Paracelsus – Blueberry

Remedies for healing

(lat. Vaccinium myrtillus)

In folk medicine, one uses the dried blueberries because of their tannin in case of slight diarrhea. The single dose is 1-2 tablespoons and the daily dose 20-60g. For that purpose the dried berries are to be simmered slightly. “In colon inflammation (colitis) the blueberry wine can be highly recommended. The real, tart blueberry wine is not only against colitis, but also against all acute or chronic gastrointestinal diseases and indigestion, loss of appetite and weakness, resulting from that. The so-called fermentation- and putrescence dyspepsia – which are digestion dysfunctions by fermentation and putrefaction in the intestine – are quickly brought to heal through the blueberry wine. Therefore, the blueberry wine is the best natural remedy against those enumerated diseases and sufferings, because it sucks and discharges the decomposition products and toxins of the intestinal contents. “(Health Through Medicinal Herbs, p 190)

Paracelsus used blueberry oil against poisons. “Oleum Myrtillorum is to be added, and in that Malva (Malva sylvestris) is to be cooked.” (III, 548) In addition, he used the blueberry oil even with jaundice (I, 949) “it draws the colour out of the limb” (I, 941), and along with coral “restricting the menstruation and the discharges”. (III, 196)

The fresh and through proper sterilization preserved raw juice of the blueberry is an excellent gargle for inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), throat- and larynx-catarrh. In addition, the juice eliminates “smoking bad breath” and produces, when regularly drunk – very small sips several times per day – a certain aversion to smoking.

The blueberry leaves have healing properties, too. It is extremely important to emphasize that the leaves should be collected before the fruit ripening, so that the medically-active substance, the myrtillin, is still present in the leaf. When the leaves are harvested along with the berries, they have no curative effect. The blueberry leaves, harvested at the right time, are an excellent remedy for diabetes. The myrtillin of the blueberry leaves acts as “herbal insulin”. It goes without saying, that at the same time a regular medical check should not be missed. One tablespoon of dried leaves is doused with a cup of hot water. After 10 minutes it is to be sieved, and 2 to 3 cups of the tea of blueberry leaves should be drunk per day. This tea is also good in case of ureter catarrh.

Pastor Künzli recommends blueberry leaves in hair loss. “The decoction of fresh or parched blueberry leaves is an effective remedy for hair loss. The application is simple. Every evening, one rubs the scalp with the decoction.” (Das Große Kräuerheilbuch, The Big Herbal Book, p 336)

Literature

Paracelsus: Sämtliche Werke (Complete Works). Anger: Verlag Eick; 1993, I, III
Pastor Künzli: Das Große Kräuterheilbuch (The Big Herbal Book). Walter-Verlag, Olten; 1945, p. 336
Willfort, Richard: Gesundheit durch Heilkräuter (Health Through Medicinal Herbs). Rudolf Trauner Verlag, Linz; 23 Edition 1986, p 190