Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum from the family Grossulariaceae

The juice can be boiled to an extract with sugar and is used for inflammatory sore throats. Excellent lozenges are also prepared from it.

The infusion of the leaves is cleansing and diuretic, while an infusion of the young roots is useful in eruptive fevers.

The raw juice is diuretic and diaphoretic, and is an excellent beverage in fevers.

A decoction of the bark has been found of value in calculus, dropsy, and haemorrhoids.

An infusion of the leaves can be used on slow-healing cuts or abscesses.

Blackcurrants also help women suffering from menopause by improving their blood circulation and are useful in treating the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, menopause, breast tenderness and painful periods

Many dieticians are also known to advise those suffering from dysentery and diarrhoea to consume blackcurrants on account of the astringent properties of this fruit.

Native to northern Europe and northern Asia