Grapes

In the Old Testament grapes symbolized the Life Tree. In Christianity a grapevine a symbol of spiritual life. But history of grapes began much earlier.

Grapes belong to some of the most ancient plants. Seeds of grapes were found on pile constructions of Switzerland, and in the Middle East cultivated grapes 7000 - 9000 years ago. Mesopotamia, Assyria, Babylon were famous for wine growing and winemaking in the 4th century BC. Ancient Egyptians for hundreds of years devoted a rod to god Osiris B.C., and at ancient Greeks and Romans it was devoted to god of winemaking Dionysus in Greece and Bakhus in Rome. "The way of our life passes through grapes", - ancient Romans said. In Ancient Rome more than hundred grades of grapes were cultivated. Grape wine was used in sacrifices as it reminded blood. It is difficult to find at least one Ancient Greek myth where grapes, a grapevine, grape wine directly or indirectly would not be mentioned.

Grapes cultural – V. Vinifera - a long-term wood listopadny liana from Vinogradov' family – Vitaceae. Core of stalks brown or yellowish-brown. Escapes very quickly grow, during the summer grow by several meters. Length of a rod can reach 30 meters. The grapevine rises up support by means of short moustaches, around them twisted. Grapes short moustaches it no other than modified inflorescences which are formed on a stalk suprotivno to leaves in the top part of escape.

Leaves are lustrous, large, roundish simple, cut, five bladed on scapes. In the summer leaves brightly or dark green, and are painted in solar orange and purple tone in the fall. Small green fragrant flowers are collected in panicled inflorescences which are attached to a stalk opposite to a leaf scape. The rod in May-June blossoms. Fruits are various in size, a form, taste, fleshy with a rigid thin skin, green, whitish, pink, yellowish or dark red berries, with a wax raid, form friable clusters.

In the territory of Russia it is cultivated in the southern part, in the Caucasus, in gardens gets divorced also in a midland of Russia. It is used as an ornamental plant.

Grapes are not exacting to the soil, are rather frost-resistant, but for maturing it needs early spring and long warm fall. Grapes shanks breed. There are also about 60 wild-growing types of grapes which became a basis for creation of cultivars in due time.

In cookery, medicine and cosmetics fruits and leaves of grapes are used.

Pulp of grapes contains: the vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, E, PP, P, C painting and aromatic substances, sugar, pectin, wine, apple and other organic acids, about 80% of water, and a significant amount of minerals - sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc, copper …

Still ancient Greeks and Romans knew about beneficial influence of grapes on an organism and widely used it in medical practice.

Grapes have the anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, regenerating property.

Grape juice and young wine strengthen immunity, reduce arterial blood pressure, heal a cardiovascular system, increase the level of hemoglobin and erythrocytes in blood, accelerate a metabolism, increase bile production, and bile removal, fight against intestinal bacteria, strengthen nerves, reduce risk of formation of blood clots and cholesteric plaques.

The course of treatment grapes usually lasts month. In day from 1 to 2 kg of grapes are eaten in several portions.

Fresh berries and juice of grapes treat atherosclerosis, ischemia, bronchial asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, rheumatic diseases of vessels, diseases of a liver and kidneys, an allergy, radiation sickness, oncological diseases, anemia and many other things.

Pulp of grapes and juice are used in national cosmetics. They increase elasticity of skin, tone up, smooth wrinkles, humidify and rejuvenate it.

- The moistening structure
To mix 1 tablespoon of grape juice with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 5-6 drops of vitamin E in oil. To use for clarification of dry skin. The received mix can be used as for removal of a make-up, and just for clarification of dry skin.

- The mask cleaning
To take ½ glasses of fresh grape juice, to add 2 drops of a lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey, to mix and put on a face several layers. To wash away water of room temperature.

- For the dry, normal and combined skin
It is good to knead and put ripe juicy berries without stones on a face for 15 minutes. To wash boiled water of room temperature.

- A grape mask for oily skin
To mix 2 tablespoons of grape juice with 1 beaten egg white and to add starch before formation of gruel. To put on a face for 15 minutes, to wash away water of room temperature.

- The rejuvenating mask from grapes
To mix 2 tablespoons of grape juice with 2 tablespoons of soft cottage cheese and to put on a face for 15 minutes. To wash away the tampon moistened in warm tea leaves of green tea. To grease the skin with the moisturizing cream. This mask will perfectly rejuvenate a neck and a decollete even strongly faded if to make a course of masks 15 every other day.