STRAWBERRIES

Background

Popular as the fruit of high summer, strawberries are an extremely widely eaten berry. Much history and folklore surrounding the strawberry suggests that it has many medicinal uses. Amongst other things strawberries have been said to help kidney stones, arthritis, gout and rheumatism, and in 1653 Culpepper wrote in his English Physician and Herbal that strawberry is:

“an excellent water for inflamed eyes and to take away the film or skin that beginneth to grow over them”.

This demonstrates how long strawberries have been used medicinally. It is probable that they have been used for far longer still. Mrs. Grieve published A Modern Herbal in 1931 and this highlighted the cosmetic benefits of strawberries. She writes

“the juice left on the teeth for minutes removes any discoloration”

and that

“a strawberry cut in half and rubbed over the face after washing will whiten the skin and remove slight sunburn”.

Medicinal Value

Due to the lack of scientific interest generally, little research is available regarding strawberries. However, there has been enough to conclude that they are extremely valuable to any person who wants a healthy diet.

Research conducted in Canada showed that mashed and liquefied strawberries were very potent when it came to fighting viruses. In test tubes the pulp of strawberries destroyed the polio virus, echo virus, reo virus, cox-sackie virus and the herpes simplex virus.

To begin with, the least a strawberry will do is provide a considerable source of Vitamin C, which as an antioxidant helps to boost the immune system and can therefore be useful in any health-supporting diet. Antioxidants are also believed to destroy nitrosamines in the digestive tract, thereby helping to prevent the potential damage these may cause.

Many of the beliefs surrounding the benefits of strawberries are bedded in folklore. In addition to the activity outlined above, it is also believed that strawberry can help relieve the symptoms of liver problems, as well as disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Advice

It is important to point out that berries can sometimes be the cause of allergic reactions. The specific allergic reaction, involving swollen lips and eyes and itchy patches, is known as ‘hives’. It helps if the strawberries are allowed to ripen on the plant.

Strawberries also contain salicylates, and should therefore be avoided by people who are sensitive to aspirin.

People with bowel problems such as colitis should also avoid strawberries, as the seeds can cause irritation.