Buy Strawberry Leaves For Diarrhea, Digestion and Other Benefits

Strawberry

Fragaria virginiana

Rosaceae (rose family)

These rugged little members of the rose family are some of our most common healing herbs. The name strawberry derives from an Old English word meaning "strew over the ground," and ripe strawberries can appear to be strewn across the ground. Fragaria comes from the Latin word for "fragrance," and virginiana means "from Virginia." The first specimen identified was probably from the Virginia regions. Most of our native plants were identified and named by European naturalists in the 1600s and 1700s. Enthusiasm for the plants and wildlife in the New World, as America was called during the historic period, brought countless explorers to these shores.

There are perhaps twelve species of these low-growing perennial herbs, with rooting runners that can carpet a whole area. The classic compound leaves divide into three leaflets with serrated (toothed) edges. The wood strawberry has pointed leaflet tips, whereas the common or Virginia strawberry has rounded leaflet tips. The classic white flowers have five petals surrounding the center, which expands and ripens into the fleshy red fruits, which are not true berries, bearing seed-like achenes on the fruit surface. Native to northern temperate regions, strawberries will grow in almost any soil and are widely distributed across North America. Field biologists noted that the wild strawberry was the first plant to colonize the rim of Mount St. Helens, growing in volcanic ash, after the volcano subsided following its eruption in 1980.

A native Indian symbol of fertility and sacred renewal, the wild woodland strawberries are reproduced and honored in baskets, wood carvings, quillwork, moosehair embroidery, and beadwork designs. We see our wild strawberry plants, blossoms, and fruits pictured everywhere from cradleboards to traditional clothing, as it is believed that they carry special blessings.

Traditional uses:

The medicinal virtues of these plants were well explored by the Indians. In the early 1600s, Jesuit missionaries working among the Huron in southern Canada described one of the Huron curing ceremonies with obvious amazement. Tscondacouane, a blind Huron man, dreamed that it was important for him to fast in order to end a raging epidemic among his people. He fasted for seven days, whereupon the spirits said to him, "We can do nothing more to you, you are associated with us, you must live hereafter as we do, and we must reveal to you our food, which is nothing more than clear soup with strawberries". After this the Huron ate dried strawberries during the winter months in order not to get sick. This was also the practice among other tribes, as wild strawberries were incredibly numerous centuries ago and easily collected and dried for future use, as were cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, and many types of raspberries.

Roger Williams, living among the Narragansetts in 1643, wrote about the ubiquitous wild strawberries, extolling their many virtues. He noted that they were so prolific in some areas where the Indians had planted them, that there was fruit 'enough to fill a good ship. The French traders noted the importance of trading for fresh and dried strawberries with various northern tribes. The soothing, astringent leaves were used by most tribes in teas or decoctions to relieve stomach ailments, cramps, menstrual difficulties, and as a therapeutic body wash to relieve sunburn, rashes, and other skin irritations. Strawberry root teas were taken as blood purifiers, diuretics, and digestive aids, and the roots were chewed to relieve toothaches and sore throats, coughs, and upper respiratory distress. Some tribes used strong leaf decoctions as nerve tonics, to treat kidney and bladder problems, and to cure diarrhea.

Modern uses:

Today strawberries are cultivated as ornamentals, ground covers, for herbal needs, and especially for their edible fruits. Both fresh fruits and leaves are high in vitamin C. Strawberry flavorings, essential oils, and essence have great commercial value in everything from ice cream and yogurt to shampoos, aromatherapy, herbal skin care, and soothing herbal healing formulas.

Modern herbalists honor the many therapeutic qualities of these wild plants. The ripe fruits can prove to be laxatives for some people, and some folks are sensitive to strawberry seeds. Strawberry leaf tea is a trusted, mild aid to digestion and can also stimulate the appetite.

Cautions:

Some people have sensitivity to the minute strawberry seeds and find that the fruits can be diuretics. A few individuals are allergic to strawberries.

Growth needs and propagation:

Strawberry grows best in rich, sandy, humusy soil, yet will do well in most soil types. It is easiest to propagate from runners cut from healthy plants. These root readily and are useful in forming great strawberry colonies. They make fine ground covers in the medicine wheel garden.

Companions:

Strawberry grows well with most plants in the herbal garden, especially skullcap, moccasin flower, yarrow, and yellow dock.

Use wild strawberries to cure canker sores and sties; boil roots for five minutes, and wash eyes and mouth with this cool solution.

- Delia Carpenter, Onondaga herbalist, 1974

Where can I buy Strawberry Leaves?

ZooScape.com has a wide selection of Strawberry leaf capsules, powder and Strawberry Leaf tea.