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 BLACKBERRY RUBUS - various species
Blackberries have been used through the ages for a
variety of medicinal purposes, from diarrhea to a general restorative.
The main chemicals present in blackberries are gallic
acid and tannin, and it is present in every part of the plant.
Blackberries picked and dried then powdered can be stored
and used with a small amount of water to counter act diarrhea. The tea made from
the leaves, steeped in water for five minutes, or simmering bark of the root,
can be used in 1 cup increments several times a day. Blackberry leaves are
available at most health-food stores, or you can dry your own. Cordials have
been used in the past for those with colds and flu, along with vinegars. Also
old folk tales state that mixing vinegars with water seems to aid those with
gout and arthritis. And the use of vinegars for a fever is suppose to be lowered
by the use of blackberries. Blackberry shoots boiled into a tea is said to have
been used for mouth irritations such as canker sores. Possibly because of it's
astringent properties. A tea from the leaves and the drinking of the juice has
also been used in the past for an upset stomach.
A cordial from the juice of the blackberry has been used
in the past as a stimulate for the body and heart, and is helpful in overcoming
an illness. To make a cordial, press out the juice, for every quart of juice
add, 1/2 - 1 oz of nutmeg and cloves and about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds of sugar (honey
also works well, about 2/3 cup of honey is equivalent to on cup of sugar, the
amount of total liquid also needs to be monitored, about 3 tablespoons less
liquid per amount of honey used) Heat and simmer this mixture till it reaches
the point of becoming a syrup. This syrup can be mixed with brandy to taste.
Note: Using honey does cut down on the shelf life of this cordial and it may
cause it to ferment if not kept cold.
Vinegars can be used to sooth the throat, and be made
into compresses. Dip a cloth into the vinegar and wrap around the throat, then
wrap with a couple of layers of dry cloth and then an old sock. (my mother use
to do this for all sore throats.. what the sock has to do with it I have no
idea.. but it does work) To make Blackberry vinegar, take the berries make sure
that they are cleaned of stems branches etc. Place them in a covered
non-aluminum container, poor apple cider vinegar or malt over them and let them
sit for a min. of 3 days. Then strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a
strainer do not force it through. Let it drip on it's own. To each pint of juice
measure about a pound of honey, simmer, remove the scum that rises to the top
and bottle. Make sure that your bottle is closed tightly with a cork or lid.
A modification of the above is to use Glycerite in place
of the honey, approx. 8 oz of Glycerite is the equivalent amount. Both of the
above I might add work can be used as external compresses for arthritic joints.
Now the short cuts or when you don't have fresh berries or don't have time to
wait. Take blackberry jelly mix it with vinegar heat and use as in the above. |
