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--> --> April 30: Cranberries as medicine By Jeff Cheek The Pilgrims were late. Two ships, the "Mayflower" and the "Speedwell" had sailed to Southhampton, England , but after a few days, the "Speedwell" began to leak. They turned back and transferred all the people and cargo to the larger vessel. After a difficult 66 day voyage they anchored off Plymouth Rock on Nov. 11, 1620. Thanks to friendly Native Americans, especially Squanto, who could speak English, the Pilgrims survived a long and bitter New England winter. They did not realize it, but part of their survival was due to some dried red berries their friend had given them. We call them cranberries. The name is a condensation of the original cranberry, as the pale pink blossoms resemble a crane's head. Over time, cranberry became cranberry. The natives also taught them how to choose a vine that was ready harvest. They would drop a few cranberries. If they bounced, the fruit was ripe and full of juice. Some berries did not bounce They were not ready, so the Pilgrims gave the fruit a new name. They called them "bounce berries." This name is still used. Cranberries grew in bogs along the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina all the way to Newfoundland. Later, when it became profitable, cranberry cultivation spread to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, but the first cranberries grew wild along the New England Coast. The natives used cranberries in many ways. Dried like raisins, they were a source of food. Fresh cranberries were crushed to make a poultice for wounds. Their blankets were dyed with cranberry juice. More importantly, cranberries were medicine. They had learned through trial and error that cranberries cured urinary infections and scurvy. Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C. This vitamin is found in citrus fruits, broccoli and sweet pepper, none of which the Pilgrims had during that terrible winter. Anemia results when the body lacks iron. A medical study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that vitamin C "doubles the absorption of iron." Fortunately for the Pilgrims, cranberries are high in vitamin C. Their native friends saved them from scurvy and anemia. We can jump forward to 1994. Sponsored by the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration, Harvard Medical College conducts a six month study on the medicinal value of cranberries. Their subjects are elderly women. Half of them, the control group, receive nothing. The second half, the experimental group, was given a daily 10-ounce cranberry juice cocktail. They announced their findings: There was an immediate lowering of bacteria count in the urine. The cocktail drinkers had 60 percent fewer urinary infections than the control group. Of those who had such infections when the study began, 75 percent cleared up. Harvard doctors said that cranberry juice worked two ways. First, the acidity inhibited the growth of bacteria. Secondly, it prevented bacteria from adhering to the bladder walls. Obviously, cranberries are good for you. Cashew Clusters are simply good. But they are also loaded with calories. INGREDIENTS: 9 ounces semisweet chocolate 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup cashews PREPARATION: Melt chocolate in double boiler. Remove from heat, stir in cranberries and cashews. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Chill until they harden. Serve. Jeff Cheek lives in Medford Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing