Chinese Lantern: Physalis alkegengi

Names:

Bladder Cherry, ChineseLantern,Japanese Lantern, Physalis,strychnos halikakabos.

Other varieties:

peruviana,somnifera,viscosa,Winter Cherry,Alkegengi officinale,Coqueret,Judenkirsche,Schlutte,Cape gooseberry,Strawberry Tomato.

History:

Physalis is a name from the Greek for bladder (phusa).

Warning! Somnifera leaves have been found with Egyptian Mummies!

For Gout, take eight berries at the change of the moon! (Put that in your herbal pipe and smoke it!-no, not really)

Constituents:

(fruit) Vitamin C, organic acids,including malic and citric, a bitter substance physaline ( a yellow, bitter principle),pectinase,glucose,pectin.

Uses:

(Fruit, rarely leaves) aperient,diuretic,anti-pyretic,mild sedative,nutritive,laxative,formerly used to treat renal calculi, rheumatism,arthritis and gout. Fruit eaten fresh and used for jams.

(Whole Plant) In diuretic, wine, Lithal,(a fruit extact to which is added Lithium)

used after scarlet fever(folk)

Link to Companions Article