Fruits that Heal INTRODUCTION : After many research, a great deal of scientists agree that raw fruits and

cooked vegetables are the only right nutrition for human beings. Apart from the nutritional aspects of some commonly available fruits they also possess medicinal values that are highly beneficial and a boon to human being from time inbeing.. They act as quick and efficient remedies and the most easily available food Each and every fruit is known for its own medicinal properties it possess which acts as time being remedies. Here are the lists of some of the most commonly available fruits which has got medicinal properties described as by Siddha system of medicine in curing diseases in common. 1. Ananas comosus 2. Prunus domestica 3. Citrus limonum 4. Citrus aurantium 5. Psidium guyava 6. Annona squamosa 7. Eugenia jambolana 8. Phyllanthus embelica 9. Carica papaya 10.Garcinia mangostana 11. Mangifera indica 12.Punica granatum 13.Musa paradisica 14.Aegle marmelos 1.ANANAS COMOSUS English Name : Pine apple Family Name : Bromeliaceae Chemical constituents : Bromelin Action : Styptic, Emmenagogue, Anthelmintic, Vermicide, Diaphoretic, Aperient Uses in Siddha : ? It is useful in vomiting,gastralgia,jaundice and other pitha disorders. ? Its juice is processed into syrup and it helps in vomiting, excessive thirst, leucorrhoea and other pitha disorders. NOTE : Excessive intake of fruits causes uterine contractions. Hence it ought to be avoided by pregnant women. 2.PRUNUS DOMESTICA English Name : Common plum Family Name : Rosaceae Chemical constituent : Amygdalin, emulsin, and a little of malic Acid Action : Coolant, Laxative, Emollient Uses in Siddha : ? It is used in curing indigestion, constipation, headache, fever, thirst, itching and scabies. ? Excessive intake of fruits has laxative action and also expels out the excessive bile stored in the body.

? 1 part of fruit mixed with 8 parts of water and with some sugar addes to it are heated and prepared as a decoction and this when given internally has laxative action. 3.CITRUS LIMONUM English Name : Lime, Lemon Family Name : Rutaceae Chemical constituent : Geraniol, 1-linalool,Citral and Hesperidin Glucosides. Action : Refrigerant, Pithasamani, Antiscorbutic, Rind of fruit Stomachic, Carminative Uses in Siddha : ? It is used in curing giddiness, vomiting, nausea, thirst, scurvy and in febrile and inflammatory conditions. ? Externally it is useful in whitlow. ? The juice of the fruit with sugar cures excessive thirst. ? It is processed into various forms and when intaken for 6 months helps in curing ascites, lethargy, epression, and also helps in removing grey hair. Thus it acts as an ELIXIT. ? Coral prepared as white calx is given with the adjuvant of lime juice helps in curing chronic and excessive diarrhoea and dysentery. ? On productive vomiting, Cuminum cyminum seeds are fried in honey until its colour changes to golden brown and thereafter it is mixed with lime juice and water and prepared as decoction are given. 4.CITRUS AURANTIUM English Name : Sour orange, bitter orange Family Name : Rutaceae Chemical constituent : d-linalool and glucoside hesperidin Action : Refrigerant, Stomachic, Tonic Uses in Siddha : ? It is a blood purifier. ? It brings taste to the tongue. ? It reduces secretion of excessive bile and improves digestion and health. ? It also helps in curing cough, diabetes mellitus, chest pain, liver disorder. ? It is useful in atonic dyspepsia and general debility. 5.PSIDIUM GUYAVA English Name : Guava tree Family Name : Myrtaceae Chemical constituent : Eugenol, essential oil, and minerals Action : Laxative Uses in Siddha : ? It is employed in giddiness, dyspepsia, anorexia, gastric tympanitis and vomiting. ? Unripe fruit is recommended for diarrhoea and also for gout.

6.ANNONA SQUAMOSA English Name : Custard apple, Sugar apple Family Name : Annonaceae Chemical constituent : Seeds has an acrid principle Action : Coolant, Tonic, Haematinic Uses in Siddha : ? It is prepared as syrup and it helps to reduce heat in the body. ? The ripe fruit is medicinally considered as a maturant, and when bruised and mixed with salt is applied to malignant tumours to hasten suppuration. 7.EUGENIA JAMBOLANA English Name : Jambul Family Name : Myrtaceae Chemical constituent : Jamboline, a pale yellow essential oil, ellagic acid Action : Stomachic, Diuretic, Tonic, Haematinic Uses in Siddha: ? It is a haematinic and semen promoting. ? It reduces excessive heat of the body ? The juice of the fruit is kept in a bottle for about 1 month and when given internally cures excessive thirst in diabetes mellitus. ? The juice of the fruit is prepared as syrup and is an efficient astringent in chronic diarrhoea and also improves appetite. 8.PHYLLANTHUS EMBELICA English Name : Indian gooseberry, Emblic myrobalan Family Name : Euphorbiaceae Chemical constituent : Essential oil, Emblic acid, Phyllanthin Action : Refrigerant, Diuretic, Laxative, Nutritive tonic. Uses in Siddha: ? It is an ELIXIT. ? It cures anorexia ? The decoction of the fruit is beneficial for nausea, vomiting, and excessive heat of the body. ? It is prepared as an ilagam ( preparation made of ghee, honey, cows milk and sugar) and is an remarkable pitha-samani (reduces bile secretion) and is therefore efficient in vomiting, jaundice, anaemia, gastric ulcer, generalised odema, leucorrhoea, cough, burning sensation of the body and dysentery. ? Also it is combined with other drugs and prepared as oil and when used as a hair oil cures 96 types of eye diseases , leucorrhoea, peripheral neuritis, burning sensation of whole body and other pitha disorders. 9.CARICA PAPAYA English Name : Papaw or Papaya tree Family Name : Caricaceae Chemical constituent : Papain or Papayotin, Papayic acid, Carpaine and Carposide Action : Laxative, Digestive, Diuretic, Anthelmintic,

Emmenagogue, Alterative Uses in Siddha : ? It is most useful in intestinal irritations and gastralgia. ? The dried fruit reduces enlarged liver and spleen. ? The unripe fruit mixed with honey acts as an anthelmintic for round worms. 10.GARCINIA MANGOSTANA English Name : Mangosteen Family Name : Guttiferae Chemical constituent : Mangosim, Mangostin Action : Astringent, Febrifuge Uses in Siddha : ? The juice of the fruit is prepared as syrup and it acts as an astringent in chronic diarrhoea. ? Its fruit, Piper cubeba , Borax and Acacia arabica stem bark are taken each 260 mg and are powdered and mixed with milk and when intaken cures leucorrhoea. 11.MANGIFERA INDICA English Name : Mango tree, Spring tree. Family Name : Anacardiaceae Chemical constituent : Gallic acid Action : Laxative, Diuretic, Tonic, Anthelmintic Uses in Siddha : ? It vitalizes the body and give nourishment to it. ? It promotes semen secretion. ? It improves vision in eyes and it is said to be useful in ophthalmia and eruptions. ? The rind of the fruit is an astringent and is also a stimulant tonic in debility of the stomach. ? Ripe fruit is a laxative and is used for habitual constipation. 12.PUNICA GRANATUM English Name : Pomegranate Family Name : Punicaceae Chemical Constituent : Protein, Minerals like Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Na, K, Cu, S, Cl, and Vitamins like Carotene, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Nicotinic acid, Vit C ,Pectin. Fruit Rind has Ursolic acid. Action : Coolant Uses in Siddha : ? Its fruit is prepared as manpaagu(syrup) and it helps in curing fever, thirst, and excessive heat in the body. ? The decoction of fruit rind along with other astringent drugs helps in curing dysentery. ? The sweet types of pomegranate are said to be mildly laxative, while the less sweet types are believed to be good in inflammation of stomach and in heart pain.

? The powder of the fruit rind along with Commiphora myrrha 17 gm and prepared chalk 34 gm cures tooth ache. 13.MUSA PARADISICA English Name : Plantain or Banana Family Name : Scitaminaceae Chemical Constituent : Vitamin A, Tannin and minerals like Ca, Mg, P ,S, Fe, and Cu. Action : Ripe Fruit Demulcent, Laxative, Nutritive, Emollient Unripe Fruit Astringent Uses in Siddha : ? It helps in curing pitha disorders, jaundice, gastritis, and excessive heat in the body. ? It also helps in dyspepsia with flatulence and acidity. ? It is also beneficial for anaemic persons on account of iron contained in it. 14.AEGLE MARMELOS English Name : Bael Tree, Holy Fruit Tree Family Name : Rutaceae Chemical Constituent : Mucilage, pectin, sugar, tannin(tannic acid), volatile oil, and bitter principle Action : Astringent, Laxative, Stomachic Uses in Siddha : ? Its fruit is prepared as oil and when taken bath cures burning sensation of eyes, headache, excessive heat in the body and neurological disorders. ? The rind of the fruit is put in a vessel containing water and it is stirred out for 3 hours , thereafter it is filtered and the filtrate is separated and again the same process for 4 or 5 times and the filtrate collected are heated till it reaches waxy consistency. 2-4 gm of this when given 2 or 3 times cures chillness and rigor due to tuberculosis, and arrests diarrhoea, dysentery and dysfunctional uterine bleeding. ? The rind of fruit is prepared as syrup and 80-170 mg of this when given twice or thrice a day arrests diarrhoea and strengthens the intestines. ? The fruit rind is made dried and prepared as powder and 2-4 mg of this powder arrests diaaahoea. BIBILIOGRAPHY : 1. Siddha Materia Medica (Medicinal Plants Division) by Murugesa Mudaliar, Published by The Directorate of Indian Medicine & Homeopathy, Chennai. 2. Indian Materia Medica Vol: 1 by, Dr. K.M. Nadkarani, Publisher: Popular Prakash, Mumbai. 3. The Wealth of India Vol 1- 12, Publisher Council for Scientific and Industrial Research , New Delhi.