Bear nut is also called tree hazel. He is very strong, like a bear. This is probably why it was given such a name. Hazelnut, which is a relative, is similar in its properties.

Appearance

In many ways, bear nut is valued for its excellent decorative properties. In addition, this is the only plant of the hazel genus that has a life form in the form of a tree. The height can reach 20 meters, however, in the Russian climate, trees taller than 8 meters are rarely found. This nut lives for about 200 years.

The trunk is smooth, covered with light-colored bark. The leaves are broadly ovate, large, the petiole can be up to 5 cm long. The fruits are small, covered with a thick shell. There is a nut hidden inside, but getting to it is not so easy. So it’s better not to try to crack the shell with your teeth.

Interestingly, although the fruits are larger than those of a hazelnut, the edible part, that is, the seed, is still smaller. Plus, it is covered with a thick husk. Their main advantage is a more pleasant taste compared to hazelnuts.

Where does it grow

Bear nut grows mainly in the Caucasus, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Iran, and recently it began to be actively grown in Ukraine and in the countries of the Mediterranean Sea. Gardeners value them, first of all, for their delicious fruits. Although decorativeness becomes a pleasant addition when grown at home.

Chemical composition

In fact, in terms of the level of useful substances, bear nut is not inferior to other types of hazel and hazelnut. It is worth noting the following advantages of the fruit:

• Fat content - 70%;
• Proteins - 14-18%;
• Carbohydrates - 3-8%;
• Vitamins E;
• Vitamins B1;
• Vitamin C (in leaves).

Advantages

• The fruits are not damaged by harmful insects;
• The tree bears fruit every year;
• Serves as an excellent supply for growing large hazelnuts;
• Has excellent decorative properties;
• The tree is strong, reliable, and not afraid of the vagaries of nature;
• Despite the climate, it produces a harvest every year (but the amount of harvest may vary, of course).

As for its name, the bear nut received it because of its reliability, resistance to weather changes, and strength. Like a bear.

Despite the difference in names, this nut is similar in its medicinal and beneficial properties to hazelnuts, hazel and other “relatives”. But you can use it in cooking in a slightly different way.

Application

In cooking

First of all, this nut is incredibly tasty just raw. But in order to eat it, you will have to “tinker”, getting rid of the husk. Therefore, it is better to put the nuts in the oven or fry them in a frying pan. This will allow you to easily remove the dense husk and enjoy the full taste of the bear nut.

Many believe that it has a richer and more aromatic taste than wild hazel, as well as a softer structure. That is why it is used in the preparation of the following dishes.

Kovurma

To prepare it, you need to take the following ingredients:

• Lamb with ribs - 1.5 kg;
• Fresh carrots - 0.75 kg;
• Potatoes - 1.5 kg;
• Sweet pepper (preferably red) - 3 pieces;
• Onions - 3 pieces;
• Oil (vegetable, maybe olive) - 3-4 tablespoons;
• Dill - optional and to taste;
• Seasonings (black pepper, cumin, bay leaf, salt, etc.);
• Bear nut - 0.2 kg.

Preparation: Cut the lamb into large pieces. Pour a little into the cauldron to lubricate it. Heat the cumin for 30 seconds in a cauldron, then throw the meat into it. Fry it for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Now pour boiled water (3 liters) over the meat and cook. Cooking time largely depends on the meat itself, so monitor the degree of its readiness. After this, you can add potatoes, carrots, sweet peppers and bear nuts. Boil the dish for about 30 minutes (less if the meat is young).

Literally a few minutes before readiness, add salt, pepper and other seasonings and spices. Kovurma should sit for about 20 minutes. Be sure to remove the laurel from the dish so that it does not spoil the taste in the future. You can add fresh chopped dill to the plate if you wish.

Another great dish that calls for bear nuts. Rabbit and bear usually get along well in fairy tales and jokes. Therefore, it is not surprising that bear nut and rabbit meat are so perfectly combined in one dish.

You will need the following set of products:

• Bear nut - 30 pcs.;
• Eggs - 1 pc.;
• Rabbit or rabbit fillet - 1 kg;
• Chicken liver - 0.5 kg;
• Onions - 2 pcs.;
• Lard - 0.1 kg;
• Greens (at your discretion) - 1 bunch;
• Salt, pepper - to taste;
• Nutmeg - 1 pinch;
• Starch - 1 tbsp. spoon.

Preparation: First, chop the liver and fry it. Process the fried liver with a blender or grind it through a meat grinder. Rabbit meat should be cut into small cubes, add salt. Also finely chop the onion and simmer it together with the rabbit. Chop the greens.

Cut the bacon into strips so that they are thin enough. Roll in starch. Place about half of the bacon in a baking dish. Mix together the egg, herbs, chopped onion, add the bear nut (it must first be split into large elements). Don't forget to season everything with pepper and salt.

In the mold you need to put the minced meat (half) on top of the lard, then put the meat, then the second half of the minced meat and again the lard. Bake in the oven using a water bath. The mold should be almost completely submerged in water. Preparation takes about an hour and a half. The oven temperature should be approximately 170 degrees.

Growing

Care

Bear nuts are cared for by constantly loosening the soil to a shallow depth. Also don't forget to mulch. If the weather is dry, you can water the tree occasionally. Apply mineral fertilizers every year, and organic fertilizers only once every 2 or 3 years.

Growing bear nuts yourself is not particularly difficult.

The easiest way, of course, is to purchase ready-made seedlings. But you need to make sure that they are of high quality and will give the desired result. Therefore, purchase from trusted places.

As a result, you will receive not only nuts that you, your children and grandchildren can enjoy, but also a very beautiful tree that can decorate any area of ​​your dacha or private home.

Hello, dear editors. In 1982, they sent me a parcel from Vinnitsa. It contained two bear nut seedlings, the size of a match. I thought that this plant looked like a hazelnut-type shrub and planted it in one hole so that it would grow side by side. And now 23 years have passed, and huge trees have grown, 10 meters high. The crown has covered the barn, in the summer there is a bed, a table, a sofa and four armchairs under it. In 2005-2006 it bore fruit, but the nuts were empty - there was no kernel. My wife says, cut it down, but I seem to be waiting for something, and I feel sorry for such beauties. I found nothing about such a nut in the literature. Maybe you can help and tell us what kind of plant this is.

Sincerely, Belkov N.I.,
Rostov region,
With. Al. Lozovka.

Bear nut, although considered “wild hazel,” is a very rare plant. It is even listed in the Red Book. Grows well in both light and shade. Fruits - irregularly once every 2-4 years. And although the nuts are tasty, the kernels are small and the shell is thick. The nuts ripen in October.

And the tree should have started bearing fruit at the age of 6-8 (for seed propagation) and at 3-4 for vegetative propagation. It can withstand frosts down to -30 °C, so the female buds could well survive, while the earrings froze and pollination did not occur. Because of this, the nuts are empty (the shell is an overgrown pericarp and is formed even without pollination, which cannot be said about the kernels).

The tree is both moisture-loving and drought-resistant - that is, if you watered it well, then it could well grow to enormous sizes, delaying fruiting. So water less often and, perhaps, in a year you will collect a good harvest of nuts. And they are valued much more than hazelnuts or hazelnuts. In this respect, the difference between them is approximately the same as between garden and wild strawberries. Moreover, no cottage has such exoticism.

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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Who among us does not love to eat delicious hazelnuts collected from a tree called hazel. And while many people are more or less aware of the beneficial properties of hazelnuts, we know quite little about the medicinal properties of the bark, leaves and other parts of this plant. Well, it’s time to fill this gap, and this article will help with this.

Description of the hazel plant (hazel)

Hazel (popularly called hazel) belongs to the Birch family. This tree-shrub is rightfully considered a long-liver, since its “life” is about 80 years.

The plant received its name for the shape of the foliage (hazel leaves are quite large and broadly oval), reminiscent of bream fish in appearance, while the upper surface of the leaves is dark green in color, and the lower surface is light green.

What does it look like?

Hazel can reach a height of 3–7 m. The slightly pubescent leaves of the plant have a heart-shaped base and a pointed apex.

Hazel branches are covered with brown bark with white lentils. Young shoots are distinguished by their gray color and the presence of an edge.

The flowers of the plant are unisexual: for example, male flowers have the shape of earrings located on short branches, while female flowers are more like buds.

The fruit of the hazel tree is a brownish-yellow edible nut, enclosed in a leaf wrapper - a plus, resembling a bell in appearance.

Where does it grow?

Hazel is widespread in the European part of Russia, the Baltic states, Ukraine and Belarus, the Caucasus and the Far East.

This plant prefers fresh, moist and fertile soils of broad-leaved and mixed forests. In addition, you can find hazel on forest edges, along ravines and among bushes, where the plant can form quite dense thickets.

Hazel and hazelnut

Hazelnuts and hazelnuts are often considered to be the same crops, but this is not entirely true, despite the fact that these plants belong to the same genus and family and have similar appearance, composition and properties.

Hazelnut (or hazelnut) is a cultivated type of hazel. These are high-yielding, and most importantly, selected forms of hazel, and initially the fruits of large hazel (Corylus maxima L) were called hazelnuts, while today, using a selective method, hazelnuts are obtained from common hazel, common in Russia.

How is hazel different from hazelnut?

The main difference between hazelnuts and hazelnuts is that the fruits of the former are three to four times larger.

In addition, in terms of taste and nutritional characteristics, hazelnuts are superior to hazel because they contain more fat, protein, and other beneficial substances.

Hazel and hazelnut: how to choose - video

Hazel varieties

The genus of hazel includes about 20 species, but at our latitudes, it is predominantly common hazel that grows wild. To be fair, we note that there are also other separate populations, among which the most common are large, tree-like, variegated and Manchurian hazel.

Large hazel (purpurea)

Hazel purpurea (or Lombard nut) is a large shrub whose height can reach 10 meters. Large hazel has gray branches and round or broadly oval jagged leaves of green or dark red color.

The fruits of large hazel (namely hazelnuts) are crowded together in 3–6 pieces on a stalk, the length of which is 2–3 cm. The fruit wrapper, which tightly fits the kernel in the lower part, is distinguished by its fleshiness. The length of the hazelnut itself reaches 2 – 2.5 cm with a diameter of 1.5 cm.

The fruits of hazel purpurea are distinguished by high taste and nutritional qualities, as they contain about 60 percent fat and 15 percent proteins (large hazel nuts taste like almonds).

In the wild, this plant is found in Asia Minor, Turkey, Italy, and also in the Balkans.

Tree hazel (bear nut)

This is the tallest variety of hazel, reaching a height of 25–30 m. This tree, despite its width (from 6 to 8 m), has a slender trunk, which is crowned by a wide pyramidal crown of regular shape. In autumn, bear nut leaves turn golden yellow or green-yellow.

The bark of the tree has a whitish-gray tint and comes off in plates.

The fruits of this plant have an involucre cut into thin but sharp jagged lobes. The nut shell is quite thick.

There are bear nut trees whose age exceeds 200 years.

It grows wild in Transcaucasia, Asia Minor and the Balkans.

Variegated hazel

This is a shrub whose height reaches 2–3 m, with a large number of strong shoots extending upward from the base of the bush.

Variegated hazel has a very dense and widely spreading crown.

The brown bark of the plant is dotted with densely pubescent young shoots.

The leaves of this type of hazel are distinguished by a reddish color during blooming, in the summer they acquire a dark green hue, and in the fall they become golden-orange or golden-yellow. There are three teeth at the top of the leaf.

The rounded fruits of variegated hazel are flattened on top and are no more than two centimeters in diameter. Nuts are distinguished by high taste, although they are inferior to common hazel in the amount of oils and other nutrients they contain.

Variegated hazel not only tolerates drought well, but is also highly frost-resistant.

This plant can be found in Eastern Siberia, the Far East and East Asia.

Manchurian hazel

It is a shrub about 3–4.5 m high, most often forming several branching trunks.

Manchurian hazel has fissured dark gray bark.

Young shoots of the plant are softly pubescent and glandular.

The main distinctive morphological feature of this type of hazel is the presence of oblong leaves.

The fruit of Manchurian hazel is an oblong nut, covered in a thin shell. Small-sized nuts collected from this type of hazel are edible, but due to the prickly, thorn-like wrapper, collecting and removing them from the shell is difficult.

Manchurian hazel is a frost-resistant and shade-tolerant plant, which in nature is widespread in the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories, in China (namely in Manchuria) and Korea.

Common hazel

This is a vertical multi-stemmed shrub, the height and width of the crown are 4 and 6 m, respectively.

The brownish-gray bark of the shrub has striped transverse excisions. The brownish-gray shoots of common hazel are pubescent.

The length of the leaves is 6–12 cm, and the width is 5–9 cm, while the apex of the leaves is pointed.

Fruits can be located singly, or they can be clustered in groups of 2–5 pieces. The light green bell-shaped wrapper of the fruit has a velvety structure and consists of two irregularly dissected leaves.

The nut itself can have a spherical or slightly elongated shape, reaching a length of 18 mm (the diameter of the nut varies between 13 - 15 mm).

In the wild, this type of hazel is found throughout the European part of Russia, in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Western Europe.

As mentioned above, it is common hazel that is most common in Russia, and, therefore, is used in official and folk medicine. It is this type of hazel that will be discussed later in this article.

Collection and preparation of hazel

Where to collect?

It is recommended to collect hazel in those steppe and forest-steppe zones that are far from roads and industrial production, that is, in ecologically clean areas. Such raw materials will be as beneficial as possible for the body (this is especially true in cases where it is planned to use not only nuts, but also other parts of the plant as medicinal raw materials).

When does hazel ripen?

Hazel blooms in March - April (until the leaves bloom), while the fruits ripen from late summer to early autumn, that is, from August to September.

Signs of nut ripeness:
1. Yellowing and browning of the shell.
2. The beginning of shedding of nuts.

When to collect hazel?

Harvesting of young hazel leaves is carried out in May.

The bark is harvested in early spring and early summer during sap flow, for which branches that are to be removed are used.

The fruits are collected from August to September - October (it all depends on the degree of ripeness of the nuts).

The ripeness of the fruit is indicated by the ease of separation of the kernel from the leaf-shaped wrapper.

How to dry?

The collected raw materials (bark, leaves, and hazel fruits) are dried in the fresh air under canopies, in the attic, or in a dry but ventilated room.

Slightly dried nuts are removed from their wrappers, after which they are finally dried so that their moisture content is no more than 12 percent. You can achieve such humidity at home by drying the raw materials for one to two weeks, while the nuts must be spread in a thin layer.

Ripe hazel fruits can be dried using dryers or ovens, the temperature in which should be 60 - 70 degrees.

If the fruits are collected unripe, it is necessary to form small piles of them and leave them to dry in a dry room. After the tannins oxidize, the nutshells will turn brown. Now the ripened nuts can be separated from the wrappers and dried in the manner described above for long-term storage.

How to store hazel?

The fruits and leaves of hazel retain their beneficial properties for one year, while the bark lasts for two years.

In-shell nuts are stored in a cool, dark place, while shelled kernels are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Leaf bark is stored in paper bags.

Composition and properties of common hazel

Squirrels
Action:

• participation in the process of building muscle mass;
• regulation of hormonal levels;
• transportation of hemoglobin;
• strengthening immunity;
• improvement of erectile function;
• promoting insulin synthesis.

Fixed oils
Action:

• regulation of metabolic processes;
• formation and restoration of tissues, as well as body cells;
• elimination of foci of inflammation;
• promoting wound healing;
• neutralization of the negative effects of carcinogens.

Carbohydrates
Action:

• providing the body with energy;
• normalization of the metabolic process;
• normalization of blood sugar levels;
• increasing the body's defenses;
• prevention of fat deposition in liver cells.

Essential oil
Action:

• normalization of the functions of the cardiovascular system;
• mitigation and elimination of cough;
• increased separation of both mucus and sputum from the bronchi;
• improvement of gastrointestinal tract functions;
• elimination of inflammation.

Glycosides
Action:

• promote increased urine excretion;
• dilate blood vessels;
• normalize heart function;
• neutralize microbes;
• accelerate wound healing;
• promote the removal of sputum;
• calm the nervous system.

Sucrose
It is a powerful immunosuppressant, which in small quantities benefits the body, but in large quantities it is harmful, reducing immunity, destroying teeth, and promoting obesity.

Tannin
Action:

• relieves inflammation;
• reduces the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract;
• promotes digestion;
• neutralizes the symptoms of poisoning;
• accelerates wound healing.

Betulin
Action:

• restores lipid levels;
• normalizes metabolism;
• prevents the development of heart diseases;
• prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques;
• lowers cholesterol levels;
• normalizes liver function;
• increases insulin absorption.

Flavonoids
Action:

• strengthening blood vessels;
• calming the nervous system;
• relieving inflammation;
• increased bile excretion;
• prevention of tumor formation.

Alkaloids
Action:

• relieve pain;
• lower blood pressure levels;
• normalize the blood circulation process;
• help accelerate blood clotting;
• regulate the functioning of the central nervous system.

Organic acids
Action:

• reduce stomach acidity;
• normalize carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism;
• strengthen blood vessels;
• normalize digestion;
• prevent the deposition of salts directly in the joints;
• promote the formation of red blood cells.

Vitamin C
Action:

• decrease in uric acid concentration;
• increasing the degree of capillary permeability;
• removal of toxins;
• strengthening the immune system;
• promoting bone tissue formation;
• prevention of the development of malignant tumors.

Vitamin E
Action:

• helps maintain calcium in the body;
• optimizes metabolic intracellular processes;
• removes toxins;
• normalizes the functioning of the reproductive system;
• regulates the biosynthesis of RNA and proteins.

Vitamin D
Action:

• provides the body with calcium and phosphorus, without which normal formation of the bone skeleton is impossible;
• controls the processes of collagen formation;
• promotes the maturation of cartilage tissue, as well as bone mineralization;
• strengthens the immune system;
• regulates autoimmune processes.

Minerals
Action:

• normalize hematopoietic processes;
• participate in the formation and restoration of body tissues;
• normalize acid-base balance;
• normalize water metabolism;
• strengthen the immune system;
• removes waste and toxins.

B vitamins
Action:

• normalize metabolic processes (carbohydrate, protein, fat);
• stimulate nervous and muscle activity;
• normalize digestion;
• relieve muscle weakness and pain in the legs;
• promote concentration;
• improve vision;
• promote energy production;
• normalize the functioning of the nervous system;
• participate in the process of hematopoiesis.

Properties of hazel

• Astringent.
• Antipyretic.
• Vasodilator.
• General strengthening.
• Stimulating.
• Laxative.
• Immunomodulatory.
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Antihelminthic.
• Antidysenteric.

Useful properties of hazel nuts

Hazel nuts are a rich source of B vitamins and other beneficial biologically active substances, including fatty oils, mineral salts, saturated and unsaturated acids.

Nuts have a high degree of digestibility and balance of amino acids included in their composition. It should be noted that, according to their biological properties, hazel nuts are classified as complete proteins, which can serve as a significant addition to the protein component of the diet.

Important! For maximum quality protein absorption, it is recommended to eat nuts separately from other foods (nuts can be combined with fruits).

Hazel nuts contain potassium, iron and cobalt, and it is these minerals that are responsible for the restoration of muscle tissue after intense physical activity.

In terms of nutritional value, the kernels of such nuts are close to fatty pork.

It is recommended to include nuts in the diet of people suffering from vascular atherosclerosis, as well as arterial hypertension. The benefits of nuts for pregnant women are also undeniable, since hazel fruits help increase lactation.

Hazel nuts contain paclitaxel, which is an anticancer substance, the use of which is indicated for ovarian, esophageal and breast cancer, leukemia and Kaposi's sarcoma.

Nuts ground with water have long been used to treat:

• kidney stones and urolithiasis;
• flatulence;
• hemoptysis;
• fever.

Kernels mixed with honey are used in the treatment of anemia, goiter and rheumatism. A mixture of crushed hazelnuts and egg whites is indicated in the treatment of burns.

Despite the high calorie content, hazel nuts are recommended for people who want to lose weight, but moderation should be remembered. Thus, in small quantities, healthy fats contained in hazelnuts help speed up the fat burning process. Moreover, a small handful of nuts will increase the feeling of fullness, which will help get rid of such problems as overeating. The norm recommended by nutritionists is 25 g of nuts as a snack.

Hazel nuts contain a fairly small amount of carbohydrates, so they can be consumed by people suffering from diabetes.

Hazel nuts are also very useful for children, as they help strengthen the immune system and stimulate development.

Nuts and milk for coughs, bronchitis, pleurisy and pneumonia
A handful of chopped nuts is ground using a coffee grinder and then mixed with a glass of hot milk. The drug is taken one-fourth in a heated form three times a day, between meals.

Nuts and honey for hypovitaminosis, anemia, dystrophy and loss of strength
To prepare the product, nut kernels and honey are taken in equal quantities. The nuts are ground and mixed with honey. The resulting mixture is taken one tablespoon three times a day, between meals.

Nuts with egg white for burns
Ripe nut kernels are ground to a powder and then mixed with one fresh chicken egg white. The resulting mass is applied to the burned areas of the skin two to three times a day.

The benefits and harms of hazel

The benefits of hazel

1. Improving intestinal function by stimulating its motor function.
2. Promoting the dissolution of kidney stones.
3. Strengthening the immune system.
4. Increased lactation.
5. Acceleration of wound healing.
6. Relieving fever.
7. Increased appetite.
8. Increased venous tone.
9. Reduced capillary permeability.
10. Prevention of the formation of cholesterol plaques.
11. Normalization of the reproductive function of the body.
12. Providing the body with energy.
13. Restoration of strength after intense physical and mental stress.
14. Normalization of metabolic processes.
15. Slowing down the aging process.
16. Improved blood circulation.
17. Cleansing the liver of waste and toxins.
18. Normalization of the gastrointestinal tract.
19. Prevention of the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Hazel (especially nuts) is very rich in calcium, which makes this plant a kind of “substitute” for dairy products. At the same time, the calcium contained in hazel is perfectly absorbed.

Harm of hazel

It is not recommended to consume hazel nuts if you have kidney and liver diseases. You should also exclude nuts from your diet if there is an exacerbation of gallbladder diseases, since it will be extremely difficult for the body to digest them.

In addition, nut kernels can provoke an exacerbation of skin diseases in general, and neurodermatitis in particular.

An infusion of hazel leaves and bark helps to increase blood pressure, so it is not advisable for hypertensive patients to drink it.

Treatment using hazel

Preparations with common hazel are indicated for the following pathologies:

• anemia;
• lung diseases;
• fever;
• hemoptysis;
• malaria;
• prostate enlargement;
• sluggish intestinal motility;
• phlebeurysm;
• colitis;
• "lazy" stomach syndrome;
• trophic ulcers;
• thrombophlebitis;
• capillary hemorrhage;
• epilepsy;
• haemorrhoids;
• ascariasis;
• group B hypovitaminosis;
• metrorrhagia;
• cough;
• pneumonia;
• flatulence;
• burns;
• hypertension;
• diabetes;
• inflammation of the genitourinary system.

Important! Hazel not only helps cure the listed diseases and conditions, but is also an excellent prophylactic agent that helps prevent the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system, including heart attack and stroke.

Leaves

The leaves of the plant are used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent for gargling, treating hemorrhoids and skin diseases, anemia and varicose veins.

Bark

Preparations based on hazel bark are used for malaria, ascariasis, epilepsy, leg ulcers, prostate hypertrophy, capillary
hemorrhages and periphlebitis. In the form of a patch, hazel bark can be used for tumors.

Fruit

The fruits accelerate the process of dissolving stones in urolithiasis, prevent and neutralize the accumulation of gases in the intestines, and promote the removal of phlegm from the lungs and bronchi.

Powder from dry plusa (or a decoction of the shell and plusa) is indicated for colitis.

Flowers

An ointment or infusion of hazel flowers helps heal trophic ulcers and eliminate the manifestations of varicose veins.

Roots

An infusion of hazel roots helps cure malaria. To prepare it, add 200 ml of boiling water to 20 g of crushed bark. The product infused for five hours is filtered and drunk a quarter glass four times a day.

Hazel seeds

Hazel seeds contain a large amount of fatty oil (up to 70 percent), which is very easily absorbed by the body.

The seeds are used as a means to stimulate the production of breast milk. Also, this part of the plant helps to dissolve stones, get rid of flatulence, relieve fever, and alleviate fever.

A mixture of hazel seeds and egg white will help heal burns.

Wood

The liquid obtained during the dry distillation of wood is used for various skin diseases, including eczema, neurodermatitis, streptoderma, psoriasis, and athlete's foot.

Use of common hazel in medicine

Decoction of leaves

A decoction of the bark and leaves of the plant is indicated for prostate enlargement. Compresses and lotions from the aerial parts of hazel promote wound healing.

To prepare the decoction, a tablespoon of crushed dry hazel leaves and bark is poured with 300 ml of boiling water and placed in a water bath for 15 - 20 minutes. The strained and decoction is taken half a glass three times a day.

An antiseptic, vasodilator and anti-inflammatory decoction can be prepared in a similar way exclusively from the bark of the plant.

Hazel tea

Hazel leaves can be brewed like regular tea, for which one tablespoon of the raw material is poured with boiling water, infused for 10 minutes, filtered and drunk as a general tonic and immunomodulatory agent. If desired, you can add sugar to this tea to taste.

Hazel infusion

An infusion of the bark will help cope with varicose veins and capillary hemorrhages. An infusion taken orally will relieve fever and inflammation.

2 tbsp. hazel bark pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave to infuse overnight in a hermetically sealed container. In the morning, the infusion is filtered and taken one day 15 minutes before meals.

Instead of bark, you can steam hazel leaves in the same way.

Tincture

A tincture of leaves will help alleviate diseases such as prostatitis, prostate adenoma, varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.

To prepare the tincture, 3 tbsp. fresh leaves of the plant are poured into a glass of vodka, after which the product is infused in a warm place for two weeks. The strained tincture is taken 40 drops twice a day.

Hazel cream

Face cream, one of the ingredients of which is hazel twigs, perfectly cleanses, strengthens and tones the skin, relieves inflammation and redness. The recipe for the cream below is suitable for any skin type and can be used daily.

Cream ingredients:

• baby oil (preferably without aromatic fragrances) – 4 tbsp;
• coconut oil (can be replaced with corn, olive or any other kernel oil) – 2 tbsp;
• emulsifying wax – 1 tbsp;
• powdered boric acid (or borax) - one-fourth tablespoon;
• boiled water – 2 tbsp;
• decoction of hazel branches – 1 tbsp.

The oils and wax are mixed in a heatproof bowl, after which the bowl is sent to a steam bath (both the oils and the wax should melt). In a separate bowl, water is heated and mixed with borax (borax should completely dissolve). Add a decoction of hazel branches to the bowl with borax and mix. Now mix the resulting composition with melted butter and wax (the result should be a homogeneous mass). The cooled cream is placed in a jar, closed with a lid and placed in the refrigerator, where it is stored for no more than six days.

Ointment with hazel

Hazel-based ointment will help heal varicose veins and trophic ulcers.

To prepare the ointment, you will need hazel catkins, which are collected in clear and dry weather.

One glass of earrings is mixed with 150 ml of oil made from hazel nuts, after which the resulting mixture is simmered in a water bath for three hours.

The mixture removed from the bath is squeezed out and then heated again using a water bath (it is important not to bring the mixture to a boil). A fifth of a glass of melted, and, most importantly, natural beeswax is added to the warm mixture. All ingredients are thoroughly mixed, and then the mixture is filtered again. The resulting mass is poured into a jar and cooled.

This ointment is used to lubricate diseased veins daily, while bandages with the prepared product are applied to trophic ulcers.

It should be noted that the recipe for hazel ointment given above will also speed up the healing of hemorrhoids and help cope with prostatitis and cervical erosion (tampons soaked in ointment are used in the treatment of these diseases).

Hazelnut oil

The oil obtained from hazel kernels deserves special attention. This fatty oil has a pleasant taste and aroma, while its beneficial properties are in no way inferior to the popular almond oil.

Hazelnut oil is indicated for the following diseases and conditions:

• ascariasis;

So, for helminthiasis and epilepsy, take 2 tbsp of oil. three times a day. In order to strengthen the hair and enhance its growth, the oil is rubbed into the scalp for 15 minutes before washing the hair (to enhance the effect, you can mix the oil with egg white in equal proportions).

Properties of nut oil:

• astringent;
• wound healing;
• anthelmintic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• tonic;
• regenerating.

Hazelnut oil is widely used in dermatology and
In order to improve complexion, two drops of orange or cypress essential oil are added to one teaspoon of this nut oil. A few drops of the resulting oil mixture are rubbed into the skin of the face with light massaging movements.

To get rid of acne, you will need a mixture of the following oils:

• hazelnut oil – 1 tbsp;
• eucalyptus essential oil – 5 drops;
• cypress essential oil – 2 drops;
• sage essential oil – 3 drops.

The resulting aroma mixture is applied daily to a thoroughly cleansed face.

A mixture of the following oils will help eliminate vascular patterns on the face:

• hazelnut oil – 1 tsp;
• lemon essential oil – 3 drops;
• cypress essential oil – 3 drops.

A napkin soaked in the aroma mixture is applied to problem areas of the skin. It should be noted that the course of treatment is one month or more.

Hazelnut oil will help relieve tired legs; for this you should prepare a mixture of the following ingredients:

• hazelnut oil – 4 parts;
• sesame oil – 2 parts;
• calendula oil – 1 part;
• St. John's wort oil – 1 part.

To 2 tbsp. To the resulting fat base, add 5 drops of tea tree essential oil and the same amount of lavender oil. The resulting product is massaged onto the feet until completely absorbed.

Hazel for prostatitis

Due to its anti-inflammatory and strengthening properties, hazel is used in the treatment of prostatitis, the presence of which is indicated by the following symptoms:

• hot palms;
• sudden change of mood;
• swelling of the glands under the arms;
• bad breath.

As the disease worsens, the temperature rises, the pressure of the urine stream weakens, and urination becomes more frequent, which is also accompanied by pain and burning in the perineum.

It must be said that the activity of sexual function reaches its apogee in the period from 19 to 21 hours. It is at this time that sexual function is best treated.

Collection for prostatitis with hazel
Components:

• steelberry root – 15 g;
• eryngium - 10 g;
• hazel bark – 15 g;
• Dubrovnik – 10 g;
• horsetail – 10 g;
• kupena officinalis leaves – 10 g;
• Umbrella wintergreen – 8 g.

A tablespoon of the mixture is brewed with half a liter of boiling water, after which the product is infused for one hour, filtered and drunk during the day in four doses (it is recommended to take the infusion an hour after meals). The course of treatment is one month (if necessary, treatment can be repeated after 2 - 3 weeks).

You can limit yourself to a decoction of hazel nut shells. So, shells from one kilogram of nuts are poured into 1.5 liters of boiling water and simmered over low heat until the volume of the broth is reduced to one liter, after which the product is removed from the heat, cooled and filtered. Store the decoction in the refrigerator, and take 2 tbsp. no more than four times a day, 20 minutes before meals. The course of treatment with this remedy is two months, after which a break is taken for one month (if necessary, the two-month course can be repeated).

Hazel leaves for prostatitis

Hazel leaves, from which the infusion is prepared, will also help cope with prostatitis.

2 tbsp. hazel leaves (you can use both fresh and dried raw materials) are poured with a glass of boiling water, infused until cool, filtered and drunk in two doses.

You can also arrange steam baths, for which you will need several fresh hazel sprigs. The leaves, plucked from the branches, are filled with water and brought to a boil (1 liter of water is used for 10 tablespoons of raw materials). After 20 minutes of boiling, the broth is removed from the heat and infused until it acquires a red-brown hue. The resulting product is poured into a bowl, over which steam baths will be taken. After 2–3 weeks of such procedures, prostatitis will stop bothering you.

Hazel for varicose veins

It is known that the volatile oil contained in the bark of hazel branches narrows the dilated walls of blood vessels, so this plant has been used for centuries in the treatment of varicose veins. It should be remembered that the treatment will be quite long, and therefore you should not expect instant results.

Compresses are made from finely chopped hazel bark, which are applied daily to diseased veins for seven days. Then a break is taken for three months, after which the course is repeated again. It is recommended to conduct such courses three times a year.

The kernels of hazel nuts, four in number, are fried in a dry frying pan and well crushed to help heal trophic ulcers and severe varicose veins. The kernels are then mixed with the whites of two hard-boiled chicken eggs. The yolks should be dried in a dry hot frying pan and also crushed into powder. Now the yolks are mixed with nuts (the resulting product is thoroughly ground with a wooden mortar). Add 0.5 tsp to the resulting mass. iodoform powder, after which the product is applied in a thin layer to the affected areas for one hour, after which the affected areas are covered with sterile napkins, on which bandages are applied for two days. This treatment is carried out every two days, and before applying the product, the ulcers should be treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Contraindications

Hazel-based preparations are contraindicated for:

• individual intolerance;
• psoriasis;
• tendency to increase blood pressure.

Eating more than 50 g of nuts per day can cause headacheslocalized in the frontal part of the head, as well as intestinal strain.

Recipes with hazel

Infusion for removing sand from the bladder

Pour 500 ml of boiling water over young (not yet formed) hazel leaves in the amount of two tablespoons and leave to infuse for 12 hours (it is advisable to prepare the infusion in a thermos). The strained infusion is taken daily for a month, 80 ml before each meal.
Medical journalist

Tree up to 25-28 m high and up to 60(90) cm in diameter. The trunk is straight with a wide pyramidal dense crown. The bark is gray, fissured, peeling off in plates. The leaves are blunt-toothed, on long petioles. The nuts are small, with a thick and hard shell, hidden in a long, velvety, deeply cut wrapper, 3-9 together. Blooms in March-April. The nuts ripen in September-October and are edible. Doesn't bear fruit every year. The root system is taproot type. Does not produce root suckers. It reproduces by nuts and produces shoots from the stump. Lives up to 200 years. Grows quickly. Shade-tolerant. Prefers fresh, deep, humus-rich soils, as well as alluvial ones. Naturally grows in mixed forests of the middle and mountainous parts of the Caucasus (see Fig. 49), in northern Iran, Asia Minor and on the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown as a fruit and ornamental tree in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic countries and the south of the European part of Russia.

The wood of arborescent hazel is close in physical and mechanical properties to the wood of common hazel. It is used in housing construction, shipbuilding, furniture production and various crafts.

Variegated hazel (p. Heterophnlla Fisch.)

Shrub up to 2 m high or more. The leaves are almost bare, coarsely toothed, almost rectangular in outline, different in shape on the same bush, on hairy petioles. Hence the name variegated.

Flowering and leafing of variegated hazel occurs 2-3 days later than that of common hazel. The plus is slightly longer than the nut, smooth, wide-toothed. The nut is spherical, flattened on top, edible. The shell is thick. Nuts sit 2-3 at the ends of branches on legs. They contain 50% oil and are used in the same way as common hazel nuts. In good years, it is possible to collect 100 kg or more of nuts from 1 hectare. Weight of 1000 nuts is 1100 g. It grows mainly in the undergrowth of mixed oak, black birch and pine forests in Eastern Siberia and the Far East from Argun to the Pacific Ocean. In clearings and burnt areas, as well as on mountain slopes, it often forms thickets. It is still rare in culture. More winter-hardy than common hazel. Drought-resistant and shade-tolerant. It is of interest for green construction and as a nut-bearing plant for northern regions with a harsh climate, as well as for introduction into forest plantations and shelterbelts in forest-steppe and steppe.

Genus Hornbeam (Carpinus l.)

A genus of deciduous trees or shrubs. The trunk is somewhat ribbed at the bottom. The bark is gray, smooth. The crown is dense. Leaves are alternate, simple, double-toothed; stipules fall early. Staminate flowers in lateral narrow-cylindrical earrings, consist of bracts and 4-12 stamens sitting at the base with filaments bifurcated at the top and hairy anthers. Pistillate flowers in few-flowered apical catkins sit two by two in the axils of small integumentary scales that fall off early. The ovary is bilocular, inferior, with one ovule in each ovule. The style is short with two thread-like stigmas.

The hornbeam blooms at the same time as the leaves bloom. The fruit is a single-locular, single-seeded, almost woody, ribbed nut with a leafy wrapper (plus).

About 50 species of hornbeam are known. 5 species grow wild in the CIS. The most important is the common hornbeam.

Growing nut crops in domestic conditions became possible thanks to imported plant varieties from East Asia and North America. Bear nut, known as hazel, is no exception. The branches of this tree are massive and rise 10 meters above the ground. Walnut fruits are tasty and nutritious.

Bear nut has a tree-like structure

Bear nut is the only representative of hazel with a tree-like structure. This plant has strong immunity and tolerates severe frosts and summer drought well.

Decorative features of hazel tree

Tree hazel is native to eastern countries, but it is actively grown in western Russia and Ukraine. The popularity of the crop is due to its high yield and decorative features. In favorable conditions, the tree can grow up to 18–20 meters. But the temperate climate and soil quality do not allow the plant to achieve maximum growth rates. In Russia and Ukraine you can find hazel no more than 10 meters high.

The bear nut has a massive light brown trunk. The bark on the branches may have white spots. Young shoots are always drooping and gray. The foliage is bright, round or heart-shaped. The tree is especially beautiful in autumn. At this time, the foliage turns yellow, orange and red. By winter it falls off, and the dark brown catkins remain hanging on the tree. The nut itself is bisexual: men's earrings are larger than women's.

Hard-shelled fruits can be seen among the foliage. Externally, large nuts after peeling become small, similar in size to peas. The tree bears fruit annually, but the yield is inconsistent.

The trunk of the hazel tree is very massive

Benefits of Growing Bear Nut

Tree hazel is called bear nut because of its resistance to bad weather conditions. Hazel is not afraid of frost and tolerates summer heat well. Tree hazel is a long-lived tree. In its homeland, a tree can live up to 200 years. In addition to climatic endurance, growing this plant has advantages:

• like hazelnuts and other nut relatives, hazel fruits are a healthy nutritious product;
• the tree bears fruit annually;
• has excellent decorative features.

The fruits of tree hazel are very tasty both fresh and cooked, but before that you need to get rid of the thick shell. In terms of taste, bear nut fruits are not inferior to wild hazelnuts.

The delicate pleasant smell of nut kernels and the soft structure of the fruit are appreciated by culinary specialists from different countries. Small nuts are added to liver pates, vegetable and meat salads, first courses, etc.

Not only hazel nuts, but also its wood are valuable. Using it for construction purposes has many advantages. Bear nut trunks are hard and durable. Buildings made from such logs can last more than a century. Because of this, tree hazel has been listed in the Red Book for more than half a century and in nature it can only be found on mountain slopes, where it is difficult to reach.

Tree hazel nuts have a pleasant taste

Features of growing tree hazel

It is best to plant bear nut seedlings. The most suitable time is early autumn. Hazel will only grow in fertile soil. Before planting, prepare a hole (up to 50 cm deep) and fertilize the soil by mixing into it:

• 10 kg of humus;
• 500 g of mineral fertilizers;
• 50 g potassium salt.

Before planting, purchased seedlings are pruned; it is also important to prepare the tree’s root system for new conditions by dipping them in a solution of manure and clay. If you plan to plant several plants, they are placed at a distance of 3–5 meters from each other. After burying, the nut should be thoroughly filled with water.

Caring for tree hazel is simple. The main thing is to systematically loosen the soil so that the roots of the tree receive enough air. In dry weather, watering is recommended. It is produced no more than once a month. During the rainy season, watering should be avoided. The tree does not require a large amount of moisture and extracts it from the soil itself.

Why is it worth growing tree hazel?

Bear nut, which tastes like hazelnuts, is good for health. Growing your own tree for the fruit is much more economical than buying them in the store; all nuts are expensive. Already in the 4-5th year of its life, tree hazel can produce up to 10 kg of fruit. In mass production, 1 hectare produces up to 5 tons of delicious, nutritious nuts.

An additional advantage of tree nuts is long-term storage, which does not require pre-processing. In a dry, dark place, the fruits are stored for years without losing their beneficial properties.

The chemical composition of the product contains a large amount of microelements (potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, etc.), a high percentage of proteins, which allows the product to be used in dietary and therapeutic nutrition.

Tree nut is perfect as a scion for hazelnuts. But don't expect quick results. When grown in open ground, it is difficult for grafting materials to adhere to each other, so it is better to graft in greenhouses.