AltNature: Blackberry Rubus

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Misty L. Trepke

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BLACKBERRY RUBUS

http://altnature.com/library/blackber.htm

 

By Lori Herron, R.N.

 

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.