The American holly can grow from 30 to 60 feet high with a small trunk and light gray bark. Around here I most often see it growing as an understory tree, such as under pines and other larger trees, most likely being deposited there by our avian friends. An interesting fact about this plant is that the leaves will remain on the tree for two to three years, only falling off in spring when growing buds push them off. The berries are actually small red drupes, containing four seeds. The fruit is not edible and somewhat toxic, similar to those of pokeweed berries. That’s alright, however, because that leaves something for our animal companions to eat during the winter when sources of food are scarce. The edible parts of this plant are the leaves, which should be harvested and dried to make a nutrient rich tea. Drying the leaves for at least six weeks makes it easier for the flavors to seep into the tea and results in a pleasant, somewhat wintergreen-flavored tea. The yaupon holly is used in many of the same ways, both plants containing important antioxidants, such as caffeic acid.
Active ingredients in holly plants include theobromine, ursolic and ilexic acid, tannins, rutin, and ilicin. Theobromine is a chemical that has an effect similar to caffeine on the central nervous system, though it is weaker. That is where the yaupon holly shines, however, because it does actually contain caffeine and is one of the only wild plants that can truly replace coffee if this resource were to become scarce. There are many wild plants that make a coffee substitute, but only because it is a dark, bitter drink, not because it contains caffeine. The amount of caffeine that will seep into the tea, however, is dependent on the method of drying, which breaks down the cell walls. Mark Vorderbruggen suggests cutting a branch and hanging it to dry in dark, dry place for two weeks, placing a towel or something under it to catch falling leaves and then roasting these dried leaves on a cookie sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for a few minutes, which will help release more of the nutrients and flavors.
As for the other constituents, research suggests that ursolic acid inhibits the spread of many types of cancer cells and helps kill these cells in the body; high concentrations of ursolic acid exist in apples. Studies found that when added to the diets of mice, ursolic acid increased the amount of muscle and brown fat and decreased white fat obesity and associated conditions. Furthermore, ursolic acid has been found to stimulate muscular growth, reduce muscle atrophy, and shows potential as a cardioprotector for the heart. Rutin is a kind of bioflavonoid and strong antioxidant, helping the body better utilize vitamin C and produce collagen. Moreover, it thins the blood, improves circulation, shows anti-inflammatory activity, and can be used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Finally, ilicin, another compound in holly plants, is said to act upon the spleen, pancreas, and liver, producing a somewhat sedative effect. In general, the leaves show promise in the treatment of intermittent fevers and even rheumatism, making hollies an important and abundant panacea in the plant kingdom.
So remember, try and eat one wild food every day, just add it to something you are already eating! If you have ideas for wild food articles or have any questions or comments, please email [email protected].