Gray alder - Alnus incala (L.) Moench.

Black alder (sticky) - Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaerth

Birch family - Betulaceae

Other names:

- oleshina

- volha

- Wilha

- eloha

- elshina

- leshinnik

- oleshnik

- alder cones

Botanical characteristics. Both species are tall shrubs or small trees. They differ in the shape and edge of the leaves, the color of the bark and the shape of the fruit: gray alder has sessile “cones”, and black alder has stalks. Gray alder has smooth, silver-gray bark. The leaves are ovate-elliptical, with a serrated edge, dark green above, lighter below, pubescent, non-sticky, with a pointed tip. The flowers are unisexual: staminate - in long catkins, pistillate - in short oval spikelets, covered with scales, no perianth. Sticky alder has dark brown bark with cracks, young branches are smooth, often sticky, reddish-brown. The leaves are round, notched at the top, with a serrated edge. Young leaves are shiny, sticky, and fully developed - dark green above, light green below. Flowers in drooping earrings. The fruit is a nut with a narrow wing. Alder blooms in early spring before the leaves bloom, in March-April. The green scales covering the staminate and pistillate flowers grow by autumn, become woody, turn black and form infructescence - alder cones that hang on the tree all winter. The fruits ripen in September-October.

Spreading. Sticky alder has a wider range. It grows in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of the European part of the country, Western Siberia and the Caucasus.

Habitat. Along the banks of rivers, streams, ravines, and swamps, “black alder forests” are found. Gray alder forms shrub thickets. Grows in the undergrowth of damp mixed spruce forests, in damp meadows, along river banks. Both species are moisture-loving plants.

Preparation. Raw materials are collected in autumn or winter. The lower short branches along with the cones are cut off with pruning shears or shaken off the trees; the cones are clearly visible in the snow.

Security measures. It is not allowed to break branches or tear off alder fruits from them.

Drying. In ovens, dryers or in air. The raw materials are laid out in a thin layer, stirring occasionally.

External signs. According to the Global Fund XI, the infructescence is ovoid or oblong-oval, with or without nuts; solitary, with or without remains of a stem no longer than 1.5 cm, or collected several on a thin stem. The infructescence consists of a rod on which fan-shaped scales are densely located. Length of fruits up to 20 mm, diameter up to 13 mm. The smell of the raw materials is weak, the taste is astringent. High humidity, branches without fruit, stalks longer than 1.5 cm, and organic and mineral impurities reduce the quality of raw materials.

A decoction of the raw material (1:10) with a solution of iron-ammonium alum forms a black-blue color.

Chemical composition. Alder cones contain tannins, which include tannin (about 2.5%) and gallic acid (up to 4%). Flavonoids, caffeic, chlorogenic and protocatechinic acids are found in the leaves. Alder bark contains tannins, triterpene compounds, triterpene alcohol taraxerol (alnulin), flavonoids (hyperoside and quercitrin). Triterpene compounds, the triterpene ketone glutinone, taraxerol, taraxerone, and lupeolin, have been isolated from the bark of the sticky alder.

Storage. In dry, well-ventilated areas. Shelf life: 3 years.

Pharmacological properties. Alder cones have astringent, anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. Volatile fractions of phytoncides from leaves and bark have a detrimental effect on protozoa.

Medicines. Alder fruits, collections, decoction.

Application. An old folk remedy. Introduced into scientific medicine in the 40s of the 20th century. prof. D. M. Rossiysky.

An infusion of fruit cones (cones) and a decoction of alder bark are prescribed for acute and chronic enterocolitis, dysentery as an adjuvant in treatment with antibiotics and sulfonamides. An infusion of alder cones helps reduce fermentation and putrefactive processes in chronic enterocolitis accompanied by diarrhea. Already on the 2nd day of treatment, the number of bowel movements decreases, tenesmus and pathological impurities disappear, and feces become more formed. A quick and sustainable treatment effect is ensured by the natural combination of tannin, triterpene compounds and quercetin in alder fruits. Decoctions of alder cones are prescribed to patients with diseases of the digestive system to prevent exacerbation of chronic intestinal infections. To normalize the intestinal microflora, decoctions of alder cones are used in patients with dysbacteriosis.

At home, prepare an infusion of alder fruit (Infusum fructusum Alni) at the rate of 2 tablespoons of raw material per 200 ml of water. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.

Alder fruit: instructions for use and reviews

Latin name: Alni fructus

ATX code: V03AX

Active substance: alder fruit (alni fructus)

Manufacturer: OJSC "Krasnogorskleksredstva" (Russia), CJSC Agricultural and Industrial Company "Fito-EM" (Russia), LLC Firm "Zdorovye" (Russia)

Updating the description and photo: 11.07.2018

Gray alder or spruce is a deciduous tree belonging to the Birch family. Very common, growing in many climatic zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Often, when we meet an alder in a forest or forest plantation, we don’t even think about what the name of this tree is, it looks too familiar. It attracts our attention only in the spring, during the flowering period, when its branches are hung with earrings, just like a birch tree.

Description

Alder is a fairly tall tree - up to 20 meters in height, its trunk diameter can reach 50 cm. It grows quickly, apparently, which is why it does not live long. The life expectancy of alder, like that of a person, is from 50 to 80 years, the main increase is observed in the first 10-15 years. The trunk is straight, in some specimens it is even, in others it has humps and depressions.

The roots lie high in the top layer of soil. They have a lot of tuberous growths in which microorganisms live that have the ability to accumulate nitrogen from the air, so alder is considered beneficial for the soil.

The bark of the trunk is gray, the leaves are oval with pointed tops and clearly defined veins, giving the leaf blade a decorative appearance. It is noteworthy that alder leaves do not turn yellow even in autumn, and fall green. They also contain a lot of nitrogen, which enters the soil and enriches it.

The flowers are small, grow in inflorescences-catkins, the buds are fluffy, the cones are oval, green at the beginning of summer, and black or brown at the end. The fruits are nuts with wings. Flowering occurs in March-April, fruiting occurs in September-October.

The unpretentious tree grows in many countries of the Northern Hemisphere - in Eurasia, North America, and some Asian countries. In Russia, it can be seen over a vast territory from the western regions to Western Siberia, and from St. Petersburg and Karelia to the North Caucasus. This suggests that the tree is resilient, unpretentious, and growing it in cultivation is not at all difficult.

Alder loves water, and in the wild it can most often be seen on the shore of a reservoir or in a lowland, in a wetland. Several trees of different ages often form small forest or shrub thickets. Water-resistant trees are often planted to strengthen banks in swampy areas.

Metaphysical properties of alder

In ancient times, it was believed that wood had special, mystical qualities. After all, after a tree was cut down, its wood turned from white to red, as if blood was coming from the wound.

The ancient Slavs had a legend about this, according to which the devil decided to create a wolf, as God did, but could not revive it. But God himself revived the wolf, and the wolf attacked the devil. He decided to hide in a tree, but the predator managed to bite his leg. The blood from the devil's heel turned the alder tree red.

According to another legend, an alder branch is a symbol of resurrection, or a place where the souls of deceased ancestors settle. Various amulets, talismans and amulets were made from its wood that could protect the clan and family hearth from enemies and misfortunes. Alder, in which the souls of ancestors live, was the patroness of family and home.

Mystics and magicians call alder a consumer tree, capable of taking both positive and negative energy from a person. It can relieve a person of stress, but you will have to pay for it with your vitality. You can turn to her with requests for help for family members, but you cannot ask her for anything for yourself.

Application in the modern world

Nowadays, no one believes in the metaphysical properties of alder, but everyone knows that it has durable wood that can remain in water for a long time without damage or rotting. Therefore, it is used to decorate walls in baths and saunas.

The piles on which water mills are supported in some Western European countries are made of alder. The palaces of Venice also stand in the water for several centuries in a row on alder pillars.

Alder wood does not warp when dried due to its uniform structure. Therefore, it is used to make dishes, musical instruments, all kinds of crafts, panels and furniture.

Wells are lined with alder boards; the water in such a reservoir will always be clean and fresh. They are also suitable for making barrels.

Alder firewood burns well and does not emit harmful substances or unpleasant odors, which is why they are used for smoking fish, cooking kebabs and grilled meat.

In the old days, alder firewood was used to burn out soot from pipes, which settled in large quantities on them after hot birch firewood.

Alder is used to make high-quality drawing coal, as well as coal suitable for the production of gunpowder.

Fruits and vegetables do not spoil for a long time in alder shavings. Gray alder is used to produce paint in three colors – green, red and brown.

In spring, alder provides bees with pollen; insects collect it from young leaves. Therefore, beekeepers cut branches from alder in winter and place them in water. When the anthers open, the pollen is collected in a sieve, then mixed with sugar syrup or honey, and fed to the bees.

Healing properties

Gray alder cones are rich in elements beneficial to humans - bioflavonoids, tannins, organic acids, alkaloids. The bark contains vegetable oil. All of them provide the tree with healing properties, which people have known about for a very long time.

Nowadays, preparations from various parts of the tree are made not only by traditional healers; the healing power of alder is also recognized by official medicine. Infusions, dry extracts and decoctions are made from lignified cones to treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, intestinal inflammation, and diarrhea.

Decoctions of alder fruits are indicated for rheumatism, polyarthritis, and periodontal disease. The astringent properties of the buds are used in the treatment of burns and eczema.

Alder brooms in a bathhouse are no less useful than birch brooms; when steamed, they exude a pleasant and healing aroma and have a beneficial effect on the skin and respiratory tract.

Growing

Gray alder can be planted on your own plot, especially if it is located in a lowland with high groundwater levels. Alder evaporates a large amount of water per day and will help drain the soil.

A tree of this species is not picky about soil and can grow on chalky, moist soil, which will be enriched with nitrogen. It does well in partial shade, but the ideal place for it should be well lit.

If you intend to plant alder on your own plot, you can select a seedling from the forest, or buy it from a nursery. It is not difficult to move a small seedling from place to place; they dig it up, wrap it in a damp cloth and take it home, where a prepared hole is already waiting for it.

It should be slightly larger in size than the size of the roots. No fertilizer is needed; nitrogen for the tree is produced by bacteria that live in the root tubers. But you can put a little humus, 200 grams of slaked lime, 15 grams of Kemira-universal in the hole, and fill it all with water so that the root system is immediately in a moist environment.

If more than 7-9 hours have passed from the moment of digging to planting, the roots can be renewed - lightly trimmed back to life; without water and soil, they could dry out and become dead.

The seedling is sprinkled with the top layer of soil removed from the hole, then the rest is poured in, mixed with sand and peat. After planting, water and cut off all the shoots, leaving a stem about 70 cm high. New shoots will begin to grow from the buds remaining on the trunk after the tree takes root.

Subsequent watering depends on the amount of precipitation, the level of subsoil water and the swampiness of the area. Gradually, the tree will begin to provide itself with water and nutrients. Now the tree needs to be protected from mechanical damage by attaching the seedling to a strong support.

After watering or rain, it is necessary to loosen the soil to open air access to the roots. After all, the air contains not only oxygen, but also nitrogen, which bacteria absorb.

Reproduction

Under natural conditions, alder reproduces well by seeds, which have high vitality and germination capacity. Seeds on alder appear in the spring, from last year's cones that survived the winter. They are collected and planted in the ground.

You can collect seeds in the fall, but then they need to be stratified before planting. The collected material can be planted in open ground, or in a container, and placed in a room with a temperature of about +5 degrees. Seeds planted in autumn will germinate next spring; if planted in spring, seedlings will appear only a year later.

Alder can be propagated by root shoots. To do this, select the strongest shoot, separate it from the tree along with the root and plant it as a seedling.

Diseases and pests

In general, gray alder is resistant to both diseases and pests. But in a humid environment there are many fungi that can damage its above-ground parts. So, when affected by fungi, the scales of catkins begin to grow greatly, spots appear on the leaves, after which they fall off prematurely. To prevent this from happening, the tree should be sprayed with fungicides.

Pesticides or proven folk remedies are used against the nocturnal moth, a corrosive tree moth that lays its eggs under the bark of a tree.

The ringed moth and the toothed moth, whose caterpillars eat leaves and buds, are also expelled with pesticides, bioprotection agents or folk remedies.

Pests of alder include beetles - alder dicerca, alder leaf beetle and May beetle. All together they are capable of completely destroying a tree - bark, wood, and leaves with buds.

In addition to chemicals, other methods are used to protect alder trees - digging up the ground in the fall to identify and destroy beetle larvae, hanging sticky traps near or on a tree, or simply collecting insects with your hands.

Incana (L.) Moench -

Family Betulaceae S. F. Gray - Birch trees

Gray alder Description

a large shrub or tree of the birch family up to 20 m high with smooth gray bark.

TO rona broadly ovate, low trunk, light gray, smooth, young shoots and leaves are light-haired, gray-tomentose. Naked, with resinous odorous glands, often sticky.

Leaves sharp, ovoid-elliptical, with a jagged edge, pointed at the apices, non-sticky, glabrous above, dark green, bluish-green below.

Flowers small, collected in earrings, dioecious, monoecious. Men's catkins are held on drooping branches, women's ones are short, pineal-shaped, almost sessile.

The fruit is a complex narrow-winged nut up to 5 mm long. The cones are almost black when ripe, up to 12 mm long.

It blooms in March - April, before the leaves bloom. By autumn, the female inflorescences turn into cones. It falls off in the 2nd year after sowing.

Spreading

Distributed in the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Western Siberia.

It grows in floodplains, swampy lowlands, hummocky swamps, forest edges, burnt areas, clearings, abandoned arable land, and quickly occupies empty spaces.

Growing

Agricultural technology

Highly winter-hardy (excellent), drought-resistant (good), almost not damaged by pests and diseases (good). It blooms annually in March - April, bears fruit in November - December in the south (good).

Shade-tolerant. It grows quickly and is less demanding on soil fertility and moisture than black alder.

Produces root shoots.

Soil-improving species (high-ash, nitrogen-containing foliage and the presence of nodule nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the roots).

Reproduction

Propagated by seeds, cuttings, root suckers.

Varieties

Alnus incana cv. Laciniata (Leske) Willd.

Chemical composition

All organs of alder contain tannins.

Active ingredients

Alder cones contain tannins, alkaloids, phenolcarboxylic acids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, fatty oil (black alder), higher aliphatic alcohols and steroids. Triterpenoids and tannins are found in the bark, vitamin C, carotene, phenol carbonic acids, tannins, flavonoids and anthocyanins are found in the leaves.

Gray alder Application

Alder wood is water-resistant, so it is used for the construction of long-lasting log houses for wells.

Spinning spools and shuttles are made from it.

In electrical engineering it serves as an insulating material.

The bark is used for tanning and dyeing leather black, red and yellow, cloth - red and yellow, wool - black, red and yellow, cotton - gray.

Alder enriches the soil with nitrogen.

Use in landscape design

Decorative with light bluish foliage and light gray trunk. Decorative durability 40-50 years.

Suitable for creating tall clipped hedges, alleys, and in group plantings in parks and squares. Valuable as a forest reclamation species for afforestation of ravine slopes, strengthening and lining the banks of rivers, streams and lakes.

The decorative form of gray alder with dissected leaves Alnus incana cv. is very interesting for landscaping. Laciniata (Leske) Willd.

Quite winter-hardy and less moisture-loving species are of interest for testing in culture on the Lower Don: bearded alder (A. barbata C. A. Mey), Japanese alder (A. j"aponica (Thunb) Stend.), red alder (A. rubra Bong.) , wrinkled alder (A. rugosa (Du Roi) Streng.)

Medicinal use

The cones have an astringent, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, analgesic, and slight hemostatic effect.

Energy impact. Alder takes energy. Long-term exposure can cause headaches and disorders of the cardiovascular system, but alder can help relieve nervous tension and reduce pain.

Collection and processing of medicinal raw materials

The medicinal raw materials are fruits (cones), bark and leaves, and sometimes roots.

Infructescences from gray, sticky or black alder are collected in autumn and winter (until March), when they are completely lignified. Fallen raw materials are unsuitable for medicinal purposes.

Dry in the attic, under a canopy or in a dryer at a temperature of 50...60 ° C, laying out a layer of no more than 4-5 cm and turning over several times. Store in fabric bags or wooden containers for 3 years.

Alder bark is harvested during the period of sap flow during technical felling. Dry in an oven or dryer at a temperature of 40...50 °C. The finished raw material should break well and not bend.

The leaves are collected in early spring. Dry under a canopy or in a dryer, spreading it in a thin layer.

Application in official and folk medicine

Alder preparations have anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic, diaphoretic and antimicrobial action, cause the death of simple organisms, reduce the tendency to develop allergies, including food allergies.

In practical medicine, an infusion of cones is used for stomach and duodenal ulcers, acute and chronic inflammation of the small and large intestines, and also as an anti-inflammatory and astringent agent to quickly stop diarrhea in adults and children that develops after eating poor quality food.

Externally, a decoction of the root and an infusion of alder fruits is prescribed as a lotion for burns, for rinsing with inflammation of the mouth and bleeding gums, as well as for nosebleeds.

A decoction of alder cones is indicated for rheumatic arthritis and colds. Baths with alder leaves relieve the feeling of fatigue in the legs after a long walk.

To prepare the infusion, pour 2 tablespoons of cones into 1 glass of hot water, boil over low heat for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes and filter. Take 1/3-"/g glass 2-3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Recipes for various diseases

FLU
Pour 2 tablespoons of sulfur alder cones with 1 glass of hot water, boil in a sealed container for 15 minutes, let cool, strain. Take 1/3-1/2 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES
Pour 2 tablespoons of alder cones with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain. Take 1/2 cup
2-3 times a day.
Pour 1 tablespoon of crushed alder bark with 1 glass of boiling water, bring to a boil, boil for 10 minutes, leave for half an hour, strain. Take 1 tablespoon
3-4 times a day.
Shortness of breath, gout, colds
Pour 1 teaspoon of alder cones into 1/2 cup of vodka, leave for 15 days and take 20 drops 3 times a day.
DRUG POISONING
When taking various medications to relieve their possible harmful side effects, take 1/2 cup of alder cone decoction once a day.
LARYNGITIS
Pour 40 g of alder fruits with 1 glass of boiling water and leave. Pour 10 g of horse sorrel root with 1 cup of boiling water and boil. Mix the infusion and decoction and use for inhalation or rinsing.
COLD
Cover yourself with a heap of warm steamed alder leaves.

Alder gray or white- Alnus incana (L.) Moench - a tree 10-15 (up to 20) m high. Sometimes it has the form of a large shrub. As the name suggests, this plant is from the same genus as the sticky alder described above, so it has much in common with it both in appearance and in the development cycle. The root system is superficial. The trunk of large trees has a diameter of up to 50 cm. The bark is brownish-gray and smooth. Young branches are heavily pubescent.
The leaves are alternate, ovate or broadly elliptical, from 4 to 10 cm long, with a rounded base and a pointed apex (how they differ sharply from the leaves of sticky alder), doubly serrate along the edge, green above, almost bare, gray-green below, pubescent. Leaf petioles are 1-2 cm long, soft-hairy or tomentose. Young leaves are densely pubescent, but not sticky, unlike sticky alder.
The flowers are small, unisexual, collected in inflorescences-catkins. Male and female catkins develop on the same individual, that is, the plant is monoecious. Men's earrings are long, drooping, located on short legs in groups of 3-5. Male flowers with 4 bracts, 4-membered perianth and 4 stamens with almost sessile anthers. Women's earrings are oval, about 1.5 cm long, with short legs, collected in groups of 8-10. Female flowers without perianth, pistil with 2-locular ovary, short style and 2 long stigmas. Gray alder blooms very early: in March - April, before the leaves bloom, 1-2 weeks earlier than sticky alder. The flowers are pollinated by the wind.
By autumn, the female inflorescences become woody and form a short oval dark brown “bump”. In the axils of its scales, fruits ripen - single-seeded, flat, winged nuts. Nuts with membranous wings, they are lighter than those of sticky alder. The weight of 1 000 fruits is 0.5-0.9 g, there are 1,430 thousand in 1 kg. The fruits ripen in October, but the “cones” open only in February - March, when the seeds are dispersed by the wind.
Gray alder produces a lot of seeds, but seed propagation is not always effective. Vegetative propagation is much more successful due to abundant root shoots. Gray alder grows quickly, begins to bear fruit at the age of 8-10 years, and coppicing individuals - at the age of 5-7 years, lives only 50-70, rarely 150 years.

Distribution of gray alder

Gray alder is a Eurasian plant, has a wide range, but generally does not extend beyond the forest zone. In Russia, it is distributed in the forest belt of the European part, in the Urals and in the adjacent regions of Western Siberia. In the north, gray alder goes further than sticky alder and reaches the real tundra.
Gray alder is a fairly moisture-loving tree species, so its growth is associated with fairly moist areas, but it also occupies much less damp habitats than sticky alder.
In most areas it grows on forest edges, along river banks of streams, in the undergrowth of sparse forests. Quickly colonizes cleared areas and abandoned arable land. In the northwestern and partly western regions, it forms secondary temporary forests in place of spruce forests. In some places, such forests occupy a large area. After them, the soil becomes noticeably more fertile, because the alder roots are abundantly populated by microorganisms that absorb atmospheric nitrogen, and the falling leaves are rich in nitrates.

Economic use of gray alder

Let us emphasize once again that the economic importance and medicinal use of both characterized types of alder (sticky and gray) are approximately the same. They have versatile applications. The wood is used for carpentry, plywood, matches, paper, and as a building material. It has been noted that alder wood deteriorates relatively quickly in air, but is durable in a humid environment. That is why alder trunks are readily turned into well frames, bridge piles, mounting posts in mines, barrels, etc. Fences, fences, etc. are made from alder trunks and branches.
A lot of wood is used for fuel. It is believed that alder wood is preferable for smoking fish. They give smoked meats an attractive color and pleasant aroma. Coal is obtained from alder wood, which used to be used for the production of gunpowder, but is now mostly used by artists for drawing. The leafy branches of alder are harvested as branch fodder for sheep and goats.
The main production value of alder is determined by the presence of tannins in it. The bark, containing 5-9% tannins, and female catkins (cones), in which the tannin content reaches 14-16%, are used for tanning leather, usually mixed with oak or willow tanning extract. Under the influence of alder tannins, the leather acquires a dark red color.
Alder bark is a well-known natural dye. It is used to dye leather, wool and fabrics black, red and yellow (depending on the mordant). In the past, in Russian villages, the bark was widely used to paint homespun canvases.

According to experts, the smell of alder repels mice and mole crickets. Summer residents should keep this in mind - you can try placing alder branches around fruit trees and other objects attractive to mice.
You can also rid the garden of the mole cricket, which is very difficult to fight. In order for this insect to leave the beds, fresh alder branches are stuck around them.
Quite by accident, it was noticed that just three alder cones thrown into a 10-liter aquarium improve the water, reduce its acidity, and promote the spawning of many aquarium fish.
Bees collect pollen and resinous secretions on the buds and leaves on alder trees, from which they produce bee glue - propolis, which in recent years has become widely used in medicine.

Features of harvesting gray alder

Alder cones They are harvested in late autumn and winter, from October to March, when they become completely woody. It is most convenient to harvest medicinal raw materials at logging sites, picking off cones from felled trees. More often, of course, harvesting is done from living plants. Using pruning shears with long handles, small branches that hold the cones are cut from the trees and picked off by hand. In frosty weather, alder branches break easily, so you can do without pruning shears, using hooks on long poles instead. The collected cones are dried under sheds or in attics, laid out in a thin layer (4-5 cm) and stirred periodically. It can also be dried in artificially heated dryers at 40-50 °C. Store raw materials in bags and packages in well-ventilated areas. Shelf life - up to 3 years.

Medicinal value of sulfur alder and methods of medicinal use

The medicinal raw materials are female catkin fruits, or they are also called “alder cones.” They are rich in tannin (about 2.5%), gallic acid (up to 4%), tannins (6-34%), and trace elements. People also use alder leaves and bark for medicinal purposes.
In medicine, alder is used as an astringent, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic agent for inflammation of the small and large intestines, enteritis, colitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, dyspepsia, dysentery, articular rheumatism, and colds. Decoction: 4 g of fruits (cones) pour 1 glass of boiling water,
boil for 15 minutes, take 1/4 cup 3-4 times a day before meals.
Even with chronic colitis, improvement is noted after 1-2 days of treatment.

10 g (2 tablespoons) of fruits are placed in an enamel bowl, poured with 1 glass of hot water, covered with a lid and heated in boiling water (in a water bath) for 15 minutes, cooled at room temperature for 45 minutes, filtered, the cooled raw material is squeezed out, the volume of the resulting The infusion is brought to 200 ml with boiled water. The prepared infusion is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Take 1/2-1/3 cup 2-3 times a day for 30 minutes. before meals, as an astringent.

One tablespoon of cones per 1 cup of boiling water. Infuse, wrapped, for 2 hours, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day for articular rheumatism.

An infusion of the bark has the same effect. It is prepared at the rate of 15 g of raw materials per 1 glass of boiling water. Take 1 tablespoon 2-3 times a day.
Alder fruits are necessary for any acute and chronic digestive disorders: they quickly stop diarrhea, eliminate bloating and abdominal pain, and improve general condition.

You can also use an alcohol tincture: 1 part fruit to 5 parts vodka, leave for 2 weeks. Take 1/2 teaspoon up to four times daily. These remedies can also be recommended for stomach or duodenal ulcers.
The leaves are recommended as a mild laxative and diaphoretic (infusions, decoctions).
Baths with leaves relieve tired legs after a long walk, and also help with colds and frostbite of the extremities.
The fruits in the form of a decoction are used for lotions for burns, skin inflammation and for rinsing the mouth for inflamed and bleeding gums, and for nosebleeds as an astringent and hemostatic agent.

Boil 20 g of chopped leaves for 20 minutes. in 0.5 liters of water, strain, cool. Rinse your mouth if you have bad breath.
In case of inflammation of the joints, traditional medicine recommends placing the patient on a layer of fresh alder leaves and covering with the same layer, and on top with a blanket. After a short time, profuse sweating begins, which relieves acute pain.

For breastfeeding women, for abundant milk production and for mastopathy, it is recommended to apply steamed fresh alder leaves to the breast several times a day for 30-60 minutes. In winter, you can also use steamed dry leaves for this.
Fresh leaves crushed with water have a good therapeutic effect for suppuration and severe ulcers.

For various bleeding, you should take an infusion of a handful of alder leaves, poured with 1 glass of boiling water. The paste can be sweetened with honey or sugar and drunk in small cups throughout the day.
And this is how our ancestors used alder for medicinal purposes:
“The leaves and bark of alder are crushed and mixed with vinegar, and then we anoint the leprosy, then the face will become clean.”
“We apply the same crushed leaves and roots to the boils, then the moisture will be drawn out of them and they will heal.”
“The root of that tree is boiled in water, and if you wash the bruised head, then the body will heal and the ulcer will heal.”
According to Sedir, alder is ruled by the Moon and is healing for those born under the sign of Cancer.