The deadly wolfberry or wolf's bast is a perennial low-branched low shrub with twisted leaves and bright red ovoid fruits. In height, the wolfberry reaches no more than 1.5 m. In the spring, when everything comes to life from a cold and snowy winter, bright pink flowers with a pleasant aroma bloom on the branches of the shrub. The trunk and branches are yellow or light brown in color. Wolf bast blooms (photos below) from April to May, and bears fruit from July to August. The plant is honey-bearing, but it should be remembered that all parts of the wolf's bark are poisonous, especially the fruits, which contain burning juice.
Many shrub names are of Latin origin. Our view was no exception. Poisonous wolfberry is also popularly called wolfberry, badhovets, wolfberry, pine forest, wolf pepper, daphne, etc. In medicine, it is used under the name wolfberry bark. Daphne grows in floodplain forests and forest glades in poorly lit places. It can also often be found on the banks of a stream. This shrub, like all subspecies of the Volchnikov family, has been taken under protection.
Despite its poisonous properties, the wolf's bast, or rather the fruits and bark of the bush, and sometimesleaves and branches are used in medicine. The bark must be harvested in the spring, always before the flowering of the shrub, and the fruits in July-August. But you should not abuse wolf berries, because. they do not lose their poisonous properties even after drying and processing.
Wolfberry and its medicinal qualities
Since ancient times, the wolf's bast has been used in folk medicine as a strong laxative, but over time, experienced experts began to warn people to use the fruits internally and externally, because. the plant can cause severe intoxication in the body and lead to abscesses on the skin. Daphne can be used only under the strict supervision of a doctor in the required dosages. The berries of the shrub contain substances such as daphnin glucoside, flavonoids, various resins, diphnetoxin and sitosterol.
Doctors prescribe preparations with wolfberry substances for oncological diseases, in the treatment of leukemia. The bark of the shrub is effective in the treatment of cancer of the uterus, tumors of the mammary glands, cancer of the larynx, esophagus, and oral cavity. Ripe fruits are used in the treatment of sarcoma. In addition to these healing qualities, wolf's bast helps in the fight against cough, pulmonary tuberculosis, heals hepatitis, thrombophlebitis, relieves fatigue and improves appetite.
Contraindications and side effects
The fruits of the bush can be very dangerous for adults and children. A dozen or two berries eaten can cause death. If the juice of berries accidentally gets on the skin, this can lead to tissue death.(necrosis). Strong irritation occurs in the stomach, intestines and kidneys after eating berries. The main symptoms of poisoning are fever, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes. If signs of poisoning appear, it is necessary to do a gastric lavage as soon as possible and consult a doctor. In the hospital, the victim will be prescribed the necessary treatment for the throat and oral cavity.
