Mulberry

Morus nigra

Mulberry Parts used Uses Constituents Applications

In the 16th century, the berries, bark, and leaves of the black mulberry (M. nigra) were all used medicinally: the berries for inflammations and to stop bleeding; the bark for toothache; and the leaves for "the bitings of serpents" and as an antidote to aconite poisoning. While mulberry has faded from the European materia medica, white mulberry (M. alba) is still widely used in China as a remedy for coughs, colds, and high blood pressure, and as a yin tonic.

PARTS USED

Berries, leaves, twigs, root bark.

USES

Breast cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Tennis elbow.

CONSTITUENTS

Mulberry contains flavonoids, coumarin, tannins, sugars; berries also contain vitamins A, B1, B2, C.

APPLICATIONS

BERRIES:

TINCTURE - Take as a tonic to nourish the blood and yin: combine with wu wei zi or he shou wu, or just eat the fresh fruits.

MOUTHWASH/GARGLE - Crush the fresh berries, and use the juice for mouth ulcers and sore throats.

LEAVES:

INFUSION - Take for colds and chills; combines well with elderflower and mint.

DECOCTION - Take for colds.

SYRUP - Take a syrup made from the decoction for coughs.

TWIGS:

DECOCTION - Use for rheumatic pains  in the upper body; combine with herbs such as wei ling xian, Siberian ginseng, fang feng, gui zhi, or qin jiao.

ROOT BARK:

DECOCTION - Use for "hot" conditions affecting the lungs, for asthma, or as a diuretic in edema (use with fu ling, chen pi, and buchu).