Ribes nigrum – cut leaf

Blackcurrant is a plant cultivated as much for its fruit as for its leaves. These, with their slightly resinous notes, are used in many recipes for soothing or purifying herbal teas. They are also used in certain traditional cosmetic formulas.

Description

Dry, brownish-green, finely cut leaves. Aromatic, woody, and slightly sweet odor. Light texture.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Blackcurrant, black gooseberry
• Latin name: Ribes nigrum
• Family: Grossulariaceae
• Part used: Leaf
• Form: Cut, dried
• Origin: Temperate Europe, Russia, Balkans
• English name: Blackcurrant leaf
• Name in German: Schwarze Johannisbeerblatt
• Name in Spanish: Black currant leaf
• Name in Italian: Foglia di ribes nero
• Name in Arabic: ورقة الكشمش الأسود (Waraqat Kishmish Aswad)

Main virtues

Blackcurrant leaves are often used in herbal teas to support a healthy lifestyle. They can also be incorporated into foot baths, poultices, or homemade herbal tonics.

Main constituents

Flavonoids, tannins, gallic acid, essential oil, vitamin C.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 to 2 teaspoons for 250 ml of simmering water, infuse for 8 to 10 minutes.
• Decoction: 5 minutes over low heat, let stand before external use.
• Cosmetic: as a decoction in herbal baths or in warm compresses.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Respect the doses indicated for internal use.
• Avoid in people taking anticoagulant treatment without medical advice.
• Store away from humidity and light to preserve aromas.

History and origin

Once harvested from medicinal herb gardens, blackcurrant leaves have long been associated with purifying infusions and seasonal treatments. Their use is documented in French and German pharmacopoeias as early as the 18th century.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: opaque jar or tightly closed kraft bag.
• Packaging: loose cut, ready to infuse.
• Appearance: dried leaf fragments, green to brown.
• Odor: slightly resinous and herbaceous.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Traditional European Pharmacopoeias
• Ancient texts of domestic herbalism
• Popular medicinal corpus of temperate regions

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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