Bittersweet Chocolate - Benefits and Medical Treatment using Bittersweet Plant Recipe

Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) is a species of vine in the potato genus Solanum, family Solanaceae. The bittersweetness of a coffee develops as the roast gets darker and eventually overpowers other flavors. It dark roasts, acidity is reduced until completely absent, while the carmelly taste of burt sugars form the stimulating bittersweetness.

Its star-shaped flowers (April-September) are pinkish purple with bright yellow stamens; they are followed by green berries, which turn bright red.

Latin description: Celastrus scandens

Common Name: Staff Tree

Medcinal Uses and Benefits of Bittersweet

• The herb may also be taken to relieve asthma, chronic bronchitis, and rheumatic conditions, including gout.
• A tea of the root bark was used in American folk medicine for chronic liver and skin diseases, rheumatism, leukorrhea, delayed menses. An extract of the root bark in ointment form was used for burns, scrapes, and skin eruptions.
• Bittersweet has stimulant, expectorant, diuretic, and detoxifying properties.
• Although Native Americans certainly knew about the toxic properties of the berries, they found uses for other parts of the plant. The root bark was made into a tea and used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, and emetic as well as treatment during the pain of childbirth. Some tribes used a leaf tea for diarrhea and dysentary.
• Root bark extracts are possibly cardio-active.
• It appears to be most-effective taken internally to treat skin problems such as eczema, itchiness, psoriasis, and warts.