Once Overlooked, Now a Sought-After Specialty: The Unexpected Benefits of Mulberries

In the past, this fruit was often ignored, but today it has become a sought-after delicacy.

Mulberries are a familiar fruit to many in Asia. Mulberry trees often grow wild or are cultivated as hedges. Few people realize the surprising health benefits of mulberries.

Years ago, ripe mulberries would fall to the ground without anyone picking them. However, in recent years, mulberries have gained popularity, with prices sometimes reaching 60,000–70,000 VND per kilogram.

According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Trong, a traditional medicine practitioner and a standing member of the Vietnam Association of Traditional Medicine, the mulberry tree, also known as tang tang or cay dau, has the scientific name Morus alba L. and belongs to the mulberry family. Mulberry trees are easy to grow and thrive effortlessly, typically propagated by planting cuttings directly into the soil.

The Role of Mulberries in Traditional Medicine

In traditional medicine, ripe mulberries (tang tham) have a sweet and sour taste, a cooling nature, and are believed to nourish the blood, benefit the liver and kidneys, and alleviate wind-related conditions.

Dr. Trong explains that ripe mulberries can help address liver and kidney deficiencies, blood disorders, nervous exhaustion, tinnitus, blurred vision, and premature graying of hair. Consuming 20–25 ml of mulberry syrup or mulberry-infused wine daily can provide these benefits.

Mulberries in Modern Medicine

From a modern perspective, fresh mulberries are rich in soluble fiber, protein, fats, and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K1, potassium, and iron. These nutrients are highly beneficial for the body. Eating mulberries daily can help:

• Lower blood cholesterol
• Reduce blood sugar levels
• Boost immunity
• Prevent aging
• Promote eye health
• Support heart health, bones, and joints

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The Mulberry Tree: A Versatile Remedy

The mulberry tree is considered an all-purpose medicinal plant, with nearly every part of the tree being used for health purposes, including its leaves, branches, roots, mistletoe, silkworms, and even mantis nests found on the tree.

• Mulberry Leaves:
  Mulberry leaves have a bitter-sweet taste, a neutral nature, and are known to dispel wind, clear heat, cool the blood, and improve vision. They can be used to treat high fevers with sweating, improve eyesight, and lower blood pressure. Use 16–20g of mulberry leaves boiled in water as a daily remedy. Additionally, young mulberry leaves can be eaten as vegetables to promote deep and restful sleep.

• Young Mulberry Branches:
  Young branches have a mildly bitter taste and neutral properties, helping to reduce inflammation, alleviate joint pain, and lower body heat. They can be used to treat rheumatism, lower back pain, joint pain, and numb limbs. The recommended dosage is 18–20g per day, prepared as a decoction.

• Mulberry Root Bark:
  Mulberry root bark is sweet, slightly bitter, and cool, with properties that clear lung heat, alleviate coughing and wheezing, and reduce swelling. It can be used in decoction form to treat lung heat, asthma, coughing up blood, bloating, and edema.

• Mistletoe on Mulberry Trees:
  Mulberry tree mistletoe has a bitter taste and neutral nature, known to strengthen muscles and bones, improve blood circulation, and support pregnancy and lactation. Use 12–20g of mistletoe daily as a decoction to relieve body pain, numb limbs, threatened miscarriage, or low milk production.

• Mantis Nests on Mulberry Trees:
  Mantis nests have a sweet and salty taste and neutral properties, offering benefits for kidney health, fluid retention, and urination. Use 6–12g per day as powder or decoction.

• Mulberry Silkworms:
  Silkworms found on mulberry trees can be used as a nutritional supplement, especially for children with poor appetites. Method: Roast 3–4 silkworms and serve them to children daily.