Due to its astringent properties, what digestive issue were traditional sloe preparations used to manage?
Answer
Issues related to loose bowels
Historically, preparations made from sloes or blackthorn bark were utilized extensively in folk medicine, primarily for their astringent characteristics. The high tannin concentration that makes the raw fruit taste bitter is the same property harnessed traditionally to address digestive complaints, specifically by helping to manage issues associated with loose bowels, such as diarrhea. This traditional use highlights how the chemical composition of the fruit directly informed its application in historical remedies.
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Sloe Secrets: The Ancient Food & Medicine of Our Ancestors
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