Toxicity, Edibility, Price, and Benefits of the Berries of the Herbaceous Plant Black Nightshade

Black nightshade, also known as wild spicy tiger, wild sea pepper, small bitter vegetable, wild umbrella seed, ground bubble seed, heavenly eggplant vegetable, valley milk seed, etc., is distributed almost throughout all of China. So are its berries toxic? Can they be eaten? How much does one jin cost? What are its benefits and effects? It is reported that the berries of black nightshade are green when unripe, toxic, and cannot be eaten. But once they ripen, they turn blackish-purple, a bit like grapes, and at this point the toxicity is gone and they can be eaten, with a sweet-and-sour taste.

How much does one jin of black nightshade berries cost?

It is a minor variety, with few merchants in the market paying attention to it; supply movements are mostly sporadic, and the market is relatively stable. At present, the price of black nightshade in the Chengdu market is around 5-6 yuan.

If we want to buy black nightshade ourselves, of course it costs more than this. For example, 50 grams of medicinal black nightshade, that is, one liang, is priced at 2 yuan. However, the amount of black nightshade used for one decoction is not much, so this price is still quite cheap.

What are the benefits and effects of black nightshade berries?

1. Treats various internal and external heat-induced inflammatory swellings. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, decoct in water for oral use, or grind into a paste for external application.

2. Treats glossitis. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, decoct in water and use as a mouthwash.

3. Treats headache, mumps, meningitis, gastritis, and nephritis. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, grind into a paste, and apply externally to the affected area.

4. Treats earache and eye inflammation. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, squeeze out the juice, and drip it into the ear canal or apply it to the eyes.

5. Treats various heat-induced skin itching and carbuncles. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, grind into a paste, mix with Kashgar powder and rose oil to make a poultice, and apply externally to the affected area.

6. Treats burns and purulent smallpox. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, squeeze out the juice, mix with Kashgar powder to make an ointment, and apply it to the affected area.

7. Treats tumors. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries, pound and grind them, and apply externally to the affected area.

8. Treats thirst and involuntary seminal emission. Take an appropriate amount of black nightshade berries and eat them.