Fresh berries are pressed and the resulting juice, which is very acidic, is sometimes slightly sweetened before consumption. Traditionally drunk daily in small amounts, in courses lasting from a few days to a few weeks. Approximately 100 to 250 ml of pure juice per day, in the absence of any other medical indication.
Dried and crushed berries are infused in hot water for a few minutes, yielding a tart beverage similar to juice but lighter. This preparation was used as a daily accompaniment rather than a one-time treatment. One tablespoon of dried berries per cup of hot water, once or twice daily.
The berries were crushed into a coarse paste and applied directly to the affected area, held in place by a clean cloth. This external use, less documented in its details, warrants the advice of a professional before application on broken skin. Dosage should be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Cranberry can be found dried, as juice, or in capsules in most herbalist shops and organic stores; it is also cultivated in specialized bogs in North America and increasingly in Europe.