THE MOUNTAIN HERBALIST
Berry Good Therapy
L.C. Moon (Naturalist & Herbalist)
It has taken me a lot of contemplation to decide what I should share with you this month. However the other day while I was walking through the woods and along the river here in Mentone I saw four types of berries- partridge berry, sumac berries, elder berries and poke berries. All of these berries are ripening now that fall is upon us.
While the berries of elder are known to be the most healing and edible part of the elder plant, the flowers also have a benefit. A wild edible treat is elder flowers battered and fried, then sprinkled with sugar. Elder flower extracts are known to be useful for itchy eyes, runny nose and throat irritation due to allergies.
Elderberries have similar benefits to the flower though the berries are known to be anti-viral. Elderberry is one of my favorite remedies for cold and flu. It is also known simply as a tonic, being beneficial for cleaning the blood and strengthening the liver. Elder berries contain potassium and large amounts of vitamin C, as well as the antioxidants found in other red and purple berries.
Elderberry syrup is great for any immune disturbance as well as soothing coughs and respiratory infections. Even the wine of Elderberry can be therapeutic as a digestive aid. It is not recommended to eat the berries raw because they can be toxic, though cooking the berries neutralizes the toxins. Cooking the berries for jam or adding them to other canned fruit with a little sweetener can provide you with a tasty yet healing food.
A study was done in Israel regarding elderberry. The study documented a steady increase in feeling better over three days, where 90% of patients felt completely cured of all cold and flu symptoms, whereas a placebo group with no elderberry said it took up to six days to feel any better. Elder is truly good for many viral issues- including HIV & Epstein-Barr.
The bark, root, leaves and unripe berries of elder are known to be toxic. Therefore the bark and the leaves of elder are only recommended to be used externally unless you desire intense evacuation of the intestinal tract and/or stomach. Elder leaves and bark are useful externally as a poultice for healing wounds and bruises.
Sumac berries compliment the benefits of elder in the fall when allergy, cold and flu-like symptoms seem to affect most of us. Sumac berries create a delicious beverage similar to lemonade. The lemony beverage is great as a gargle for sore throats as well as helpful for relieving cold and flu symptoms. Adding sumac bark to a berry tea will be even more helpful to relieve cold and flu symptoms. There are several types of sumac in the area though none of them are poison. The lemony red berries of sumac are not to be feared like the poison sumac. Poison sumac typically grows further south, in swampy areas and has white berries as opposed to red. I love to suck on the sumac berries. The berries have a tart lemony flavor that is quite refreshing on a long walk. If you are thirsty it will stimulate your saliva glands. I personally just love knowing that nature produces such a wonderful gift that is beautiful to the eye and palate. Sumac is like a tart candy.
Partridge berry, also known as squaw vine (Mitchella repens), is a small vine that hugs the ground and adorns the crevices of rocks. It has mouse ear-sized and shaped leaves that are deep green. It is adorned with beautiful small white flowers in the late spring and early summer. Then during late summer and early fall beautiful red berries ripen. It is a work of art to see a moss covered rock complimented by the deep green vine of mitchella repens and accented with its little red berries.
The berries of mitchella repens are edible though have very little to no flavor. The berries and/or the vine can be used for medicinal preparations. Most commonly the partridge berry plant is used in female health; i.e. to decrease soreness during breast feeding, to aid in PMS symptoms, excessive female bleeding, childbirth and even for bladder infections. Partridgeberry vine is often used two to three weeks before childbirth as well as during labor. I prefer to combine partridge berry with herbs such as red raspberry leaf and black haw to help delivery happen with more ease.
Mitchella repens got its name of squaw vine because squaw was a slang term used by some to describe Native American women. Now, the term squaw is seen as sexist; however perception is in the mind of the perceiver. So I prefer to adapt Dr. James Duke’s interpretation of squaw which is beautiful and useful, just like the vine.
Poke berry (featured right) is known to be toxic- as is the rest of the plant. Poke has many uses all the way from the berry to the root. For example I often use poke in many of my topical skin care remedies in treating eczema, psoriasis, sores, inflamations and other skin disorders. In months to come, I plan to dedicate an entire article to poke. This month I will simplify with a little information on just the berries.
The late great Lookout Mountain folk herbalist Tommy Bass recommended eating three berries three times per day to relieve arthritis pain. I know of one person that actually had the courage to do so and he seemed to really get some relief. However he did not keep it up long term to know if it would really do away with his arthritis completely. The berries of poke were also used as a dye or to make ink. Many letters during the civil war were written with poke berry ink.
Just before the fall color explodes on the mountain; the healing berries of the mountain greet us with some deep colors that will accent the beauty of the leaves over the next month. While I have had a lot of experience with the herbs and berries within the article- it is still wise for me to tell you to consult your health care provider before making any adjustments to your health care regimen. I wish you berry good health this season! LV
