Around the Mulberry Bush
Very few trees have been so thoroughly used in traditional medicine as the Mulberry Tree. The fruit, leaves, root bark, and even the twigs have been used as specific medicines. The only parts of the tree I know of that haven’t been used are the sap and the tough outer, older bark. One of the most widely studied uses of the mulberry tree is in treating diabetes. It has been studied and used for both the treatment of and the prevention of diabetes mellitus for a long time. Only recently have scientists confirmed that this tree has a marked effect on the regulation of glucose metabolism and the protection of pancreatic cells, and that it is a strong antioxidant. The leaf, twig, fruit, and root bark have all been shown to be effective for this. It’s even been shown to be highly beneficial in combating insulin resistance! While the white mulberry has been the most widely studied, the red and black mulberries are also showing promise as effective treatments for diabetes. In other words, medical science is finally catching up to what herbalists (our ancestors) have known for hundreds and hundreds of years. They are now studying the individual chemicals in this plant to extract or synthesize a safer, more effective treatment for diabetes.
Let us start with the leaf, shall we? Ever since the Ming Dynasty, Chinese have included an extract of the Mulberry Leaf in their Materia Medica. They had discovered that, while a tea of the leaf can be mildly beneficial, an alcoholic extract was much more potent at treating xiao-ke,y call it.
Okay, the extract seems more powerful; however, the dried, powdered leaves, either in tea form or mixed into food, were pretty impressive themselves, so don’t think it has to be in an extract to lower blood sugar levels pretty dramatically. The powder showed to have an even stronger protective effect on the pancreas in diabetic patients than the extract, so maybe you shouldn’t throw those leaves out without the alcohol. They also make an excellent tea to help ease cold symptoms.
The twigs are collected in late spring or early summer and are dried thoroughly before being used in pill or tea form, usually. They have traditionally been used to treat joint pain and stiffness associated with rheumatism. They are used in TCM to expel wind and dampness and to improve joints. They are used to treat diabetic neuropathy as well. And, while it’s busy doing all of this, it, as a side effect, tends to protect and improve kidney function, which is a big one in diabetes! It also appears to protect the pancreas by reducing inflammation in that organ and improving the enteric-islet axis (which makes your pancreas work better). This part may possibly aid in weight loss in diabetics who have a weight problem.
The Root Bark. The root is dug during the winter, the brown, tough outer layer is knocked or scraped off, and then the inner bark, AKA cambium, is peeled off the wood. This is then dried IN THE SUN and powdered. TCM uses it to treat asthma. Just a note here, though. It too has hypoglycemic properties, so if you have asthma and suffer from low blood sugar, you need to stick with something safer. If, however, you have diabetes, you might be interested to note that scientists have found that mulberry root bark extract not only helped with diabetes but, in lab rats, also slowed the progression of osteoporosis and diabetic bone lesions. Along with all of this, the root bark has been used for centuries to manage breathing disorders causing wheezing and harsh coughs, as an expectorant, and to help lower high blood pressure. What’s not to like?
Now for the good part… the fruit! Not only is it good, but it’s good for you! Yes, it too seems to be hypoglycemic, and has been used in China as an energy drink that reduces your risk of diabetes. They’ve also been reported to slow the aging process and help fight tumor growth throughout the body. All I can say for sure is that they make an excellent cobbler and a delectable jam!
They are also rich in vitamins C, E, and K1, as well as the minerals potassium and iron. Make sure the berries are ripe before you eat them though. Unripe berries can cause stomach pain and nausea, and they don’t taste nearly as good as the ripe fruit anyway!
Basically, what it amounts to is that the only potential downside to having a mulberry tree in your yard is the birds...and the berries...that the birds poop everywhere.
C. Shaw
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