Health Benefits Of Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Cornelian cherry dogwood is a medium-sized tree with ovate leaves and white flowers. It comes from the cornelian cherry family Cornaceae which belongs to the order of rosales, together with other ornamental trees such as forsythia, witch hazel, photinia or heptacodium. The cornelian cherry dogwood is grown mainly in the U.S., where it’s native to East Coast states, but also in Europe.
What are Cornelian Cherries?
The cornelian cherry fruit is edible and tastes delicious. It has a rather high content of vitamin C (around 200 mg per 100 g) – almost double that of kiwis, oranges, or lemons. So cornelian cherries are definitely worth adding to your diet. Traditional uses of cornelian cherries also include their use as a remedy for common colds, digestive problems and heart diseases.
Cornelian Cherry Health Benefits
Just like other cornelian cherry varieties, the cornelian cherry dogwood is beneficial for overall health. Its high vitamin C content makes cornelian cherries an excellent choice during cold and flu season, but cornelians are not only useful against infections – they are beneficial in lessening the side effects of menopause or helping with weight loss too. The rich supply of this vitamin C has big antioxidant potential which is very important in times when free radicals are increasing to stressful situations (including aging, infections, cancer).
The cornelian cherry dogwood is diaphoretic and helps to increase perspiration which might be useful in the case of fever. For internal use, cornelian cherries are dried before being used as an additive to different dishes – from desserts to pies or even bread (and cornelian cherry bread is delicious by the way!).
If you’re not into cooking with cornelians, try cornelian sour juice instead! Cornelians can also help you reduce high blood pressure and alleviate menstrual pain. However, those that suffer from kidney stones should avoid cornelians as they might worsen this condition.
Cornelian Cherry Fruit Picking and Storage
Cornelian Cherries ripen deep red and should be picked when ripe and soft. Store cornelians in a cool, dry place and use them within one month after harvesting. If you plan on eating cornelian cherries raw you can add some apple cider vinegar to preserve their nutrients longer.
You can also plant cornelian cherry trees yourself if they are not available – cornelians do really well in temperate zones where summers are rather short but rich in heat and sun. Plant cornelian cherry trees on sunny locations of your garden or yard and make sure the soil is fertile. Water cornels regularly during hot summer days and fertilize once a year with an organic fertilizer (like manure). Cornels will begin producing fruits after 4-5 years (which makes them slow to grow) but the cornelian cherry tree will produce fruit for up to 30 years.
Cornelian cherry dogwood woodworking
The cornelian cherry trees yield small branches which are suitable for making cornelian-cherry furniture, musical instruments, or cornelian cherry wands. If you’re into that kind of craftsmanship – go wild! You can also plant cornelian cherries instead of some other ornamental plants in your yard as cornels are drought-resistant and do well anywhere in sunny locations.
If you think cornels are too time-consuming to pick or use in kitchen don’t worry – there’s always another option: buy dried cornelians online! However, it is best not to artificially dry cornelians for storage to preserve their nutrients.
Note: Cornelian cherry dogwood is very hard and durable, similar in strength to oak, but not nearly as heavy – cornelian cherry wood might be light enough for camping equipment or even paper production! Also cornelian cherries are toxic if dried artificially (don’t try eating cornelian dried in a dehydrator or oven), so make sure to use well-ripened cornels if you want to dry them yourself. The cornelian cherry fruit is also safe for consumption when ripe, but should not be used on dry cornelians because it might cause mild stomach pain.
Cornelian Cherry Health Benefits Side Effects
As all other cornels the cornelian cherry has some cornelian cherry fruit side effects – cornelians are not suitable for daily use as cornelians can cause allergic reactions among people with sensitive skin. Also cornelians might worsen the symptoms of stomach ulcers or exacerbate their development.
Cornelian cherry health benefits serve medicinal purposes only. Use cornelians to enhance your overall well-being but do not replace medication with cornelians and don’t self-medicate yourself without guidance from a medical professional.
