Artos, Black Hawthorn, Zarzamora, Zarzaneda, Zarzón
Dioscórides already recommended the leaves of the bramble for the treatment of the hemorroides. Their fruits have been used from very old in the human feeding, and constitute an excellent natural treat for children and adults. One hundred species brambles and many are known more varieties, all of them with the same properties.
Habitat: widely spread by all Europe, in the borders of the ways, the ribazos and the edges. Naturalized in the American continent.
Description: thorny shrub of the family of the Rosaceous ones who reaches up to 4 meters of height. Their flowers are of white or pink color, with 5 petals. The fruit is made up of several drupas small of mulberry or black color, everyone with a seed in its interior.
Used parts: the leaves, the stems to tier and the fruits to us (Moors or zarzamoras).
Properties and indications: the leaves and the buds to tier to us contain abundant tannins, that they make astringents and hemostatic. The fruits contain in addition to tannin, glúcidos (glucose and levulosa), organic provitamin To, vitamin C, and acids (citric, lactic, succínico, oxalic, salicílico). These are their indications:
Hemorroides: the decocción of the leaves and buds of bramble is locally applied in baths of seat or compresas, to desinflamar them and to avoid that they bleed.
Diarreas, gastroenteritis and colitis, by its remarkable effect astringent. The leaves and I appear are it more than the fruits, but usually they are consumed together to harness its effects and to take advantage of the flavor the fruits. For the children with diarrea the juice of Moors to teaspoons, or the syrup is administered that with him is prepared.
Febrile diseases: the juice of the fruits (Moors) is refrescante and tonificante, reason why it is very appropriate for the febrile or debilitated patients.
Bucofaríngeas affections: as much the decocción of the leaves and I appear, as the buds to tier and the fruits to us, have a beneficial effect on aftas (sores) buccal, gingivitis (inflammation of encías), estomatitis (inflammation of the buccal mucosa), faringitis and tonsilitis.
Wounds, ulcers of the skin and furúnculos: to washings or compresas with the decocción, or cataplasms with the leaves crushed in mortar are applied. They help to cure and to heal.
Use: decocción of 30-50 grs. of buds to tier to us and/or leaves in a liter of water, during 5-10 minutes; they are taken daily up to 3 cups. The buds to tier us of spring can eat directly, and also they exert curativa action to the contact with the buccal mucosa. The juice of Moors is taken fresh, of 1 to 3 daily glasses. In syrup, that is prepared adding to the juice the double of its weight in sugar, if possible integral (brown), warming up it to the fire until one dissolves completely; the juice of Moors or the syrup, usually is mixed with the decocción to harness their effect and to improve their flavor.
Externally, concentrated decocción more (50-80 grs. by liter) that para.uso.interno, that is applied in compresas, baths of seat, rinsings and garglings. Cataplasms with leaves crushed in a mortar that are applied on the affected skin.