The beneficial properties of mulberry leaves, or mulberry tree leaves, as well as other parts of the tree, have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. Mulberries contain many beneficial substances, including vitamins and trace elements. Mulberries are used to prepare infusions, decoctions, teas, and medicinal oils. Excessive consumption of prepared medicinal herbs is not recommended, as allergic reactions and overdose symptoms are possible.
Useful substances of mulberry
The berries, leaves, and bark of the mulberry tree contain a number of substances beneficial for the body:
- vitamins B, K, C, A;
- organic acids;
- microelements: potassium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, sodium, iron, selenium;
- carotene;
- tannins;
- fructose, glucose;
- essential oils;
- sugar-like substances.
All parts of the tree contain flavonoids and resins. Mulberries contain almost twice as much calcium as cow's milk. Therefore, they are extremely beneficial for people who cannot consume dairy products due to illness (such as a strict therapeutic diet).
When and how to collect leaves
Leaves for medicinal purposes are best collected in the spring, when the flowering period begins. During this period, the sap begins to actively flow along the tree trunk, leading to the formation of ovaries. Consequently, the leaves accumulate the maximum amount of nutrients and water. Only healthy-looking leaves should be collected—they should be uncurled and green in color, free of brown spots. The collected leaves are thoroughly washed under cold running water and laid out in a single layer on a towel to dry.
Dry the leaf blades for storage in a well-ventilated area at room temperature. Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight, as this can cause them to lose their beneficial properties. Exposure to sunlight destroys vitamin and acid molecules. Store the raw materials in cloth or paper bags. The shelf life of the beneficial properties is one year.
Medicinal properties of mulberry
Thanks to the potassium and magnesium in their composition, medicinal infusions and teas are recommended for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Potassium and magnesium are essential micronutrients for maintaining cardiac muscle function. Essential oils are similar in composition to tea tree oil, which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamins and micronutrients replenish any deficiencies in the body.
Iron helps increase hemoglobin levels, improve hematopoiesis, and accelerate red blood cell synthesis. Organic acids have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Teas made from fresh berries and leaves have diaphoretic and diuretic properties, which help with swelling. The berries are extremely low in calories, making them suitable for those on a low-calorie diet. Doctors recommend them as a sugar substitute. Mulberry leaves are very useful for diabetics, helping to normalize glucose levels.
Pectins have antioxidant properties – they bind and remove toxic substances from the body, preventing the accumulation of free radicals. They also have an anti-carcinogenic effect, reducing the risk of developing cancer. Phytoalexin, a unique substance found in ripe mulberries, has a similar effect. This rare element has neuroprotective, oncoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardioprotective properties.
Benefits during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body's stress increases, and mulberry helps strengthen the immune, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. Pregnant women often experience decreased hemoglobin levels, but mulberry leaf tea can increase hemoglobin levels even if they are slightly low, thanks to the iron content in mulberry. In cases of gestosis and edema, mulberry helps remove excess fluid. Hormonal changes in pregnant women often impair bile flow, so herbal teas improve bile flow.
Benefits for men and women
Mulberry leaf tea is beneficial for women during menopause and for premenstrual syndrome. It reduces menstrual pain, improves mood, relieves irritability, and normalizes heavy, painful periods. Carotenes improve skin condition, and consuming the berries can aid weight loss. B vitamins normalize sleep and relieve anxiety.
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For men, teas and infusions are useful for sexual dysfunction and hormone imbalances. Taking medicinal mulberry tea reduces the risk of prostate cancer and improves potency. Carbohydrates increase physical endurance, and during intense exercise, the proteins in mulberry promote accelerated muscle growth.
Application for weight correction
Mulberries are low in calories, making them suitable for those on a strict diet. Mulberries boost metabolism, so if you're on a weight-loss diet or exercising, drinking mulberries or mulberry tea will speed up your weight loss. There's even a special diet where mulberries are the mainstay of your diet for the first five days.
Benefits for children
Mulberries strengthen the immune system, reducing the incidence of viral and infectious diseases (childhood infections). Mulberries are especially beneficial for children who have had mumps. Teas and decoctions are given to children to enrich their bodies with vitamins, microelements, and, most importantly, calcium, which promotes healthy growth and development.
Fresh berries are not recommended for children under 2 years old, as they contain small seeds that can irritate the stomach lining and cause digestive upset. Older children can eat jam, berry tea, or fresh berries. Organic acids reduce the risk of intestinal dysbiosis and colic in young children.
How to prepare and use mulberry for various diseases
Mulberry components are used to prepare decoctions, tinctures, teas, and ointments. These remedies are not intended to replace medical treatment prescribed by a doctor. They can be combined with medications as a complementary treatment. To enrich the body with vitamins and organic acids, dried leaves are added to prepared dishes along with herbs and spices at a rate of ½ teaspoon per meal, twice daily.
Products for treating damaged skin
Mulberry tree components have anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, and wound-healing properties. Therefore, decoctions are used to treat skin affected by purulent wounds, carbuncles, furuncles, eczema, and acne. To prepare a solution, pour 1 tablespoon of mulberry leaves into 500 ml of water, bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let steep for 30 minutes. The resulting decoction is used to wipe the affected skin or as a compress 2-3 times daily.
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For cuts, wounds, eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, and inflammatory skin conditions, you can prepare an oil based on mulberry bark. Add one tablespoon of dried or fresh bark to 50 ml of sunflower or olive oil. Leave the mixture in a cool, dark place for three days. Apply the medicated oil to the skin up to three times a day. Store in the refrigerator or another cool place, out of direct sunlight.
Recipes for diabetes
To lower and stabilize glucose levels, medicinal decoctions are prepared from mulberry leaves and roots. For type 1 diabetes, a decoction of 1 tablespoon of dried mulberry leaves poured with 200 ml of boiling water is beneficial. Let it steep for 1 hour, strain, and take 100 ml up to 4 times daily. For type 2 diabetes, pour 1 liter of water over dried mulberry root and simmer for 20 minutes. Take 150 ml of the strained decoction 3 times daily. Another effective recipe: place 2 tablespoons of dried white mulberry leaves in a thermos and add half a liter of boiling water. Let it steep for 2 hours and take 100 ml 3 times daily.
For diseases of the visual organ
For puffy eyes and fatigue after working at a computer, apply warm mulberry leaves to the eyelids for 15-20 minutes. For excessive tearing and primary glaucoma, a decoction for eye drops can be prepared. Pour 1 liter of boiling water over one handful of leaves and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid thoroughly through a fine sieve or folded cheesecloth to prevent leaf particles from getting into the eyes. Apply the resulting liquid to the affected eye twice a day, repeating the procedure up to 4 times a day. For cataracts, add 250 ml of boiling water to 1 tablespoon of leaves and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and take 80 ml orally three times a day for 2.5-3 months.
To strengthen the immune system during colds and flu
To relieve colds and strengthen the immune system, take a mulberry tincture. Pour 250 ml of vodka over one glass of fresh mulberries of any type, and add 100 g of sugar. Let the mixture steep for 20 days in a glass container, shaking occasionally. Take 1 teaspoon up to 3 times daily. The tincture not only strengthens the immune system, but also reduces fever and helps clear mucus from dry coughs. For a runny nose, instill freshly squeezed mulberry juice – 2-3 drops in each nostril 3-4 times daily.
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For cardiovascular diseases, anemia
To increase hemoglobin levels when they are slightly low, pour 1 tablespoon of dried bark or a handful of fresh berries into 200 ml of boiling water, cover, and let steep for 50 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon three times daily before meals. This tea strengthens blood vessels and the heart muscle, improves blood rheology, and stabilizes blood pressure in those with hypertension. To prepare it, pour 2 tablespoons of crushed leaf blades into a glass of boiling water, cover, and let steep for 25 minutes. Take half a glass before meals three times daily.
The benefits and harms of mulberry leaf tea, contraindications
The main limitation for mulberry use is individual intolerance. There are no other strict contraindications. Caution is necessary when consuming it in cases of severe kidney disease. Mulberry fruits and parts have a diuretic effect, and frequent consumption of tea further increases the load on the kidneys, which can worsen kidney disease. Limit the amount of tea consumed per day in cases of dehydration.
Mulberry trees can accumulate radioactive substances and heavy metals if grown in ecologically unfavorable areas. Given this, it's best to purchase medicinal ingredients from a pharmacy. Excessive consumption of mulberries can cause gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea and bloating, especially with fresh berries.
Mulberry is considered a strong allergen, possibly causing an allergic reaction in the form of a rash or itching, which typically occurs within an hour of consumption. Mulberry has diaphoretic and diuretic properties, which should be taken into account in kidney disease. If you have urinary tract problems, drinking mulberry tea will increase the load on your kidneys. Medicinal infusions for diabetes should be used strictly according to the dosages specified in the recipes to avoid harming the body and causing high blood sugar.
If you've never eaten mulberries, when first using mulberry tea or decoctions, drink half the recommended amount to check for an allergic reaction. If there are no adverse reactions, such as abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, rashes, or itchy skin, you can take the prepared remedies in the required amount. When using medicinal oils, apply them first to healthy skin; if no allergic reaction occurs, apply them to the affected area.
Reviews
Anatoly, 29 years old, Saratov:
My uncle has diabetes and is a fan of traditional medicine. He's heard that mulberry leaves are helpful. He doesn't use the internet. I started searching websites for information about the beneficial properties of mulberry and its contraindications for women and men, looked at photos of recipes, and read reviews from diabetics. I wrote down two recipes: mulberry leaf tea and mulberry decoction. My uncle took the tea for about two months, and his blood sugar rarely spiked, even though he was prescribed medication. He also noted that his blood pressure had stabilized and his heart pain had become less frequent.
Maria, 32 years old, Nevinnomyssk:
I often drink tea with mint, chamomile, and lemon balm. I recently started brewing white mulberry tea, having heard about its health benefits. I drink it simply to boost my immunity, as I often catch colds, and to strengthen my body in general. A friend of mine uses mulberry root to restore her hair, making a decoction from it as a rinse, and says her hair loss has decreased.
Denis, 38 years old, Yekaterinburg:
I have chronic pancreatitis and cholecystitis. My mother-in-law knows all about medicinal plants and taught my wife how to make tea from mulberry leaves and twigs. She gave me the tea every day for two months. There were no flare-ups during this period, so I can't say for sure whether it helped, but the heartburn that often plagued me disappeared.
Mulberries are very beneficial for the human body due to their high content of vitamins, microelements, and various acids. When consuming these remedies, adhere to the recommended daily intake to avoid gastrointestinal upset and kidney damage.
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