Page 236 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Cranberry,
Vaccinium macrocarpon

The cranberry shrub is a member of the Ericaceae
(Heath) family. It grows in acidic bogs, swamps, wet-
lands, and poorly drained meadows throughout the
colder climates of Northern North America.

Identification: These low growing, creeping shrubs
rarely top 8 inches (20 cm) in height. They have long
wiry stems, or vines, that stretch to 7 feet (2.1 meters)
long. The plant has small, oblong, evergreen leaves Keith Weller, Public Domain
that are speckled with tiny dots on the underside. The
leathery leaves are 1/4 to 1/2-inch (0.75 cm to 1.25 cm) Cjboffoli, CC by 3.0
long. Dark pink flowers with distinct reflexed petals To get all of the benefits of cranberries for medicinal
appear June through August. The style and stamens purposes, simply consume the fruit or its un-
are exposed and point forward. The cranberry fruit sweetened juice daily for as long as needed.
is a small berry that is larger than the leaves. The Cranberry juice is sour, but more palatable when
berry is white when immature, usually turning diluted in water.
dark red when ripe.
Urinary Tract Infections: Consumption of
Edible Use: The berries are edible, but cranberries, their juice, or a concentrated cranberry
they are very acidic. The addition of pill prevents the bacteria in the urinary tract from
sugar makes them more palatable, as multiplying and clinging to the walls of the bladder,
does drying them. allowing them to be easily flushed out of the system.

Medicinal Use: Cranberries are an ef- Regular consumption of unsweetened cranberry
fective preventative and remedy for early stage juice prevents urinary tract diseases and can keep
urinary tract infections. They work by prevent- you from needing antibiotics. Cranberries are not as
ing the adhesion of bacteria to the lining of the effective in treating established UTIs. The juice does
bladder and gut, thereby preventing infection. If not kill the bacteria, and reinfection can occur if cran-
the infection is too well entrenched, other reme- berry is discontinued while bacteria are still in the sys-
dies may be required, such as Usnea, Bear- tem. You may need to add in an herbal antibiotic
berry/Uva Ursi, and Oregon Grape Root. Cranber- blend (see above).
ries have high levels of antioxidants, vitamin C, and Cardiovascular Health: The flavonoids in
salicylic acid, which help relieve pain and heal. cranberries are high in antioxidant and anti-inflamma-
tory properties and decrease the risk of atherosclero-
sis. They also boost HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.
Respiratory Bacterial Infections: Cranberry
juice inhibits Haemophilus influenza, which is a com-
mon cause of childhood respiratory and ear infections.
The juice prevents these bacteria from adhering to the
skin’s surface.

Treats and Prevents Peptic Ulcers: Cranber-
ries help reduce the risk of peptic ulcers caused by Hel-
icobacter pylori. Along with preventing the adhesion
of bacteria to the stomach lining, the high flavonoid
content of cranberries suppresses infection and helps
the body heal.

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