Blackberry, Bramble

Blackberry: rubus fruticosus Hedgerow herb: common Parts used: leaves, root and berries Gathering: Collect leaves
and roots from between August to May and September. The bramble fruits November, should be however Actions: Anti-oxidant Astringent Tonic Mildly analgesic The berries are a good source of both citric (vitamin C) and malic acid1. Indications: Blackberries have a tonic effect and will help sustain general good health. Blackberry leaf tea is an astringent and has been used as a treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery. Blackberry syrup or jelly (see recipe section) are both soothing for sore throats when taken neat on a spoon. Preparation and dosage: Infusion: 1 teaspoon of dried or 1 tablespoon of fresh herb to each cupful of water. Brew for 10-15 minutes. Drink a cupful hourly for the first four hours and then three times a day if needed. For a warming winter drink mix blackberry vinegar or syrup as desired with hot water to boost Vitamin C levels and cheer the spirit in the winter months. Folklore, History and Kitchen Witch: Blackberries fall under the dominion of Venus. Lilly, in his Christian Astrology informs us that this means they have a sweet flavour, a pleasant smell, a white flower and their leaves are smooth and not berries
collected before the first frost
Malic Acid: useful for boosting immunity, maintaining oral health, reducing the risk of poisoning
from a build-up of toxic metals and promoting smoother and firmer skin.
jagged. The horrible barbs of the bramble seem to be in conflict with the idea of a Venusian plant which one would imagine to be gentle however, Lillys contemporary, Nicholas Culpepper, clears this up, by saying that although brambles are a herb of Venus they in Aries the house of Mars and hence they have nasty thorns. Bramble roots have been use as medicine for long ages they are mentioned in a 10th century translation of a leech book, which is believed to be of early AngloSaxon origin. You will note the author as made the addition of several Christian incantations to this prescription. The Brambles astringent properties are noted, it says: Against dysentery, a bramble of which both ends are in the earth take the newer root, delve it up, cut up nine chips with the left hand and sing three times the
miserere mei deus and nine times the pater noster, then take mugwort and
everlasting, boil these three worts and the chips in milk till they get red, then let the man sip at night fasting a pound dish full ... let him rest himself soft and wrap himself up warm; if more need be let him do so again, if thou still need do it a third time, thou wilt not need oftener. You will notice the repetition of the numbers nine and three in this early prescription and there is a reason for this. The early Anglo-Saxons believed that flying venoms caused disease. Their folklore ran: When the God Woden smote the serpent with nine magic twigs, the serpent was broken into nine parts, from which the wind blew the nine flying venoms. Consequently, the number nine became very important in healing and there are numerous instances of patients being directed to take nine of each of the ingredients or to take the herb potion itself for nine days. Sometimes, an incantation has to be said or sung three or nine times.2 soreness of the mouth and throat.3 Culpepper recommends the bramble for: ulcers and putrid sores of the mouth and throat, and for the quinsy and says that they likewise heal other fresh wounds and sores. The 16th century herbalist John Gerard notes that blackberries are good for
These incantations were usually Christian because the only surviving leech books were It has since been found that blackberries contain a mild analgesic in the form of salicylic acid (from
committed to vellum after the arrival of Christianity to the south of England in 579
3
Latin salix, willow tree, from the bark of which the substance used to be obtained)
There is traditionally a date after which the berries should not be picked, most commonly taken to be Michaelmas (29 September), after which time the devil is said to spit or stamp (or worse) on the berries.

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Blackberry: rubus fruticosus Hedgerow herb: common Parts used: leaves, root and berries Gathering: Collect leaves

collected before the first frost

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