Black Currant

  Black currant is a plant. People use the seed oil, leaves, fruit, and flowers to make medicine. Women use black currant seed oil for treating symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome, painful periods, and breast tenderness. It is also used for boosting immunity. Black currant berry is used for coughs and Alzheimer's disease. Black currant dried leaf is used for arthritis, gout, joint pain (rheumatism), diarrhea, colic, hepatitis and other liver ailments, convulsions, and disorders that cause swelling (inflammation) of the mouth and throat. Black currant dried leaf is also used for treating coughs, colds, and whooping cough; disinfecting the urine; promoting urine flow; treating bladder stones, and as a cleansing tea. Some people apply black currant leaf directly to the skin for treating wounds and insect bites. In foods, black currant berry is used to flavor liqueurs and other products. People also eat black currant berry.