Mulberry Fruit

The fruits of Morus alba — the white mulberry, whose leaves feed the silkworm.

At full maturity, the fruits pass from white to a deep red, then to an almost black purple: it is at that stage that they are picked by hand, delicately, then dried in the sun or in a low-temperature drier.

Small, ovoid and dark, they keep a characteristic sweet-tart savour.

Dark colour = the visual signature of what usage attaches to the Blood and the Yin.

A mild and approachable material of the Blood and Yin supplementing register, particularly valued for constitutions of deficient Yin marked by inner dryness, when the Spirit (Shen) struggles to settle at nightfall.

Traditionally used as well for constitutions where deficient Yin lets an empty heat rise that pushes the Liquids (Jin Ye) out to the surface, and to moisten gently the dried descending movement.

• Infusion: 10 to 15 g in a large cup, water at a simmer, 10 minutes — it can be re-infused
• Decoction: 9 to 15 g, simmer for 20 minutes
• Traditional cooking: added to congee, to mueslis of the supplementing register, and to smoothies
• To nibble: like raisins, as a snack of the supplementing register

To be avoided in cases of deficient Yang with deep cold or of chronically loose stools (its cold nature and its moistening can add to cold constitutions).

Otherwise a very approachable herb.