The cranberry bush (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a low-growing evergreen shrub with leathery leaves and bright-red berries. This member of the heath family grows in mountains, forests, and damp bogs within the United States from Alaska to Virginia. However, most of the commercial berries are produced in Massachusetts and Wisconsin.
Native Americans used cranberries for both food and medicine. The berries were enjoyed either raw or sweetened with maple sugar. In addition, they used them in sauces, breads, and puddings. Cran-berries were also used in poultices for treating wounds. Cranberry leaves were typically used for diarrhea and urinary disorders. The sailors during Colonial days used cranberries to prevent scurvy.
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