Blackberry

Blackberry is a shrub that grows and bears fruit for many years. Wild blackberry is widespread in temperate latitudes and in the north of Eurasia. ^[1]. It readily grows in forests in the forest-steppe zone. Garden blackberries are not widely distributed, so in order to get this berry, you just have to wait until it grows in natural conditions.

Blackberry is a berry that blooms from the beginning of summer until its end, while it gives a much larger yield than wild raspberries. Its berries are large and heavy. In addition, blooming blackberries attract bees, which then make honey. Raspberries and blackberries are different: the latter is not as sweet, which is why it is loved by those who like berries with a sour taste.

Blackberries grow only in natural conditions. Its shoots are very long, and it withstands any conditions perfectly, including the northern cold. It forms continuous thickets, filling all the space around. She has long sharp spikes, thanks to which she easily clings to trees and wraps around them. Blackberries readily grow in places with high humidity, where there is a lot of light, especially near water bodies.

There are upright species that grow very tall (up to 3 – 4 meters). Their stems have huge thorns, and the tops are combined into arches, so garden blackberries require very careful and careful care.

Varieties and cultivation

There are several varieties of this berry that tolerate winter well. In the US and Britain, shrubs with straight shoots without thorns are popular, but they do not withstand the cold. Blackberry garden can be not only a rich dark purple color. There are black berries, red, purple and even yellow.

A blackberry that has curly shoots is called a sundew. She does not tolerate winter as well as her straight-grown counterpart. The shrub has much longer stems and many more thorns. If it grows in natural conditions and is not controlled, it can form impenetrable thickets in forests. It is precisely because the plant is difficult to follow that it is not very popular with gardeners. But it gives much more fruits, ripens faster and has larger berries.

Growing blackberries requires a lot of sun, which requires careful thinning of the bushes and making sure that they are not shaded by other plants. Blackberries are very important to water abundantly, especially at the time of ripening berries. Under natural conditions, it tolerates drought much better due to deeper roots.

When cultivating, garden blackberries require good conditions, including warmth. This is especially true for artificially bred varieties, in case of cold weather, the bushes need to be insulated, and in the spring they should be opened until the buds swell. It is necessary to protect the shrub from too strong wind, because it damages leaves and branches, and can knock down berries.

Calorie and healthy properties

Fresh blackberries contain very few kilocalories – only 31 per 100 grams ^[2]. This makes it a dietary product that can be consumed by those who are on a diet. If the berries are frozen, the amount of carbohydrates in them will increase, and its calorie content will increase by 2 times. As for canned blackberries, it can hardly be called a dietary product, since it contains 92 kcal. Its use can lead to weight gain.

Blackberries are useful for almost everyone, so it is not necessary to use them only under the condition of reduced immunity. It contains a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients, including many acids.

The berry is very useful and has the following characteristics ^[3]:

Berries are used to:

• saturate the body with vitamins;
• treat atherosclerosis;
• improve blood composition;
• activate digestion;
• relieve skin inflammation;
• cure sore throat ^[4].

A decoction of the branches is used to improve the work of the heart. Infusion of the leaves helps to heal wounds and relieve inflammation, and also has a poorly expressed diuretic properties. Blackberry is great for treating nerves.

Blackberries are effective for:

• hemorrhages in the intestines;
• problems with appendicitis;
• varicose veins;
• helminthiasis;
• colds;
• diarrhea ^[5].

Use blackberry leaves

Blackberry leaves are used to make tea. To do this, fresh leaves are kept in a sealed container until they darken, after which they are dried in the fresh air, and then tea is brewed. If you crush such leaves, you can apply them to small wounds or other skin diseases. An infusion of the leaves helps to cope with gum disease, it is used as a rinse.

Blackberry leaves, along with berries, can be used as food in the form of decoctions and infusions. ^[6]. They are used for:

• diarrhea;
• bleeding in the lungs;
• bleeding in the stomach.

Leaf tea

Leaf tea is prepared as follows: two teaspoons are poured into a glass of boiling water, waited for 20 minutes, then carefully filtered to remove the tea leaves. They treat problems of the gastrointestinal tract, including ulcers, diarrhea and gastritis.

For problems with the lungs and upper respiratory tract, one glass of boiling water requires 20 grams of dry leaves, which are boiled for 20 minutes, then insisted for several hours and filtered. After that, it is necessary to add water to this broth to bring the volume of liquid to the original. As a treatment, tea is taken little by little, 2 tablespoons several times a day.

For gargling, you need to use a decoction of the roots. To do this, pour 20 grams of roots with a glass of water and boil for half an hour, then insist and filter for 3 hours. For stomatitis, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with an infusion of leaves or chew fresh blackberry leaves to strengthen the gums.

If your doctor allows you, you can use a decoction of the roots and leaves of the berry as maintenance therapy in the fight against urolithiasis. To do this, pour 20 ml of water into 250 grams of raw materials and boil for 20 minutes, then insist and strain. Take two tablespoons of it several times a day before meals.

Blackberry berries and juice

Due to its properties, blackberries are very helpful in neurosis, as well as to support the body in the fight against diabetes. In diabetes, you can also take an infusion of the leaves. Powdered dry berries are good for children with diarrhea. Half a teaspoon is enough for a noticeable effect.

Blackberry juice is used to treat or saturate the body with vitamins. ^[7]. It can be made not only from fruits, but also from young leaves. It helps very well with diseases of the throat and upper respiratory tract, to support the body with anemia and gynecological diseases. It has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract and is used for dysentery, diarrhea and colitis. In general, it strengthens the body and has a calming effect. ^[8]. The juice from the leaves is used to treat a variety of skin conditions and injuries, including minor wounds, ulcers, or ringworm.

Blackberries are one of the closest relatives of raspberries, but they are not as sweet, larger, and dark purple in color. Blackberries contain antioxidants that help fight swelling and inflammation, promote better absorption of vitamin C, and help strengthen blood vessels. ^[9]. In addition, berry decoction contributes to the destruction of pathogens.

It is believed that if you use blackberries from time to time, this will allow you to maintain youth and help the body protect itself from oncology. ^[10]. At high temperatures, this berry will help you if you don’t have aspirin on hand. A drink from it can lower body temperature and relieve inflammation.

Gynecologists recommend using blackberries for women during menopause, as well as for those who have serious hormonal disorders or menstrual pain. Blackberries help normalize blood pressure, support the nervous system, calm down and improve bowel function.

Nutritionists recommend eating blackberries for overweight people, as it can speed up metabolism and lower blood cholesterol levels.

cooking recipes

There are many recipes for using blackberries, each has its own indications. Fresh berries and tea from them can improve bowel function, reduce menstrual pain, help to fall asleep with increased excitability or nervous disorders. Ripe berries are recommended to be used as a mild laxative. They are great for inflammation, diseases of the genitourinary system and joint problems. The anthocyanins contained in blackberries are present in the same concentration as in raisins and prunes. ^[11].

Blackberries are usually consumed fresh, even after freezing. If you like, you can dry them for use in infusions or teas. ^{[12] [13]}. To do this, you need to carefully sort and revise all the fruits, select whole and sufficiently mature ones from them, peel them from the legs and dry at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. After drying, they can be stored for up to 12 months.

Recipe for tincture of leaves

To make the tincture, you need to take two tablespoons of leaves, pour 500 ml of boiling water and infuse 2 hours. Then strain the infusion and take it with 100 ml of 4 once a day before meals.

Tincture of dried berries

To make a tincture, take 2 tablespoons of berries, pour 250 ml of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. This tincture should be taken in an amount of 500 ml, little by little over 2 hours. It helps with fever and inflammation.

Dry leaf decoction

You need to take 10 grams of leaves, pour them with 200 ml of water and boil for 10 minutes. Then the broth must be insisted for 2 hours and drained well. Take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day before meals.

Decoction from the roots

Take 1 tablespoon of dry roots, add 500 ml of water, then boil for 10 minutes and strain. Drink a decoction of 100 ml several times a day half an hour before meals.

Blackberry Juice

Using a juicer, squeeze the juice from fresh berries and drink at will or for medicinal purposes, 300 ml 3-4 times a day before meals. Blackberries have a pronounced sour taste, so you can add a teaspoon of honey to half a glass of juice. This will sweeten the taste, but will not negate the beneficial properties of blackberries.

Berry juice is used to treat:

• bronchitis;
• anemia;
• sore throats;
• pharyngitis;
• tracheitis;
• fevers;
• gynecological diseases;
• bowel disease.

Leaf juice

You can also make juice from fresh leaves. To do this, pass them through a fine sieve of a meat grinder or blender, and then squeeze the juice out of them well using gauze. It is taken 2 tablespoons 3 times a day before meals. This juice can be mixed with honey to give it a pleasant taste.

Dangerous properties of blackberry

There are few contraindications for blackberries, but they still exist. If you have an acute disease of the gastrointestinal tract, it is advisable not to consume blackberries, but to give preference to juice from them. If you have high acidity, it is necessary to limit the consumption of blackberry juice to one glass. Remember that in case of any diseases, you must first consult a doctor, as the use of blackberries can affect the functioning of the kidneys.

Be very careful about blackberries if you have had allergic reactions before, as there are people who have an individual intolerance to these berries. With allergies, their use can threaten nausea and vomiting, swelling or diarrhea.

How to store blackberries

The bushes bear fruit throughout the summer, but I would like to have such a useful berry on hand at any time of the year. The good news is that blackberries are equally healthy, fresh or processed. For example, for the most convenient and delicious storage options, you can make berry jam, syrup or compote. All of them will also have useful properties and will help you saturate the body with vitamins.

Blackberries can be frozen, as they tolerate low temperatures, and then you can make desserts or juices from them in winter. To freeze blackberries, carefully arrange the berries so that they do not stick together, freeze them, transfer them to a storage bag and send them to the freezer.

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