- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Europe, Asia (West)
- Traditions
- Monastic and folk knowledge
Europe · Food · № 256
Prunus avium
Food · Europe
Cherry
Prunus avium
A fruit rich in vitamin C. The dried stalks were used in folk medicine as a diuretic. Sour cherries have been studied for gout and sleep, with preliminary results.
Safety notes
Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Preparation
Fresh as fruit; dried stalks as tea.
Use in traditions
Sweet cherries were already eaten in prehistoric Europe and western Asia; the Romans spread their cultivation. In France and Germany a tea of the stalks (queues de cerise) was drunk for fluid retention. In Japan the blossoming of the cherry trees (sakura) is a great festival.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
Fruit bowl (spring); fruit salad.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)Powder and kitchen