Genus & Species (Latin name): Rubus fruticosus & villosus
Family: Rosaceae (rose family)
Common Names: blackberry
Taste: tart, sour, sweet (fruit), astringent
Parts Used: fruit, leaves, roots
Energetics: cool, drying & tonifying (astringent)
Properties/Actions: antidiarrheal (leaves and roots), antiseptic, astringent, mild diuretic and laxative (fruit), antispasmodic, antioxidant, alterative, hypoglycemic, nutritive
Tissue State Affinities: digestive tract (especially lower) and urinary system
Warnings: The leaves and roots are rich in tannins (source of astringency) which have the potential to interact with other supplements or medications. High doses can upset stomach. Caution advised as chronic use of astringents can cause excessive drying. Nonetheless, herbalist David Hoffmann states that there are no drug interactions for blackberry.
Distribution: North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa. Surprisingly to me, it does not seem like there are blackberries in South America.
Introduction to Blackberry
Blackberries boast a rich history of consumption that spans thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, other European peoples, and native Americans, recognized the value of blackberry plants in traditional medicine. As early as 1696, the London Pharmacopoeia documented the use of blackberries in crafting wines and cordials. Even in 1771, historical records detailed the brewing of blackberry leaves, stem, and bark to treat stomach ulcers.
Beyond their culinary and medicinal uses, blackberry fruit, leaves, and stems have versatile applications. Native Americans ingeniously utilized the stems to craft ropes, while the plant's natural thorns provided protective barriers for buildings, crops, and livestock. Moreover, blackberries were used for dyeing fabrics and hair, showcasing the diverse range of benefits these remarkable plants offer.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a fascinating folklore tradition cautions against picking blackberries after Old Michaelmas Day (October 11th) due to a belief that the devil might have rendered them unfit to eat fouling them in some way. Interestingly, there is some validity to this legend, as the wetter and cooler autumn weather can lead to fruit infections caused by molds such, rendering the berries unpleasant to eat and potentially toxic.
Certain traditions associate the deep purple color of blackberries with representing Jesus' blood, and there's a notion that the crown of thorns might have been made from a bramble plant, which include blackberries. However, other thorny plants, like hawthorn and crown of thorns plant, have also been suggested as potential materials for the crown.
Berry patches are not only a delight for humans but also serve as vital sanctuaries for wildlife and birds, providing them with protection and sustenance. During the summer, the thorny branches, known as canes or brambles, become adorned with luscious, ripe fruit, making the experience of berry picking incredibly rewarding.
Culinary and Nutritional Blackberry
Culinary traditions have long embraced blackberries, using them in combination with other berries and fruits to create delightful pies, crumbles, jellies, and jams. The ripe blackberry fruit is also widely enjoyed in wines, liqueurs, and even candy. When foraging for blackberries, it's important to leave plenty for the animals and birds, unless they are invasive species, in which case, harvesting is encouraged.
The nutritional and medicinal benefits of blackberries extend beyond their delectable fruit. Raw blackberries are rich in polyphenols, including anthocyanins and flavanols, which contribute to their vibrant color and offer various health benefits. Additionally, blackberries are abundant in essential vitamins such as vitamin C and K, and crucial minerals like manganese. With 88% water content, they also provide hydration and refreshment.
However, it's not just the fruit that holds value; the leaves and roots of blackberry plants are also treasure troves of nutrition and health-promoting compounds. They are excellent sources of vitamin C and K, iron, and manganese, along with various phytonutrients. These attributes make the leaves and roots suitable for teas and decoctions, especially during times of convalescence when their therapeutic properties can be particularly beneficial.
Astringent and Medicinal Blackberry
Throughout history, blackberry leaves and roots have been valued for their numerous medicinal benefits. Traditionally, they were employed to address concerns related to spongy, inflamed gums, oral sores, and sore throats that accompany long episodes of dry coughs.
Additionally, a cooled blackberry leaf tea, owing to its tannin-rich quality, can be used as a wash to soothe severe sunburns. The leaves, with their slight styptic qualities, have proven to be useful in making poultices or fomentations to treat mildly bleeding, oozing wounds, blisters, and bug bites. Their application as a wash or toner helps promote wound healing and provide relief for various skin issues such as eczema or psoriasis.
Blackberry's astringent properties make it suitable for addressing complaints of the digestive system, as the astringent properties have a toning effect on the mucosal tissue in the digestive tract, from top to bottom, making it supportive in cases of leaky gut syndrome, Chron's disease, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.
During episodes of diarrhea, blackberry leaves' astringent qualities help to halt the loss of fluids through the intestinal wall, providing relief and promoting better bowel control. This makes blackberry leaf tea an excellent option for individuals suffering from stomach flu or similar illnesses with upset stomach leading to diarrhea. Moreover, blackberry leaf tea can play a crucial role in cases of significant fluid loss resulting from sweating fevers. The tea acts both as an astringent to help control diarrhea and as a nutritive restorative, providing essential nutrients to support the body during the recovery process.
The combination of astringent and nutritive properties makes blackberry leaf tea a valuable remedy in the realm of traditional medicine, offering gentle yet effective relief for digestive ailments and assisting in the body's restoration to better health.
Cardiac Benefits
Accumulating evidence supports the potential health benefits of incorporating blackberries into one's diet. The presence of anthocyanins and flavonoids in blackberries provides powerful antioxidant properties, which are believed to contribute to the prevention or slowing of several metabolic and aging-related diseases by destroying free radicals and reducing inflammation.
Blackberries have shown promise in promoting heart health, as studies indicate that regular consumption can lead to improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus positively impacting cardiovascular well-being. Blackberries also hold potential benefits for individuals with metabolic syndrome. Their consumption may lead to improved arterial pliability, which is a favorable development in managing this cluster of conditions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
For individuals with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, blackberries have demonstrated particular efficacy. Research indicates that they play a vital role in controlling blood sugar levels and reducing vascular inflammation. Moreover, studies show that consuming blackberries can significantly enhance fat oxidation and improve insulin sensitivity, both of which are crucial factors in preventing obesity and diabetes.
Preparations
Blackberry leaf is ideally suited to herbal teas. On the other hand, the roots of blackberry plants require a decoction to fully unlock their medicinal properties. For those seeking alternative extraction methods, tinctures with low alcohol content and oxymels have also proven to be effective in capturing the nutritive and medicinal constituents of blackberry. These preparations offer a convenient and potent way to harness the plant's valuable properties.
By employing herbal infusions, teas, decoctions, tinctures, and oxymels, individuals can fully explore and appreciate the diverse health benefits that blackberry leaves and roots have to offer. The versatility of these extraction methods highlights the significance of blackberry as a valuable herb in traditional herbal medicine, promoting overall well-being and supporting health in various ways.
Recipes
Blackberry Chamomile Tea
1 cup of water
1 tsp dried blackberry leaf
1/2 tsp dried chamomile
pinch of dried rose hips
Place herbs into the tea caddy of your preference and place into your favorite mug. Pour just boiled water over the tea caddy and cover the mug and allow to steep for about 15 minutes. This tea is delightful with a touch of honey added.
Heart Tea
1 tsp dried blackberry leaf
1/2 tsp organic dried rose petals
1/2 tsp dried linden leaves
pinch of dried lemon or orange peel
Place herbs into the tea caddy of your preference and place into your favorite mug. Pour just boiled water over the tea caddy and cover the mug and allow to steep for about 15 minutes.
Blackberry Shrub
~2 cups of blackberries or blend of blackberries and your favorite berries
~2 cups of raw apple cider vinegar
1 cup of honey
Bubbly water
pinch or two of your favorite spices such as cinnamon, fennel, ginger, allspice (optional)
Place fruit, and spices into a quart mason jar. Mash the fruit a bit. Add honey and fill the jar with apple cider vinegar. Use a plastic lid (vinegar corrodes metal). Give it a gentle swirl to be sure that the vinegar is touching all of the ingredients. I like to put it in a door shelf in my refrigerator so that I remember to give it a gentle swirl each time I open the door. Allow it to infuse for about 2 weeks. Strain out the fruit and set aside for a salad or special dessert. Store the infused vinegar in the refrigerator, may last up to a year. Mix the vinegar with bubbly water (1 part vinegar to 4 parts bubbly). You may want to try adding this blackberry infused vinegar into your summer teas for an extra refreshing effect.
References
Young, Devon. The Backyard Herbal Apothecary, Effective Medicinal Remedies Using Commonly Found Herbs & Plants, Page Street, 2019
Easley, Thomas; Horne, Steven. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory A Medicine-Making Guide, North Atlantic Books, 2016
Blackberry (2023, August 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackberry
Villegas, Heidi, Healing Harvest Homestead: Blackberry and Raspberry (Rubus spp.)
Solverson P, Rumpler W, Leger J, et al. Blackberry feeding increases fat oxidation and improves insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese males. Nutrients. 2018;10(8):1048. doi:10.3390%2Fnu10081048
Gu I, Howard L, Lee SO. Volatiles in berries: biosynthesis, composition, bioavailability, and health benefits. Applied Sciences. 2022;12(20):10238. doi:10.3390/app122010238
Zhu, Y.; Ling, W; Huo, H.; Song, F.; Ye, Q.; Zou, T.; Li, D.; Zhang, Y.; Li, G.; Xiao, Y.; Liu, F.; Li, Z.; Shi, Z.; Yang, Y. Anti-inflammatory effect of purified dietary anthocyanin in adults with hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013 Sep;23(9):843-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2012.06.005
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