Glorious Blackberries
- Magic Of The Isles
- Jan 19, 2024
- 2 min read
Blackberries
Blackberry picking has always been a wonderful thing to do. I take my child blackberry picking in the later months of the year and make jams, mead, and pies. They are a berry of the autumn and winter with a festive feel to them with their arrival signifying the colder months ahead. They are a feel-good food that is both hearty and packed with all those good nutrients that can benefit your health. There is a difference between medical and health benefits.
Health Benefits
· Anti-inflammatory, best consumed as a drink due to better absorption in the digestive system.
· Improved insulin resistance when added into your regular diet.
· Vitamin and fibre rich with as little as 8 grams making up 25% of your daily fibre allowance.
· Protects against various health conditions such as inflammatory conditions and bolsters cardiac health by reducing lipid levels.
Medicinal benefits
· Cure for dysentery according to a 1938 school book transcribed from An Currach Mór.
· May reduce systolic blood pressure. Has the potential to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.
Because of this, it has the potential to be paired well with Hawthorn. It is widely noted that Hawthorn bolsters cardiac health. This could be taken as a tea or supplement. An alcohol based tincture may not be suitable because it may affect the heart.
In addition to the main benefits listed, it may help with cognitive function, digestive health, increase your bodies vitamin intake. It is also ideal to help with maintaining healthy weight loss because it increases insulin sensitivity.
There is plenty of folklore surrounding blackberries but for now I shall leave you with this one. The berries of the bramble are one of the fair folk. Leave the first berries of the season for them, by taking them this may be seen as disrespectful and rude. By leaving those first berries it is showing respect for them and the land you are on. The last thing you want is a disgruntled member of the fair folk headed your way so find out at your peril!
Berries and clothing dye
Blackberries have been widely used historically to produce a natural clothing dye before the accidental arrival of synthetic dyes in 1856 by William Henry Perkin. Natural dies are still used today in “boho” fashion styles with their own modern twists on fabrics. Here is a nifty how to guide https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/discover/go-wild-at-home/activity-films/how-to-tie-dye-using-berries
References
Robinson, J.A., Bierwirth, J.E., Greenspan, P., and Pegg, R.B. (2020). Blackberry polyphenols: review of composition, quantity, and health impacts from in vitro and in vivo studies. J. Food Bioact. 9: 40–51
Aghababaee SK, Vafa M, Shidfar F, Tahavorgar A, Gohari M, Katebi D, Mohammadi V. Effects of blackberry (Morus nigra L.) consumption on serum concentration of lipoproteins, apo A-I, apo B, and high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein and blood pressure in dyslipidemic patients. J Res Med Sci. 2015 Jul;20(7):684-91. doi: 10.4103/1735-1995.166227. PMID: 26622259; PMCID: PMC4638072.
by Jillian Kubala, RD, September 1st 2023, https://www.health.com/blackberries-7853069
(https://duchas.ie/en/cbes/4623001/4622534/4630706?
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