Are you fighting off the ravages of cough or the common cold? Whip up a batch of this blackberry syrup for natural relief.
Getting sick is always stressful. Depending on if you have the flu or a cold, you might be bedridden for days. This is where medicine comes in. The problem is that most over-the-counter medications don’t shorten colds. They’re full of additives and dyes that you don’t want.
There is a growing trend of people ditching modern medicines and going back to our natural roots. One of the remedies used since ancient times is blackberries. The entire plant has medicinal purposes and is consumed in various ways like tea or syrup.
Today, we are going to discuss the health benefits of blackberries. We are also sharing a recipe on how to make your blackberry cough and cold syrup. This recipe will help with the common cold and flu symptoms, such as fever, coughing, and weakness. Based on the research, it will shorten your cold’s duration, so you’ll feel better sooner.
Why You Should Eat Blackberries
The blackberry has been around since the beginning of time. The specific history of blackberries isn’t known. However, some texts support the medicinal use dating back to the Greeks.
The Greeks used blackberries for the treatment of gout. The Romans used to brew tea to remedy various illnesses. Native Americans use it for stomach ailments. It turns out that their thinking wasn’t far off.
Blackberries provide many health benefits that are well documented by science. Modern natural medicines include blackberries in their ingredients. The blackberry plant itself can be used up from the roots to the leaves. Each part contains various medicinal properties and antioxidants.
The Benefits of Blackberries
There are many health benefits associated with blackberries. Many of which are documented in aid of helping illnesses, including cancer. Benefits to blackberries are as follows.
1. Full of vitamins and antioxidants
Blackberries contain vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. Potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the antioxidant anthocyanins are also present. Vitamins are a crucial part of anyone’s diet and health.
A single cup of blackberries contains half of the recommended dose of vitamin C. Vitamin C has many benefits. It aids in the healing of wounds, shortens the duration of colds, absorbs iron, and prevents scurvy. It reduces free radicals by acting as an antioxidant.
Vitamin A is essential for eye health, healthy immune system function, skin health, bone growth, and healthy teeth.
Vitamin K helps the clotting of your blood and aids in bone health. Deficiency in Vitamin K can result in bone fractures, bruising, or blood in your urine or stool.
2. Boost brain health
Studies show that blackberries can help boost cognitive skills because of the high concentrations of polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants that battle free radicals. They may reduce brain inflammation and memory loss that is often seen in aging.
3. Help reduce inflammation
Blackberries don’t only reduce inflammation in the brain. Studies show that it can help with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
4. Treat stomach issues
One study found that those who suffered from stomach ulcers benefited from blackberries. It reduced the size of their ulcers by as much as 88%.
5. A high concentration of phytoestrogens
Research shows that blackberries are especially beneficial to women. They have lots of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant estrogens. Recent studies show that phytoestrogens may help in the prevention of both breast cancer and cervical cancer for women.
6. Reduce blood sugar levels
Blackberries contain the mineral manganese. This mineral is frequently overlooked but is key to a healthy immune system and bone development. It’s responsible for metabolizing cholesterol, forming collagen, preventing osteoporosis. It also reduces blood sugar levels. Polyphenols have shown to lower the risk of diabetes and boost insulin sensitivity.
7. Help treat the common cold
Vitamins and antioxidants play a significant role in your immune system function. Vitamin C, in particular, can help shorten your cold and relieve your symptoms faster. Blackberries contain many of the vitamins proven to shorten colds and coughing.
8. High tannin content
Blackberries have a high tannin content. Tannins help to reduce diarrhea and hemorrhoids, lessen bleeding, and tighten up tissues. In Germany, blackberries are often used as an astringent. They recommend them for irritations of the mouth. Sore throats due to coughing or infections should also use them.
9. Good source of fiber
Getting enough fiber remains an issue for many people. Low fiber diets have shown to cause health issues such as constipation and stomach pains. It can even lead to more severe health issues like an increased risk of heart disease. High fiber diets will help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol and blood sugar, and provide healthy gut bacteria.
10. Prevention of heart disease and cancer
Cancer and heart disease link to a poor diet, among other factors. Studies found that the extracts found in blackberry juice may lower your risk of heart disease.
The specific extracts found may prevent the spreading of cancer and tumor growth. While it’s not a definite cure-all, it’s promising results. However, more research will need to be completed.
Elderberry Versus Blackberry
Elderberries have become popular lately because of the antioxidants and healing properties they have. Many natural medicines are currently including them in their common cold syrups and for a good reason.
It’s part of the berry family and is like the blackberry when it comes to the benefits. One difference is that it contains more antioxidant properties than blackberries.
This doesn’t necessarily make the elderberry better. Elderberries are still undergoing research, so the true benefits aren’t known. However, many homeopaths will make elderberry syrups and include blackberries for added benefits. Whether this truly makes a difference or not is not known.
The main difference blackberries have, and their advantage is the research. Countless studies have been conducted for decades on blackberries and their benefits. This gives the blackberry an edge when it comes to making any type of remedy.
Try it out for yourself and see what your results are.
How to Make Your Own Blackberry Cough and Cold Syrup
Nobody likes getting sick. Unfortunately, it happens to even the healthiest people. When a cold or the flu strikes, you can be stuck with symptoms like fever, headaches, chills, coughing, and a stuffy/runny nose. Even after your cold ends, you could still be suffering from coughing that won’t go away.
The good news is that you don’t have to suffer. Making your own cough and cold syrup is surprisingly simple. It merely takes a few steps and a few ingredients, although you do have the option of adding in different herbs and spices too for combined effects.
Without further ado, these are the steps to making your cough syrup.
Blackberry Syrup Ingredients:
- 4 cups blackberries
- 1 cup raw honey
- 1 tsp of cinnamon
- 2 quarts water
- 1 cup of vinegar (optional)
- 1 Tbs whole cloves (optional)
Directions:
There are two ways to make this with the first set of instructions being a long way, but you will get more syrup out of it.
Blackberry syrup #1
- Wash your berries thoroughly.
- In a large saucepan, combine the berries and water and bring to a boil.
- Simmer until the berries are very soft. This will take around one hour.
- Strain into a glass or stainless-steel bowl.
- Run the pulp through a food mill.
- Discard any seeds and pulp.
- Return the juice into the saucepan, add in the spices of your choice, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Strain the spices and let the juice cool to lukewarm.
- Add in honey and stir until dissolved.
Blackberry syrup #2:
- Wash berries thoroughly.
- Place berries in a glass bowl and pour vinegar over them.
- Let stand for 24 hours while stirring and pressing occasionally.
- Strain the mixture and squeeze as much juice out as possible.
- Place into a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Add honey and cinnamon and stir frequently.
- Bring to a hard boil for five minutes, then leave to cool.
- Store in a glass jar.
- When you want to use the syrup, add 1 to 2Tbs to a glass of hot water and sip.
There are various types of syrup you can make and add as many or as little spices as you want. You can even add elderberries for additional benefits.
Final Thoughts on the Blackberry as Medicine
Blackberries have been used as medicine since ancient times and are still used today. Studies support the use of medicinal purposes because of the health benefits it has. It’s full of antioxidants and vitamins that will help your well-being. Blackberries are the ingredient you need to have if you want a more natural approach to medicine.
Whether you consume them raw or make jelly out of them, you can still reap the benefits. If you hope to shorten your cold’s duration or lessen cold symptoms like coughing or a fever, then give the recipe above a try.
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