Fragaria, Strawberry
Bri ta sa dzin mchog འབྲི་ཏ་ས་འཛིནམཆོག་ (Tibetan Medicine)
Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Flora von Deutschland (25), Kohler, 1886
Botanical name:
Fragaria vesca
The Tibetan Medicine Bri Ta Sa Dzin has been listed by various authors as being derived from various genus.
However, the primary source is from Fragaria spp., these being designated as the ‘Superior’ type:
1. F. vesca var. nubicola (syn. F. nubicola)
2. F. nilgerrensis
The ‘Inferior’ type is obtained from Saxifraga brunonis, S. flagellaris (Kletter) and S. moorcroftiana
Parts used:
Herb; rarely the Flower, Fruit or Root
The whole plant is used in Tibetan Medicine.
Temperature & Taste:
Leaf is Cool and dry. Slightly Sweet
Classifications:
Uses:
LEAF
-Clears Damp (Tibetan), Promotes Urine (West)
-Clears Heat (Tibetan, West)
-Clears Phlegm and Bile (Tibetan); Jaundice (West)
-Impure Blood and Pus in the Lungs (Tibetan)
-excess sweating, night sweats
-Decoction or Distilled water of the whole plant was used externally for Spots and Dandruff
-Used in Gargles, Baths, Cataplasms etc.
FRUIT:
-Splenetic, Nephritic
-Distilled water of the fruit resists Poison and clears the Heat of Fever
Dose:
Herb in Decoction: 5–9 grams or more
Herb in Powder: 2–3 grams
Substitute:
In Buryat, Dodder herb is used
Main Combinations:
1. Headache, Migraine, and to promote Menstruation, Strawberry leaf with Betony, Rue, Lovage, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage (as in Syrup of Betony)
2. Kneipps Blood Purification Tea: Strawberry leaf with Dwarf Elder root, Elder flower, Sandalwood, Mistletoe, Nettle, Sloe flowers, Juniper shoots
3. Edema, Strawberry leaf, Horsetail, German Camomile, Birch leaf, Hawthorn, Corn Silk. (this was found to be an effective diuretic: see here)
4. Excess sweating,
i. Strawberry leaf, Sage
ii. Strawberry leaf with Hops, Nettle, Walnut leaf
5. Night Sweats, Strawberry leaf, Walnut leaf, Sage, Nettle
6. Red Eyes: ‘Distil Strawberry leaves, and wash your eyes, and drop in a little thereof morning and evening’. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
Major Formula:
Cautions:
The Fruit are ‘not so good, because they easily corrupt and putrefy’. (Schroder)
Hildegard called Strawberries one of the ‘Kitchen Poisons’ because they easily putrefy.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Whole Plant, Syrup of the Juice of the Fruit, Spirit of the fermented Fruit Juice, Tincture of the Berries
