Epicurus: “It is vain to ask of the gods what man is capable of supplying for himself.”

Everything is related to life has duration and energy and comes back into our lives in a thousand ways. Cornelian cherries have gained the respect and preference of consumers because they were and still are a means of defending life either in the form of pharmaceutical preparations or food or through their wider use.

• In Homer’s Odyssey, Circe gives Cornelian cherries to Odysseus and his companions to help them regain their strength (“καρπόν κρανείας και άκυλλον βάλανον”). Since ancient times, the increased energy, given by Cornelian cherries to the overtired body due to the high content of vitamins A and C and many more antioxidant elements and minerals, such as iron, has been observed.
• The Ancient Greeks used Cornelian cherries to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal system, indigestion, and the heart.
In America, the Cherokee natives prepared strong tea from the roots of the Cornelian cherries plant, as a medicinal “weapon” against diarrhea and inflammation of the larynx. As an evolution of this use, in Turkey tea contained ingredients from all parts of the plant intended to treat asthma attacks, bronchitis and gastrointestinal disorders. It is also used as a wound healer
In traditional Chinese medicine many parts of the Cornelian cherry (roots, bark, leaves) are used in various preparations alone, but also in combination with other medicinal plants to treat the symptoms of diabetes mellitus, since its hypoglycemic effect has been observed. The majority of them have been scientifically studied, are accepted and widely used.
• Dioscorides, father of botany and pharmacology suggests “Cornelian cherries in brine” as a treatment for various gastrointestinal disorders and dysentery. All plant parts can be used. Not only the fruit, but also the stiff and hard wood of the skull (Theophrastus) gave solutions to many difficult problems. Bows, arrows, spears and clubs found their suitable material of manufacture. All plant parts can be used. Not only the fruit, but also the stiff and hard wood of the skull (Theophrastus) gave solutions to many difficult problems. Bows, arrows, spears and clubs found their suitable material of manufacture.
• The Trojan Horse, according to the texts of Pausanias, was made from Cornelian cherry wood coming from the sacred forest of Apollo, on Mount Idis in Troy.
• The Sarissas, the innovative and oversized Macedonian spears renowned for their durability, were made from Cornelian cherry wood.
• The Lycians, according to Herodotus, chose Cornelian cherry wood for their bows.
• The Gordian bond, which was impossible to break, was made from the cortex of the Cornelian cherry wood.
• The seer Tiresias was supported by a cane made from Cornelian cherry wood after he was blinded by the goddess Athena when he saw her bathing.

The uses of Cornelian cherries are numerous The red paint is used for leathers, but also for painting Easter eggs, had its basis in the Cornelian cherries. The traditional “κοφίνια” (hives) used by beekeepers were also made from Cornelian cherry wood.

Various reports from many countries such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, England, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Russia, Poland, and Ukraine highlight the benefit of the fruit mentioning that it is an inspiration for them to take care of life.