Every
variety of Grape has been used as food, wine and medicine by people
wherever it has been grown. Grapes have been cultivated since the
very beginning of agriculture. As soon as humans stopped following
herds of wild animals and began to cultivate plants, Grape
cultivation was prioritized. Beyond the wild varieties, the
cultivated grapes are far too many to list. While it is likely that
the wild grapes are stronger medicinally, all Grapes may be used.
Native
to my region are: Vitis aestivalis var. aestivalis (Summer Grape),
Vitis aestivalis var. bicolor (Summer Grape), Vitis cinerea var.
baileyana (Possum Grape), Vitis cinerea var. floridana (Florida
Grape), Vitis labrusca (Fox Grape), Vitis rotundifolia var.
rotundifolia (Muscadine Grape, Scuppernong) and Vitis vulpina (Frost
Grape).
Dioscorides
wrote extensively on the Grapes known to ancient Greece:
AMPELOS
AGRIA
The
wild vine sends out long sprigs like the vine, woody and rough, with
the bark chapped. The leaves are like garden strychnos, but broader
and longer. The mossy flower has filaments; and the fruit is like
little grape clusters that ripen and grow red. The shape of the seeds
is round. The root of this (boiled in wine and taken as a drink with
two cups of seawater) purges out watery matter. It is also given for
dropsy. The clusters [of fruit] clean away sunburn and every spot.
The new shoots are preserved in salt to eat with meat [vegetable].
AMPELOS
LEUKE
Vitis
alba has branches, leaves and tendrils like the cultivated vine, but
all rougher. It is wrapped
around
the shrubs standing nearby; catching hold with its tendrils; and it
has a red cluster-like fruit with which hides are made bare of hair.
The young tendrils of this are eaten (boiled) at the first
placing-out, to move the urine and bowels. The leaves, fruit, and
root are sharp; as a result they are effective applied with salt on
those who have had surgery, gangrene, and spreading, erosive, rotten
ulcers of the legs. The root cleans the skin and smooths it
[wrinkles], and with ervum, terra chia [earth from Chios], and
fenugreek it takes off sunburn, varicose veins, freckles, and black
scars. Boiled with oil until it is dissolved it is good for the same
purposes. It takes away bruises and represses whitlows on the
fingers. Pounded into small pieces and smeared on with wine it
dissolves inflammation, breaks abscesses, and extracts bones. It is
mixed effectively with antiseptic medicines. It is taken as a drink
for epilepsy — one teaspoon every day for a year. Taken in the same
way it helps those sick of apoplexy [rush of blood and dizziness]
and vertigo. Two teaspoonfuls of a decoction (taken as a drink) help
those bitten by vipers, and are an abortifacient. Sometimes it
troubles the understanding somewhat. A decoction (taken as a drink)
induces urine, and applied as a pessary to the womb it is an
abortifacient, and extracts the afterbirth. Syrup of it with honey is
given to those suffocated, to hard breathers and coughers, to those
with pain in the side, and for hernia and convulsions. Thirty grains
(as a decoction taken as a drink with vinegar for thirty days)
reduces the spleen, and it is smeared on with figs for the same
purposes. It is boiled for a hip bath to clean the womb, and it is an
abortifacient. The root is juiced in the spring. This juice is taken
as a drink with honey and water for the same purposes, as well as to
expel phlegm. The fruit is good (both rubbed on and applied) for
parasitical skin diseases and leprosy. The fruit is juiced and sipped
up with boiled wheat to draw out milk [breastfeeding]. It is also
called bryony, ophiostaphylon, chelidonion, melothron, psilothron,
archezostis, agrostis, or cedrostis.
AMPELOS
MELAINA
Vitis
nigra has leaves and stalks like cissus or even more like those of
smilax. These are bigger, and this too takes hold of the trees with
its tendrils. The fruit is clustered, green at first, but it grows
black when ripe. The root is black outside, but within the colour of
box root. The new stalks are eaten as vegetables. They are urinary,
expel the menstrual flow, and reduce the spleen. They are good for
epilepsy, vertigo and paralysis. The root has the same properties as
the white bryony, and is suitable for the same uses yet it is less
effective. The leaves (smeared on with wine) are good for the necks
of labouring beasts that are ulcerated, and they are applied
similarly for dislocations [veterinary]. It is also called black
bryony, the chironian vine, or bucranium; the Romans call it
oblamenia, some, batanuta, or betisalca, the Dacians, priadela, some,
pegrina, and the Africans, lauothen.
AMPELOS
OINOPHOROS
The
leaves and tendrils of the wine-bearing vine (pounded into small
pieces and applied with polenta) lessen headaches, and the
inflammation and burning of the stomach. The leaves do the same
(applied by themselves) as they are cooling and astringent.
Furthermore, the juice of them (taken as a drink) helps dysentery,
bloodspitters, gastritis, and women that lust [anaphrodisiac]. The
tendrils (steeped in water and taken as a drink) do the same things.
The resin from it is like
gum
thickening around the stumps, and taken as a drink with wine it draws
out stones [urinary, kidney] [calculi]. Rubbed on, it heals lichen
[papular skin disease], parasitical skin diseases, and leprosy but
you must first rub the place with saltpetre [potassium nitrate]. The
liquid that sweats out from a burning green branch (smeared on with
oil) removes hair, and rubbed on it takes off warts. The ashes of the
branches, husks and seeds after the grapes are pressed (smeared on
with vinegar and applied around the perineum), heal venereal warts
and glandular fever. Applied with rosaceum rue and vinegar it is good
for dislocations, viper bites, and inflammation of the spleen.
AMPELOS
AGRIA
Two
types of wild vine are found. The grape of one sort does not ripen,
but at its flowering time it brings forth shoots or buds. The other
brings to ripeness a grape that is small-grained, black and
astringent. The leaves, tendrils and stalks have properties similar
to the cultivated vine.
STAPHULE
Every
grape which is newly gathered disturbs the intestines and puffs up
the stomach, but those which have hanged for some time share only a
little of these qualities because much of the liquid has dried up. It
is good for the stomach, restores the appetite, and is fit for those
who are weak. Taken out of their own rubbish [Pliny mentions grapes
stored in pressed-out grape skins, often with wine] out of ceramic
pots, they are pleasing to the mouth, good for the stomach, and
astringent to the intestines. They hurt the bladder and head, but
they are good for bloodspitters. Those put into must [pulp from
grapes] are similar. Those from sapa [syruped new wine] or passum
[raisin wine] are worse for the stomach. They are also kept in
rainwater, having first been dried in the sun. These are a little
pleasantly like wine, yet are effective for thirst, those in a
burning heat, and long-lasting fevers. The dregs from them is stored
and applied with salt for inflammation, hard lumps, and swelling of
the breasts. A decoction of these discards (given as a suppository)
helps dysentery, the abdominal cavity, and womens flows [menstrual
flows]. It is taken for hip bathing and warm packs. The seeds from
them are astringent and good for the stomach. Dried, pounded into
small pieces, and sprinkled on instead of polenta, they are good for
dysentery, and the abdominal cavity, and those who have a queasy
stomach.
STAPHIS
The
white uva passae are astringent and their flesh (eaten) is good for
the throat, coughs, kidneys and bladder, as well as for dysentery
(either eaten alone with the seeds or mixed with meal of millet, meal
of barley and an egg, then fried with honey and taken). It is good
either by itself or chewed with pepper to draw phlegm out of the
head. Applied with meal of beans and cumin it soothes inflammation
from stones [urinary, kidney]. Pounded into small pieces without the
seeds and applied with rue it heals epinyctis [pustule which appears
only at night], carbuncles [infected boils] [malignant skin tumours],
favus [contagious skin disease], rotten ulcers around the joints and
gangrenes. It is good applied with the juice of panax for gout.
Applied to loose nails it soon draws them off.
OINANTHE
The
fruit of the wild vine when it flowers is called oenanthe. After they
have first gathered it and dried it on a sheet in the shade it must
be put into a ceramic jar. The best is from Syria, Cilicia and
Phoenicia. It is astringent; as a result a decoction (taken as a
drink) is good for the stomach and urine, for stopping the
intestines, and the spitting of blood. Dried and smeared on, it is
effective for a queazy sour stomach. It is used both green and dry
(with vinegar and rosaceum) as an inhalant for headaches. Pounded
into small pieces with honey, saffron, rosaceum and myrrh, it is a
poultice for bleeding wounds (keeping them from inflaming), as well
as new ulcers in the eye and in the mouth, and gangrenous ulceration
on the genitals. It is mixed with suppositories for repressing blood.
For discharges of the eyes and a burning stomach it is smeared on
with flour of polenta and wine. Burnt in a ceramic jar with kindled
coals it is good to add to eye medicines. With honey it heals
hangnails, pterygium [membrane on eye], and broken bleeding gums.
Omphacium
is the juice from unripe Thasian or Aminaean grapes. Having pressed
out the juice
before
the hottest days come, you must keep it in a red brass jar in the sun
(covered with a linen cloth) until it has thickened, always mixing
that which congeals with the moist. Towards night take it in from the
open air as the dews hinder the thickening. Choose that which is
yellow, brittle,
very astringent and biting to the tongue. Some boil the juice to
thicken it. It is good with honey or passum [raisin wine] for the
tonsils, the uvula, for mouth ulcers, moist flabby gums, and purulent
ears; but with vinegar for fistulas, old ulcers, and gangrenous
ulceration of the cheeks. It is given as a suppository for dysentery
and women’s menstrual flows. It is also a sight-restorer. It is
good for the roughness and disorders of the corners of the eyes. It
is taken as a drink for recent bloodspitting and for bleeding from a
rupture. You must use it diluted very well and only a little of it
too, for it burns excessively.
He
then included an entire chapter on the wines made from those grapes,
which is beyond the scope of this book. By the time America was
settled, dozens of grape varieties had been discovered and bred in
Europe that were unknown in the time of Diodcorides… and dozens
more would be discovered in North America.
Just
to illustrate, Plants for A Future states:
Medicinal
use of Summer Grape: The leaves are hepatic. They have been used in
the treatment of the liver. The wilted leaves have been applied as a
poultice to the breasts to draw away soreness after the birth of a
child. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat urinary
complaints.
Medicinal
use of Northern Fox Grape: The leaves are hepatic. An infusion has
been used in the treatment of diarrhoea, hepatitis, stomach aches,
fevers, headaches and thrush. Externally, the leaves are poulticed
and applied to sore breasts, rheumatic joints and headaches. The
wilted leaves have been applied as a poultice to the breasts to draw
away soreness after the birth of a child
Medicinal
use of Frost Grape: The leaves are hepatic. They have been used in
the treatment of the liver. The wilted leaves have been applied as a
poultice to the breasts to draw away soreness after the birth of a
child. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat urinary
complaints. An infusion of the roots has been taken in the treatment
of rheumatism and diabetes.
I
think we can see a pattern.
Culpepper
wrote:
Government
and virtues. This is a fine plant of the Sun. The dried fruit, as it
comes to us from abroad under the names of raisins, and currants, is
good in coughs, consumptions, and other disorders of the breast.
Wine
is a product of the grape, and of this there are several kinds used
in medicine, the chief of which are the mountain, the French white
wine, Madiera wine, and red port, these are valuable cordials, in
langours or debilities, more grateful and reviving than the common
aromatic waters and infusions, and particularly useful in the low
stage of putrid and malignant fevers, for raising the pulse,
supporting the vital heat; promoting perspiration, and resisting
putrefaction; used dietically, they are of service to the aged, the
weak and the relaxed, and to those who are much exposed to a warm,
moist, or corrupted air; but in opposite circumstances, they are
improper, and, used to excess, highly prejudical.
Red
Port, White Port, Sherry, Madeira, Burgundy, and Champaign, are most
in esteem; and to these, for their excellency and grateful taste, may
be added the Muscadine, the Smyrna and Cyprus wines. As to the nature
and use of wine, there have been so many volumes written about them,
that it would be superfluous to say much here. Moderately used, it is
very cordial, and of great service to mankind. It strengthens the
stomach, helps digestion, comforts the bowels, and is the best
preservative against the plague. Of the grapes are made the uræ
passæ majores, or raisins of the sun, after this manner; they cut
the stalks of the bunches they design for that use almost in two in
the middle, and by that means hinder the sap from cming to them in
any quantity, and let them hang thus on the branches, till by defect
of nourishment, and the heat of the sun, they are sufficiently cured,
when they are put into casks for use. The Malaga raisins are managed
another way; they dip the bunches of ripe grapes in a boiling hot
lye, made of the ashes of Vine-stalks, taking them out presently, and
then laying them on boards in the sun to dry, and afterwards they are
packed up in frails.
The
best vinegar is made of wine, sour by age, or kept in a warm place to
make it so, which, besides what is spent in the kitchen, is of great
use in physic; itis of thin parts, resists putrefaction and
pestilential distempers, promotes an appetite, and helps digestion.
Brandy
is a spirit distilled from wine, of which the French is most
esteemed. This is the basis of all the cordial waters, and is an
universal menstruum to draw the tincture out of vegetables, and to
that end is rectified to a higher degree of spirituousness. To the
side of the wine casks, that saline substance called tartar adheres,
of which there is a white and red, but the white is most esteemed and
comes from Germany; of these the crude and the cremor tartari, and
the sal tartari, are made. Both the crude and the cremor tartari, are
solutive and opening, render the body soluble, and are good for
cutancous distempers. Agresta, or the juice of unripe grapes, as also
the unripe grapes dried, are restringent and cooling, and good for
all kinds of fluxes, but they are seldom used. The leaves of the
English Vine, (I do not mean to send you to the Canaries for a
medicine) being bottled, make a good lotion for sore mouths; being
boiled with barley-meal into a poultice, it cools inflammations of
wounds; the dropping of the Vine, when it is cut in the spring, which
country-people call tears, being boiled in a syrup, with sugar, and
taken inwardly, is excellent to stay women's longings after every
thing they see, which is a disease many women with child are subject
to. The decoction of Vine-leaves in white wine does the like; also
the tears of the Vine, drank two or three spoonfuls at a time, breaks
the stone in the bladder. This is a very good remedy, and it is
discreetly done, to kill a Vine to cure a man, but the salt of the
leaves are held to be better. The ashes of the burnt branches will
make the teeth that are as black as coal, to be as white as snow, if
you but every morning rub them with it. It is a most gallant tree of
the Sun, very sympathetical with the body of man, and that is the
reason spirit of wine is the greatest cordial among all vegetables.
Mrs.
Grieve tells us:
Description---The
name vine is derived from viere (to twist), and has reference to the
twining habits of the plant which is a very ancient one; in the
Scriptures the vine is frequently mentioned from the time of Noah
onward. Wine is recorded as an almost universal drink throughout the
world from very early times. The vine is a very longlived plant.
Pliny speaks of one 600 years old, and some existent in Burgundy are
said to be 400 and over.
The
stem of old vines attains a considerable size in warm climates,
planks 15 inches across may be cut therefrom, forming a very durable
timber.
Artificial
heat for forcing the grapes was not used till the early part of last
century and the first accounts of vineries enclosed by glass date
from the middle of that period.
The
vine is propagated by seeds, layers, cuttings and grafting and
succeeds in almost any gravelly soil; that of a volcanic nature
produces the finest wines. It is a climbing shrub with simple, lobed,
cut or toothed leaves (seldom compound) with thyrsoid racemes of
greenish flowers, the fruit consisting of watery or fleshy pulp,
stones and skin, two-celled, four-seeded.
Constituents---The
leaves gathered in June contain a mixture of cane sugar and glucose,
tartaric acid, potassium bi-tartrate, quercetine, quercitrin, tannin,
amidon, malic acid, gum, inosite, an uncrystallizable fermentable
sugar and oxalate of calcium; gathered in the autumn they contain
much more quercetine and less trace of quercitrin.
The
ripe fruit juice termed 'must' contains sugar, gum, malic acid,
potassium bi-tartrate and inorganic salts; when fermented this forms
the wine of commerce.
The
dried ripe fruit commonly called raisins, contain dextrose and
potassium acid tartrate. The
seeds contain tannin and a fixed oil. The
juice of the unripe fruit, 'Verjuice,' contains malic, citric,
tartaric, racemic and tannic acids, potassium bi-tartrate, sulphate
of potash and lime.
Medicinal
Action and Uses---Grape sugar differs from other sugars chemically.
It enters the circulation without any action of the saliva. The
warming and fattening action of grape sugar is thus more rapid in
increasing strength and repairing waste in fevers but is unsuitable
for inflammatory or gouty conditions.
The
seeds and leaves are astringent, the leaves being formerly used to
stop haemorrhages and bleeding. They are used dried and powdered as a
cure for dysentery in cattle.
The
sap, termed a tear or lachryma, forms an excellent lotion for weak
eyes and specks on the cornea.
Ripe
grapes in quantity influence the kidneys producing a free flow of
urine and are apt to cause palpitation in excitable and full-blooded
people. Dyspeptic subjects should avoid them.
In
cases of anaemia and a state of exhaustion the restorative power of
grapes is striking, especially when taken in conjunction with a light
nourishing diet.
In
cases of small-pox grapes have proved useful owing to their
bi-tartrate of potash content; they are also said to be of benefit in
cases of neuralgia, sleeplessness, etc.
Three
to 6 lb. of grapes a day are taken by people undergoing the 'grape
cure,' sufferers from torpid liver and sluggish biliary functions
should take them not quite fully ripe, whilst those who require
animal heat to support waste of tissue should eat fully ripe and
sweet grapes.
Dried
grapes; the raisins of commerce, are largely used in the manufacture
of galencials, the seeds being separated and rejected as they give a
very bitter taste. Raisins are demulcent, nutritive and slightly
laxative.
Other
Species---
Vitis
labrusca, indigenous to North America, is the Wild Vine or Foxgrape.
V.
cordifolia, the Heart-leaved Vine or Chickengrape.
V.
riparia, the Riverside or Sweet-scented Vine.
Brother
Aloysius wrote:
White
wine stimulates the appetite. It is frequently used in decoctions
with herbs (for kidneys stones, gravel, etc). Red wine causes less
headache than white wine; when taken in moderation wine is generally
invigorating, stimulating and good for digestion. Immoderate use is
very injurious and causes strokes, paralysis, gout, rheumatism and
kidney disorders. Wine is recommended for illnesses caused by
weakness, indigestion for convalescents. Fresh vine leaves are very
astringent and refreshing. The decoction is taken internally for
dysentery, vomiting and blood-spitting. The sap from the wood
stimulates appetite and is also beneficial in the treatment of gravel
and kidney stones; it is also a tonic eyewash, especially for the
inflammation of the eyes.
The
Cherokee used three native Grapes”:
Possum
Grape: An ingredient in the medicine… “For irregular urination.”
An ingredient in the medicine… “For bad diarrhea.”
Summer
Grape: An ingredient in the medicine.. “For irregular urination.”
An ingredient in the medicine… “For bad diarrhea.” Boil for
a short time the bark of summer grape, Euonymus americanus,
Liquidambar styraciflua, Plantanus occidentalis, Fagus grandifolia,
Smilax glauca, and Nyssa sylvatica - a tea for “bad disease.’
Fox
Grape: An ingredient in the medicine… “For irregular urination.”
Botany
in A Day tells us:
Medicinally,
a tea of the leaves is reported to be helpful or the pancreas, heart
and circulation. The leaves can be used as a poultice for blisters
on the feet. Grape seed extract from the seeds of V. vinifera, grown
in Italy and France, contains high concentrations of powerful
antioxidants called gallic esters of proanthocyanidins. Their
ability to fight free radicals is reportedly twenty times stronger
than vitamin C and fifty times stronger than vitamin E.
Peterson
Field Guides Eastern and Central Medicinal Plants tells us of Fox
Grape:
American
Indians used leaf tea for diarrhea, hepatitis, stomachaches, thrush;
externally, poulticed wilted leaves for sore breasts; also poulticed
for rheumatism, headache and fevers. Other Vitis species have been
used similarly. Vines, when cut in summer, yield potable water,
possibly purer than today’s acid rain water.
Warning:
Do not confuse this vine with Canada Moonseed, which is considered
toxic.
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
