Physalis is a plant closely related to potatoes and tomatoes and belongs to the nightshade family. Ripe fruits have medicinal properties and have been used as a diuretic for kidney and bladder stones, purulent inflammation of the urinary tract, dropsy, gout, and rheumatic joint pain. To prepare a decoction from the fruits, boil 15–30 grams of dried fruits in half a liter of water over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain, cool, and drink a glass daily for five days. You can also eat 10–15 fresh fruits each day or drink 20 grams of their juice. Remove the calyx — it is toxic. Keep that in mind.
In Bulgaria, a decoction of physalis is used for compresses to treat hemorrhoids and skin hemorrhages.
Physalis is good for healthy people, too. Serve it as a side for meat or enjoy it as a snack. Here are some original recipes:
PICKLED PHYSALIS
Pack cleaned and washed fruits tightly into jars. For a one-liter jar, add 2–3 cloves, one pod of hot red pepper, and one bay leaf. Cover the fruits with a marinade made from 1 liter of water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 50 grams of salt, and 50 grams of sugar. Sterilize the jars for 20 minutes. Shelf life: 6–8 months.
PHYSALIS CANDIES
Wash medium-sized ripe fruits, prick them, and immerse them in boiling syrup (for 1 kilogram of physalis, use 1.2 kilograms of sugar and 1 cup of water). Boil for 5 minutes, then let steep for 8 hours. Repeat this process five times. Drain the physalis in a colander to let the syrup drip off, then spread the fruits out to dry. Once dried, store the candies in jars, layering them with sugar. You can also keep them in syrup.
Collect 25–50 grams of fresh juice from black nightshade berries in a small jar. No additives are necessary. Store it in a cool, dark place. Even if the juice ferments, it is not a problem. For cuts or bruises sustained while gardening, apply the juice immediately to stop bleeding and promote faster healing.
The juice from black nightshade, like that from other nightshades, contains bactericidal substances, solanine, alkaloids, and steroids. If you have a solution of brilliant green or iodine, use that instead. If not, rinse, crush the berry, and apply the juice to the wound. Preferably use juice that has fermented. Keep it away from children. Do not drink the juice.
MEDICINE FROM YOUNG NUTS. Take 1 kilogram of nuts, wash them in cool boiled water, and dry them. Eat the pulp, and place the shells in a three-liter jar and cover them with boiling water. Let the infusion steep for a week. Take 50 grams three times a day. Continue the treatment for a month, then take a month-long break. Repeat the cycle if desired. Based on personal observations, this helps lower blood pressure and relieves tinnitus and dizziness. Start with a smaller dose if you prefer: use 1/2 kilogram of soft walnut shells in 1.5 liters of boiled water.
This recipe has several advantages: it uses the whole nut, taps the shells’ healing properties, and the infusion contains no alcohol. That’s helpful because vodka used for infusing nuts can sometimes interfere with hypertension treatment. It’s worth a try.
