Overview

Blackthorn is a plant. The berry and dried flower are used as medicine.

Despite safety concerns, people take blackthorn flower to treat colds, breathing conditions, cough, fluid retention, general exhaustion, upset stomach, kidney and bladder problems, and constipation; and to treat and prevent stomach spasms. Some people use it to cause sweating. Blackthorn flower is also an ingredient in some “blood cleansing” teas.

Blackthorn berry is used as a mouth rinse (gargle) for mild sore throat and mouth. The syrup and wine of the blackthorn berry are used for emptying the bowels and increasing urine production to relieve fluid retention (as a diuretic). A marmalade made from the berry is used for upset stomach.

Some people apply blackthorn flower directly to the skin for rashes, “skin impurities,” and “blood purification.”

In foods, blackthorn flower is used in herbal teas as a coloring agent.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Plant

Primary Functions:

Treat cold, breathing conditions, cough

Also Known As:

Blackthorn Berry, Blackthorn Flower, Blackthorn Fruit, Buisson Noir

How Does It Work?

Blackthorn berries contain chemicals called tannins that might reduce swelling (inflammation).

Uses

• Emptying the bowels.
• Fluid retention.
• Sore mouth or throat.
• Colds.
• Coughs.
• Breathing problems.
• General exhaustion.
• Upset stomach.
• Constipation.
• Kidney and bladder ailments.
• Stomach spasms.
• Promoting sweating.
• “Blood cleansing.”
• Rashes, when applied to the skin.
• Other conditions.

Recommended Dosing

The appropriate dose of blackthorn depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for blackthorn. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Blackthorn Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is Blackthorn used for?

Blackthorn is a plant. The berry and dried flower are used as medicine. Despite safety concerns, people take blackthorn flower to treat colds, breathing conditions, cough, fluid retention, general exhaustion, upset stomach, kidney and bladder problems, and constipation; and to treat and prevent stomach spasms.

Is Blackthorn poisonous?

Every part of the plant, other than the pulp around the seed, is poisonous. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is not poisonous but probably twice as dangerous. It is considered to be bad luck to bring the blossom indoors, mainly, I think, because the crown of thorns was reputed to be made from blackthorn.

Is Blackthorn the same as sloe?

Blackthorn or Sloe. Blackthorn, or sloe (Prunus spinosa), is a common hedgerow plant. The fruit is prized by makers of sloe gin and is found in many other recipes, but is also worth knowing for an unusual navigation clue.

How would you know a blackthorn tree?

A spiny shrub, Blackthorn has small, oval leaves that are finely toothed, and five-petalled, white flowers that appear in dense clusters. Its fruits are blue-black and round. It can be distinguished from the similar Wild Plum or Bullace by its smaller fruit and narrower leaves.

What is the fruit of the blackthorn?

Sometimes known as Blackthorn, it is actually the fruit of the bush that is known as the sloe. The Sloe bush, Prunus spinosa, produces small plum-like fruits known as 'drupes' in autumn.

Can Blackthorn make you ill?

Every part of the plant, other than the pulp around the seed, is poisonous. Any grazing animals (and, oddly, my in-laws' dog) are likely to get sick if not dead from chewing yew. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is not poisonous but probably twice as dangerous.

Is Blackthorn poisonous to dogs?

Neither are toxic for dogs although if they ate too many it could cause temporary diarrhoea. The real danger with Blackthorn is the very nasty thorns that protect the plant and so it is sensible to keep your pet away from these as they can give a very nasty injury.

Are sloe berries poisonous?

While a small amount of raw berry will probably have little effect, the berries do contain hydrogen cyanide, which in larger doses may definitely have toxic effect. However, the berries are processed commercially into sloe gin as well as in wine making and preserves.

What is another name for the Blackthorn?

1. Prunusspinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae.

Is Blackthorn fast growing?

Blackthorn hedging is fast growing and able to achieve about 40-60cms of growth each year. Prunus spinosa is best suited to hedges with a height between 1-4 metres.

What is the difference between blackthorn and hawthorn?

But there are some key differences: Blackthorn blossoms before its leaves start to show, whereas hawthorn flowers after its leaves have emerged. Hawthorn flowers from around April to June. Hawthorn petals are rounded and fuller than those of blackthorn.

Can you eat blackthorn berries?

Blackthorn or sloe berries from the prunus spinosa look like blueberries. But unlike blueberries, they have a tart flavour so are best cooked before eating. They are often used to make jam or the liqueur sloe gin. It grows on the trunks of yew and oak trees and can be eaten when young.

What is a blackthorn winter?

Blackthorn Winter, in rural England, is a spell of cold weather in early April which often coincides with the blossoming of the blackthorn in hedgerows. The pure white of the blackthorn blossom, which appears before the leaves, matches the snow or hoar frost covering the fields nearby.

What is blackthorn wood?

Prunus spinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and locally in northwest Africa. The fruits have been used to make sloe gin in Britain, and the wood used for making walking sticks or the shillelagh by the Irish.

Clinical Studies