Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Blackberry the Safety Factor
Safety questions have been raised about tannins. In various studies, they show both pro- and anti-cancer action. Their cancer-promoting action has received more publicity, notably from a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which showed that tannins produce malignant tumors in laboratory animals. But tannins apparently also have an anti-cancer effect against some animal tumors.
Tannins’ effects on human cancer remain unclear. Small quantities have never been implicated in human tumors, but Asians who drink large quantities of tea, which is high in tannins, show unusually high rates of stomach cancer. Adding milk neutralizes the tannins, which appears to be why the tealoving British have a low rate of stomach cancer. People with a history of cancer, particularly stomach or colon cancer, should exercise caution and not use medicinal quantities of this herb. Other people should take no more than recommended amounts of infusions or decoctions, and for extra safety, add a bit of milk.
Distress Signals
In large amounts, tannins may cause stomach distress, nausea, and vomiting. Blackberry root bark contains the most tannins, followed by the leaves, and finally the fruit. People with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as colitis, for example, should probably not use the roots.
For otherwise healthy nonpregnant, nonnursing adults, blackberry is safe in amounts typically recommended.
Blackberry should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If blackberry causes minor discomforts such as nausea or vomiting, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Native Cultivation - Go Wild in the Garden
Blackberry bushes grow wild around most of North America. They have long, tangled, thorny stems, lush foliage, and a profusion of berries that turn red as they ripen and become a juicy, purplish blue-black by midsummer.
Blackberry bushes are so vigorous and invasive, they quickly become a thick, thorny, impenetrable mass. Rooting them out is almost impossible-as any gardener who has tried can attest. Even when removed, stray root fragments continue to send up new shoots. To minimize problems, plant this shrub in containers or surround its roots with sheet metal.
Blackberries grow easily from Ih-inch root cuttings taken in autumn and stored through the winter in cool sand (around 50°F). Plant cuttings vertically 1 to 3 feet apart in 3 to 4 inches of soil.
Blackberries adapt to many conditions but grow best in loose, moist rich soil amended with manure or finished compost. The plants flower in spring and bear fruit throughout the summer.
Harvest the leaves and roots any time. For ease of harvesting the berries, train the branches along supports and prune them mercilessly.