Such a famous plant as hawthorn is familiar to everyone - moreover, there are legends about all sorts of useful properties of its fruits and other parts. That is why, during the preparation of the healing fruits of the plant, many compatriots are sent on a real journey for him. But not many people know when and how to properly harvest the flowers and berries of this shrub, because without it, getting the maximum concentration of nutrients in the raw materials will not work.
That is why in this publication we will reveal all the secrets of making dried hawthorn, and also find out how its use can positively affect the overall tone of the body.
Beneficial features
Hawthorn refers to this type of plant, the beneficial properties of which are officially recognized by physicians at all levels, and this is no accident. The rich component composition of the shrub makes it an indispensable raw material for the production of many drugs. The number of all kinds of chemicals in its composition is so large that in the conditions of modernity the exact composition of hawthorn has not yet been determined. But this does not at all prevent the use of infusions and decoctions from the fruits and parts of the plant in general medical therapy.
Did you know? The hawthorn shrub is characterized by longevity, as the plant is able to bear fruit and develop actively for 400 years.
Berries
In folk and classical medical practice, hawthorn berries are popular. With their help, infusions and extracts are prepared, which have an immunomodulating effect on humans, which helps to actively resist them during the seasonal spread of viral colds. But in most cases, the berries of the shrub are used in general therapy for treating heart diseases, as they are an indispensable means of maintaining a healthy tone of the cardiovascular system.
In addition, a fairly long-term use of infusions of hawthorn fruit improves the overall blood counts in humans, in particular, leads to a decrease in cholesterol, due to which natural vascular cleansing processes occur in the body. Hawthorn preparations are indicated for gastritis and flatulence, as they contribute to a rather effective elimination of the general negative symptoms of diseases.
In folk medicine, the beneficial properties of wild rose berries, goji, wolfberry, sea buckthorn, black raspberry, princess, bilberry, juniper, cloudberry, mountain ash red, chokeberry, blueberry, padonypine foliage, and Physalis are widely used.
Flowers
Despite the fact that in the medical and folk practice for the preparation of therapeutic agents hawthorn fruits are used mainly, its flowers have also found their application in medicine: decoctions and infusions of them are used to normalize pressure and treat diseases of the heart and cardiovascular system, improve overall well-being .
Did you know? According to archival references, hawthorn was first used in medical practice at the beginning of the 16th century. During this period, decoctions of plants were used as an astringent for acute attacks of diarrhea.In addition, shrub flowers are actively used in psychiatry. Medicinal products based on them help to normalize sleep and improve the general psychological state of a person, relieve stress. Also, these tools provide an opportunity to eliminate various kinds of dizziness. All this in the complex therapy helps to minimize the negative properties of the course of psychological disorders and minimize pathological nervousness.
How to dry flowers
Despite the fact that the process of harvesting shrub flowers is quite simple, many herbalists are still wondering when to pick hawthorn flowers for drying and how best to do it. Next, we will take a closer look at each of the key points of this issue and share a few secrets.
When and how to collect
Harvest flowers best at the beginning of flowering: for this ideal period will be the beginning of budding, which falls on the second half of May. The initial stage of harvesting is a thorough inspection of the bush itself. He must be completely healthy, without any hint of the disease. In the case when moldy bloom, rust, parasite larvae or cobweb on the flowers themselves are present on the branches and leaves of the hawthorn, this is a clear sign of a diseased plant, the harvested material of which will not differ in useful properties.
For mass cutting suitable as corymbose and separate inflorescences, and buds in the stage of swelling. From the ovary should be abandoned, as it dries very slowly, which leads to the drilling of more than half of the raw materials. The ideal weather and time conditions for a hawthorn flower trip are a bright hot day, closer to noon. By this time, almost all unnecessary morning moisture is completely evaporated.
Cut flowers must be carefully laid in an open container, as in a closed with a high degree of probability they will instantly obscure.
Important! Hawthorn differs in a rather short flowering period, not exceeding 6 days, so the harvesting should be carried out the next day after the appearance of the first full-blown buds on the plant.
Drying features
The collected hawthorn blossoms are placed in one layer on clean paper or fabric, while in order to avoid falling into the raw material of insects from above, the petals also need to be covered.
Flowers should be dried in a warm, ventilated place away from direct sunlight. At the same time, they must be turned at least once a day to achieve the maximum effect.
The process can be completed when the harvested petals are fairly freely and rubbed with fingers into powder without additional efforts. 
How and where to store
For storage of harvested raw materials, it is customary to use wooden, cardboard, fabric or other containers in which the natural steam exchange of dried flowers with the environment takes place.
Also do not forget that the harvested material must be stored in a dry and cool place. The shelf life of dried flowers is no more than 12 months, since a longer period of preservation has a very negative effect on the quantity and stability of the chemical components of the raw material.
Did you know? For the flowers of the shrub is characterized by a sharp unpleasant smell, which is similar to the smell of spoiled fish. It is caused by dimethylamine - a substance that is released by a flower during the period of active life.
How to dry berries
In order to dry the fruits of the shrub, special knowledge is required. This process is no different from other fruits and berries. But nevertheless let's consider in detail all stages of drying in order to resolve all sorts of questions and inaccuracies.
When and how to collect
Berries for drying, it is necessary to harvest after they are fully matured, because only in this case, we can expect that they will concentrate the maximum amount of nutrients and vitamins.
The end of September is perfect for this, but it’s best to wait until the beginning of November. In order to determine the ripe berry, special skills are not required.
All of them are distinguished by bright red, orange, and in some cases yellow color against the background of green foliage. Tear off the fruit should be as carefully as possible so as not to damage the branches and foliage of the shrub.
Berry preparation
After harvesting the berries, you need to spend considerable time in order to sort them and remove the shields. Hawthorn fruits must be uniformly ripe, without any pathologies. Only in this case, the dried berries will have the necessary amount of beneficial properties.
In addition, careful sorting will help reject the wormy fruit, a decoction of which will not bring much pleasure. Before drying, the berries must be washed and dried in the open air, for this it is best to use cold water.
Important! In no case do not use hot water to wash hawthorn fruit, as it will damage the structure of the berries, as a result of which the drying process can be difficult.
Ways and features of drying
Pre-prepared berries can be dried in several ways: naturally or with the help of technical units (household electric dryer). In the case when you do not have special equipment, you can prepare the fruits for the winter by drying them in an ordinary household oven. 
In the open air
Drying in fresh air is a fairly simple process. Clean prepared fruits are evenly laid out on a cloth or paper, covered with the same material on top and left in a warm, dry and well-ventilated place until the berries are completely dry. Despite its simplicity, the method has not gained immense popularity because in such conditions the berries dry for a very long time. In addition, not everyone can constantly maintain the necessary conditions for drying in the open air; therefore, the berries often do not completely dry out and deteriorate, as a result of which half of the crop is rejected.
In the oven
The most popular way to dry the berries of the shrub is to dry in a simple gas oven. To do this, the fruits are evenly laid out on a clean and dry baking tray in one layer. The temperature should be no more than + 60 ° C, because otherwise you will get fried berries, and the amount of nutrients in them will be ten times less.
Important! Drying the berries in the oven should take place with a slightly open door - this is necessary so that the moisture evaporating from the fruit gradually leaves the oven chamber.
In the electric dryer
The use of household electric dryers today is one of the most convenient and technologically correct ways of harvesting hawthorn berries for the winter. In order to dry them in this device, the fruits are evenly poured into the dryer chamber, after which the process is carried out at a temperature of from +40 to + 60 ° C.
When preparing medicinal raw materials for a home first aid kit, it is important to know what are the rules for harvesting currant leaves, raspberries, blueberries, lingonberries, sea buckthorn, sunberry, physalis, rosehip, blueberries, chokeberry, thyme, nuts, lavender, mint.
How to determine readiness
In order to determine the readiness or degree of dryness of the berries, it is necessary to extract a few pieces from the total mass, cool them and slightly squeeze. A sign of a raw berry will be its softness and moisture, while dry will be dense and firm. In addition, a distinct sign that a dry fruit is in front of you will be its shape, since in the process of drying the ideal shape of the berry changes to a twisted and wrinkled one.
Also, the dryness of the fruit can be determined by the following method: remove and slightly cool about 10 berries, then squeeze them in a fist. In the case when they stick together among themselves, this means that the drying must be continued - if the berries are scattered, the process can be terminated. 
How and how much can be stored
Dry berries, flowers and other hawthorn derivatives should be stored in special fabric or paper bags, wooden, glass or metal boxes, etc. It should be borne in mind that the dry billet should not be kept in airtight conditions; ensure the exchange of contents with the environment.
In addition, the dried parts of hawthorn should be stored in a dry cool place at a temperature of about + 20 ° C: in such conditions, the nutrients of the fruits of the shrub can last up to 2 years, well, and flowers - up to 1 year.
Did you know? In antiquity, hawthorn fruits were used as food. From the dried and shredded berries, the ancient Greeks baked bread.
What can be done, how to brew
In order to brew or insist dried hawthorn, special conditions are not required, since the process is similar to the general principles of preparing infusions. In addition, the procedure is so simple that even a child can handle it. 
Consider some of the most popular recipes:
- to eliminate high blood pressure prepare a decoction of the fruit: it requires 20-25 g of berries to boil in 250 ml of water for 5 minutes. The resulting broth is filtered through cheesecloth and used in the cooled form of 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day;
- with angina, atherosclerosis and elevated cholesterol prepare the following decoction: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of dried fruits are cut into small pieces and poured over 250 ml of water, after which the mixture is boiled over low heat to half the original volume. Take this broth is necessary 2 times a day before meals and 1 teaspoon;
- with arrhythmias, heart defects and pathologies of the circulatory system Prepare an infusion of shrub flowers: 1 table spoon of petals is filled with 250 ml of boiling water, then the mixture must be infused for 30 minutes, filtered and cooled. The tool take 200 ml 3 times a day;
- in diseases of the heart, circulatory system, general malaise, and also to remove dangerous toxins from the body and improve the psycho-neurological condition prepare alcoholic infusions. For this, 1 tbsp. Spoon chopped fruits or flowers, to choose from, poured 250 ml of vodka. The mixture is infused for about 48 hours, after which it is thoroughly filtered through cheesecloth. This tool must be taken no more than a month for 20-30 drops 3 times a day.
