White acacia - a beautiful tree with an openwork crown and white clusters of flowers that are fragrant during the flowering period, is not a true acacia. Real acacias of the genus Acacia, heat-loving plants, are found in nature more often in the savannas of Africa or Australia, and here, perhaps, only in botanical gardens.

Description of white acacia

The tree that we used to call white acacia should actually be called Robinia or false acacia. It belongs to the legume family, the height of the tree is on average about six meters, but sometimes there are specimens reaching a height of 10-12 meters. The crown of the white acacia is spreading and bright green.

The plant does not live long, rare specimens live up to 50 years, so the tree trunk is usually 30-40 centimeters in diameter, covered with brownish bark. The leaf has an odd-pinnate, complex, consisting of solid, oval- or ellipse-shaped leaflets; at the base of each leaf there are stipules modified into spines. The flowers are collected in a raceme inflorescence, white or slightly pinkish in color, moth-type. The fruits are a flat bean with seeds, often dark brown in color and a very dense shell.

White acacia blooms closer to June, the fruits ripen at the end of September or October, the fruits continue to hang on the tree throughout the winter and only begin to fall closer to spring. During its flowering period, the acacia becomes like a white cloud, from which comes the hum of bees collecting nectar from morning to late evening. You can admire its white flowers endlessly, and its fragrant aroma will not let you pass by.

To feel a surge of vigor and strength, it is enough to simply stand near this wonderful plant and breathe in its aroma. White acacia is an amazing universal bioenergy donor that is useful for everyone, but especially for women.

Medicinal parts of acacia and their collection

Acacia flowers, fruits, as well as young bark and leaves are used for treatment. Acacia flowers are collected when they have not yet fully opened, then dried in a warm, well-ventilated area. The bark and leaves are used, collected from young shoots, from the beginning of spring until almost September.

Useful and medicinal properties

It is known that white acacia flowers contain sugar, fragrant essential oil used in perfumery, organic acids, flavonoids and glycosides, fatty oils and pectins, and a number of vitamins. The bark contains essential oils, tannins, tannins and minerals. This plant has

• antipyretic property,
• anti-inflammatory,
• expectorant
• astringent,
• diuretic,
• hemostatic property.

Acacia helps reduce nitrogen levels in the blood and acts as a regulator of the stomach and intestines. Positive results when using this plant for duodenitis, gastritis, including chronic, ARVI, sore throat, pharyngitis, rhinitis and tonsillitis.

Treatment with white acacia

As a medicine, white acacia is used in the form of decoctions, infusions, rubbing, and douching. Traditional medicine uses acacia to treat diseases such as

• for uterine fibroids - drink a decoction of acacia flowers, 1 tbsp. three times a day 30 minutes before meals. The decoction is prepared according to the recipe: 1 tbsp. dried flowers are poured with 2 glasses of water, brought to a boil, boiled for about 2 minutes, cooled, filtered, and topped up with boiled water to the original volume.
• for inflammatory processes in the female genital area - drink an infusion prepared from 1 tbsp. dried or fresh flowers, filled with 1 tbsp. boiling water, leave for at least an hour, then strain and take 1 tbsp. before meals three times a day for a month. To enhance the effect of the infusion, you can also douche with a decoction: 1 tbsp. acacia flowers per 0.5 l. water, boil for three minutes, let cool, strain and douche with the warm broth for 10 days.
• cervical erosion - treated according to the above method.
• for infertility - acacia flowers are brewed as tea (1 teaspoon per glass) and drunk before meals according to the following scheme: drink for 2 months, then break for 2 months, then take again and break again, etc. until you get pregnant.
• for rheumatism, myositis, joint pain and radiculitis - rub with tincture. Cooking recipe: 2 tbsp. vodka, add fifty grams of acacia flowers and leave in a dark place for three weeks, shaking occasionally. Rub the prepared tincture on sore spots at least twice a day.
• for a headache, make a compress from the tincture: pour acacia flowers halfway into a half-liter jar and then fill it to the top with “triple cologne”, leave for a week. Then moisten a cloth, wring it out and apply it to the crown of the head, cover it with a film on top and insulate it with a scarf. As a rule, the pain goes away after a few minutes.
• for toothache - rinse your teeth with a warm decoction of 1 tsp. flowers brewed in 1 tbsp. boiling water

• for coughs and colds + as an antipyretic - make a decoction and take it three times a day before meals, 1 tbsp. The decoction is prepared as follows: take 1 tbsp. dry acacia leaves, which are ground to powder, pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and simmer for about five minutes over low heat. Then the broth is filtered and drunk.
• for acute and chronic cystitis - make a decoction of acacia and calendula flowers and wheatgrass root. To prepare a decoction, take 50 grams of this mixture, add 300 ml of water, bring to a boil and boil for 8 minutes. Next, remove from heat, wrap and leave for another hour. Allow to cool, filter and top up with boiled water to the original volume. Drink ¼ tbsp. before meals 3 times a day.
• in case of nervous system disorder, make a tincture according to the recipe: fill a liter jar halfway with acacia flowers and top up with vodka, cover with a lid and leave in the dark for two weeks. Then filter and take 1 tsp. three times a day 15-20 minutes before meals for a month. After a month of taking the tincture, a significant improvement in the nervous system is observed.
• for heel spurs - treat with tincture according to the above recipe. Make a tampon, moisten it with the tincture, squeeze it out lightly and wrap it in the form of a compress to the heel with the spur - it dissolves.
• for stroke, paralysis, multiple sclerosis - the same tincture is rubbed on the limbs and lower back.
• for whooping cough - they treat it like this: take 1 tsp. flowers, pour them into a glass of milk, bring to a boil. Remove from heat, strain and drink warm, adding half a glass of honey before eating.
• for increased acidity and heartburn, make an alcohol tincture from one part of the bark of young acacia branches and 10 parts of alcohol. Take 15-20 drops with water, in the mornings and evenings.
• for varicose veins, thrombophlebitis and varicose nodes - compresses and rubbing are made with the above tincture.
• for leg cramps, rub the tincture.
• for ARVI - use a collection of equal parts of white acacia flowers, nettles, lemon balm, birch leaves and galangal rhizomes. Take 15-20 grams. This collection is poured with boiling water and heated in a water bath for 20 minutes, removed and left for another hour. After this, filter the broth and drink a glass every two hours.
• for duodenitis - they are treated with an infusion prepared from a collection of herbs: in equal parts take Icelandic moss, white acacia flowers, calamus rhizome, speedwell grass, sage, fume, rose hips, fennel fruits and kidney tea - mixed. Then 10 gr. This collection is poured into 1/3 liter. boiling water, heat for 10 minutes in a water bath. Then infuse for another 2 hours in a warm place and then filter. You should take half a glass three times a day before meals.

Contraindications

White acacia, for all its wonderful qualities, nevertheless has contraindications for use. Thus, preparations containing acacia bark must be used with caution, because it contains toxic substances that can cause poisoning. A direct prohibition for the use of acacia in treatment is pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In case of an overdose, nausea, vomiting, headache and general malaise may occur. In more severe cases - severe abdominal pain, convulsions, slow cardiac activity. At the first symptoms, you need to do a gastric lavage, take activated charcoal and call a doctor.

When taking medications containing white acacia, you must strictly adhere to the indicated dosage - in this case, more does not mean better.

The acacia tree is well known throughout the world, as it not only grows in most countries, but is also a symbol of some of them, as well as the object of many legends and works of art and literature.

The white or yellow clusters of this tree, which bloom in May and are familiar to modern people, actually have a thousand-year history. Acacias were used to decorate gardens and houses, and were used in medicine and religious ceremonies. There are probably no trees on the planet that have been more revered for many centuries by representatives of different civilizations and cultures than acacia. A photo cannot convey all the beauty and aroma of this plant, of which today there are more than 800 species.

History of acacia

The uniqueness of this tree was noticed by the ancient Egyptians, who believed that it simultaneously symbolizes both life and death, as it blooms with white and red flowers. It was for them a symbol of the Sun God, who revives life. The goddess of war and hunting Neith lived in its crowns.

In many cultures, the acacia tree symbolized purity and purity, and the ancient inhabitants of the Mediterranean believed that its thorns warded off evil spirits, and decorated their homes with plucked branches. And the nomads who traveled considered it sacred and believed that the one who broke the branch of this tree would die within a year.

The acacia tree, described in the Torah, was a symbol of holiness for the ancient Jews. Thus, the altar of the Jewish Temple and the tabernacle, in which it was originally kept, were made from its wood.

For Christians of the Middle Ages, it symbolized purity of thoughts and innocence, so houses were decorated with its branches. Acacia oil was used in rituals by various secret societies, and priests lubricated the altar and incense burners with it.

Places of growth

The acacia tree belongs to the legume family and can reach 25-30 meters in height. North America is considered to be the birthplace of the plant, although most of its species grow in tropical and subtropical forests of Africa, Asia, Mexico and Australia.

Depending on the location, this plant can be either trees or tree-like bushes. It has been cultivated in European countries since the 18th century because of its healing properties, beauty and strong wood. Today in many cities of Russia and the CIS you can see its most common species - Robinia, which is known as white acacia. The tree is able to withstand sub-zero temperatures as well as the more commonly known mimosa. True white acacia grows exclusively in the tropical forests of Africa.

Description of the species

Regardless of where the plant grows, acacia has features common to the entire family:

These are traits common to most representatives of this species, although there are exceptions.

Acacia corkscrew

This is the most common tree in city parks and streets. Acacia, although usually growing quite quickly, reaches maturity at an average rate of about 40 years.

With a height of 20 m and a width of 1.2 m, it has an asymmetrical crown and white flowers with a pleasant aroma, hanging in tassels up to 20 cm in length. Often corkscrew acacia can have two trunks, blooms from late May to early June, does not require care, and tolerates dry summers well. The elliptical-shaped leaves are bluish-green in summer and bright yellow in autumn. They appear quite late, almost simultaneously with the flowers.

Golden acacia

Small, only up to 12 m in height, these trees are immediately noticeable. Golden acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia) has several trunks and beautiful light yellow elliptical leaves. On curved, zigzag, thorny branches, foliage appears late, almost before flowering: in late May - early June.

This tree was first discovered in Holland in 1935. It blooms with white fragrant inflorescences up to 20 cm in length, the fruit is brown and flat. The leaves are imparipinnate and alternate, from 7 to 19 pieces per petiole.

This acacia does not require care, although it prefers humus, dry soil. In wet and heavy soil it may suffer from frost and die.

Acacia cone-shaped and umbrella

One of the old-timers among trees of this species is the cone-shaped acacia (Pseudoacacia Bessoniana). It lives up to 100 years and grows up to 20 meters in height, forming offspring. Often has several trunks.

The foliage is openwork, odd-pinnate, the crown can be either asymmetrical or free, round. It blooms not densely, with white fragrant clusters up to 20 cm in length. From 7 to 19 elliptical leaves of bluish-green color bloom on the petioles. Produces fruits up to 12 cm in length, in the form of flat brown beans. This acacia loves the sun very much and tolerates drought well; it is not picky about the soil. If you plant such a tree in the garden, you should avoid heavy and wet soil. In frosty conditions in such soil, acacia roots can be seriously damaged.

Acacia umbrella is found in Africa and in the deserts of Israel. On the hot continent, it lives in savannas and is loved by all its inhabitants, as it provides shade thanks to its crown, which looks like an umbrella. In fact, this is symbolic protection from the scorching rays of the sun, because its leaves are turned edge-on towards the luminary.

The tree has large, sharp spines that protect it from the numerous herbivores that inhabit the savannah. It blooms with very small flowers with long stamens collected in a panicle. They come in yellow or white.

According to legend, it was from the umbrella acacia that the Jews who left Egypt made Noah's Ark.

Acacia street

Most often in specialized stores you can find street acacia, the seedlings of which are sold in flower pots.

Pseudoacacia Monophylla is slightly susceptible to environmental pollution, is a fast-growing and thornless tree species, reaching 25 m in height. The leaves of this acacia are imparipinnate and alternate: at the beginning of the petiole they are small, but towards the end they can reach 15 cm in length. The foliage is matte green in summer and yellow in autumn. It should be remembered that the leaves are very poisonous.

The branches may have a zigzag or horizontal, slightly raised appearance. It blooms with large white flowers, collected in clusters up to 20 cm in length with a pleasant aroma. This tree loves the sun and is not picky about the composition of the soil.

Acacia bristles

This name refers both to a tree-like shrub, reaching a height of more than 2 meters, and to a tree, which, depending on the growing zone, can reach from 15 to 20 m. A powerful root system and strong prickly zigzag branches make the plant wind-resistant. These types of acacia bloom with beautiful large flowers of purple or pink color without aroma, collected in inflorescences of 3-6 pieces.

The plant got its name due to the fact that its shoots are covered with reddish bristles. The leaves are dark green in spring and summer and yellow in autumn. If such an acacia grows in the garden, it attracts attention with its large and bright flowers.

Does not require additional care, prefers a quiet and sunny place, easily tolerates dry summers. Even poor soil is suitable for it.

Acacia pink

Robinia viscosa Vent., as it is also called, pink acacia, native to the southeast of North America, is also cultivated in Ukraine. The tree can reach from 7 to 12 m in height, but its life expectancy is short.

The brown bark is smooth; the branches may have small spines. The shoots of the tree are covered with a sticky mass, which gives it its name. Pink acacia blooms with large, odorless flowers, up to 2-3 cm in length. They are collected in erect clusters of 6-12 pieces and are also covered with sticky hairs that attract bees. The tree is an excellent honey plant and pollen plant.

This type of acacia is suitable for those gardeners who prefer to grow long-flowering plants in the garden, since there are 4-5 waves of flowering that last until mid-September. The leaves of this tree are large, up to 20 cm in length. Bright green above, grayish below, they are collected on a petiole in quantities from 13 to 25 pieces.

The tree is unpretentious, frost-resistant (withstands up to -28 degrees), and can grow on any soil.

Silver acacia

Mimosa, well known to all post-Soviet women, is silver acacia, whose homeland is considered to be Australia and the island of Tasmania.

This evergreen tree can reach 45 m in its native region, but in other countries it does not exceed 12 meters. Its trunk is light gray or brown with vertical cracks from which gum flows.

The leaves are grayish-green, pinnately dissected twice, alternately on the petiole and reach from 10 cm to 20 cm in length. The flowers are very small, in the form of yellowish balls, collected in racemes, from which panicles are formed. They have a very strong and pleasant aroma.

Silver locust seeds are flat and hard and can be matte or slightly shiny black.

White acacia

Robinia, or false acacia (Robinia pseudacacia L.) has taken root well on the European continent and is familiar to many of its inhabitants. Its white flowers emit a very strong and pleasant aroma that attracts not only people, but also bees.

This tree lives on average from 30 to 40 years, has brownish bark, a spreading crown with green odd-pinnate leaves. The fruits of white acacia ripen in September - October and fall only next spring.

Acacia in medicine

The chemical composition of acacia bark and its effect on the body have not yet been fully studied, but today decoctions from it are recommended not only by traditional healers, but also by official medicine. Since the bark, flowers and fruits of this plant are often poisonous, they can only be used after consultation with a doctor and in the doses recommended by him.

Acacia (Acacia) are trees and tree-like shrubs of the legume family; there are deciduous and evergreen plant types that grow on all continents of the world.

The plant has a developed root system that feeds on moisture and nutrients even in dry growing areas. The height of the tree reaches 14-30 m, and the acacia trunk reaches 2 meters in girth. The bark of a young tree is grayish in color, becomes brownish over time, and its structure is streaked with longitudinal shallow grooves.

Acacia leaves are often oval in shape, alternately arranged on an elongated petiole, ranging in number from 7 to 21 pieces. Most acacia plants have sharp thorns. The plant often blooms in inflorescences-clusters of fairly large flowers; the acacia fruit is a brownish pod with several beans.

There are more than 500 species of acacia worldwide. Let's look at some of the most popular varieties of acacia.

Did you know? A mature acacia tree can have a root 1 meter in diameter.

White acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia)

White acacia is a fast-growing, drought-resistant shrub or tree. The homeland of Robinia false acacia is North America, but for quite some time white acacia has successfully naturalized in the middle zone of the planet.

This type of Robinia is used as an ornamental plant, as well as for the purpose of strengthening the soil and wind protection. The wood of Robinia false acacia is hard, durable, resistant to decay processes, and also has a beautiful texture and color, its characteristics are not inferior to oak or ash wood.

Important! White acacia wood is valued for its hardness and elasticity without cracking, it is easy to polish, as well as for its decorative appearance, which becomes more contrasting and bright over time under the influence of sunlight.

Sticky

Sticky acacia is found in the wild in North America. Robinia adhesive has a specific glandular pubescence of shoots, peduncles and calyxes, the height of the tree is approximately 10-12 meters with a small trunk up to 40 cm in diameter. The trunk is dark in color, smooth to the touch. The flowers of sticky acacia are approximately 2 cm in size, pink, collected in an erect raceme of 7-15 flowers.

New Mexican

Robinia New Mexicana is a shrub or tree 2-8 meters high; the shoot, like the stem of this type of acacia, is covered with pubescent gray awl-shaped spines. The leaves consist of 9-15 oval leaf segments up to 4 cm long. The flowers are small, white or light pink, 15-25 mm in size.

In the wild, New Mexican acacia grows in some states of North America - Texas, Colorado and California.

Bristly haired

Bristle-haired acacia is a shrub 1-3 m high that reproduces by root suckers. A characteristic feature of this species of Robinia is that all ground parts of the plant are covered with red-colored bristles. The leaves are up to 22 cm long, consist of 7-13 rounded segments up to 6 cm in size. Small flowers of bristle-haired Robinia are lilac or purple in color.

Magnificent acacia, or, as it is also called, wonderful, is a shrub 1.5 - 4 m high with feathery small green leaves. The lush inflorescence is formed by small, bright yellow spherical flowers. After flowering, the acacia produces elongated narrow pods up to 16 cm long with seeds.

This species is most common in Australia, in the states of Queensland and South Wales, where it is often cultivated.

Did you know? Acacia is an excellent honey plant, popular among beekeepers. Honey from acacia flowers is light and transparent, rich in various micro- and macroelements.

Armed

Armed acacia, or paradoxical, is a compact, densely branching bush 1 - 3 m high. It is abundantly covered with rich green phyllodes (an overgrown wide petiole that replaces leaf plates for the plant) up to 25 mm long. The growth bud has a thorn - a modified stipule - this was the reason that this type of acacia was called “armed”.

The asymmetrical leaves of this type of acacia are green with a silvery tint and have the shape of an ellipse with a blunt end. The shrub blooms in early spring with bright yellow flowers that form a single capitate inflorescence with a pleasant aroma. Thin shoots of armed acacia allow it to be used as an hanging plant that can decorate a house or garden.

Longifolia

Long-leaved acacia is a tree 8-10 m high; a characteristic feature of this species is intensive growth - in just 5 years the plant reaches a certain height and then grows only in breadth. The leaves of the long-leaved acacia are rich green in color, elongated, narrow in shape with a pointed end. Small pale yellow flowers form a standing fragrant cluster.

This species is common in Australia and parts of the United States. The flowers and seed pods are eaten in some countries and also used to make dyes.

Willow acacia

Acacia willow is an evergreen tree with a spreading crown up to 8 meters high, the birthplace of this plant is Australia. Willow acacia also grows in the wild in Africa and the Middle East. The species received its name due to the plant’s external resemblance to a weeping willow.

The tree is fast growing, without thorns, the branches of the plant are thin, curved, hanging down. Narrow and long leaves of rich green color, sometimes with a bluish tint. It blooms with bright yellow spherical flowers, which subsequently produce dark-colored seeds.

Caragana tree (yellow acacia)

Yellow acacia is a shrub 2-7 meters high, which is often used for hedges. Caragana tree-like leaves are approximately 8 cm long, formed by several pairs of oval pointed segments-leaflets. Flowering occurs at the end of spring with yellow flowers, reminiscent of butterflies in their structure. The flowers are quite large, single or form a cluster of 4-5 pieces.

Starting from the fourth year of life, this shrub bears fruit - a bean up to 6 cm long with small seeds. This type of caragana is wind-resistant, winter-hardy and not capricious to soils and moisture levels. Yellow acacia grows naturally in Siberia, Altai, Kazakhstan and Georgia.

Did you know? Acacia wood is suitable for heating rooms because it burns well and produces a lot of heat.

Red locust is an upright or spreading shrub densely covered with small, pointed leaves with thick longitudinal veins. The height of red acacia is approximately 1.5 - 2 meters.

Red acacia blooms from July to October with single flowers or bunches of two or three pieces that appear from the axils of the leaves of the bush. The color of the flowers ranges from light tones to rich and bright shades of yellow. In autumn, narrow curved pods up to 10 cm long with seeds are formed. This type of acacia prefers sandy soils.

Chinese acacia

Chinese acacia is a branched bush, the height of which can reach 10 m. The leaves are gray-green, up to 5 cm long, arranged in pairs along the main stem, there are sharp hollow stipules with a brown end. Chinese acacia flowers are spherical, fluffy, bright yellow in color, and smell like a mixture of violets and raspberries.

Oil is made from the flowers of this type of acacia, which is widely used in cosmetology and perfume compositions. Chinese acacia can be grown in a bonsai composition. This species grows in India, as well as in areas of subtropical and tropical latitudes.

Crimean acacia

Crimean, or, as it is also called, Lekoran acacia, albizia, is a deciduous spreading tree up to 12 m high and a trunk more than 3 m in girth. The leaves are pinnate, lacy, light green in color, up to 20 cm long, usually consisting of 14 oval elongated segments that can curl at night or in the heat. This type of acacia blooms with fragrant large flowers, consisting of silky thin threads of white and pink color, which form a fluffy bunch.

A variety of Crimean acacia is a shrub that can be grown as a houseplant. This species is very heat-loving and drought-resistant, growing well in illuminated areas.

Did you know? The lifespan of acacia is up to 100 years under favorable growing conditions.

Sand acacia is a shrub or tree 0.5 - 8 meters high. The root system is powerful, with a long main root, which allows it to obtain moisture in desert conditions. The trunk and branches are brown in color and rough to the touch. The leaves have a complex structure; in the middle of the long spine there are two narrow elongated light green leaves, pubescent with a silvery coating.

The flowers are rich purple in color with a yellow center and form small racemose inflorescences in late spring. In summer, acacia fruits appear that look like a flat spiral propeller.

Sand acacia grows in steppes and deserts and tolerates high temperatures and lack of watering. In Central Asian countries, acacia is used to strengthen sandy soil.

Silver acacia is also called mimosa. This is an evergreen tree, the crown of which forms a branched umbrella. Silver acacia usually reaches a height of approximately 10-12 m.

The trunk is about 70 cm in diameter, with a smooth mountain of gray-brown color with longitudinal cracks. The root system of this type of acacia is shallow and horizontally branched. The leaves are up to 20 cm long, pinnate, consist of many thin elongated segments, slightly pubescent with gray hairs.

The flowers are rich yellow beads-balls with a diameter of 5-8 mm, which form dense panicles-inflorescences. The flowering period begins in late winter and ends in spring. The fruit of silver acacia is a brown-eggplant bean up to 20 cm long with small hard seeds.

Silver acacia came to us from Australia, its homeland, where it grows in the wild.

Pink acacia is a tree up to 7 m high, but can sometimes grow higher. The bark is smooth, brown in color. The branches are covered with a thick sticky mass. The leaves are long, bright green, of complex structure, formed by several oval, pointed leaf segments.

It blooms in spherical inflorescences of medium-sized, light-purple, odorless flowers. The flowering period is long, lasting until the end of September. North America is considered the birthplace of pink acacia.

Acacia has been growing in many countries for many centuries, has a long history, shrouded in legends and beliefs, it was used in the Middle Ages in religious rites and treated various diseases. Nowadays, acacia is used for carpentry needs, traditional healers use its flowers for medicinal purposes, mighty trees decorate cities and release large amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere, and the unpretentiousness of the plant allows it to be grown everywhere.

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Imagine, that tree, which from childhood we are accustomed to perceive as white acacia, is not considered by biologists to be an acacia! Few people know that the real name of this tree (in botany) is Robinia vulgare, or Robinia false acacia.

Name locust invented by Carl Linnaeus and given to the plant in honor of the French botanists Jean and Vespasian Roben. However, the erroneous name white locust is so widespread that it has eclipsed the real one! We will not deviate from cultural tradition, therefore, so that the reader understands us, we will use the usual name, but we will “put” it in quotation marks.

What kind of plant is this?

The homeland of the “white locust” is North American forests, but it has successfully naturalized on all continents (of course, except Antarctica). Now it is widespread in our country, in Crimea, the Caucasus and the Far East.

For the Indians, acacia is the tree of life, immortality; its beautiful flowers symbolize purity. Collected in large clusters, they delight with their sweet aroma in June-July. Bees readily collect nectar from them. According to scientists, from one mature tree you can get from 5 to 14 kg of fragrant honey, which practically does not crystallize.

“White acacia” grows quickly, especially in the first 10 years, and under favorable conditions can reach a height of up to 30 m. This tree is quite hardy, sun-loving, drought-resistant, has a beautiful openwork crown, so it is successfully used both in landscape design and for creating wind-protective forest belts, strengthening unstable soils with a high sand content. The oldest tree in Paris is the “white acacia,” planted in 1601 in the royal garden of Henry VI. It's hard to believe, but Robinia is used in the delicate art of growing bonsai - mini copies of real trees.
If you look at the photo, you would never guess that “white acacia” belongs to the legume family. It is “given away” by flowers and fruits - small pods with seeds, which, however, are not used for food or treatment, but are used in decorative crafts.

Medicinal qualities of “white acacia”

It is known that Robinia preparations can be used as antispasmodics, diuretics, mild laxatives, as well as antipyretic, astringent, hemostatic, choleretic and expectorant. It is known that “white acacia” is used in the treatment of many diseases:

• tumors and inflammation in the “female” genital area; infertility;
• rheumatism, joint diseases;
• depression, overwork;
• ulcers in the stomach;
• colds, including prolonged ones.

Experts admit that the medicinal properties and chemical composition of “white acacia” have not yet been fully studied, so treatment with drugs from this plant is possible only under the supervision of a doctor or an experienced herbalist.

A valuable essential oil is extracted from “white acacia,” which has an antispasmodic, analgesic, antiseptic, stimulating effect, and also repels insect pests. This oil is recommended for use in the care of sensitive skin and in aromatherapy to lift mood and neutralize the effects of stress.

Interesting fact! Blooming acacia is used to make jam and even vodka. You can learn more about this in the video at the end of the article.

Chemical composition of Robinia vulgare

The flowers and young bark of “white acacia” contain unique robinine, a substance that causes a decrease in the level of ammonia in the blood and the removal of urea from the body. This substance is used in pharmacology for the manufacture of drugs. However, this substance is toxic, so self-treatment with “white acacia” is unacceptable!

Flowers, shoots and leaves also contain glycosides, flavonoids, organic and fatty acids, essential oils, tannins, esters (for example, salicylic acid), pectins, phytosterol, mucus, sugars, vitamins A and C, minerals, tannins.

The use of “white acacia” as medicine

Tip: Flowers are collected during the flowering period, and it is important to choose the time when they are half-bloomed. They should be dried in the shade, in a ventilated area at temperatures up to 50°C (for example, in the attic). The bark and leaves can be collected from spring to late summer.

Recipe for a decoction for “female” inflammation

You will need: 1 tbsp. flowers, 2 glasses of water.
Preparation: Pour water over the raw material, bring to a boil and keep on low heat for another 2 minutes. Strain, cool and dilute with water to obtain the original volume.

Take 1 tbsp. decoction up to four times a day half an hour before meals.

Recipe for acacia flower tincture for infertility

You will need: fresh flowers, alcohol or vodka (1:1 ratio).

Preparation: Pour alcohol over the flowers, close the container and leave for 10 days in a dark place.

Take 3 times a day, 20 drops diluted in 1 tbsp. clean water.

Recipe for rubbing tincture for rheumatism, radiculitis

You will need: 50 g of flowers, 2 glasses of vodka or alcohol.

Preparation: Pour vodka over the raw materials, leave for three weeks in a dark place, shaking the container regularly. After the expiration date, the tincture is filtered and used for rubbing - 2 times a day. This remedy also helps well with varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.

Recipe for a decoction for colds and coughs

You will need: 1 tbsp. powdered leaves, 1 cup boiling water.

Preparation: Pour water over the raw material, boil for 5 minutes over low heat. Strain the cooled broth and take 1 tbsp three times a day. before meals.

Recipe for a decoction for cystitis

You will need: a collection of acacia flowers, calendula flowers, wheatgrass root (50 g), taken in equal parts, water (300 ml).

Preparation: Pour water over the raw material and boil for 8 minutes. Cool, strain and add hot water to 300 ml.

Take the decoction three times a day, 50 ml.

Recipe for bark infusion for the treatment of gastritis, peptic ulcers, constipation

Required: 1 tsp. acacia bark, water (1 l).

Preparation: Pour boiling water over the bark and leave for 1 hour. Strain, take 120 ml three times a day for 20 minutes. before meals.

Cautions and contraindications

The bark of the tree, as well as the wood, contains the alkaloid toxalbuminrobin, which has an irritating effect and “burns” the protective mucous membranes. Thus, when harvesting wood, signs of poisoning may appear: headache or heart pain, malaise, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. If such symptoms occur, you should immediately do a gastric lavage, drink an absorbent and consult a doctor.

White acacia preparations should be taken in limited doses, as a large dose can lead to poisoning with toxic substances. Acacia-based products should not be used by those with low stomach acidity, low blood pressure, as well as children, pregnant and lactating women, or those with individual intolerance.

Important: Using folk remedies based on white acacia to treat any diseases is permissible only after consultation with a doctor. The plant is poisonous and, if used incorrectly, can cause significant harm to the body.

All materials on the Priroda-Znaet.ru website are presented for informational purposes only. Before using any product, consultation with a doctor is MANDATORY!

Everyone knows that honey is a product that is not only tasty, but also healthy. It is impossible to list all its beneficial properties, but over the past millennia, the bee product has established itself as an effective cure for a huge number of diseases. The amber product continues to be studied by scientists, and its use is increasingly expanding.

Many varieties of bee honey have been identified, all of them are named after honey-bearing plants: buckwheat, forest, meadow, and acacia. The latter is undoubtedly one of the most valuable types of honey. Its advantage is not only the absence of the bitterness characteristic of others, but also a number of useful properties.

Chemical composition and calorie content

Acacia honey is a source of a huge amount of useful enzymes necessary for strong immunity and vitality of the human body. Among them:

• Easily digestible carbohydrates: glucose and fructose;
• Vitamins: C, B2, PP, E, K, carotene, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid.
• Microelements: manganese, chromium, silicon, lithium, copper, nickel, tin, aluminum, lead, osmium, zinc, boron, etc.
• Macroelements: sodium, calcium, iodine, magnesium, sulfur, iron, phosphorus, chlorine.
• Organic acids: malic, citric, tartaric, lactic, oxalic.

It is worth highlighting the fact that the content of minerals in acacia honey actually corresponds to their content in human blood. A unique set of vitamins, minerals, acids and biogenic stimulants makes honey an indispensable product for improving metabolic reactions, digestion, and immunity.

Honey has quite a high calorie content. 100 grams of honey contains from 0.3% to 3.3% proteins and 77.2% carbohydrates, totaling 335 kilocalories.

How to distinguish white acacia honey?

Only a knowledgeable beekeeper, or one who has tasted acacia flowers more than once, can distinguish acacia honey by taste or color. There is a subtle hint of acacia scent in the honey, but the color may vary depending on the flowers of the tree from which the bees collected pollen. Acacia can be yellow (caragana) or white (robinia), so acacia honey is either transparent or slightly yellowish. Its color does not affect the properties of the product at all.

To check the quality of honey before purchasing, you don’t need any special tools. Very light, completely transparent honey, especially one that flows easily from a spoon, is clearly of poor quality. Natural acacia honey has a creamy hue, bright aroma and delicate taste. It is worth paying additional attention to the consistency of honey: a real acacia product should flow from the spoon evenly, without dissolving, but forming a pyramid on the surface.

It is better to buy acacia honey directly from beekeepers, and not from resellers - this way there is less risk of getting a fake product. In addition, you can ask the manufacturer in detail about where and when the honey was collected in order to finally verify its quality. Acacia grows mainly on the Primorsky coast and in the Caucasus, and honey is collected in late May - early June.

Beneficial features

The main properties of acacia honey are antimicrobial, antiseptic and tonic. The high content of vitamin A allows it to be used, for example, to treat eye diseases, and its non-allergic nature makes it harmless for children. The low sugar content makes it suitable for use in diabetes mellitus. Acacia honey is often included in various creams and ointments, both medicinal and cosmetic.

In addition, honey has such beneficial properties as:

• Wound healing;
• Lowering blood pressure for hypertension;
• Boosts immunity;
• Anti-aging;
• Strengthens the cardiovascular system;
• Regenerating and accelerating the healing process of the mucous membrane.

Use in folk medicine

Traditional medicine has learned to use almost everything that grows on the earth or is produced by animals for the benefit of humans. Likewise, acacia honey, thanks to its beneficial properties, has found its use in the treatment of such diseases, How:

• Various eye diseases: conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, glaucoma, cataracts. To treat eye diseases, eye drops based on honey and water are used, which are easy to prepare at home.
• Skin diseases: dermatitis, eczema, acne. To refresh and improve the health of the skin, masks, massages, poultices, tinctures and rubs are used.
• Enuresis in children. 100 ml of water and a teaspoon of honey before bed helps in treating this disease in young children.
• Liver and kidney diseases. Acacia honey helps strengthen strength and cleanse the blood of toxins that overstrain the liver and kidneys.
• Nervous stress and problems in the nervous system. Honey, consumed daily in reasonable quantities, will provide the body with useful substances and vitamins, which will strengthen the weakened body and calm frayed nerves.
• Reduced immunity. A huge number of enzymes contained in honey have undeniable benefits for the immune system. A teaspoon mixed in warm tea instead of sugar will bring more benefits to the immune system than many vitamin complexes.
• Respiratory system diseases: bronchitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, laryngitis, bronchial asthma. For these diseases, it is useful to do inhalations based on acacia honey. Such inhalations not only cleanse the respiratory tract, but also do so harmlessly, further strengthening the mucous membrane and healing erosions.

For colds

Like any other honey, acacia honey is an excellent assistant in the fight against colds. Its difference lies in the complete absence of a bitter taste and high fructose content, due to which honey is perfectly absorbed by the body. The low pollen content in its composition makes honey hypoallergenic and harmless even for small children. Thus, honey is indicated for the treatment of colds in people of any age.

Treatment and prevention of colds with acacia honey consists of taking a warm solution. A teaspoon of honey dissolves in a glass of warm water. Under no circumstances should any honey be dissolved in boiling water: at high temperatures, honey loses its beneficial properties and, moreover, becomes carcinogenic. The warm solution is taken half a glass twice a day. At the same time, adults are recommended to consume several tablespoons of white acacia honey per day, washed down with warm water or milk.

Folk remedies such as:

• lemon;
• ginger;
• chamomile;
• raspberries.

These remedies also help cure colds, but do not exclude the beneficial properties of honey.

For conjunctivitis

The general strengthening and antiseptic properties of white acacia honey have made it an indispensable assistant in the treatment of eye diseases. It is successfully used for glaucoma, cataracts, conjunctivitis, as the solution from it helps in:

• decreased eye pressure;
• pacification of pain and cramps;
• reducing inflammation of the cornea;
• improves vision.

Traditional medicine advises several different ways to use honey in the treatment of eye diseases. It is worth noting that although the effect of using honey will be noticeable immediately, in cases where microsurgical intervention is required, it will not be able to completely cure the disease.

Dropping honey into the eyes is done in different ways. Here are the 2 most common methods:

1. Honey dissolved in water is dripped into the eyes. Distilled water is mixed with honey in the ratio of a tablespoon of honey to two tablespoons of water. The product is dripped into the eyes at night and two more times during the day. After three weeks of procedures, a ten-day break is taken. This method helps not only with conjunctivitis, but also with cataracts.
2. Honey with clover juice. These agents are mixed in equal proportions and instilled into the affected eye twice a day.

To stabilize sugar levels

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that can be controlled largely thanks to an appropriate diet. In both types of diabetes, it is prohibited to consume carbohydrate-containing foods, so the question of the benefits of honey during diabetes is very sensitive.

Fructose, which is contained in bee products, often leads not only to obesity during diabetes, but also to diabetes itself. But despite this factor, doctors not only do not prohibit honey from being used by diabetics, but even recommend it. True, it is very selective: for example, acacia, heather, sage and chestnut are among the few permitted species due to their beneficial properties.

• Fructose in their composition requires less insulin when absorbed;
• The same fructose actually eliminates the risk of a sharp rise in blood glucose, especially if you take honey with honeycomb;
• Acacia honey normalizes blood pressure levels;
• Helps get rid of insomnia, common to many diabetics;
• Stabilizes the nervous system and fights neuropathic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus;
• Microelements in honey, and especially chromium, normalize blood sugar and help utilize excess fat;
• Honey regulates metabolism;
• It has antibacterial, tonic and vitaminizing properties.

Despite all the undeniable benefits of acacia honey, there are also contraindications, so the question of introducing white acacia honey into the diet should only be decided by a doctor. In the stage of decompensation of the disease, honey is completely contraindicated: high glycated hemoglobin and fasting glucose are the main prohibiting factors.

Those patients whom doctors have allowed to consume honey should adhere to rules for its reception:

• For better absorption of honey, it is better to take it in the first half of the day;
• You should not take more than two tablespoons of honey per day;
• In no case should honey be heated to more than 60 degrees, otherwise it will lose all its important beneficial properties and acquire harmful ones;
• Honey goes best with wholemeal bread and plant foods that contain a lot of fiber;
• It is more beneficial to take honey together with honeycombs during diabetes, as it will be absorbed into the blood more slowly and will not cause insulin spikes.

By consuming two tablespoons of acacia honey per day, you can stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Some people prefer honey in its pure form, others stir it into tea, or you can eat it as a snack with bread. Honey tinctures are not recommended for diabetes, as it is most beneficial in its pure form.

For honey to be beneficial, the patient should consume it responsibly and follow the rules. Otherwise, honey may become an indirect cause of the development of type 2 diabetes or decompensation.

For nervous tension

Neuroses that are caused by stress and emotional exhaustion, long-term and persistent, do not respond well to drug therapy, which often itself aggravates them. In this condition, it is recommended to use folk remedies - for example, white acacia honey in combination with a complex of B vitamins. The course of such treatment lasts about a month and leads to a significant reduction in anxiety, increased resistance to stress and normalization of blood pressure.

In addition, the substances contained in acacia nectar normalize the heartbeat during panic attacks that appear during compulsive neurosis.

Indications for the use of honey for diseases of the nervous system:

• Constant apathy, fatigue and passivity;
• Insomnia, problems waking up in the morning;
• Panic, hypochondria, depression, neurasthenia that arise for no apparent reason;
• Accompanying the above with heart pain.

If you have these symptoms, you should start taking white acacia honey according to the following recipe: one and a half tablespoons of honey in the morning and one and a half in the evening. Honey can be stirred into warm chamomile tea, or consumed as a snack with other types of liquid: tea, water, milk. The main thing is not to overheat honey and before using it, make sure there are no contraindications to its use.

Application in cosmetology

Honey collected from white acacia flowers remains a popular cosmetic product despite the constantly developing cosmetic industry. Its beneficial properties, proven by many years of research, make it an indispensable home remedy for the treatment of dry and combination skin, as well as dermatological problems.

Apart from being used as part of face masks, acacia honey is almost never used. But it is not forbidden to make hair masks based on it, where ordinary honey is prescribed. Acacia has much more important properties for the skin, so it is a fairly narrowly targeted cosmetic product.

Pharmacological properties of acacia honey:

• Microelements of potassium and phosphorus create a peeling effect, separating dead skin cells and thereby rejuvenating and refreshing the face;
• Bee bread and royal jelly effectively combat dryness and dehydration;
• Honey stimulates collagen production;
• After masks made from acacia honey, the skin becomes soft, elastic and toned;
• Relieves vitamin deficiency, superficial dermatitis and dryness in winter.

Honey scrub

A soft and safe scrub made from acacia honey is easy to make at home. For this you need the following ingredients:

• 20 grams of nectar;
• a teaspoon of lemon juice;
• 10 grams of bran.

The ingredients are mixed and applied to the face, previously cleansed of makeup, for 10 minutes (for dry skin) or 15 (for combination skin). After the allotted time, the scrub is washed off with warm water, after which a circular massage is done in problem areas on the face.

Mask for preventing the appearance of facial wrinkles

To provide the skin with proper care and avoid the appearance of the first wrinkles, people have long used acacia honey. The anti-wrinkle mask is prepared using ingredients such as:

• 20 grams of honey;
• egg yolk;
• 15 grams of potato flour.

Beat the yolk, then add honey and mix thoroughly. Flour, previously sifted, is passed through a sieve and poured into the product gradually, while stirring. The resulting homogeneous mass is applied to the face for 10-15 minutes and washed off after complete drying. This procedure is recommended to be done especially after exposure to sunlight to protect the skin from inflammation and destruction.

The use of white acacia honey in dietetics

Nutritionists from all over the world recommend acacia honey for use during the diet as a fortifying, strengthening, digestive and quickly absorbed remedy, despite its high calorie content. If you follow the correct dosage during the diet, acacia honey will not allow you to gain weight, but will help you get all the necessary vitamins. As a dietary product, it is recommended to take it after dissolving it in warm water. The temperature of the water with which honey is diluted should not exceed 45 degrees.

The daily intake of acacia honey is 2 tablespoons per 3 glasses of warm water. This norm is divided into 3 doses, where 30% of the drug is taken in the morning and evening, and the remaining 40% at lunchtime.

It is not recommended to eat honey with bread and other foods. During a diet, honey should be supplied to the body either with water or in its pure form to avoid oversaturation. Honey is quite high in calories and perfectly quenches thirst.

Contraindications

Despite the huge number of beneficial properties, hypoallergenicity and rapid digestibility, acacia honey has a number of contraindications. Many of them are general, that is, not significant when consumed in moderation, such as:

• Pregnancy. Acacia honey is not advisable during pregnancy if there are general contraindications and should not be consumed in large quantities. Moderate consumption will only benefit the body of mother and child.
• Type 1 diabetes, subject to medical approval.
• Age up to 3 years. Such young children should be given honey, starting with a small amount - a few drops, carefully monitoring the reactions of the child's body.

It is strictly forbidden to take acacia honey:

• When breastfeeding. The immune system of infants is hyperallergic and the use of honey while breastfeeding can lead to the early development of allergies and all the ensuing problems.
• Children under 1 year. Honey is strictly contraindicated for them and, in fact, is not capable of bringing much benefit.
• For type 2 diabetes mellitus, decompensation of the disease.
• Persons who have a tendency to allergies or hypersensitivity to this type of nectar.

Complete intolerance to a bee product is rare, but is also a serious contraindication to the use of this product.