The Herb Hound: CURRANTS

CURRANTS - ribes aureum (golden), ribes hudsonianum (northern black), ribes glandulosum (skunk), ribes nigrum (european black), ribes lacustre (bristly black), ribes montigenum (prickly), ribes hirtellum (gooseberry), ribes rubrum, ribes cereum (wax), ribes odoratum (clove).

Also known as: be ga ge ta (Crow), win check gon sa (Assiniboine), buffalo currant.

Parts used: leaves, berries, root.

Systems/organs affected: cardiovascular, bones, digestive, liver, kidney, immune, blood, brain.

Properties: astringent, nutritive, anti-inflammatory, tonic (blood and yin), demulcent, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-proliferative, hepato-protectant, cardio protective, anti-rheumatic, anti-arthritic, immunostimulant, nervine.

Currants are in the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry) family. They are deciduous shrubs that come in a variety of colors: red, white, black, pink, yellow, etc., to name a few. Currants have maple leaf-like leaves that are rounded (some) at the tips and, depending on the variety, can have either bristles, prickles, or a smooth stalk; the leaves tend to be alternate on the stems. The flowers vary in color as well: red, maroon, green, pink, white, and yellow, and grow in elongated clusters. These flowers lead to the berries that also come with hairs or not and they usually have a little tail on them, The shrub can get up to six feet tall and loves humid summers and cold winters. Currants can be found growing on ridges, hillsides, disturbed areas, forest edges, etc. (From this point, I will refer to currants as "it" for clarity.) It is native to northern Europe and Siberia but now can be found across the globe. The largest population of currants in the USA is found in the Pacific Northwest, but also can be found from British Columbia to Texas. There are about eighty species worldwide with the black and red varieties being the most popular.

Currants have gotten a bad rap. They were extremely popular here in the USA in the 1800s until about the 1920s when it was blamed for white pine blister rust (a type of fungus that was killing off white pine trees). The USA banned black currants at that time (1911) to save the pine trees. (The white pine rust actually was later found to come from white pine seedlings that had been shipped from Britain to America). The ban against black currants began to overturn in 1966, but in some states it is still on the banned list. (They are okay in the state of Idaho - Woo Hoo!) This banning is why currants are sometimes referred to as the "forbidden fruit."

Black currants are the ones used most medicinally; other currants also are used but have less nutritive value so are not used as much for medicinal purposes. Black currants date back centuries (as they are native to northeastern Europe and Siberia) and have been used by almost every culture in one way or another. In this country, it was used by many Native American peoples long before the settlers showed up. The Blackfeet used the root for kidney and uterine issues; the Cree used the fruit as a fertility aid to help women get pregnant; the Assiniboine believed the plant increased energy, stamina, and longevity. Some tribes used it to treat diarrhea and hung the sprigs on baby carriers to calm children. They also believed that currants were indicative of fish nearby and some native stories say that currants dropped in water become fish. Currants were sometimes added to pemmican; they were added to bread, fish, muffins, and boiled to make tea or mashed for wine. In Europe, the juice was used for arthritis, kidney issues, and heart disease.

There have been several studies done on this plant over the years. One study found that less than one percent of black currant extract inhibited the replication of several pathogens by over 50% and a 10% extract inhibited their absorption into the cell structure by over 95%! The ten percent extract also stopped the replication of influenza B by 99.8% and pneumonia by 78.9% in less than ten minutes. (Other pathogens affected in this study were influenza A, herpes simplex, strep, and respiratory syntical virus). Scientists also concluded that black currant extract is a great food for oral health. (This is no doubt due to the fact that its ORAC value is 7,957 - putting it fourth on the scale for fruit values behind chokecherries, cranberries, and elderberries). www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22985050

Yet another study found currants to be the second most powerful berry extract for scavenging free radicals. It was found to inhibit the reproduction of liver cancer cells making it not only anti-proliferative but also hepato-protective. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21121259 A similar study done in Japan found it stopped the spread of endometrial cancer and breast cancer. One study published in the 'Journal of Medicinal Food' found it effective for esophageal and stomach cancers. (This may be due to the fact it is very high in anthocyanins - at least 15 different types.)

Another study? This one, published in the 'Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics' found black currant extract decreased the hormone responsible for the development of glaucoma. This same medical school in Japan (Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine's Dept of Ophthalmology) found it reduced vision loss in patients with glaucoma.

Black currants are high in vitamin C. One cup of these purple powerhouses contain three times the amount of vitamin C according to RDA values (which are ridiculously low), Vitamin C is known to have powerful immune-enhancing capabilities. (In WWII, for example, these berries were used to prevent scurvy as the imports of citrus fruit were blocked for some time.)
Black currants are nutrient heavy. They contain vitamins A, B1, B5, B6, C, and the minerals iron, copper, manganese, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. They have a high ORAC value and are high in anthocyanins and flavonoids (cryptoxanthin, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin). They are also high in gamma-linolenic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid well known for its hair and skin uses.

Black currants have been known to play a role in helping arthritis, liver issues, female reproductive problems, Alzheimer's, diabetes, gout, obesity, menopause, diarrhea, healing wounds and treating insect bites.

They are very tart berries so require drying and/or a little sweetness for most people. It is quite popularly used in jams, jellies, wines, sauces, baked goods, juices, etc. One bush can produce up to ten pounds of berries under the right conditions.

The Herb Hound

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

CURRANTS

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