The Sour-sop and its uses: In the Caribbean and Guyana the Sour-sop tree is considered by most people as quite an ordinary plant which bears a luscious fruit with some of its parts being used for home remedies. However, the recent findings and claims about the tree and the fruit according to several websites are incredible and can be of invaluable importance.
This tree thrives in warm climate. Since it is a shrub, it can be found in yards near houses in the Caribbean, South America and Nigeria. The botanical name of the plant is Annona Muricata while the fruit has several synonyms such as graviola, Brazilian paw paw, guanabana, guyabano, guanavana, guanaba, corossol epineux, huanaba, togebanreisi, durian benggala, nangka blanda and cachiman epineux. In Guyana, people eat the white juicy pulp with or without sugar and milk. Extracted juice from the pulp, is used for the making of drink, ice-blocks and ice-cream. The leaves are occasionally used in tea making which is claimed as being good for the heart.
What is most significant and intriguing about the sour – sop tree and its fruit is the discussions, reports and data on the web about the somewhat miraculous uses of every part of the plant, especially its role as a cure for cancer. Several sites claim that research of this plant and its fruit began in 1940 and to date many agree that properties found as a cancer killer are 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy. In 1976, a plant screening program done by the National Cancer Institute found that the leaves and stems showed active toxicity against cancer cells. 2002 an experiment with mice done in Japan concluded similar results. Researchers in Taiwan in 2003 also reported similar findings.
The nutritional value of the sour-sop are as follows:
1.Protein
2.Calcium
3.Vitamin C
4. Iron
5. Sodium
6. Sugars
7. Carbohydrates
8. Saturated fats
9. Monounsaturated fats
10. Polyunsaturated fats
11. Dietary fiber
Here are some of the many other Medicinal Benefits of the Sour -sop that are used to treat various illnesses.
1.The seeds are used in the treatment of vomiting.
2.The solution derived from the leaves which are boiled in water is effective for getting rid of head lice and bedbugs.
3.Skin eruptions can be cured by placing crushed fresh leaves on the infected area.
4.The juice of the fruit is said to be a remedy for urethritis, haematuria and liver ailments. 5.It is believed that drinking the juice relieves liver ailments and leprosy.
6. The flesh of the sour -sop when applied as a poultice unchanged for 3 days heals wounds.
7.A concoction of the young shoots or leaves take orally is as a remedy for gall bladder trouble, as well as coughs, catarrh, diarrhea, dysentery, fever and indigestion.
8. A poultice made of mashed leaves are used for eczema and other skin problems and rheumatism.
9.The root bark is used as an antidote in cases of poisoning.
10.Soursop flowers are believed to be useful in relieving sufferers of catarrh.
11. The leaves are also used as a remedy for inflammation and swollen feet.
“Health Benefits Of Sour sop” by Yanti states the following concoction for the prevention and cure of cancer:
Prevention: Eat the ripe fruit or drink the juice regularly.
Cure: Boil ten pieces of old leaves in three glasses of water until the liquid becomes one glass of water. Drink one glass of the boiled water twice daily continuously on a regular basis. It is said that the patient does not suffer from side effects such as hair loss and nausea as when chemotherapy is used since the concoction kills the cancer cells exclusively and the healthy cells are spared.
The answer to the big question as to why recognized medical personnel is not prescribing sour sop to patients is paradoxical. Because soursop is completely natural, under federal law, it is not patentable. “Cancer Research Website U.K.” , however, claims that capsules have been made with the soursop and are being sold at more than 5 pounds for 100 capsules. It is stated that the manufacturers advise that 2 capsules should be taken 3 to 4 times daily. Also, the same article cautions that a doctor’s advice should be sought because excessive use can lead to a symptom similar to Parkinson’s disease.
It seems the positives of the soursop plant and its fruit definitely outweigh the negative. Therefore, ways and means should be found to spread the word far and wide so that many can benefit from Mother Nature’s blessing.
