Vitis vinifera L
The leaves of the grape vine can be made into a tea for arthritis, inflammation, menopause, urinary problems, skin rashes gout, nausea, varicose veins and fragile capillaries. Therefore may be useful for nose bleeds. Traditionally a decoction of the leaves has also been used to treat threatened abortion. Dried, powdered leaves have been given to cattle and horses to treat scours.
The leaves can be bound over wounds and may also be helpful for tumors. The flowers can also be made into an infusion to strengthen the nerve and support the bone marrow in the spine.
The grapes themselves have been used as a fortifying blood tonic. They are very nourishing and have been used for anemia and for when a horse or rider is run down or recovering from an illness. Apparently the grape has a content that is similar to that of blood plasma.
Grapes are known to stimulate kidney and liver function. They are cleansing and may be a gentle laxative. They are high in natural fruit sugars.
Grapes are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances known to destroy free radical which damage the cells DNA, creating health problems such as heart disease, cancer and aging. Standardized extract of grape seed can be used to help with regulating blood sugar, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, pancreatitis, degeneration of the eye and cancer. There have been many studies demonstrating the effectiveness with cancer.
