Content
- The blackthorn - a delicacy with a slightly toxic core
- Safe for adults
- Sloe berries - treat for birds
- Valuable medicinal plant
- Tips & Tricks
The blackthorn - a delicacy with a slightly toxic core
Contrary to popular belief, none of the plant parts of blackthorn are highly toxic. However, you should not bite or swallow the relatively large stones of the dark blue to black fruits, as they contain little traces of hydrogen cyanide. However, this is no reason to avoid the sloe berries as flavor carriers in jams or liqueurs.
Safe for adults
The hydrocyanic glycoside amygdalin, which is contained in the nucleus, is converted to hydrocyanic acid in the body. However, the content of this substance in the sloe cores is much lower than in bitter almonds, apple or apricot kernels. Even if you marinate the fruits of blackthorn in alcohol for several weeks in the production of an aromatic liqueur, only a small amount of the glycoside passes into the drink and poisoning is excluded in the quantities normally consumed.
Consuming children's blackthorn cores in larger quantities can be dangerous as the child's body can not neutralize the poison fast enough! If your child inadvertently tastes a larger amount of fruit, you should contact a doctor immediately.
Sloe berries - treat for birds
The dense thorn bushes of the bush shelter numerous birds and can hardly be penetrated by enemies. Due to their size and color, sloe berries are a popular food of the feathered subtenants, who can only use the pulp because of the poisonous kernel. The Schlehenkern is excreted undigested and gets with the feces of the animals in far away areas.
Valuable medicinal plant
Since the ingredients of the raw sloe berries have a strong adristing and laxative effect, they are not suitable for raw consumption. Responsible for the unpleasant sour taste are the tannins contained in large quantities. On the tongue and mucous membranes remains a furry numb feeling.
Because of these valuable ingredients all plant parts of the blackthorn find use in the naturopathy. Even Hildegard von Bingen and Sebastian Kneipp report on the positive effect of blackthorn on health. An infusion of the flowers or leaves of blackthorn is suitable as
In therapeutic dosage side effects are not to be feared. Nevertheless, you should consult a doctor or naturopath for complaints before use.
Tips & Tricks
The blackthorn is considered a healthy all-rounder. In spring, you can collect and dry sloe flowers for tea making.