed with the remedy. To do this, a small amount of diluted tincture, without rubbing, is applied to the skin of the hands or feet. For safety, it is necessary to rub each limb with tincture in turn once a day (i.e. on the first day of treatment, rub right leg, in the second - left, in the third - right hand etc.)
For toothache
In the treatment of toothache, the distracting effect of the wolfberry plays a role. Alcohol tincture or decoction is applied to the cheekbones or neck. The drug causes an outflow of blood from diseased teeth and alleviates the condition. You can not apply the product from the wolfberry on the forehead and scalp - a strong headache.
If the tincture is carefully diluted to the point where the bitter taste almost disappears, you can rinse your mouth with it. This should be done no more than 2 times a day. Tincture promotes the death of bacteria, reducing inflammation. In no case should you swallow even a diluted tincture - it is life-threatening and can lead to poisoning.
From worms
Wolfberry, the photo and description of which is easy to find on the net, is used internally for the treatment of helminthiasis. A decoction of it is considered a strong anthelmintic, which must be used with great care. Since the medicine also has a laxative effect, it is best to take it in the morning on a day off.
The roots of the plant are used to make a decoction.
This is the least poisonous (but far from safe) part of the wolfberry. The roots are crushed, boiled in boiling water, filtered and cooled. The resulting remedy is taken only in diluted form to avoid poisoning. Reception - once in the morning, it is fashionable to repeat the next day, but the duration of treatment cannot be increased by more than 2 days.
From the fungus
For antifungal treatment, an alcoholic decoction of the roots and a diluted alcoholic tincture of wolfberry are used. This substance is applied to the affected skin in a thin layer with a cotton pad or sponge. It is best to do this with gloves so as not to cause a pathological reaction on healthy skin.
The substance is applied within the affected area, left on the feet for 20-30 minutes. And wash away warm water. You can treat your feet with pumice to enhance the effect. Wolfberry toxins effectively destroy the fungus, but the procedure can be carried out no more than 2 times a day. Do not use wolfberry remedies for candidiasis of mucous or open wounds, lesions on the hands and face.
For gout
With gout, the patient suffers from severe pain in the joints, most often the legs suffer. To alleviate the condition, a wolfberry tincture is used, which increases blood circulation in the affected area. With severe pain, covering the entire foot or a significant part of it, you can make a foot bath with wolfberry.
Water should be warm, but not hot, the content of tincture in it is 1-2 tbsp. per litre. Baths stimulate blood flow, relieve pain, improve the patient's well-being.
After such a bath, the feet must be washed and treated with a moisturizer. The frequency of procedures is no more than once a day. If there are any discomfort on the skin, you should immediately stop such treatment.
From neuralgia
Neuralgia is a long-term painful condition caused by the pathology of the nerve, while there is no violation of its structure. Wolfberry in this case acts as a local irritant. An ointment based on a decoction of wolfberry leaves is applied to the affected area, in a thin layer, without rubbing.
The effect of the therapeutic agent is achieved due to the fact that toxins irritate the skin, there is an outflow of blood to the area of irritation from the affected nerve. The pain decreases, mobility is restored, the patient's well-being improves.
If the dosage is observed correctly, adverse changes in the skin do not occur. In order for the treatment not to cause harm, wolfberry-based products should be accompanied by detailed instructions, and it is desirable to use them under the supervision of the attending physician.
Symptoms of wolfberry poisoning
Wolfberry, the photo and description of which are given in the article, is extremely poisonous. But its fruits, and especially the flowers, look very attractive, so a person who is unfamiliar with such a plant has a very high risk of poisoning.
Its symptoms:
- when taken orally - abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea;
- in contact with the skin - blisters, burning, pain;
- in contact with mucous membranes - burning, inflammatory reaction, ulceration;
- in the eyes - blurred vision, lacrimation, eye pain, blindness;
- when inhaled - dizziness, headache, nasal discharge;
- in severe forms of poisoning - convulsions, inappropriate behavior, loss of consciousness, risk of death.
You need to be especially attentive to children - they can eat a berry or bring home beautiful flower out of curiosity, and as a result get serious poisoning.
First aid for poisoning
If the patient has eaten a wolfberry, it is necessary to protect the mucous membrane from irritating effects as soon as possible. The patient needs to drink plenty of fluids, preferably milk or water. You can take gastroprotectors (Almagel, Maalox) or antispasmodics (no-shpa).
Affected skin or mucous membranes should be washed running water, you can add to it baking soda. To relieve pain, ointments with dicaine or lidocaine are suitable. In case of contact with the eyes, rinse the face with water, drip drops into the eye that protect the cornea (Vizin, Artificial tear, solution for wearing lenses). If such funds are not at hand, then nothing needs to be done.
In any case, be sure to take the victim to the hospital - a small dose is enough to develop severe poisoning.
What not to do in case of poisoning:
- induce vomiting - this will increase the irritating effect of toxins, cause dehydration;
- take laxatives - for the same reason;
- take food - it will increase vomiting and diarrhea;
- treat the affected areas with potassium permanganate, iodine, alcohol solutions, peroxide - this will cause even more irritation;
- trying to remove the lens from the affected eye - there is a risk of injuring the cornea;
- refuse hospitalization.
The effectiveness of wolfberry treatment: when to expect results
Wolfberry as a remedy gives fairly quick results. Photo and description speak of pretty high efficiency. But do not forget about the risk when working with one of the most dangerous forest plants.
Video about wolfberry, its use and symptoms of poisoning
The most poisonous berries:
Symptoms of poisoning:
Botanical characteristic
The common wolfberry, translated as Daphne mezereum, the plant also has a number of other names, for example, wolf bast, upland wolf pepper, wolf berries. Its height is not more than a meter, but sometimes it can reach 200 centimeters. This shrub is covered with yellow-gray bark, which is somewhat wrinkled.
The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, they are green above, and slightly bluish below, they are narrowed into a rather short petiole closer to the base, alternate, crowded at the ends of the branches. The flowers are pink in color, sessile, fragrant, their smell is a bit like hyacinth, nail-shaped corolla.
Three flowers are located in the axils of the leaves, which remained from last year. characteristic feature This shrub is considered the fact that it begins to bloom even before the appearance of the first leaves.
As for the fruits, they are light red berries that have an ovoid, somewhat elongated shape, which makes them recognizable, and this is important, since they are very poisonous, and in no case should you eat them!
Spreading
The wolf's bast shrub is common in the European part of our country, in Siberia, in the Caucasus. He prefers to be localized in a shady area, and the soil should be fertile, well fertilized. You can see it on the forest edges.
Used part
For therapeutic purposes, flowering branches, as well as the bark, are used in the common wolfberry. These parts of the plant contain coumarins, moserein, glycosides, daphnin, gum, resins, dyes, and wax.
Collection and preparation
The bark is usually prepared in early spring before the start of the flowering of the wolf's bast. Since the plant is extremely poisonous, it is necessary to collect raw materials only with rubber gloves, and after work, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water so as not to accidentally bring toxic substances into the oral cavity.
The collected raw materials should be cut into smaller pieces and placed in an automated drying chamber, which maintains the optimal temperature regime, in this case it should not exceed fifty degrees.
When the raw material is completely dry, it should be packaged in cloth bags, which should be sewn from natural materials. They are recommended to be placed in a ventilated area. The shelf life should not exceed three years, since after this time the bark will exhaust its medicinal properties and become unusable.
Wolfberries - application:
Let me remind you once again, dear reader, that the plant is very poisonous! However, in the past poisonous berry wolf's bast was used as a laxative, poultices were prepared from its bark, which were used to treat abscesses and boils.
Wolf berry berries have found their application in homeopathy, of course, these drugs should be used on the recommendation of a doctor, for example, there is such a remedy as Mezereum, it is made from fresh wolfberry bark and is prescribed for dermatological diseases, for example, eczema, dermatitis, and trophic ulcers, with itchy rashes and herpes zoster.
Warning
If the juice of the plant in a concentrated form falls on skin, this can lead to severe burns, which can even cause tissue necrosis. Therefore, if a similar situation accidentally occurs, it is worth immediately washing the causal area with a 2% manganese solution.
The first signs of poisoning with berries will be expressed by the following symptoms, an unbearable burning sensation in the oral cavity, pain in the epigastric region, dyspeptic phenomena, which are manifested by nausea and subsequent vomiting, as well as possible violations from nervous system in the form of convulsions.
In this case, you should immediately call an ambulance, and while she is driving, you need to repeatedly rinse the stomach and drink about twenty tablets activated carbon and wait for the arrival of medical personnel. Remember, it is enough for a person to consume literally a couple of berries of a wolf's bast, and this can lead to death from cardiac arrest, so be very careful!
Recipes
Decoction preparation. You will need twenty grams of bark, which must first be crushed and poured with boiling water. After that, the container should be put on the stove, and evaporated until exactly half of the liquid remains. It should be taken one drop three times a day, after dissolving it in a small amount of boiled water.
Preparation of tincture. Take one gram of bark for sixty milliliters of alcohol or vodka, and place the container in dark place for one week, the drug should be shaken daily, and then filtered, and taken drop by drop, diluted in water, three times a day.
Ointment preparation. You will need five milliliters of tincture, which must be mixed with ten grams butter. The resulting mixture can be used to treat joints with arthritis, as it will have a slight analgesic effect. Store the drug should only be in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Remember, the poisonous wolfberry plant is quite dangerous, so be extremely careful when collecting and using it, and it is advisable to consult a doctor in order to clarify the dose of drugs taken.
deadly wolfberry, Wolf's bast, Wolf berries, common wolf, Plokhovets, Pukhlyak - all these are the names of one plant - wolfberry(Daphne mezereum), belonging to the Volchnikov family (Thymelaeaceae).
The common wolfberry is found almost throughout Europe, in the Transcaucasus. In Russia, it grows throughout the forest zone of the European part and Western Siberia, in the North Caucasus, in Dagestan.
We have known since childhood that the Wolf's Bast plant is poisonous. It was even called specifically "Wolf Berries" so that, God forbid, the children would not get poisoned. They weren't even allowed to come close to him.
The common wolfberry is a low-branched deciduous shrub up to 1.5 meters tall. root system wolfberry superficial. The yellowish gray, slightly wrinkled bark will help you identify the shrub. In central Russia, the common wolfberry blooms in early spring, before all shrubs.
Wolfberry leaves are narrow, oblong, oblanceolate, simple, grow alternately at the ends of the shoots. They are dark green in color, smooth on top, slightly glossy, bluish below, ciliated at the edges, up to 8 cm long and up to 2 cm wide.
Bright pink fragrant honey-bearing flowers of the wolf's bast are arranged in a "bouquet" of 3-5 pieces in the axils of last year's fallen leaves.
Very interesting going on pollination of the wolfberry. Its flowers have a pronounced protogyny - more early ripening female reproductive organs compared to male.
The bright flowers of the common wolfberry appear in the forest before the leaves of the trees bloom. Insect pollinators - bees, butterflies - are attracted by nectar that stands out at the base of the ovary.
When an insect's proboscis penetrates the perianth tube, the pollen from the anthers surrounding the tube does not stick to it, as it is not sticky. Further, the proboscis of the bee touches the stigma, located much lower, and, finally, the nectaries. From the nectar, the proboscis becomes sticky, and when the insect pulls it out, it again comes into contact with the anthers. This time, the pollen sticks to the proboscis and is thus transferred to another flower.
After such fertilization, a fruit is formed in place of the flowers - a juicy ovoid red berry-drupe up to 8 mm long. The fruits of the common wolfberry ripen in late July - early August. Inside the berry is a shiny stone up to 4 mm in diameter.
Wolfberry is occasionally planted in gardens as ornamental plant, noteworthy early flowering spring and bright fruits in autumn. But because of the poisonousness of the plant, its use for decorative purposes is limited.
All parts of the wolfberry, and especially the fruits, contain a sharply burning poison juice . The use of the plant for medicinal purposes is prohibited.
Poisoning can occur when eating berries (often by children), chewing the bark. When the skin comes into contact with wet bark or when plant juice gets on it, severe dermatitis occurs. Inhalation of dust from the bark of the wolfberry causes irritation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and respiratory tract, contact with the eyes irritates the conjunctiva. After eating the berries, there is a burning sensation in the mouth, pain in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, weakness, convulsions are possible.
When writing the article, materials were used https://ru.wikipedia.org
Image source https://www.flickr.com: Hornet Arts, C. E. Timothy Paine, naturgucker.de / enjoynature.net
Wolf fruits are called different plants: privet, wolf's bast, dereza and even goji. What does a wolfberry look like, which can be dangerous to humans? What forest fruits should be extremely careful?
In the photo there is a wolfberry (dereza)
What kind of berry is called wolfberry?
The commercial name for goji berries is wolfberry. Translated from English - wolfberry. However, Chinese fruits for weight loss have nothing to do with a plant that is found in the forests of the North and middle lane Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and the Caucasus. Enterprising sellers often give out the fruits of privet, common nightshade, wolf's bast for expensive imported goji.
Wolfberry, the photo of which reflects its external features, is a fruit with a red or black glossy color. It forms on a shrub with narrow oblong leaves, forms from a flower, pours during the summer and matures by autumn. At this time, the branches are studded with large bright beads and look especially impressive. Thanks to given property privet, for example, is planted in gardens for ornamental purposes.
In spring, a bush up to 5 meters blooms with beautiful tassels, like lilacs. And in the fall, shiny purple fruits appear in place of the inflorescences.
On common nightshade, wolf's bast, black fruits with a glossy sheen are formed. They are very dangerous, contain deadly poison for humans and animals. They should not be used for food or medical purposes.
Wolfberry: harm and benefits of fruits
Wolfberry, common in our forests, is an extremely poisonous plant. Birds and animals avoid it. The name is associated with her ability to bring evil, and not with the preferences of predators. The poison of common nightshade, wolf's bast, privet, bearing the name of wolfberry, is strong and fast-acting.
However, black or bright red fruits can be beneficial to humans.
1. In China, they make a special tincture used for eye diseases.
2. There are medical preparations where the poison of berries is present in scanty doses and, in combination with other components, plays a positive role in the improvement of a person.
3. Experienced gardeners use them to prepare poisonous compounds in the fight against pests in the beds.
4. Chinese goji berries and wolfberry can be consumed without fear for your health in order to lose weight and increase the stability of the immune system.
Wolf berries are the collective name for inedible and poisonous fruits growing in the forest. You have to be careful with them. When walking through the forest, you need to bypass the bushes.
