Benefits of Black Currant

The black currant is very appreciated for the alimentary and therapeutic value of its fruits, which contain an important complex of vitamins. The list of therapeutic properties of the black currant fruits was presented in the 18th century by the abbot Bailley de Montaran, from the monastery of Dijon. He underlined their wonderful tonic qualities, considering the currant as being an elixir of youth.

black_currant

Description of Black Currant plant

The currant is a fruit bearing shrub, originating from Tibet, extended and cultivated in Europe, dating 400 years back. It can reach the height of 1.5 m. Its leaves are divided into 3-5 triangular lobes, with tooth-like margins, slightly hairy on their interior side. The flowers are small, yellowish-green colored on the outside and red on the inside, sorted into 5-10 hanging groups. The fruits are round, with a diameter of around 0.5-1 cm, black, perfumed, with a pleasant, aromatic, slightly sour taste.

It grows spontaneously in woods, frequent in hilly areas, having a strong resistance towards cold weather. In its wild state, it can be found in more temperate, wet and cool zones, averted from strong winds. The parts used from the black currant are its leaves and fruits, harvested immediately after the complete maturing of the fruits.

Properties of Black Currant plant

Containing tannin, vitamin C, potassium salts, and essential oil, the black currant is a good diuretic, anti-sclerotic, pectoral, sudorific, stomachic, anti-diaretic, anti-colitic, anti-stringent, hypotensive, and anti-rheumatic. Its leaves have a great diuretic capacity; they have anti-rheumatic effects, favoring the elimination of uric acids.

Treatments

   The fruits, leaves and buds of the black currant have multiple effects in treating and preventing various diseases. Because it contains vitamin C, the black currant is used in treating cardiovascular diseases, preventing cardiac insufficiency and vascular accidents, it increases the resistance of fragile sanguine capillaries, reduces arterial hypertension. Also, it intensifies weak peripheral circulation caused by menopause, cleans the blood of toxins, wastes and cholesterol.

   The black currant diet is useful against rheumatism, arthritis and gout. The plant stimulates digestion, stimulates the functioning of the liver, pancreas, spleen and kidneys. Because of its diuretic qualities, the plant is useful for people suffering from oliguria.

   Being astringent, this fruit is useful against diarrhea and dysentery. Black currants are also useful against tiredness and overwork. The diet with these fruits is also recommended to plethoric and lymphatic people and to women who suffer from circulation disorders due to menopause.

black_currant

Black currant is recommended as a systemic anti-inflammatory agent with actions similar to those of natural cortisone, in cutaneous, acute and chronic allergies, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and diabetic retinopathy. In external use, the mixtures from black currant fruits are used for treating abcess, dermatosis, eczemas, insect stings or hits. The mixtures from buds are used in urticaria.

Mixtures

   The black currant tea is prepared from 2 teaspoons of leaves cut into small pieces, soaked in 250 ml of boiled water. It is consumed 3 cups per day, between meals, in long diets of 5-6 months.

   Natural currant juice is obtained from 400 fruits and 4 big leaves. It can be consumed simply or diluted in 200-500ml water, 3-4 times a day. It has benefic effects against digestive inflammations and febrile states. Throat washes can be made with it more times a day for treating inflamed tonsils and throat aches.

   Black currant cream is prepared out of fresh fruits. In a glass bottle or jar, layers of fruit and sugar are alternately added. This is done until the receptacle is filled. It is then closed hermetically and kept macerating for a period of four months. It is agitated once per day. At the end of the four months it is filtered.

   The fruit decoct is obtained from a teaspoon of dried fruit to 250 ml of cold water. The composition is boiled with slight bubbling, left to infuse for 30 minutes, then filtered, after which the entire content is consumed during the day in 3 or 4 stages.

   Infusion of leaves is made from 10 grams to a liter of boiled water, it is consumed daily in the morning and evening, before going to sleep.

   Decoct made from fresh or dried leaves is prepared from 30 grams of leaves to a liter of cold water. It is boiled on a weak fire to the first bubbling; it is then infused for 10 minutes and consumed in 3-4 cups a day. Combined with cataplasms of fresh crushed leaves, it is applied as an external dressing against wounds and other ulcerations.

   Currant syrup is obtained through cold pressing of fruit, being consumed daily in doses of 4-6 tablespoons at intervals of 2 hours. It has energizing effects, assures the general fortification of the body, is good for children, senior citizens and ill persons in recovery.

   Black currant fruits can also be consumed in form of syrup, jelly, jam, fruit jelly, marmalade or liqueur.

Other medicinal plants

Alkanet Aloe Vera plant Anise Apple Arnica Artichoke Asparagus Banana Barberry Barley Bark Bastard Balm Basil Bean Bilberry Bush Bindweed Birch Tree Birthwort Black Currant Black Mulberry Black Locust Brier Brooklime Buckthorn	Buckwheat Burdock Butterbur Caraway Castor Oil Celandine Celery Chamomile Chervil Chicory Cider Clover Clubmoss Cocklebur Common Hazel Coneflower Coriander Cornel Tree Cornflower Cowslip Dandelion Danewort Durmast Elecampane	Elder Endives European_Silver_Fir Fennel Fern Figwort Garlic Garden Angelica Gentian Ginkgo Biloba Ginseng Hemp Agrimony Hornbeam Horseradish Horsetail Hot Pepper Iris Jasmine Lady's Mantle Laurel Lavender Linden Tree Lemon Pansy	Pot Marigold Marijuana Marjoram Marsh Mallow Meadow Sage MeadowSweet Milfoil Milk thistle Milkwort Mint Mistletoe Mullein Mustard Nettle Oat Onion Parsley Parsnip Patience Dock Peach Pepper Privet Pumpkin Rattle	Redcurrant Red Poppy Roadweed Rockcap Fern Rosemary Rye Saltcedar Savory Sea Buckthorn Sesame Shepherd's Purse Silverweed Small daisies Spinach Soy Tansy Thyme Thorn apple Underbrush Wheat Wild Strawberry White Lily Wood Avens Wood spurge Wormwood

Fruits and Vegetables list

Find out more about fruits and vegetables.

Green Beans Onion Pea Green Been	Cherries Edible chestnuts Cucumber Mushrooms	Cabbage Lettuce Tomato Pumpkin

MOST READED ARTICLES