Turkey Berries (Solanum torvum) can be found in Ghana, China, Thailand, The Caribbean, South America, Indonesia, Florida, Alabama, Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico and other places in the world.
In Ghana, they are popularly called Kwahu Nsusua, Beduru, Tinvii tinvii, Kantosey etc. and are mostly available in the wild and backyard gardens. The leaves of the berry plant are similar to that of the eggplants. It has thorns and can last for about 3 years before replanting from seeds may be required.
***Interesting note***
The local name “Kwahu Nsusua” as pronounced is rather “Kwanho Nsusua” to mean Roadside/wayside berries. In Akan, “Зkwan” is road or way and “nsusua” is berries.
Traditionally, we mostly use the turkey berries in household meals, giving it a slightly bitter taste. Moreover, the turkey berries have some amazing healing benefits, and we take this post to highlight some of them.
1. Treatment of Anaemia
Turkey berries contain lots of iron and so very good for treating anaemia. They stimulate the production of red blood cells. The berries can be used in soups and consumed daily to increase red blood cell production.
Read also: What is Malabar Spinach? : Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts
2. Treatment of Indigestion and diarrhoea
Turkey Berries are good for digestion and help to treat indigestion, stomachaches and diarrhoea. The berries are also capable of neutralising acid in the stomach making them important for healing gastric ulcers.
3. Prevents intestinal worms
Regular intake of the berries can prevent the formation of worms in the intestine. Dried and powdered berries can be added to gravies and eaten.
4. Treatment of Diabetes
Add dried powdered leaves of the Turkey Berry plant to cooked berries to control diabetes. They are used to lower blood sugar.
5. Prevention and healing of Colds and flu
The berries also help with preventing and healing colds and flu. Use the berries to prepare soup and take.
6. Protection from Cancer
Dr Paul Haider says “Turkey Berries are antibacterial, anti-fungal, and stops the excessive cell growth making it important for cancer. Studies show that extract of Turkey Berry can protect against lung cancer”.
Read also: Spinach : 19 Incredible Health benefits
7. Treatment of Phlegm and mucus
Turkey berries can also help get rid of phlegm and mucus. Dry berries and make into powder, this will dry up the mucus, helps with asthma, coughing, lung inflammation etc.
8. Prevention and treatment of Kidney disease
According to Dr Paul Haider, studies show that the berries can also help prevent and treat kidney disease and even reverse tubular necrosis and glomerular congestion, therefore making it important for treating kidney disease.
9. Prevention of cardiovascular diseases and strokes
Additionally, the berries contain saponins, flavonoids, torvosides, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, cholorogenome, etc. and are powerful antioxidants that prevent cardiovascular disease, strokes and cancer. The dried berries made into a powder helps to lower blood pressure and prevent heart attacks.
10. Regulate menstruation
Turkey Berries help regulates menstruation and so help with regular menstrual periods.
Read also: 22 Essential benefits of Cocoyam leaves (Kontomire)
11. Prevention of Pains, redness and gout
The berries help flush out uric acid thus helping to prevent or reduce pain, redness and symptoms of gout.
Moreover, Turkey Berry Leaf contains powerful anti-inflammatory agent and natural steroids called soasoline, great for arthritis, lower back pain and swelling, and pain in general. Turkey Berries are very important for health since inflammation is the first step towards all diseases.
Dr. Paul Haider advises that Eating the raw Turkey Berries could be toxic if not cleaned and prepared.
Reference: “The Amazing Healing Qualities of Turkey Berries” by Dr Paul Haider
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70 Comments. Leave new
Hi Madam
Does cooking it reduce it’s effect
How many can I blend and drink at a ago
Hello, please can I blend turkey berry raw and drink juice?
Hello Beatrice, yes you can blend turkey berries and juice it or as smoothie
Can I take raw turkey berry smoothie after exercising in the morning?
And how many times can I take it in a week?
Hello Nii,
Great to hear from you . Please do not always take it as smoothie .
You can take as much as you can if only it does not affect you negatively.Also use turkey berries in your soups and stews
Thank you Madam Lizzy for replying me.
Now I want to no if it can boost low sperm count.
Thank you
Hello Genevieve, great to hear from you again. Please I’m not aware of turkey berries being low sperm count booster
Hi
Good evening, just came across this page and am happy about it .
Just want to no if I can take the berry with milk and how should it be taken.
Thank you
Hello Genevieve, i use turkey berries in stews and soups but i have a friend who tried it with milk,but to be on the safer side try a little first and see if it works for you. Then you can take more
Kwabena and Lizzy,
Thank you for your replies. most helpful.
The brown colour of the turkey berries when they are cooked, is caused by the oxidation of the iron content (ferrous oxide). This indicates the large amount of natural iron in the berries. One should be careful administrating the berries for children under the age of 8. Excessive quantities to kids can cause malformed blood cells (erythrocytes)
Kwabena, I am now in the process of gathering seeds for planting in South Africa.
How and what dried products can be derived from the berries or leaves?
Thank you both for your advice.
Thanks so much for the knowledge shared Kevin
Really appreciate it
Kelvin, the berries and leaves can be processed into powder. Please refer to the post on 3 Effective Methods of Drying and Preserving Turkey Berries to know how.
Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Lizzy Appiah.
I really appreciate your effort.
my question is, how can we dry the turkey berries and the leaves.
Plus, the leaves are hairy and is itchy, how do we get rid of it.
thank you.
Great to hear from you
Please refer to this post for answers to your question http://agrihomegh.com/drying-preserving-turkey-berries/
Can a pregnant woman take it
Yes, Akos.
Turkey berries contain lots of iron and so very good for treating anaemia. They stimulate the production of red blood cells.
Can be used in soups and stews.
Very good for a pregnant woman.
I usually eat the raw berry with a mic of nuts. The mix of nuts contains a few raisins, which creates a bit of sweetness. The nuts together with the bitterness of the turkish berry makes me craving for it. And almost no effort.
hi, can u please recommend any fruits or vegetables to blend it with to make it easier to drink?
Hi Elikplim,
If drinking turkey berries is difficult for you, add milk or ginger and or with carrots
It’s sounds good with the ginger and carrots but milk shouldn’t be added to Turkey berries.
Thanks, Tobie for the info.
Any reason milk shouldn’t be added to Turkey berries?
This is a great post! Thanks so much for sharing.
Here in the states we don’t get beduru fresh,it’s canned from Ghana an sold on the shelf, does it have the same properties, taste and health benefits as the fresh one? And how should it be used? Does it need to be washed multiple times as mentioned in previous posts?
Great to hear from you Akua
Is the canned turkey berries pickled in brine or in vinegar or in powder form?
If the berries are pickled, put in colander under running water to wash off the vinegar or excess salt before use.
Turkey berries in powder form can be used in stews, soups , smoothies, etc
Can it be eaten raw?
Yes, it can, Dedaa.
The safety secret of avoiding toxins is the thorough cleaning of the raw Turkey Berries as
Dr Paul Haider advises (as stated in the post). You need to wash it at least four(4) times before consumption.
However, raw blended turkey berries look brownish.
Please why brownish not green
Desmond, the brown colour change was my observation anytime i blended it. I am not sure exactly why. Will find out and share the knowledge when I do.
it is because its seeds are not green. they are brownish in color
The brown color comes from the seeds
What quantity should be taken and can this be consumed daily?
Hello Netty
A handful is alright in stews and soups and daily consumption is good and also help in jangled nerves.
If it’s your first time then go easy on the turkey berries because few people get bloated tummies when they eat so much of it.
Pls I mix the grinded and sieved turkey berry with milk….I hope the combination is not bad….what about honey also?
Hello, Adepa.
Great to hear from you.
Both milk and honey are safe in the combination.
Thanks so much for this wonderful health benefits. I won’t keep it to myself but will start sharing to one another. I’m really grateful.
Sharing is caring Ewurasi
You’re welcome
Very useful information. l use turkey berries a lot in my soups and stews but never knew the benefits. But is good to use without boiling? You said it is toxic if used raw yet you say it can be used to make smoothie. Shd it be boiled first?
Hello Ama
The safety secret of avoiding toxins is the thorough cleaning of the raw Turkey Berries as
Dr. Paul Haider advises (as stated in the post). You need to wash it at least four(4) times before consumption .
Raw or boiled turkey berries can be used in your smoothie however,
raw blended turkey berries look brownish
Thanks for the article, it’s interesting! For a long time I suffer because of acid (reflux-disease). I had an anti reflux operation, but still the acid is coming. I eat turkey berries on a daily basis in a soup. Do you know if turkey berry can give acid problems?
Thanks, Dede.
But I’m not sure the turkey berries is the cause of your acid reflex because it has the ability to soothe stomach ulcers
help in balancing food acids.
Stop using them for a while and see if it’s really the cause of your acid reflux or something else.
Thanks for your comment. I will try stop using it for a while and see if the acid comes down. I cannot eat much though, because a lot of foodtypes gives me acid.
My pleasure, Dede.
I will further suggest more veggies and fruits and less protein and carbohydrates. And more water too, to help flush toxins from the system. These may also help the condition.
Wy wife cured acid reflux with alcaline water. May be it helps you as well. Just a recommendation.
After blending it, do I have to seive it before drinking and also what can I take it with ?? Thanks
A strong blender will mill the turkey berry seeds too but if it’s difficult to swallow you can seive with clean muslin or seive with fine pores.
You can add spinach and carrots to make smoothie or veggie juice.
Very useful. Thank you.
Thanks Alexander for taking the time to read.
This is the problem have,Regulate menstruation
Turkey Berries help regulates menstruation and so help with regular menstrual periods. How do I use it for my problem.
Azania, the benefits are derived from its consumption. You can use it in your meals. You may also consume it in its raw state by blending and drinking, but be sure to clean thoroughly before preparation as Dr Paul Haider advice.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. My friend had two miscarriages. I hope it is gonna help her
Solanum tovum is a very useful seed which av used in several treatment only DAT its not commonly gotten,is not readily available until I traveled to miles before getting it
Great. I agree with you on availability. In many places, it grows in the wild. You can, however, try sowing the seed at your backyard or any suitable and available soil space, to bring it closer to you. Thanks for commenting, Abigail.
Hello Kwabena. Do you know any where in Ghana or Africa that the berries are commercially cultivated or in a fairly large scale. Is it a good export commodity?
Thanks Akwasi. I do not know of any commercial farm on turkey berries. I believe it is a good export commodity, and even has huge market potential locally if value is added. I have seen it processed into powder and added to other ingredients to make a very good food supplement.
Thanks Kwabena. I have great interest in farming turkey berries but i want to be sure it will make good business worth investing in. What do u advice Kwabena?
First, it is a great idea. We do not have enough data on the scope of production currently, but it is quite obvious that it is not produced on large scale. You might want to consider a small scale production and processing into powder to see how it goes. We are hopeful it will go well. We would love to be of help. Let’s keep talking, Akwasi. Thanks.
Thanks Kwabena. Am grateful!
Always a pleasure, Akwasi.
Kwabena,
Having lived in Ghana for several years, I have known about Abedru berries and their amazing effect on health.
I am living in a region (tropical) where many of the inhabitants suffer with aneamia.
I would like to grow the trees in my region for the express purpose of rectifying the situation.
Question: What is the easiest way to propogate the species. Where would one obtain information in this regard.?
Your article was most informative and you are to be congratulated.
Best regards,
Kevin
Thank you, Kevin, for your kind words. The credit actually goes to Lizzy Appiah (@lish) for authoring this great piece.
You can propagate the berries by the seed. Briefly, you may dry the berries and take out the seeds and sow directly or nurse them before transplanting.
Please, start a topic at Crops Forum for extensive guide to growing turkey berries.
great news
The fresh fruits can be crash after washing with clean water and boil for about half an hour and alow to cool and drink the water.
Good one Daniel. Thanks for sharing.
Is it good blend and drink turkey berries without boiling or adding anything after using salt to wash it
Thanks Veronica.
Dr. Paul Haider advises that Eating the raw Turkey Berries could be toxic if not cleaned and prepared (as stated in the post). I believe you can. You, however, need to wash it thoroughly at least four(4) times before consumption.
People underweight can also blend raw turkey berries with water and take half a glass last thing before going to bed. My daughter and myself are exhibits of that
Wonderful. Thanks for sharing, Bernice.
Thanks for the tip
Where do you get seeds or plants?
Seeds can be obtained from dried berries. You can get fresh turkey berries from the wild or market, air dry the berries, take out the seeds and sow.