Sot
madroņo arbutus unedo
Sot
madroņo arbutus unedo
Other Names:
Alborocera
,
Albornio
, the
Strawberry
Tree, drunkard,
Bort
, Naranjuelo.
It
was
already known by Dioscorides in the first century AD and by the Roman naturalist.
Pliny, who seems that he said, referring to him:
"edo Unum" (I like one) from where it
was
born of unedo. The fruit can ferment in the tree and reach out to contain up to 0. 5%
alcohol
. Hence it from "drunkard", one of his Hispanic names.
Habitat:
forests of oaks and low mountains of Mediterranean Europe. Known in some regions of
Central
and South
America
.
Description:
evergreen
shrub of 2 - 3 meters in height, the
family
of Ericaceae. Its flowers, white or green, bell - shaped, occur in bunches. The fruit is
a
berry -
red
when it
has
matured.
Used parts:
fruit, leaves and bark.
Properties and indications:
the fruits of the
arbutus
contain sugars,
organic
acids, tannin and pectin. They are astringent, and should not abuse them.
The leaves and bark of the tree possess up to 36% of tannin, which makes them very astringent, and arbutina,
a
glycoside that
has
antiseptic and anti - inflammatory action on the
urinary
tract. They are used to combat
urinary
tract
infections
, the
cystitis
, calculations and renal colic, as well as in cases of
diarrhea
and dysentery.
Use:
fresh fruits consumed, or marmalade or jam. The ripe fruit of the
arbutus
can achieve
a
degree of
alcohol
, because the fermentation process can be started in the same tree. Therefore, and for their remarkable effect astringent, it should not take more than
a
handful fromarbutus
a
day. Decoction with the dried leaves and bark at
a
rate of 30 grams per
liter
of water. Are swallowed 2 or 3 cups per day in case of
urinary
tract ailments, and 4 or 5 in case of
diarrhea
.
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