Many housewives collect original and healthy recipes for blanks. Among the variety of jams, the most popular therapeutic and prophylactic, very original - jam from pine cones. If in cooking it is used extremely rarely, then for the treatment of colds, with pain in the joints, it is an indispensable assistant at home.
Pine cones are a natural storehouse of useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body. The fruit contains vitamins, essential oils, bioflavonoids, lipids, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and other macro and microelements. Correctly and on time collected fruits can provide invaluable assistance in the treatment of various diseases of the throat, lungs, and in strengthening the immune system.
When and how to harvest buds
The time for collecting fruits from a pine tree depends on the climatic conditions and the region of growth. Basically, this period lasts from the second half of June to August. For therapeutic purposes, only young, defect-free cones are suitable. They are used to prepare tinctures, grindings and make amazing jam, similar to mountain honey. All this very effectively helps with various diseases of the lungs, joints, with vitamin deficiency and low hemoglobin.
- choose small, green buds without deformation;
- cut tightly closed medium-sized fruits, no more than 4 centimeters;
- the tree must be healthy, without pests, away from the road;
- collected buds should not be stored for more than 1 year;
- for jam it is better to choose resinous female fruits with scales.
Pine cone jam recipe at home
- granulated sugar - 2 kg;
- pine cones - 1500 grams;
- boiled water - 3 liters.
It is imperative to wear gloves, as the resin secreted by the fruit is very sticky and can spoil the appearance of your hands for a long time.
- Rinse the cones well with running water, transfer to a cooking container.
- Cover with cold water and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes.
- Remove from the stove, keep under the lid for 12 hours. You can cook in the evening and leave until morning.
- Drain the cooled broth, measure the volume.
- Pour sugar into a saucepan, pour infusion in a 1: 1 ratio, cook over low heat for 80 minutes. Stir the syrup occasionally.
- Transfer cones to the blank, stir, cook for 20-25 minutes.
- Pour hot jam into pasteurized jars, add 5-10 fruits, seal.
Store in a cool place, preferably in a closet away from the stove.
Aromatic, healthy, sweet and sour and carbohydrate-rich jam is ready. The calorie content of one hundred-gram portion of the finished product is 222 kcal. It is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Great for coughs, sore throats and joint diseases. One teaspoon / dessert spoon of pine cone jam a day will help strengthen the immune system and protect against colds. Be healthy!
The benefits of pine cones
The prepared sweetness from young cones will please both children and adults. In addition to its beautiful dark amber color and pleasant tart taste, it has invaluable beneficial properties on the human body.
- Immunomodulatory. Thanks to the incoming minerals, vitamins, macronutrients, jam helps to increase the psycho-emotional state, body tone and strengthen the immune system. It helps to cope with drowsiness, increases efficiency, invigorates.
- Antiviral action. Including a small dose of treats in the diet, you can help the body not pick up bacteria and viruses, cope with diseases faster, lower the temperature, and chills.
- Antibacterial property. The substances included in the cones destroy fungal, microbial and pathogenic flora. Effectively eliminate bacterial infection, often used in traditional medicine.
- Antitussive / expectorant. Recommended for use in various pathologies of the upper respiratory tract. A positive effect was noted in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis.
- Pain reliever. The product has a strong analgesic effect on pain in joints, gums and teeth. It is enough to apply a compress or hold a small amount of jam in your mouth, and the unpleasant symptoms will be relieved, the discomfort will go away.
- Strengthening the heart / blood vessels. The B vitamins, tannin, included in the fruit, help to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, normalize the functioning of the heart, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.
- Antineoplastic property. Medical research on jam made it possible to note that the presence of natural antioxidants can protect the body from harmful factors and prevent the risk of neoplasms and tumors.
Also, a coniferous product stimulates the work of the gastrointestinal tract, promotes the healing of erosive formations, and improves appetite.
Contraindications for use
Despite all the positive effects of jam, it can also bring harm. So in cases of overdose, severe allergic manifestations, itching, dyspepsia, diarrhea and headache are possible. Do not eat coniferous honey more than two tablespoons for adults and two teaspoons for children.
- patients with hepatitis;
- allergy sufferers;
- with kidney disease;
- elderly people over 65;
- children under 3 years old;
- pregnant and lactating mothers.
Take with caution to diabetics, persons prone to overweight.
How to use for medicinal purposes
Pine cone jam can be used prophylactically and medicinally. During the period of a cold, it will have not only antiviral, but also a diaphoretic effect on the body, accelerate the elimination of toxins. However, you should strictly adhere to the norms of jam per day and take it by dissolving in green tea, adding to baked goods or simply eating from a spoon.
- For throat ailments. Adults take up to 2 tablespoons daily with a warm drink. Divide the portion into three times, the therapy should be carried out from 7 to 14 days. To enhance the effect, you can gargle with an infusion / decoction of cones after a meal. Children are advised to give ½ teaspoon up to 4 times a day, after meals, with a little warm water.
- With bronchial asthma. The therapy lasts 14 days, then a break for 30 days and a repeat of the two-week course. Take a coniferous product up to 6 times a day, 1 teaspoon one hour before meals, do not drink.
- With helminths. The course of treatment is 7-14 days, daily lick 1 tablespoon on an empty stomach, do not drink. Eating is allowed only 30 minutes after the jam has been absorbed. The parasites cannot stand the smell of pine cones, this therapy will remove their intestines and eliminate giardia.
- With high blood pressure / heart disease. The treatment regimen is prescribed by the doctor, based on the diagnosis and the severity of the disease. After a stroke / heart attack, it is recommended to consume 1 tablespoon of jam per day for 2-3 weeks. To normalize blood pressure, eat 2 tablespoons per day with meals for 7 days. This will help stabilize blood pressure, support the work of the heart muscle, improve blood circulation, and protect brain cells from destruction.
Quick Healing Jam Recipe
It is prepared from freshly harvested raw materials (preferably together with young branches of pine twigs).
- cones - 1000 grams;
- sugar - 1000 grams;
- water - 2/3 cup;
- a sprig of mint.
- Rinse pine fruits with water, divide into 4 parts, put in a saucepan.
- Pour in granulated sugar, mix, leave until juice appears.
- After a while, pour in water, stir, put mint, put on a divider, over medium heat.
- Wait until the first bubbles appear, reduce heat, simmer for 2 hours. Remove the resulting foam.
- Divide into clean portioned jars and store in a cool place.
This healing jam can be consumed with the fruit. Bon Appetit!
