by Veronica Smith
Bealtaine (1st May) is the perfect time to pick BRAMBLE LEAVES for drying. It is the sappy young leaves at the top of the vine that you want because they are full of vitamins and minerals. The re-growth after strimming is ideal.
According to Thomas Bartram in his ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBAL MEDICINE, the most medicinal parts of Rubus villosus (Bramble) are the leaves and root bark. Constituents are tannin, malic acid and pectin. Bramble is a powerful astringent, the root even more so than the leaves. It is used for diarrhoea, dysentery, infant’s irritable bowel, bleeding from colon or rectum, Appendicitis (tea freely), Enteritis (tea and enema), Sore throat (gargle), mouth ulcers, bleeding gums (leaves chewed). According to folk medicine, frequent use of Bramble mouth-wash is claimed to fasten loose teeth. Bartram also reports an isolated instance of anti-tumour effect. Here is his recipe for making tea from the leaves: 1 oz (30g) of dried leaves to 1 pint (500ml) of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 15 minutes. Strain and use as a drink or allow to cool and use topically as an enema or as a wash for wounds. Bartram recommends that Bramble leaves combine well with Agrimony. Mixing equal parts of Lemon Balm and Bramble can be used as a substitute for Indian and China tea.
In fact, both Blackberry leaves and berries are high in tannin and vitamin C. Being so stringent, the leaves make a good urinary tonic, when taken as an herbal tea. The tea is also good for general health, as a post-winter pick-me-up, especially for those suffering from anaemia. Traditionally, Bramble Leaf Tea has been used to treat diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, gingivitis, sore throats, colds, flu and fevers. When cooled, the tea makes a good skin lotion to treat blackheads and acne.
Here is what Julie and Matthew Seal say about Bramble (Blackberry) Leaves, in their excellent book entitled “Hedgerow Medicine”.
“In spring, blackberry shoots and the young leaves are a traditional European tonic, packed with vitamins and minerals and used fresh as a tea. They can also be combined with raspberry leaves, young hawthorn leaves and birch shoots or leaves.
“[…] In some places, the leaves were chewed to allay headaches. Crushed blackberry leaves are exactly what you need as a styptic, to treat small wounds or cuts incurred when picking the fruit; they also work for boils and swellings.
“In the US Civil War of 1861-65, the ferocious hand-to-hand fighting in the woods was sometimes interrupted for “Blackberry Truces”! Both sides would take time out to pick blackberry leaves for a tea to treat diarrhoea and dysentery, which were rife in both armies.
“[Bramble] leaf tea is like a green tea, pleasant but with a tannin feel. It is also a welcome relief for problems of the mouth, such as ulcers and gum disease. It was once thought to strengthen teeth and is an old remedy for soothing sore throats and treating colds and anaemia. When cool, the tea makes a good skin lotion.”
Practicalities:
Pick Bramble leaves throughout the spring and early summer, while they are still fresh and green. You can infuse the fresh leaves for immediate use, or you can dry them and save for the winter months, when colds and flu are more prevalent. Gather the leaves on a dry day and hang them in a shady place or indoors, until the leaves are brittle enough to crumble. Store in brown paper bags or sealed containers placed in a cool, dark place that is not prone to damp.
Make the tea by adding a few fresh leaves, or a rounded teaspoonful of crumbled dry leaves, in a jug or teapot. Pour on a mugful of boiling water and allow to infuse for about 5 minutes. Then strain and drink. This is one tea that can be drunk freely.
If treating diarrhoea, then the decoction method is probably better than the infusion (tea) because it is stronger. In a pan, put 1 ounce of dried leaves into 1 pint of cold water and bring slowly to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes and then remove from the heat. Allow to steep for 10 minutes and then strain. This can be drunk three or four times daily or, if the diarrhoea is severe, drink one cup every hour as needed.
I hear so many people complaining about bramble jungles in their gardens and what the best method is to “eradicate the pest”! If only they realised what a useful herbal ally Bramble can be, when properly managed. It is a sad fact that so much herbal knowledge has been lost and that the media (influenced by commercial interests) have “poisoned” people’s minds against these natural allies.
Author: Veronica Smith, first published on 6th May 2023
REFERENCES:
BARTRAM’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HERBAL MEDICINE, by Thomas Bartram, published by Constable & Robinson Ltd of London, 1998.
ISBN: 978-1-85487-586-0
HEDGEROW MEDICINE by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal; published by Merlin Unwin Books Ltd, UK, in 2008. ISBN: 978 1 873674 99 4
HERB CRAFT, A GUIDE TO THE SHAMANIC AND RITUAL USE OF HERBS, by Susan Lavender and Anna Franklin, published by Capall Bann Publishing UK, 1996. ISBN: 1 898307 57 9.
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