Paliure: benefits, use and dosage
The Paliure, the essentials in 3 points:
-Helps control cholesterol levels
-Traditionally used to treat digestive disorders such as upset stomach, colic and intestinal problems.
-Beneficial effect on glycemia by helping to regulate blood sugar levels
Also known as the Thorn of Christ, paliure is a shrub with a very distinctive habit, making it easy to recognize. In addition to its atypical silhouette, paliure has a natural formula rich in active ingredients, making it indispensable and highly appreciated in phytotherapy.
What botanical characteristics make paliure so special?
The thorn of Christ is a bushy shrub, about 3 meters high, belonging to the Rhamnaceae family. Easy to identify, it can be recognized by its numerous twigs, which grow in a zigzag pattern. The leaves of this shrub grow alternately on the twigs. Small, deciduous and ovoid, they have smooth margins and faint veins. At the base of each leaf are two hook-shaped spines. One is always straight and long, while the other, shorter, is always curved inwards. Between June and July, the paliure reveals tiny, greenish-yellow flowers. They have 5 sepals and 5 petals, giving them a star shape. Although colorful, the shrub’s flowers are difficult to see. The fruits of the paliure are hat-shaped achenes or flying saucers. They have wavy edges and are each covered by a membranous wing with radiating folds. Reddish-brown in color, the fruits of the thorn of Christ persist on the tree, even after the leaves have fallen in winter. Harvesting generally begins in August, just before the fruit ripens and turns grayish-brown. Once harvested, the fruit is dried and stored in a dry, airy place.
Where can I find paliure and how do I grow it?
This shrub thrives in the dry, arid regions of the Mediterranean. It can be found in Italy, eastern Spain, Greece, the Balkans and Turkey. It also grows in the Caucasus, Georgia and Armenia. Paliure is also found throughout southern France, including the Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’azur and Languedoc-Roussillon regions. There is also a good concentration of this shrub in Var, Hérault, Gard, Alpes-Maritimes and Bouches-du-Rhône. A few specimens have been spotted near major cities, in parks and public gardens. For a beautiful, healthy shrub, you need not only sun, but also compact, dry, poor soil. Dry hillsides, garrigues, roadsides and rubble are all suitable.
About the use of paliure or thorn of Christ in phytotherapy
It is mainly the dried fruits of the paliure plant that are used in phytotherapy. These fruits have the advantage of being bursting with active ingredients, including flavonoids such as rutosides and isovitexins. These active ingredients act synergistically to promote the body’s comfort and well-being on a daily basis. To reap the benefits of these dried fruits, we generally recommend consuming them as a tea or decoction. To make a good herbal tea from dried paliure fruit, first boil some water. Generally speaking, one cup of boiling water is equivalent to 1 tablespoon of dried fruit. Leave to infuse for around 5 minutes, and you’re ready to go. On a daily basis, 2 to 3 cups of herbal tea are more than enough. To prepare a decoction, boil 15 g of dried fruit in a liter of water. Boil for 4-5 minutes, then steep for 15 minutes. The recommended 3 cups of decoction a day should be taken between meals. It is also advisable to adopt a healthy lifestyle during the cure. Eating a varied, well-balanced diet will also promote your health and well-being on a daily basis. What’s more, it’s always advisable to seek the advice of a phytotherapy professional before embarking on a cure. He or she is the only person who can advise you on which plant to use and which format to choose. They can also advise you on dosage and the ideal duration of the cure. This can range from a few weeks to several months.