bramble shoots

[MysticTree]

I know very young ones can be eaten cooked so I'm thinking they can be juiced raw. Has anyone tried bramble juice?

[MysticTree]

The answer - sort of - very dry and medicinal. However, I really only juiced the leaves. Perhaps the stems only would have been sweeter. I thought of Debs plugging her nose and chugging it down though it was not as bad as I expected. Will try other greens tomorrow probably.

[DebB]

I've gotten to where I no longer have to plug my nose! (woo-hoo!)

I admit - I don't know what bramble shoots are...

[MysticTree]

Blackberry bushes without the blackberries

[streetsurfer]

Well shoot(s)! (pun intended) I should have read this sooner. I missed a mowing and then also had to leave town for a week and missed a couple more. I mowed several shoots today that have crept into the lawn this year. I now know what to do when the regrow. What are the medicinal qualities and chief phytosterols if you know? I would imagine it is highly astringent or full of saponins.

[MysticTree]

I don't know. It was like drinking diluted germoline/tcp mixed with the dryness you'd get from wood sorrel. We juiced about a shot and a half and drank about three quarters between us. The first mouthful wasn't unpleasant but after that it was less pleasant. I don't feel any bad effects from drinking it.

[MysticTree]

I found this:[quote]Medicinal: The leaves (particularly of the raspberry group), dried and steeped for tea are excellent for menstrual cramps. The tea is also taken twice a day as a tonic during pregnancy, and used to aid in childbirth. Research confirms that bramble leaves stimulate the uterus. The tea is also used for diarrhea and dysentary, and as a diuretic. Externally, the tea is used as an astringent for sores, ulcers, hemorrhoids, and boils. The juice of the berries has been used for diarrhea and canker sores, to lessen menstrual flow, to stop vomiting, to ease digestion, and to dissolve the tartar on teeth. The root tea was used for diarrhea, back pain, gonorrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and as a tonic for women. Studies show the leaves may lower blood sugar, which makes it potentially useful in diabetes.[\quote] so if the dried leaves do this then it seems likely the fresh do similar would you say?

[streetsurfer]

Very interesting and a big list of benefits. Certainly makes it seem worth adding to the larder or medicine cabinet. I imagine you would get similar qualities, though maybe a bit weaker from the young shoots. I only say that because its my belief that stems generally have a much higher silica content which provides their cellular rigidity. That may replace some other compounds. Leaves having more visible chlorophyl are likely more concentrated in the chemicals tbat do the good work. Thanks for taking the time to look it up and post. Ive tried the flowers ( to eat) of my blackberries and was not pleased. Maybe I will try steeping them next. I will collect some leaves.

[MysticTree]

Definitely one to do every now and then. Was thinking of trying nettle next but it's so wet today I haven't gone foraging for anything.