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Alternative medicine: Pomegranate
Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:53:50
By Patricia Khashayar, MD., Press TV, Tehran
Pomegranate, the seeded apple rich in antioxidants, improves heart health, protects against
prostate cancer and slows cartilage loss.
Botanical: Punica granatum (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Lythraceae
Synonym: Grenadier. Cortex granati. Ecorce de Granade. Granatwurzelrinde. Melogranato.
Malicorio. Scorzo del Melogranati. Cortezade Granada
Habitat:
The pomegranate is native to Iran and the Himalayas; it has grown wild in the whole
Mediterranean region and the Middle East since ancient times.
Description:
Pomegranate is a small five-meter high tree with light brown bark and red buds. The leaves
are small, opposite and almost evergreen.
Pomegranate flowers are orange-red, scarlet, white or variegated. Its fruit is crowned with a
calyx and contains numerous seeds in juicy sacs.
Part Used Medicinally:
The root, bark, fruit, the rind of the fruit, and flowers.
Constituents:
Pomegranate juice is a good source of vitamin B and C, pantothenic acid, potassium and
antioxidant polyphenols.
Punicotannic acid is the chief constituent of the bark which also contains gallic acid, mannite,
Pelletierine, Methyl-Pelletierine, Pseudo-Pelletierine, and IsoPelletierine.
Medicinal Uses:
Sour pomegranate is good for the liver and stomach and helps relieve itching.
Sweet pomegranate juice has tonic and diuretic effects. It helps treat jaundice, coughs,
hoarseness and increases weight.
Pomegranate is a promising antioxidant, good for reducing several heart risk factors,
including LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation and arteriosclerosis (thickening of the arteries) as
well as malignant prostate disease.
The seeds are demulcent.
Pomegranate bark is considered to be an anthelmintic in other words a substance that
destroys and expels intestinal worms.
It is also an astringent that has been used to ease chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Combined
http://www.presstv.com/pop/print.aspx?id=33703 3/17/2008