In addition, the berries have been used as an herbal remedy for gout, arthritis, throat inflammation and kidney disease. Using the berries as herbal medicine is not especially common today, but the berries are often used in conjunction with other medicinal herbs in so-called blood-purifying teas. Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) – Illustration ©The Herbal Resource
In the past, the herb was regarded as an excellent remedy against chilblains, by washing the hands frequently with the crushed berries.
In the 17th century, it was apparently common to treat slow-healing wounds with strawberry juice mixed with salt. Wild strawberry infused water was used traditionally for bad throat and bumps and sores in the mouth. Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897), a German naturopath and priest, recommended wild strawberry tea as a remedy for summer colds, and the daily consumption of the fresh berries as a preventive measure for kidney gravel and kidney stones, as well as for ailments related to the liver. Linnaeus stated that he cured himself of gout through the use of wild strawberries, which he took in large quantities every year. The leaves and roots have been used in herbal teas to improve bile and liver function, to treat inflammation of the bowel, and the berries have been used as a diuretic and an herbal remedy for gout.Ĭarl Linnaeus (1707-1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, believed that the berries could dissolve tartar and that they were the best medicine for kidney gravel and stones and gout. Wild Strawberry Uses in the PastĮver since ancient times, all parts of wild straw berry have been used as herbal medicine. The fruits also contain salicylic acid, invert sugar (a mixture of glucose and fructose), vitamins A and B, and anthocyanin (fragarine). Wild Strawberry Uses in Herbal Medicine Traditional Uses, Therapeutic Benefits and Claims of Wild StrawberryĪctive Ingredients and Substances: The leaves and roots contain tannins (argimonin and pedunculagin), vitamin C, traces of oil, proanthocyanins, flavonoids (quercetin and rutin), phenolic acids (salicylic acid, coffee acid, and chlorogenic acid), and others. The roots are harvested in the fall and the fruits are plucked when they are ripe. The young leaves are collected during the flowering period and can be dried for later use. Plant Parts Used: All parts of the plant have been used in herbal medicine. The tiny achenes embedded in the surface are the true fruits. The fruits of wild strawberries are actually accessories, or false fruits which are in part developed from the swollen top of the flower stalks. The plant is in bloom from April to May and the seeds ripen from June to July. The small white flowers sit on thin stalks, followed by small, red and aromatic fruits.
The plants have light-green trifoliate leaves with toothed margins that have silky hairs on the underside. Habitat: The plant grows wild in areas with cool, temperate climate in Europe, North Asia, Australia and North America.ĭescription: Wild strawberry is a perennial, 5-20 cm high plant with short rhizome and long runners (stolons) that grow on the soil surface and turn into roots to form new plants. Other Common Names: Wood strawberry, alpine strawberry, English strawberry, fresa (Spanish), villijarðarber (Icelandic), Walderdbeere (German), fraises des bois (French), smultron (Swedish), Skovjordbær (Danish), markjordbær (Norwegian), ahomansikka (Finnish). Botanical Name of Wild Strawberry: Fragaria vesca.
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