Saskatoon Berries, commonly known as Saskatoon’s, are purplish blueberries that grow on a bush. Other names used to describe this berry are serviceberries, June Saskatoon berries, and Indian pear. These Berries look similar to blueberries with a slight variation in color and size. The berries are purple-coloured, and the size of the berries varies due to different growing conditions.
First people used the Saskatoon bush for medicinal purposes, concoctions of the inner bark and roots were used to treat diarrhea and menstruation pain. A warm decoction made of the stems and bark was used as a wash after childbirth, it was said to relieve the pain and stop the bleeding and a tea made from the roots was used to prevent miscarriage.
Sometimes they boiled the inner bark of the Saskatoon to produce a cure for snow blindness, one drop of the strained fluid was placed in the affected eye three times daily. The berry is full of antioxidants, these antioxidants can reduce the effects of age associated with oxidative stress, and they also contain anti-inflammatory properties.