Elderberries, red raspberry and tender sumacberry sprouts are also used for their alterative, or blood-building, properties. Wild berries are extremely rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient which detoxifies the body, promotes healing, strengthens connective tissue, helps to absorb iron, and cooperates with the B complex in maintaining the endocrine system. Native peoples of Turtle Island had already recognized the dietary basis of the disease and they knew how to prevent and cure it with a variety of medicines from natural sources. Cranberries are antiscorbutic, meaning that they are effective in preventing and treating scurvy. They can be used alone or in combination with other berries like sumacberry and other natural sources high in vitamin C like the fresh, new tips of evergreens.
Berries are also of great benefit to the urinary tract.
Berries also have astringent properties, meaning that they cause contraction of tissue and they arrest bleeding and discharge. In this capacity, they are proven remedies for diarrhea and leukorrhea. Blackberry root, in combination with wild strawberry leaves has long been known as an effective remedy of diarrhea. Blackberry root has also been used as a treatment for dysentery, a disease characterized by extreme diarrhea and passage of mucus, blood, pus and fluid. They used the berry plant as a woman's medicine throughout their reproductive years for a variety of purposes.