Article first published in Yukon North of Ordinary

Matthew Watson General Store, in Carcross, is a destination for tourists and locals alike. As one of the oldest stores in the territory, there are lots of curios. Stepping through the door and onto the old wooden floor is like going back in time.

I like to go not only for their yummy ice cream in their homemade waffle cones, but also to look at all the antique medicine bottles lining the shelves behind the wooden counter—bottles that would generally be found in an old-time apothecary. The collection is impressive—from Gin Pills for the Kidneys, Jayne’s Liquid Vermifuge to rid the body of worms, styptic powder to stop bleeding, and Dr. A.W. Chase’s Catarrh Powder to help with excess mucous in the respiratory system.

Each fading label, tin box, or coloured bottle is as interesting as the next. These elixirs, tinctures, and dusting powders are tangible reminders of when simple un-proprietary botanical ingredients were the norm, home remedies were the first line of action, and people frequented the local apothecary for simple remedies that could cure what ailed them.

One remedy that really intrigued me was the Gin Pills, manufactured in the early 1900s. These pills are made from ground up juniper berries, which is said to rid the kidneys of excess wastes, like uric acid, which causes gout.

JUNIPER (Juniperus communis)

Juniper is warming, spicy, and antiseptic. It’s also well known for helping heal urinary-tract problems such as cystitis, urethritis, and prostatitis. Juniper berry is a diuretic and promotes increased urine flow, which in turn helps clear the bladder, prostate, gallbladder, and kidneys of excess wastes. Its anti-inflammatory properties ease the pain of rheumatic conditions, painful joints, arthritis, sore muscles, and nerve pain caused by sciatica. In the latter case, the berries can be used as a tea, but for prolonged use it’s best applied topically as a poultice, in a cream, salve, or bath.

Juniper berries aid digestion, expel gas, ease stomach cramps and indigestion, and stimulate appetite. In laboratory testing, juniper has been shown to lower blood-sugar levels. It also strengthens the immune system and is good for preventing colds and flus. If you have a cold, the berry tea can be a healing ally for the lungs. Its expectorant properties help clear excess phlegm, aiding with conditions like bronchitis and sinusitis. It is also a good sore-throat gargle.

Juniper berry is considered a purifier of the blood and an overall system cleanser. By removing acid and toxic wastes from the body, it helps reduce overall susceptibility to disease.

Northern First Nations have used juniper as a survival food and know it is “good medicine” with powerful healing properties for cleansing the body and the spirit. They use juniper to keep away infection, as well as to treat arthritis and stomach aches.

That said, juniper berries can also irritate the kidneys when used excessively and should be avoided by those with kidney disease or problems, and the berries shouldn’t be used during pregnancy.

YARROW (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow is a powerful topical wound healer that can stop bleeding immediately. Its analgesic properties help with pain relief, and its antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties keep wounds free of infection. It can also be used topically for eruptive conditions like measles, chickenpox, or insect bites.

Yarrow can be used fresh and dried. Powdered yarrow in your herbal firstaid kit or pantry is a good idea for accidental cuts.

Yarrow styptic powder helps stop bleeding from cuts and wounds, so it’s good to have in your herbal apothecary collection or first-aid kit. You can apply the powder directly on a wound, put it in a poultice or wash, or make it into an ointment.

o Yarrow Stop-the-Bleeding Styptic Powder

1) Powder dried yarrow in a blender.

2) Strain powder through a sieve to remove any lumps.

3) Pour into a dark glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Label and store in a cool area.

Yarrow also makes a wonderful tincture. Tinctures are very concentrated and last a long time, so you won’t have to make them every year. Tinctures don’t take up much room, so they’re convenient to take travelling and good to include in an herbal first-aid kit.

Tinctures are different from teas in that water is not used to extract the properties of the plant. Alcohol—like vodka or apple-cider vinegar—is used as a solvent in tinctures to remove a plant’s medicinal properties. The process of extracting the constituents from the plant is called “maceration.” Tinctures are applied internally under the tonguefor quick absorption. However, some people find the taste too strong and prefer to add tinctures to juice, water, or tea. I also like adding tinctures to food preparations such as soups, sauces, dips, and to my morning smoothie. People who prefer not to ingest alcohol can add the tincture to a steaming hot cup of water or herbal tea—the hot liquid will cause most of the alcohol to evaporate.

Yarrow tincture or tea aids a fever. It also eliminates toxins and promotes perspiration, thereby helping break up a cold or flu. Yarrow is an immune stimulant and acts as a mild expectorant helping get rid of excess phlegm. Ingest yarrow tea or tincture the minute you feel a cold coming on—it may help to stop the cold from taking hold. If you have cold extremities, yarrow tea promotes warmth and circulation throughout the body and will warm up your hands and feet.

o Homemade Tincture-Make your own tincture from local botanicals.

1) Break up herbs into a jar.

2) Pour vodka or apple-cider vinegar over the herbs until they’re fully covered with liquid.

3) Cover the jar with a lid. When using vinegar, use a lid made of plastic, as metal will rust when it comes into contact with acid. If you don’t have a plastic lid, place a plastic or wax paper barrier between the lid and the jar.

4) Label your preparation.

5) Place out of direct sunlight and let steep for several weeks.

6) When your preparation is ready, strain through a piece of cheesecloth, wringing out the cloth to get every last precious drop. Compost the spent botanicals.

Making your own herbal remedies will bring you back in time to when life was simpler. Dedicate a shelf in your pantry to a selection of your favourite Yukon botanical preparations. These will help prevent and heal minor health ailments that you may face during the long, cold winter.

 

Article first published in Yukon North of Ordinary

An abundance of wild, healthy super foods or natural medicines can be found in the northern boreal forest. In the Yukon, they’re often growing right outside your front door. Boreal berries are antioxidant-rich foods with medicinal qualities that are beneficial for our overall health, keeping us vibrant during the long northern winters.

BEARBERRY Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

It is the deep, green, leathery leaves of bearberry that have effective medicinal qualities. A tea made from the leaves makes an excellent mouthwash for gum infections or to clear up diarrhea. The tea can thin out excessive, sticky mucus brought on by bronchitis.

Bearberry leaves possess anti-microbial actions that kill bacteria in urine. A tea or tincture can help prevent the formation of (and assist in the removal of) stones from the urinary system and work as an antiseptic for urinary-tract and bladder infections. It’s also helpful in alleviating pain associated with menstruation and is a powerful tonic for the bladder’s sphincter muscle (said to aid with bladdercontrol and bedwetting problems).

CAUTIONS: Large doses should be avoided during pregnancy. Do not take for longer than two weeks at a time. Raw berries can be toxic if eaten in large quantities.

BLUEBERRY Vaccinium ovalifolium

Harvested in late summer, wild blueberries are delicious and prevent oxidative stress in the body that leads to chronic inflammation.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Consuming blueberries can enhance brain power. They can also prevent eye fatigue and slow down or even reverse eye disorders, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. Blueberries can also prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary-tract infections from attaching to the bladder wall.

Blueberry leaves (gathered before the plant goes into berry) can be used to treat gastrointestinal ailments, such as diarrhea and upset stomachs. All parts, including leaf and stem, may be useful for lowering blood sugar.

Topically, an infusion of blueberries can be used to prevent skin infections.

CLOUDBERRY Rubus chamaemorus

Cloudberries are high in water-soluble vitamin C and rich in antioxidants that prevent free-radical damage in the body and fight disease caused by oxidative stress. They can be eaten, used in tea or juice, or made into medicinal syrup.

The leaves are high in minerals and act as an astringent. They can be infused in boiling water as a tea for menstrual cramping and diarrhea. Topically, the leaves can be used as a compress or poultice for weeping wounds.

CRANBERRY Vaccinium macrocarpon

Highly antioxidant, wild cranberries contain high concentrations of flavonoids, such as quercitin, which can help lower blood-sugar levels and reduce symptoms of allergies, like hay fever. These chemicals are also found in grapes and red wine, both famous for being high in antioxidants.

Wild cranberry juice is touted for its ability to prevent bacteria such as E. coli from binding to the wall of the bladder and creating an inhospitable environment for bladder and urinarytract infections. The juice also helps prevent kidney stones from developing.

Eating cranberries can support heart and immune-system health. For heartburn or indigestion, try eating a handful of cranberries before your meal or include them as part of your meal.

Cranberries can be topically used in a poultice to soothe and heal cuts, scrapes, or abrasions. The berries are best gathered after the first frost. Use in moderation if you are prone to calcium-oxalate kidney stones.

HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY or CRAMPBARK Viburnum edule

As the name crampbark suggests, the inner bark can be decocted as a tea or tinctured to make an antispasmodic remedy, which can relieve cramping of the uterus, bladder, and stomach. It also helps heal spasmodic coughing and bronchial irritations, and can be used a gargle for sore throats and a rinse for gingivitis and loose teeth. When used in oil or topical preparations, such as salves and liniments, it aids sore-muscle pain, cramping, and spasms. Its mild diuretic properties help cleanse the kidneys, as well.

The aromatic and musty-smelling highbush cranberry is tasty and high in vitamin C, great for making juice, medicinal syrup, and jelly.

CURRANTS Ribes species

Eating currants or drinking the diluted juice helps treat yeast infections. Currants also have beneficial antioxidants that inhibit inflammation and help heal and keep the body healthy and free from rheumatic pain and gout.

Warm black-currant (Ribes hudsonianum) juice is beneficial at the beginning of a cold or flu and can be blended with yarrow to support the immune system.

Red-currant (Ribes triste) juice or tea can reduce fever and induce sweating. A tea infusion made from dried red-currant leaves is said to ease the symptoms of gout and rheumatism and can be used as a gargle for mouth infections.

JUNIPER Juniperus communis

The warm and aromatic qualities of juniper berries aid digestion, expel gas, ease stomach cramps and indigestion, and stimulate the appetite. When brewed as a tea, the berries’ antiseptic attributes can treat urinary-tract problems like cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, and vaginitis. They are also diuretic in nature, which promotes increased urine flow to clear the bladder, prostate, gallbladder, and kidneys of excess wastes like uric acid, which causes gout.

Its anti-inflammatory properties can ease pain of rheumatic conditions, painful joints, arthritis, sore muscles, and gout, as well as nerve pain caused by sciatica. In the latter case, the berries can be used as a tea, but for prolonged use it’s best applied topically as a poultice in a cream, salve, or bath.

Juniper berry is strengthening to the immune system and good for preventing colds and flus. If you do get a cold, the berry tea can be healing for the lungs. Its expectorant properties help clear excess phlegm, aiding with conditions like bronchitis and sinusitis. It’s also a good sore-throat gargle.

CAUTIONS: Berries can be irritating to the kidneys and should be avoided by those who have kidney issues. Do not consume during pregnancy. Use in moderation.

MOSSBERRY Empetrum nigrum

A mossberry-bark infusion can be brewed for colds and flus, diarrhea, and stomach problems. Decoctions of he root and bark have also been used for treating sore eyes and cataracts.

The berry was traditionally used by First Nations people to combat tuberculosis. University of British Columbia researcher Dr. Allison McCutcheon and her colleagues studied the effect of the mossberry and found that when ingested it inhibits the growth of mycobacterium tuberculosis. They also found the branches exhibited strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Mossberries act as a powerful antihistamine and can relieve allergy symptoms, inflammation, aches and pains, and symptoms of arthritis. They can also combat fatigue and anxiety.

RASPBERRY Rubus idaeus

Raspberries are tasty, and the good news is ingesting the berries acts as a blood tonic. The berries are antioxidant, anti-mutagen, and anticarcinogenic, which actively helps treat cancers of the breast, esophagus, skin, colon, prostate, and pancreas.

The dried leaves are famous for use as a women’s tonic for all stages of reproduction, from the first menstrual cycle to the last and beyond. A tea of the leaves helps tone and strengthen the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus, and can also regulate the menstrual cycle (relieving cramps, excessive bleeding, and preparing the uterus for conception).

Raspberry leaf is known for its relaxant and pain-relief properties and ability to speed the recovery process after childbirth. Due to its high vitamin and mineral content, raspberry-leaf tea is a beneficial breastfeeding tonic that aids in production of nourishing milk.

A leaf infusion is an effective mouthwash for inflammations such as ulcers, cankers, and bleeding gums. It can also be used as a gargle for sore throats or to treat diarrhea.

ROSEHIP Rosa acicularis

Rosehips are high in vitamin C and bioflavonoids, so the berries are an excellent heart tonic. It is believed that rosehips stimulate production of red blood cells and can help prevent anemia because the hips are mineral rich with trace amounts of iron and B vitamins. Rosehip tea or syrup is a good remedy for hemorrhoids and varicose veins and may help regulate blood circulation.

The berries are best harvested after the first frost.

SOAPBERRY Shepherdia canadensis

Soapberries are abundant in the Yukon. Modern herbalism provides few methods, but Aboriginal people in the North have used this plant extensively as both food and medicine.

The berries have a layered flavour that is at first sweet and then bitter. They appear to improve digestion and can be helpful with constipation or to stop diarrhea. Drinking a small amount of the juice can treat digestive disorders. The berries can be eaten to treat high blood pressure. The berries and juice can also be applied externally to treat acne and boils.

Soapberry roots are anti-hemorrhagic and cathartic. Reportedly an infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis. A decoction of the stems or inner bark can be used as a stomach tonic and also to treat constipation and high blood pressure.

A decoction of the berries, stems, and roots can be used externally as a wash and rub for sore, aching limbs, as well as arthritic joints and skin sores.

STRAWBERRY Fragaria virginiana

Wild strawberries are packed with phytonutrients that are beneficial to our overall heath and wellness. The berries also have antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Because they are high in vitamin C, strawberry leaves can keep colds at bay. In a tea infusion, the dried leaves help regulate menstruation, calm morning sickness, and promote abundant breast-milk production, as well as acting as a mild nerve tonic.

As a mouthwash, the leaves and berries can alleviate toothaches and heal ulcers of the gums. A poultice made from fresh leaves can be used on open wounds, eczema, and psoriasis to accelerate healing. Iron-rich leaves can be added to teas, tinctures, tonics, or elixirs to help prevent anemia.

 

Irish Herbals.   (click on this link for easy reading)

Article first published in Yukon North of Ordinary

ANCIENT SHADES OF GREEN

The traditional healing practices of Ireland

On March 17, people throughout the world turn their collective gaze to Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. In Eire (Ireland) it is a holiday, when many go to morning mass, then attend costumed parades with music from fife-and-drum bands.

I noticed while celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dingle (on the southwest coast of Ireland) that most people wore fresh cut clusters of shamrocks on their coat lapels to show love and loyalty to their country and honour the teachings of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

It is said that Ireland has over 40 shades of green that weave through the rolling mountains, hillsides, and patchwork pastures of the north- western European country. The warm temperatures and amount of rain that falls throughout the year creates a perfect growing environment for all things green.

As an herbalist, I get excited when the land is green. While roaming the misty countryside of Ireland and shorelines of the North Atlantic, I found so many great land and sea plants for food and medicine. I gathered wild blackberries for jams and cordials, made dried nettle leaf into tea, used tinctured nettle seed to treat gout, and gathered hawthorn berries and numerous seaweeds to eat as a snack.

Wherever I’m travelling, my lens is always focused on the plants, as well as the culture behind them and the people who use them.

In Ireland, it is common to find disturbed soil plants that also grow in the Yukon, like fireweed, yarrow, dandelion, mint, rose, horsetail, and sorrel. European herbals like wild garlic, heather, St. John’s wort, vervain, and mullein are also very visible and easy to find.

The Burren, a region in North County Clare, is renowned for its limestone and diverse plant life (from rare orchids to Mediterranean, alpine, and arctic plants) that grow in rock crevices. Roseroot, or

rhodiola rosea, also grows in the Burren and happens to be one of my favourite medicinal plants.

Achill Island, in County Mayo, boasts a flora as varied as its topography. Rare arctic alpine species, such as juniper, are found on the peaks of Slievemore and Croaghaun.

There are trees throughout Ireland—many not at all like the Yukon’s boreal forests. However, there are plenty of trees we are familiar with, like pine, birch, willow, alder, and aspen. There are also beautiful replanted groves of indigenous Irish trees, like oak, hawthorn, rowan, ash, elm, and the blackthorn.

A strong Irish indigenous culture still exists and is widely expressed through Gaelic games, traditional music, and, of course, the Irish language (one of two official languages in the country). However, “Irish cures” are still a large part of the culture’s undercurrent. My curiosity was piqued at a local pub one evening when I was asked what I did in Canada. “I am an herbalist,” I said, and the fellow working behind the counter replied, “Oh, you work with the cures do ya girl?”

He went on to tell me a story about his family’s herbal cure for drawing out toxins from the body. He sketched out a picture on a napkin of a very familiar leaf that they use as a poultice to help pull out infection. He said there was a time when most families held a cure for a certain ailment.

That got my interest, so I started talking to people and asking questions about traditional cures. It became clear many use the same plant: plantain. One woman told me of her family’s cure for skin rash and boils. She said they make a poultice or an ointment from the plant to heal the ailment and stop itching. Another person reported their family held the cure for a cough by making a tea or cough syrup from the plant.

“IRISH CURES” ARE STILL
A LARGE PART OF THE CULTURE’S UNDERCURRENT.

Everywhere one goes in Ireland, wild medicinal plants are growing and accessible. I’ve often thought the country had enough nettles to feed the world. And while many people may curse the stinging nettle, the plant’s healing powers are well-known. Nettle soup is a nourishing, traditional Irish cure used to flush toxins from the system. Nettles are rich in iron and also used as a traditional arthritis remedy.

I spoke with Rosari Kingston, a medical herbalist, researcher, and chair of the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists. We talked about the cures and traditional herbal medicine of the ancient people of Ireland. While researching, Rosari came across an Irish manuscript of names and medicinal uses for plants written in 1415.

“This is still living knowledge. There is more to indigenous Irish medicine—there is the story and the worldview. Indigenous medicine occurs within indigenous knowledge, so what was the worldview of the people of Ireland?” Rosari said. “This is what brought me back to the idea of the sacred holy wells, the patron days, the sense of seasonality.”

She works and lives by the ancient Celtic calendar, a pre-Christian Celtic system of timekeeping for each of the four seasons. Rosari honours the change of season with different plants. She also observes the importance of her surroundings.

“The land influences me because I am very conscious of sacred space. Some places are very potent, [such as] the faerie forts, which would not be touched even today,” she said. “The old stone circles, the wells, the holy mountains—these are all very sacred to our people.”

In Ireland, faerie mounds and forts are revered and are not to be messed with. There are many stories and legends about faeries, and expensive road detours have even been made throughout the country in order to avoid disturbing a faerie mound.

For Rosari, it is important to understand ancient Irish knowledge and how it integrates with modern medicine. “I think that traditional medicine worldview can never stay static. It always evolves.”

The ancient Celts, like the Aboriginal people of North America, believed that all things in nature were interconnected. Trees were venerated as sacred beings and identified as ancestors of human beings. Different trees had different traits and magical energies, including the power to heal.

Celtic priests, or Druids, utilized the ogham, a medieval alphabet used to primarily write an early Irish language. Each letter is named for a tree or shrub and is associated with a certain month of the Celtic calendar.

Celtic shamans believed that certain herbs held healing powers and used the ogham in their preparations. While concocting their remedies, healers drew letters from the ogham in the air over the mixture.

The old traditional ways are alive and continue to evolve in Ire- land thanks to family practices, modern-day herbalists, and the sha- mans of that ancient land. There are well over a hundred medicinal manuscripts writ

 

Northerners go out in droves during the late summer and early autumn to their sacred—and sometimes secret— spots to gather enough wild berries to keep healthy through the long boreal winters. Boreal berries and herbs are packed with nutrients and complex taste sensations that make for delicious juices and smoothies any time of the day or year.

The simplest and quickest way to make a nutritious, raw juice is to combine fresh or frozen berries in a blender with cold water or a cooled herbal tea. Then simply pour, drink, and enjoy. I like to keep the berry pulp in the juice, which means not gulping it down, but chewing each mouthful. If this doesn’t appeal to you, just strain out the pulp. Adding a squeeze of lemon will enhance the taste and help preserve the juice a little longer.

Raw juices are the most healthful of beverages, but they do not last that long. When made in a blender, the juice will last a couple of days in the fridge. If you’re not going to drink the juice quickly, freeze it in portion-sized containers or make homemade fruit-sicles with it.

Basic Raw Berry Juice Recipe
Any of the boreal wild berries can be used. Mix and match for new and interesting juices. Imagine moss berry-raspberry juice. Yum!

1 cup (250 ml) berries (frozen work best)
2 cups (500 ml) cold water or cooled herbal tea
2 tbsp. (30 ml) sweetener (honey, birch syrup, cane sugar, or deseeded dates all work great)
Juice of one lemon

1) Place the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth. (This usually takes about two minutes.)
2) Pour, drink, and enjoy the antioxidant goodness in each sip. Strain if you don’t want the pulp.

I love having wild juices stacked up in the fridge; one of my family’s all-time favourites is wild cranberry juice. Because the juice is heated, it lasts for a couple of weeks in the fridge—that’s if you don’t drink it all first.

CRANBERRY
Most northerners gather wild cranberries, also known as lingonberries or lowbush cranberries, from the low mat-forming shrub in early autumn, after the first frost. The frost brings out this northern fruit’s tangy flavour sensations. Bursting with colour and zest, wild cranberries are one of the most recognized berries in the North. Wild cranberries are smaller and tangier than commercial cranberries, and pack a greater taste.

Cranberries—also known as natl’at in Gwich’in—can be dried, frozen, or kept in a cool cache over the winter months due to their benzoic-acid content that acts as a natural preservative.

Nutritionally, the berries are filled with calcium, iron, niacin, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as small amounts of protein and vitamins A and C. The seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Cranberries contain high concentrations of antioxidants and flavonoids that can help lower blood-sugar levels and benefit the cardiovascular and immune systems. Its antiseptic properties make the berry good for preventing and treating urinary-tract infections. Wild cranberry juice is touted for its ability to prevent bacteria, such as E. coli, from binding to the wall of the bladder and for creating an inhospitable environment for infection.

Cranberries stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, so it’s good to have a handful before a meal. You can also add cranberry sauce to your meats to help with heartburn or indigestion.

Cranberry Juice
Recipe inspired by long-time Yukoner MaryJane Lawson.

2 cups (500 ml) wild cranberries
(or any boreal berry)
8 cups (2,000 ml) water
A large dollop of honey to taste (optional) A pinch of cinnamon spice

1) Bring water to a boil. Add cranberries and simmer until the cranberries split open (about 20 minutes).
2) Stir in honey and cinnamon.
3) Take off heat and let rest for a few hours until cooled down.
4) Strain out cranberries (save the berries to make fruit leather, put in smoothies, or to make jam or sauce with) and pour the juice into bottles or a juice container and refrigerate.

SMOOTHIES
A fruit-and-yogurt smoothie is a wonderful thing. Packed full of goodness, flavour, and nutrients, the health benefits of smoothies are as diverse as the many ingredient combinations used to create them. Kids love them, too. Frozen wild berries are a great foundation for a smoothie.

Pink Drink: High-C Smoothie
This tastes great all year round, but it’s especially beneficial during cold and flu season.

1 cup (250 ml) cranberries (frozen)
1 cup (250 ml) rosehip tea
1/4 cup lamb’s quarters seeds (fresh or dried)
1/4 cup (approx. 50 ml) spruce tips (fresh, frozen, or dried)
1 cup (250 ml) yogurt
1 cup (250 ml) cow, rice, soy, or almond milk

Place the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth. (This usually takes about two minutes.)

Note: If the consistency is too thick, add more liquid; if it’s too thin, add more frozen fruit.

WILD BERRIES
“Fable says that cranberry is a cure for heartache, but far more prosaically the sauce wards off scurvy.” – Martha Louise Black, Yukon Wild Flowers (1940)

The flavour sensations, aromas, and nutritional value of wild berries make them the perfect ingredients for healthy raw juices and smoothies. Wild plant juices and smoothies are a great way to start the day and are excellent for your health. All you need is a blender to get started!

BLUEBERRY

Considered an antioxidant super-fruit, wild blueberries have very favourable health benefits, including claims of fighting certain stresses that can lead to chronic illness and premature aging. The antioxidant activities of the wild blue fruit are said to be higher than those of many other fruits, including apples, raspberries, red grapes, and strawberries.

Antioxidants are beneficial for heart health because they help control the bad cholesterol that contributes to cardiovascular disease. They may also help regulate blood pressure and fight atherosclerosis, a plaque buildup inside the arteries.

Blueberries are also touted as having excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce chronic inflammation in the body. Laboratory studies have provided evidence that consuming wild blueberries may help with eye fatigue and slow down, or even reverse, eye disorders, such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

Eaten raw, made into tea, juiced, or eaten in foods, blueberries, like cranberries, contain chemical compounds that prevent the bacteria responsible for urinary-tract infections from attaching to the bladder wall. Traditionally, blueberry leaves were used to treat gastrointestinal ailments, such as diarrhea and upset stomach. All parts, including leaf and stem, may be useful for lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetes.

Rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, riboflavin, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium, fresh or frozen blueberries are a must for a morning smoothie.

Purple Smoothie

1 cup (250 ml) wild blueberries
1 cup (250 ml) yogurt
1 cup (250 ml) rice, almond, or soy milk

Put ingredients in a blender. Mix until smooth. Serve and enjoy!