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Rigid shiny dark green foliage will reliably protect against noise, dust and unwanted prying eyes.

If the plant suffered from frost, or bald spots began to appear in the crown and the “legs” of the bush began to appear, then feel free to cut off everything that is above fifty centimeters from the ground level - young brisk shoots will not make you wait long for their appearance. True, you will need to re-form the bush.

• Height: 2-5 m
• Width: 1-3m
• Foliage classification: evergreen shrub
• Optimal location: in the sun or in partial shade
• Frost resistance: tolerates short frosts down to -20 ° С
• Soil: ordinary, calcareous garden soil
• Use: in hedges, borders, in the form of sheared topiary figures
• Pruning period: March and June (shaping pruning) and May and September (sanitary pruning)

Landing

This powerful shrub is most often used to create a hedge - prepare a trench 80 x 80 cm, the length is entirely up to you. Loosen the soil, add fertilizer for flowering ornamental shrubs to the hole, lightly mixing it with the soil. Install bushes in the trench in 80 cm increments. Cover with soil without deepening the root collar and gently tamping to avoid air pockets.

pruning

Formative pruning

Immediately after planting, shorten all the shoots of the bush by half. In June, cut off all branches that are 80 cm above ground level.

In subsequent years, you will have to intervene with the pruner twice a season - in March and June. Repeat the steps above until the hedge reaches the desired density and height.

Sanitary pruning

It is produced in May and September and consists in removing shoots that violate the symmetry and neat contours of your plantings. It is preferable to cut with secateurs than with garden shears, as the foliage turns yellow very quickly in places of damage.

reproduction

Reproduction by cuttings

Cuttings take root surprisingly quickly and easily - this is the best way to propagate an unpretentious shrub. Produced in September. Before planting in a warm and moist mixture of sand and peat, it is advisable to dip the cuttings in a root stimulator.

Cherry laurel is a medicinal, evergreen shrub, the fruits of which are very popular in folk medicine, cooking, and winemaking. It is used as an ornamental, technical and fruit crop, to obtain tasty, healthy berries and healing essential oils. What else is valuable laurel cherry, let's see.

Description

An evergreen plant of the Rozanov family, whose homeland is considered to be the Western Caucasus. Under natural conditions, it can be found on the territory of many European and Asian countries, where a warm and temperate climate prevails.

The shrub got its name due to the fruits, outwardly similar to cherries, and the shape of the leaves, which resemble laurel leaves.

Laurel cherry is a perennial, reaching a height of up to 10 m. It has a long, strong root system, it is distinguished by green, smooth, slightly pubescent branches, on which dark green leaves of a dense, leathery structure are located.

Did you know? A feature of this tree is the arrangement of leaves on the branches, they make up the so-called variation series, when some of the leaves are arranged in descending order, and the other in ascending order. This property is extremely rare in nature.

In April-May, a shrub that has reached four years of life begins to bloom. Whitish flowers appear on it with brushes up to 20 cm long, which outwardly resemble decorative candles. Each stunningly fragrant flower consists of a calyx, a five-petaled corolla, and a large number of stamens. After flowering, the tree bears small, fleshy fruits - drupes of red, white or pink flowers, depending on the variety. The fruits have a pleasant, sweet-sour, tart taste, but the seeds, leaves and bark of the culture are poisonous. The yield of one plant can be up to 120 kg.

Kinds

In nature, there are over 400 species of laurel cherries, but among them only three have gained the most distribution:

Reproduction methods

Cherry laurel is easy to propagate by cuttings, seeds or layering. Each method has its own characteristics, which beginner gardeners need to familiarize themselves with.

seeds

When breeding a crop with seeds, one must take into account the fact that they are suitable for propagation immediately after harvest. During storage of seeds, their germination decreases tenfold. You can extend the life of raw materials by placing them in a humid environment.

1. Immediately after collection, the seeds are planted in a container with well-moist soil 1 cm deep.
2. The container is covered with PVC film and placed in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.
3. After the allotted time, the sprouts are taken out and left at room temperature for further germination.
4. In the spring, young sprouts appear, which are transplanted to a permanent place, and as early as possible. The smaller the root system of the plant, the easier and faster it will take root.

cuttings

Propagation of culture by cuttings is considered the most time-consuming and difficult. It is carried out as follows:

• at the end of June, non-lignified shoots are cut and divided into several parts of 10-12 cm each;
• cuttings of shoots, completely cleared of leaves, are planted in specially prepared soil: one part of peat or humus and one part of river sand, each deepening into the ground by 3 cm. At the bottom of the container for planting cuttings, a drainage layer is formed from expanded clay or fine gravel;
• a container with cuttings is placed in a greenhouse. It is very important to provide cuttings with good watering, which is carried out at a strictly defined time. In the hot season, the sprouts should be moistened every 2-3 hours;
• after the formation of the root system, the cuttings are planted in separate pots, where they will "live" for about one year;
• next autumn, the seedlings are transplanted into open ground.

Did you know? A seedling grown from a laurel cherry cutting retains all the functions of a “parent”, which cannot be said about a plant obtained from seeds. In addition, when propagated by cuttings, it is possible to grow a separate, full-fledged culture in just one year.

layering

When propagated by layering, three types of raw materials are used: layering arcuate type, vertical or horizontal.

When using arcuate layers, the branch of the plant is pinned to the ground and sprinkled with a small amount of soil. Before the roots appear, carefully monitor soil moisture and timely watering. As soon as the root system is formed on the cutting, it is cut off and transplanted to a separate place.

Reproduction by vertical layering is carried out as follows:

• in late autumn or early spring, the tree is completely cut off, leaving only small stumps up to 3 cm;
• in spring, young shoots form on the stumps, which are thinned out and leave the strongest ones;
• after the height of the shoots reaches 20 cm, they are spudded with soil and only the very top is left. Provide the plant with adequate watering;
• in the fall, when the shoots give roots, they are separated from the mother plant and transplanted to a new place.

As a soil mixture for laurel cherry, a universal soil is used - from slightly acidic to alkaline. You can use mixtures intended for flowering plants.

Landing

Planting laurel cherry is not particularly difficult for gardeners. When choosing a place to stay culture, you should give preference to well-lit areas, without drafts. You can start growing a shrub at home or in a greenhouse, using containers, and then transplant it into open ground.

Planting shrubs is carried out according to the following rules:

1. Choice of location. Cherry laurel loves well-lit places, however, it can also get along well in the shade. To create the most comfortable conditions for growing, it is better to provide the culture with dim, diffused light, without direct sunlight and the presence of drafts.
2. Temperature regime. The plant grows well at temperatures from +20 to + 24 degrees. In the summer, it is recommended to take the culture out onto the street, balcony or loggia, but not expose it to direct sunlight;
3. The soil. Loose, fairly fertile, not very acidic soil is well suited for laurel cherry. An earthen mixture can be prepared independently by taking equal parts of leafy soil, humus, peat and mullein. From the store it is recommended to use the soil for flower plants. A prerequisite is the formation of a drainage layer.
4. Watering. During the period of active growth, from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, the shrub should be watered regularly, preventing the soil from drying out and, in parallel, stagnation of water in the tank. Excessive moisture can provoke rotting of the root system and the appearance of powdery mildew on the leaves. In winter, the tree is watered once every two weeks. In summer, in addition to watering, it is recommended to spray the plant in the morning and evening.
5. top dressing. From April to September, laurel cherry is fed once a month with mineral and organic preparations, per 1 sq. m enough 5-8 kg of fertilizer.

The time of planting the plant in open ground is the beginning of spring or the end of autumn. For this, the soil is preliminarily prepared: loosened, fertilized for flowering ornamental shrubs. The shrub is lowered into a hole measuring 80 x 80 cm, without completely deepening the root neck into the ground. The soil around the plant is carefully tamped and watered abundantly.

Care

Lavrovishnya is a culture that is not demanding in care and maintenance. It does well in cool places, loves good lighting, but can also grow in the shade.

The shrub requires regular pruning and shaping. They are held at the end of winter. If the plant is used as a hedge, then pruning is carried out twice a year: in spring and at the end of summer. In May and September, sanitary pruning is carried out: shoots that cause bush asymmetry, weak and painful branches are removed. For pruning, it is recommended to use a secateurs, because after the scissors there are damaged places that quickly turn yellow.

During active growth (April to September) the culture is fertilized monthly with complex preparations intended for flowers. Enough 5 kg per 1 square. m of mineral fertilizers for one medium-sized shrub.

Important! You need to know that due to the excess amount of nitrogen fertilizers applied especially at the end of autumn, the ability of the shrub to withstand cold and frost is significantly reduced, to the point that it may die.

During care, it is important to adhere to moderate watering. In the summer, it is enough to water the laurel cherry once every seven days. In winter, when the plant is dormant, reduce watering to once every two weeks. Without fail, additional moistening is carried out during severe drought or landing in open ground.

Do not allow stagnant water in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe root system of the tree, as this can provoke rotting of the roots and, as a result, the death of the plant. When growing a crop in container containers or greenhouses, soil is used, which consists of equal parts of peat and fertile land.

Diseases and pests

Since the leaves and bark of the crop are poisonous, it is practically not exposed to diseases and the harmful effects of pests. The most dangerous for cherry laurel is powdery mildew, which appears as white spots on the leaves. The most effective method of combating dew is considered to be the treatment of damaged areas with special fungicides or sulfur-based products. The reason for the appearance of powdery spots is an excess of moisture in the soil, so watering the plant should be adjusted.

Beneficial features

Laurel cherry, especially among the peoples of the Caucasus, has long been known for its healing properties. The leaves of the plant are rich in essential oils, tannins, fats, flavonoids, which have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and calming effect. They are used:

• for the treatment of many diseases of the nervous system, with agitation, depression, irritability;
• as an additional remedy for some forms of tuberculosis;
• for the treatment of cough and respiratory diseases;
• in diseases of the cardiovascular system, in particular, arrhythmias, aneurysms;
• as an additional drug in the treatment of cervical cancer, ovarian tumors;
• in the treatment of hemorrhoids, inflammation of the eye membrane.

The benefits of the plant are undeniable, and traditional medicine offers several simple recipes that will improve health and cure some ailments:

• To improve the functioning of the digestive tract and with insomnia. Fruit seeds are crushed, mixed in a ratio of 1: 1 with sugar. The remedy is taken after a meal, 1 tsp. 3 times a day.
• With pain in the stomach and intestines. 2 tbsp. l. crushed dry leaves pour 250 ml of warm water, insist 15-20 minutes, filter. Take a decoction strictly for 2 tbsp. l. with pain.
• For headaches. Cherry pits are crushed and consumed in 1 tsp, washed down with raw milk.

Important! It is very important not to self-medicate with this plant, since it contains potent, toxic components that can cause allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and blood pressure surges. Before using preparations based on laurel cherry, you should always consult with your doctor.

Cherry laurel is an interesting, beautiful and useful shrub that can become not only a decorative decoration for your garden, but also a valuable "friend" for the treatment of many diseases. The culture is successfully used in modern medicine in the production of medicines, tinctures, extracts. But we must remember that the plant is poisonous, it is strictly forbidden to use it without the consent of the doctor.

I grow laurel cherries for beauty, but I recently learned that they have medicinal properties. Shrub care is simple: you need to bring water in time, remove weeds, and loosen the soil. Cherry laurel positively perceives organic matter and preparations for flowering crops (I advise you to apply them in accordance with the instructions).

In this article, I talk about the planting and beneficial properties of the plant. Some parts of laurel cherries are poisonous, and therefore unsuitable for food. I present to your attention a photo of an ornamental shrub.

Cherry laurel is a small evergreen shrub. Its fruits are used in folk medicine, as they contain vitamins, trace elements, tannins, medicinal oils. Cherry laurel belongs to the Rozanov family.

The plant was first discovered in the Caucasus, today it can be found in Europe and Asia. Cherry laurel is thermophilic, takes root in a temperate climate.

A shrub growing in natural conditions reaches a height of 9.5 m! Its roots are massive, the branches are smooth, the leaves are dark green.

Laurel cherry blossoms when it reaches the age of four: it forms original candle-like flowers. Each of them has a calyx, corolla, stamen and petals. The flowering shrub is beautiful, it emits a very delicate aroma.

The fruit is presented in the form of a small fleshy drupe, which can be white, red, pink. The taste of the berry is sweet and sour. It should be remembered that the seeds and bark of the plant are poisonous! With proper care, laurel cherry gives a rich harvest. From one shrub, the gardener receives 90 - 100 kg of fruit.

Cherry laurel is a very popular crop. Its fruits are used not only in traditional medicine, but also in winemaking. To make the plant always look attractive, it is corrected.

Medicinal laurel cherry is a shrub up to 3 m high. It is resistant to cold, grows well in the shade and bears fruit abundantly. At first glance, it may seem that cherry laurel is not capricious, however, it makes high demands on the soil.

The shrub prefers loam with a small amount of lime. In general, laurel cherry has a number of advantages. Gardeners appreciate it for its decorative effect and resistance to cold.

How to propagate a shrub

Let's talk about seed propagation. Cherry laurel seeds should be used immediately after harvest, as they are unsuitable for storage. Choose a spacious container, fill it with soil mixture, place the seeds to a depth of 1 cm and sprinkle.

Planting material must be kept in the refrigerator under the film. After 2.5 months, you will need to remove the container.

Germination of seeds is carried out at a temperature of + 26 degrees. In the spring, transplant the seedlings to a permanent bed. If you do not initially store the crops in the refrigerator, the seedlings will grow large, they will form large roots.

Laurel cherry seedlings, which have a small root system, take root better in the garden.

My friend propagates laurel cherry cuttings. In the twentieth of June, he cuts the shoots without woody crust and divides them into shoots of 10 cm in size. Shoots that do not have leaves are ideal for planting, so I advise you to remove them. Planting material takes root in a soil mixture of peat, humus and pure sand, taken in equal proportions.

The cutting should be deepened by 2.5 - 4 cm, expanded clay should be laid on the bottom of the pots (or a common container), which will be drainage. Cuttings must be kept in greenhouse conditions. Remember that they should not suffer from exposure to the scorching sun. In hot weather, planting material should be watered 1 - 2 times a day.

After the cuttings form a root system, you will need to plant them in separate containers. Careful picking should be carried out, it is important not to injure the roots! Cuttings allow you to save the varietal qualities of the shrub.

Content at home

Miniature plants should still be at home. They favorably develop at a temperature of + 24 degrees. In summer, you can periodically take them out to the garden or balcony. Plants should be protected from direct sunlight, as they can burn the leaf plate.

Cherry laurel prefers loose fertile soil, it is not recommended to choose acidic.

If you wish, prepare the substrate yourself: mix leaf soil and mullein in equal proportions, add the same amount of humus. Be sure to lay drainage at the bottom of the pot!

Laurel cherry requires regular, but moderate watering. I advise you to add water as the substrate dries. Waterlogging is dangerous for any ornamental crops, as it leads to root rot. Excess moisture predisposes to powdery mildew disease.

In winter, the plant should be watered once every 12 days. From mid-spring to early autumn, you need to feed the bush. I fertilize 1 time in 30 days, I use mineral preparations and organics. One square meter requires 6 kg.

Landing on the garden, further care

The plant is planted in open ground in early March, a suitable bed is first selected. The size of the trench for cherry laurel should be 80 cm. Planting should be done so that the root collar is above the soil surface, then tamp the ground and add water.

As I said, the shrub prefers lit areas, but can also grow among trees. I advise you to adjust the laurel cherry in early February. Some gardeners plant perennials to create hedges.

In this case, it is necessary to correct it once every 6 months: in early April and late August. If you see weakened or dried branches, immediately remove them!

In early April, the shrub begins to grow actively. From the 15th of this month until the beginning of September, I advise you to apply fertilizers intended for flowering ornamental crops: 4 kg of mineral preparations is designed for 1 sq. m.

The plant should not receive nitrogen in large quantities, otherwise cold resistance will decrease. The abuse of nitrogenous drugs is dangerous, as it can lead to the death of the entire shrub.

Laurel cherry requires moderate watering. In summer, water should be added once a week, in winter - once every 15 days. Stagnation of water near the roots is unacceptable! Let me remind you that the bark and bones contain poison, for this reason the plant is rarely attacked by pests.

Sometimes bay cherry suffers from powdery mildew. The disease is manifested by whitish spots on the leaf plates. If you find signs of powdery mildew, apply fungicides to the damaged areas. Alternatively, preparations with sulfur can be used.

Powdery mildew develops in conditions of high humidity. To avoid disease, it is necessary to moderately water the shrub. Rarely laurel cherry is affected:

• mealybug;
• scab;

Insecticides are used in pest control.

Read more about the benefits of laurel cherry

The leaves of the plant are actively used in folk medicine. They contain valuable oils, flavonoids, acids, tannins. Leaves of laurel cherry have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, they are used to treat diseases of the central nervous system.

Decoctions based on medicinal raw materials contribute to sputum discharge in pathologies of the respiratory tract. They also normalize the functions of the cardiovascular system, have an antitumor effect.

To improve the functions of the gastrointestinal tract and overcome insomnia, it is necessary to prepare a medicine with fruits. Crush a handful of pitted berries with sugar, take the mixture 10 g 2 times a day.

For pathologies of the stomach and intestines, decoctions are prepared from dried leaves: 30 g of raw materials are poured with boiling water in an amount of 270 ml. The drug is ready in 15 minutes. It is filtered before taking.

Any means based on laurel cherry should be taken with the permission of a doctor! Self-medication is strictly contraindicated. The fact is that all parts of the plant contain potent components. Uncontrolled therapy can lead to allergies, diarrhea, vomiting, headache and increased blood pressure.

Sin .: laurel cherry, medicinal laurel cherry, laurel cherry.

Common laurel cherry is a low evergreen poisonous tree 8-10 m high with rough bark, dark green leathery leaves, small white flowers and black drupe fruits. Common laurel leaves are a valuable raw material for obtaining "laurel cherry water" and are widely used in official and informal medicine in many countries.

The plant is poisonous!

Ask the experts

flower formula

Common laurel flower formula: Ch5L5T∞P1.

In medicine

The leaves of laurel cherry officinalis (ordinary) are of medical importance. They were included in the USSR Pharmacopoeia (VIII and IX editions) as a raw material for obtaining "laurel cherry water" - a universal sedative, analgesic, antispasmodic and immunostimulating agent. Cherry laurel water is obtained by distilling the leaves of the plant with water. Due to the essential oils, glycosides, tannins and phenolic acids contained in its chemical composition, laurel cherry water is used for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, some pulmonary diseases and heart diseases. Phytoncides contained in the leaves of the plant exhibit antiviral and protistocidal activity.

To date, the leaves of common laurel are found in the Pharmacopoeias of some countries in South America, Europe, Great Britain, and Turkey.

In addition, laurel leaves are used in the pharmaceutical industry in different countries to improve the smell and taste of medicines.

Also, by distilling the leaves of common laurel cherry with water, laurel cherry oil is also obtained, which is a volatile, colorless or yellowish (less often reddish) substance, with a taste and smell of bitter almonds. It is used for various lung and heart diseases, nervous disorders and coughs along with cherry laurel water.

Currently, preparations (tinctures, extracts) from fresh leaves of common laurel are used in homeopathy for pulmonary tuberculosis, epilepsy and whooping cough, as well as in folk medicine for certain heart diseases.

In the modern radar station of the Russian Federation, the leaves of laurel cherry officinalis are included in the category of raw materials for the production of dietary supplements.

Contraindications and side effects

Since hydrocyanic acid is the strongest poison, an overdose of which can lead to instant death, extreme caution should be exercised when prescribing and taking drugs (tinctures, infusions, extracts) of laurel cherry.

Reception of infusions, tinctures and extracts from laurel cherry is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, in case of individual intolerance to the components, in childhood, in the presence of a history of chronic diseases.

Signs of an overdose are hoarseness, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, a feeling of heaviness in the upper respiratory tract.

In cooking

The edible "berries" of cherry laurel are used to make jams and fizzy tonic drinks. Leaves and fruits-drupes of common laurel are used in alcoholic beverage production.

Due to the presence of a large amount of essential oil in the leaves, they are used as a surrogate for bay leaves and as a flavoring of dairy products, giving the smell of bitter almonds.

In other areas

Laurel cherry is used in a wide variety of areas. The plant has decorative qualities, often used to form hedges and strengthen slopes. It tolerates a haircut perfectly, has decorative forms, the most beautiful of which are pyramidal and variegated.

Laurel cherry is a honey plant, however, the resulting honey has poisonous properties and is unsuitable for food. Fishermen add fragrant laurel-cherry drops to the water, feeding the fish. The beautiful wood of large laurel-cherry trees is exceptionally strong and very heavy, its properties are close to boxwood wood, it is well polished.

Tannins from the leaves and bark were previously used in the leather industry. Sometimes the leaves of common laurel serve as the basis for the manufacture of herbicides, raticides, acaricides and insecticides.

Hydrocyanic acid, which is part of laurel cherry, is widely used in the chemical and military industries, but laurel cherry is not its main source.

Classification

Common laurel cherry (lat. Prunus laurocerasus, Laurocerasus officinalis) is a species of the genus Plum (lat. Prunus), subgenus Cherry (lat. Prunus subg. Cerasus) of the Rosaceae family. The genus Laurel cherry combines 25 species of evergreen trees (often growing in the form of a bush), common in East Asia, the Mediterranean, Central and South America.

Botanical description

Common laurel cherry is an evergreen plant whose leaves look like laurel leaves, and the fruits look like cherries, which is reflected in the name. This tree is 8-10 meters high, with a dense, compact, variable crown. All parts of the plant, with the exception of the pulp of the fruit, are poisonous.

The root system is strong, with deep main roots. Young shoots are light green, glabrous or short-pubescent, old shoots are covered with rough dark gray bark.

The leaf arrangement is alternate, leaf blades 8-25 cm long are placed on short petioles, have an elongated oval shape with a pointed end, dark green, leathery, shiny.

Inflorescence - apical or axillary raceme 5-13 cm long, small (about 0.8 cm in diameter) white flowers on short pedicels densely arranged, have a strong aroma.

The fruit is a round-ovoid juicy drupe, approximately 0.8 cm long, black in color with a smooth ovoid stone. It has a rather pungent taste and aroma. Common laurel blossoms in April-May, the fruits ripen in August.

Spreading

The homeland of common laurel cherry is the Caucasus, Iran, Asia Minor, the Balkan Peninsula. Currently, cherry laurel is common in regions of Eurasia and America with a mild or temperate climate, in particular, in the Southeastern Mediterranean (to Turkey), the Balkans, Asia Minor, and Iran. On the territory of the Russian Federation, cherry laurel can be found in the Caucasus (Ciscaucasia, Western and Eastern Transcaucasia).
Common laurel grows in the undergrowth of mountain broad-leaved coniferous forests, on the edges, at an altitude of up to 2400 m above sea level. Sometimes laurel cherry forms absolutely impenetrable thickets - it is so densely able to grow.
The plant prefers mainly sufficiently moist, fresh, humus-rich soils on lime-containing rocks.

Laurel cherry is quite shade-tolerant. It tolerates urban conditions well, withstands short-term temperature drops to -15 ° C. In the south, it is cultivated as a fruit and ornamental plant.

Distribution regions on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

In medicine, leaves and fruits of common laurel are used, but their harvesting for the purpose of subsequent storage does not make sense, because the main biologically active substance, hydrocyanic acid, is a very unstable compound.

For the preparation of tincture, only fresh leaves and fruits are used. When collecting, personal safety measures should be observed and remember that the plant is poisonous.

Sometimes the leaves of laurel cherry are dried and ground into powder, but the biological activity of the plant components is noticeably reduced.

Chemical composition

Common laurel leaves contain 0.5% essential oil, it contains benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives; triterpenoids - 2.7% (ursolic acid - 1%); nitrogen-containing compounds (hydrocyanic acid - 0.4-5%, prunazine, amygdalin, prulaurazine), vitamin C, steroids (beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol); phenolcarboxylic acids (in the hydrolyzate: caffeic, p-coumaric); tannins; catechins (dimer and trimer of catechins and epicatechins, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin); flavonoids (3-beta-O-galactopyranosyl-b-beta-O-glucofuranoside kaempferol; 3-beta-O-galactopyranosyl-b-beta-O-xylofuranoside kaempferol, in hydrolyzate quercetin, cyanidin); proanthocyanidins; fats, wax

Nitrogen-containing compounds were found in the bark of common laurel cherry: hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives, tannins (10.15-15%).

In the wood of the plant, gum was found, in its composition in the hydrolyzate carbohydrates: galactose, arabinose, xylose, rhamnose. Hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives were found in the kidneys.

Carbohydrates and related compounds (mannitol, sorbitol), anthocyanins (3-arabinofuranoside cyanidin, 3-arabinopyranoside cyanidin, 3-arabinofuranoside peonidin, 3-arabinopyranoside peonidin) were found in drupe fruits.

Seeds of laurel cherry contain sucrose, essential oil (1%, it contains benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzaldehyde cyanohydrin), hydrocyanic acid, amygdalin, fatty oil, it contains acids: oleic, linoleic.

Pharmacological properties

Cherry laurel water is prescribed for diseases of the respiratory tract, accompanied by coughing: hydrocyanic acid dulls the excitability of the mucous membrane of the larynx, reduces irritation, reduces the reflex excitability of the respiratory center and reduces coughing attacks.

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by pain and increased motility, hydrocyanic acid also reduces the sensitivity of pain receptors of the mucous membrane, weakens peristalsis.

With an overdose of hydrocyanic acid, severe poisoning occurs: tissues lose their ability to absorb oxygen, paralysis of the respiratory center and vasomotor nerves develops.

Phytoncides, which are part of laurel cherry, have a wide spectrum of activity, mainly antimicrobial.

Application in traditional medicine

Cherry laurel is widely used in folk medicine for inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract, accompanied by coughing, all kinds of internal bleeding, diseases of the cardiovascular system, diseases of the skin and mucous membranes (scrofula), chronic nervous diseases, spasms of internal organs, oncological diseases, and also as an anthelmintic.

The most commonly used is laurel cherry water, prepared from the fresh leaves of the plant. Essential oil is used very rarely and with great care.

Cherry laurel water is applied externally in the form of lotions and ointments (sometimes in combination with other components), inside - orally and inhalation.

Historical reference

The name laurel cherry comes from the Latin words "laurus" ("laurel") and "cerasus" ("cherry"). It is believed that it was invented by the botanist Peter Belon, who found the plant in the vicinity of Trebizond.

In 1546, the ambassador of the German Emperor David Ungnad brought laurel cherry to Europe from Constantinople. In 1629, cherry laurel was introduced into cultivation.

“And it smelled to overflowing with laurel cherries ... Where are you going? There are no laurels, no cherries...” (Osip Mandelstam). The plant is repeatedly mentioned in the works of Russian poets and prose writers - by Herzen ("Doctor Krupov"), Dostoevsky ("Demons"), Chekhov ("Helpless Creature", "Ward No. 6", "Temperaments"), Kaverin ("Two Captains").

In the past, poisonous hydrocyanic acid, which is part of laurel cherry, was relatively available, and therefore there have been numerous cases of murders and suicides with its help (for example, Romeo from Shakespeare's tragedy).

Laurel cherry was most actively used in the 17th-19th centuries; apparently, at that time it successfully replaced corvalol. The widespread use of laurel cherry drops was eventually abandoned due to the possibility of an overdose.

Literature

1. Lavrenov V.K., Lavrenova G.V., Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants of Traditional Medicine, St. Petersburg, ID Neva, 2003
2. Cherry laurel, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron in 86 volumes, St. Petersburg, 1890-1907

Laurel cherry officinalis - Laurocerasus officinalis M.Roem. - a small evergreen tree from the Rosaceae family, 4-6 (up to 8) m high. Often it has the form of a large shrub 1-3 m tall. The bark of the trunks is dark gray, rough, almost black in some trees. The leaves are alternate, oblong-elliptical, large, 5 to 20 cm long and 4-6 cm wide, dark green, thick, leathery, shiny above, matte below, serrate or whole-cut along the edge of the plate, margins slightly curved down, with a prominent midrib, especially below, with short petioles. The flowers are fragrant, small, about 8 mm in diameter, equipped with short pedicels, collected in dense inflorescences-brushes 5 to 13 cm long, located in the axils of the leaves. Calyx in the form of 5 triangular teeth, fused with goblet receptacle. Corolla of 5 white petals about 3 mm long. There are many stamens in each flower, about 20. A pistil with an upper 1-celled ovary, a long style and a capitate stigma. The fruit is an ovoid black drupe about 8 mm long, with juicy pulp. The pulp of the fruits of different trees of unequal taste - from sweet, even cloying to bitter and very bitter. Stone (seed) ovoid, keeled, smooth. Cherry laurel blooms in April - May, the fruits ripen in July - August.

Distribution of laurel.

Laurel cherry is distributed wild in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Iran, the Caucasus, in Talysh. In Russia, in the wild, this plant is found only in the Black Sea regions of the Krasnodar Territory. In the mountains of the Caucasus, cherry laurel rises to the upper border of the forest, which lies at an altitude of 2300-2400 m above sea level. The natural habitats of cherry laurel are dense shady forests of beech, hornbeam, fir, spruce, boxwood, yew. She form them undergrowth. Due to its good shade tolerance, cherry laurel feels quite comfortable in such forests in which, due to the dusk caused by a closed tree layer, other trees and shrubs cannot live. However, this plant does not suffer from an excess of sunlight either - in the cutting areas, laurel cherry grows rapidly and forms dense, impenetrable thickets, which make it difficult to renew the reduced tree species.

Laurel cherry has long been bred as an excellent ornamental tree. Forms with large sweet fruits are selected in the culture. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, it is sometimes difficult to understand the origin of the plants: wild, planted by someone, or run wild. Cherry laurel withstands frosts down to minus 17-20 °C. It is very demanding on the humidity of the environment - its natural thickets are known only in places where the annual rainfall is at least 600 mm. Prefers areas with fertile brown soils underlain by limestone.

Economic use

Cherry laurel is an ornamental plant bred for the sake of beautiful large leaves and picturesque fruits. It easily tolerates a haircut, suitable for creating hedges and borders. Fruits from laurel cherry trees, which have the sweet pulp of drupes, are edible, but few people eat them fresh, as the taste is not very familiar. More often, wine and soft drinks are made from fruits. Cherry laurel leaves are a surrogate for such a popular spice as bay leaf. They contain fragrant essential oil and smell like bitter almonds when broken. Leaves flavor milk. The leaves contain 5-10%, and the bark 10-11% of tannins, which may be of interest for leather production. Cherry laurel flowers produce a lot of nectar, so they are visited by bees. However, honey from cherry laurel nectar should not be eaten, as it is unsafe for humans (causes poisoning). This is due to the fact that many organs and tissues of laurel cherry (especially in the bark and kidneys) contain such a toxic substance as hydrocyanic acid, however, in small quantities. It is believed that it also enters the nectar. Medicinal value of laurel cherry and methods of therapeutic use.

Cherry laurel leaves have medicinal uses. They contain glycosides, essential oil, tannins, wax.

The so-called cherry laurel water is prepared from the leaves by distillation with water, which is used as an analgesic and sedative for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The active substance is amygdalin glycoside: it decomposes in the intestine with the release of hydrocyanic acid, which has anesthetic properties.

Sometimes laurel cherry water (laurel cherry drops) is prescribed for some heart (as an anesthetic) and pulmonary diseases accompanied by cough. This drug is prescribed relatively rarely. It is not recommended to cook it at home. Leaves and laurel water are used to flavor bad-smelling medicines.

In homeopathy, the essence of fresh leaves is used. To avoid cases of self-poisoning, these medicines should be used only as directed by a doctor. According to Duze, cherry laurel is ruled by Mercury.

Use

• The fruits of laurel cherry are edible, especially in large-fruited forms, but because of the cloying taste they are rarely eaten fresh, but more often they are used to make wine and soft drinks.
• Cherry laurel extract is also used in official medicine under the name cherry laurel drops. They are prescribed as an analgesic and sedative.
• a mixture of equal parts by weight of leaves of cherry laurel, laurel, eucalyptus, myrtle is tightly sewn into a fabric and used as a sleeping pill for 2-3 hours. With severe headaches, it is necessary to lie on such a pillow for 3-5 hours.
• in case of indigestion, especially with painful cramps, cherry laurel leaves are used.
• to eliminate headaches, insomnia, numbness of the hands, you need to take 1 teaspoon of powder from the kernels of laurel fruits, washing it down with milk.
• With an aqueous emulsion of crushed kernels of laurel fruits, they lubricate the head with baldness, as well as areas of the skin affected by boils.
• infusion of fresh leaves of laurel cherry is used for heart and nervous disorders.

Application methods

• Mash the kernels of laurel cherry fruits with a spoon, and then grind with granulated sugar. Use 1 teaspoon 3 times a day after meals for gastrointestinal disorders, sleep disorders.
• 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed leaves of laurel cherry brew 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 15 minutes, strain. Take 2-3 tbsp. spoons for spastic pains in the stomach and intestines.
• Powdered kernels of fruits of laurel cherry apply 1 teaspoon with fresh milk, with pain in the head and insomnia.

The leaves contain up to 10 percent of tannins, which exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect, and, importantly, tannins, that is, fixatives. Among the Caucasian peoples, in case of indigestion, especially with painful cramps, laurel leaves are used. In the bark of the plant, there are even more tannins (up to 15%). The healing properties of laurel cherry are largely determined by the presence of amygdalin glycoside in it, in this respect it is similar to almonds. The world-recognized way to eliminate headaches, insomnia, numbness of the hands are powdered almond seeds. The same can be done with cherry laurel seeds. Powder in this case, you need to take 1 teaspoon with milk. An aqueous emulsion of crushed kernels of fruits of laurel cherry in the Caucasus is used to lubricate the head with baldness, as well as areas of the skin affected by boils. There is evidence that the water of laurel cherry, however, like almond water, is used for heart and nervous disorders.