Graviola: medicinal properties, benefits and harms
Graviola is a tree that grows in warm countries. The fruits of this plant were originally used only in cooking. They were used to make ice cream, drinks and many sweet foods. But then useful properties of this heat-loving representative of flora were discovered. It turned out that graviola (aka prickly annona) has a beneficial effect on the human body, helps fight infections and even has an anti-cancer effect.
Botanical description
Graviola is an evergreen tree up to 9 meters high. Its shoots are initially covered with villi, which eventually disappear. The leaves of this plant have an oval shape. They are darker at the top than at the bottom. The leaves have a pleasant smell, which increases with friction.
Graviola blooms with single fragrant flowers of large size. The flowers grow up to 4.5 cm wide. They have the shape of a cone consisting of 6 petals. The 3 inner petals are colored light yellow, and the outer 3 are yellow-green.
After the end of flowering, the graviola forms dark green fruits with thorns. When they mature, they grow up to 35 cm in length and weigh up to 7 kg. When ripe, the fruits lighten, becoming yellow. Inside each of them is a white-cream-colored pulp. It tastes very nice. After tasting this pulp, you will feel the taste of pineapple, coconut, citrus, banana, strawberry.
But remember that black seeds from the fruit can not be eaten, as they are poisonous.
Vitamins and trace elements
Graviola includes a large number of trace elements and vitamins. It contains the following useful substances:
- Fructose;
- Acetogenins;
- Iron;
- Magnesium;
- Sodium;
- Phytonutrients;
- Vitamin C and a number of B vitamins;
- Calcium;
- Phosphorus;
- Zinc;
- Proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Pharmacological properties and indications
The beneficial properties of this plant are numerous. After all , graviola:
- Removes uric acid from the body. This helps to alleviate the condition of patients with gout, arthritis and rheumatism.
- Prevents tumors from developing. Scientists have proven that graviola interferes with the production of ATP in cancer cells. This
- helps to slow down the growth of malignant neoplasms.
- It has an antibacterial effect. Also, graviola helps to get rid of fungus and helminths.
- Reduces blood pressure and heart rate.
- Dilates blood vessels and dilutes blood. Graviola improves blood circulation and prevents the development of blood clots.
- Relieves inflammation of the mucous membranes.
- Removes toxins.
- Helps in the treatment of cough.
- Strengthens the body’s natural defenses. Such properties allow you to speed up recovery in case of a viral infection.
- Normalizes the gastrointestinal tract and eliminates diarrhea.
- Reduces the high temperature.
- Normalizes blood sugar levels.
- Improves liver function.
- Calms the nervous system.
- Eliminates swelling. Graviola helps not only to get rid of edema, but also to prevent the appearance of new ones.
- Heals wounds (subject to external use).
- Relieves spasms.
Application of food additives
It is not always possible to use fresh components of annona. But you can take dietary supplements. This is even easier than infusions and decoctions, which you need to spend time preparing. The finished capsule can be drunk anywhere, without worrying about the concentration of biologically active substances and getting them in the required amount.
Graviola Now Foods
This is a product of an American manufacturer. For its manufacture, the leaves of the plant are used. The extract from them is placed in gelatin capsules, of which there are 100 pieces in a package. Each capsule contains natural graviola in a dosage of 500 mg. Take this remedy immediately for 2 capsules up to 4 times a day.
Graviola Now Foods double Power
This drug is available in tablets (90 pieces per pack). Each tablet contains graviola in a dosage of 1000 mg. You need to drink this remedy 1 tablet a day.
Brazilian Graviola Paradise Herbs
Here, graviola is also contained in capsules, but 250 mg each. Each package contains 60 capsules of vegetarian origin. Their contents are made from the leaves of the plant.
Graviola Maximum International
It is a vegetable product in gelatin capsules. They contain graviola in a dosage of 750 mg. There are 100 capsules in a package. They should be taken 1-2 pieces up to 4 times a day.
Graviola Advance Physician Formulas
The product contains 500 mg of the active substance in each gelatin capsule. There are 100 such capsules in a plastic bottle. They should be taken 2 pieces before meals.
Graviola Amazon Therapeutics
Unlike previous preparations, here graviola is presented in the form of drops. They are available in bottles from 30 to 120 ml with a pipette. Take this remedy 1-2 times a day, measuring 20-30 drops and diluting them with water.
Use in folk recipes
Graviola is successfully used in folk medicine in the form of teas, juices, compresses, decoctions, cocktails and extracts. It is also produced in the form of drops. The use of this tool is shown when:
- Infectious diseases (for treatment and prevention). Fresh fruits of the plant help well with dysentery;
- Fever;
- High pressure;
- Oncological diseases. Graviola is also used for prevention purposes if the patient has a predisposition to cancer;
- Fungi;
- Joint inflammations (arthritis, gout);
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Reduced immunity;
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and diarrhea;
- Helminths;
- Bronchitis;
- Thrombosis;
- Pathologies of the liver;
- Hangover syndrome. In this case, a drink is made from the fruits of graviola;
- Osteochondrosis;
- Pediculosis;
- Insomnia;
- Obesity;
- Dermatological diseases;
- Cough (especially when smokers cough);
- Spasms;
- Nervous disorders. Graviola root helps with spasms and nervous disorders;
- Kidney diseases;
- Rheumatism;
- Edema.
Tea
If you have a high fever, rheumatism, cough, arthritis, diarrhea or depression, tea from this plant will help you. For its preparation, the leaves of graviola are taken (you will need 6 leaves) and 250 ml of boiling water is poured. After the graviola is infused, strain the drink and drink it 1 time a day.
Repeat the procedure the next day.
Juice
In case of infection with helminths, high temperature or kidney failure, fresh juice of the plant helps. It is made from the fruits of graviola.
Compress
If you have rheumatism or arthritis, use leaves for a compress. They must be pre-crushed and made a mush. Instead of leaves, you can take an unripe fruit. It also needs to be cleaned and crushed.
Decoction
For back pain or gout, graviola in the form of a decoction helps. To prepare it, you need to take a few leaves and soak them in water so that they swell. Then put the mixture on the fire and cook it until about 1/3 of the liquid remains. After that, you can remove the broth from the fire, cool and strain. It should be drunk 2 times a day.
Cocktail
The anti-oncological properties of this plant are especially noticeable when using it as a cocktail of fruit pulp and milk (you can take water instead of milk). For the treatment of cancer at the initial stage, graviola is taken in an amount of 100 g and filled with milk. You should get a drink for 1 reception time.
To make the treatment effective, drink 3 of these cocktails daily and do it for six months.
Capsules
It is very difficult to get fresh fruit or leaves of graviola in a country in which it does not grow. But you can replace this product with capsules. Their properties allow you to fight low immunity, depression, cancer and other diseases. Take capsules should be 1 piece in the morning and before going to bed. Do this for 2 months and you will notice the result.
Extract
Ready-made graviola extract, as well as capsules from it, completely replaces the fresh plant. It helps from all the pathologies and conditions listed above. If you want to take it for the treatment of any disease, you need to take 1 g of the remedy, dilute it in 100 ml of water and drink this drink 3 times a day before meals.
To prevent cancer and improve the body, use 0.5 g of extract per 100 ml of water and take the mixture according to the same scheme as for treatment.
A remedy for cancer
The use of graviola for the treatment of cancer patients is based on the research of American scientists who isolated biologically active substances with an anti-cancer effect from the plant. There are especially a lot of these substances in the leaves of annona.
Taking drugs based on the leaves of graviola, the patient blocks the production of ATP by cells. This leads to a lack of energy, the impossibility of cell division and their subsequent death. That is, already existing cancerous tumors will not be able to grow and will eventually collapse.
Graviola is particularly effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In this organ, tumors grow faster than in others, since a lot of glucose gets into their cells. When using graviola, cells lose their ability to absorb glucose. This slows down their metabolism and growth.
Fighting infections with the help of graviola
Graviola treats infectious diseases caused by parasites and bacteria. The plant helps well with:
- leishmaniasis;
- cough;
- herpes;
- vomiting.
To get rid of the disease and its symptoms, eat fresh fruits of graviola or drink teas from its leaves.
Method of application and dosage
If you decide to use capsules or a ready-made extract, you will find instructions for taking the product in the package with the product. Manufacturers of drugs from graviola are advised to take 500-1500 mg of the active substance per day, if these are capsules. For the extract, the daily norm is 1-4 ml.
Side effects and contraindications
You must remember that the seeds, roots and bark of the graviola are poisonous. They can be used only in minimal dosages and under the supervision of a doctor. The fruits of this plant do not have a toxic effect.
But the use of them in large quantities leads to dysbiosis, nausea and symptoms characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (the plant has a negative effect on the nervous system). Therefore, it is better to use drugs with graviola after receiving approval from a doctor.
Treatment with any parts of annona is strictly contraindicated in:
- pregnancy;
- breast-feeding;
- individual intolerance;
- low pressure.
Product Reviews
The healing properties of graviola are confirmed by numerous reviews of the product. People write that the plant helped them:
- get rid of pain in the joints and spine;
- expel helminths;
- boost immunity;
- improve stomach function;
- accelerate recovery from viral infections;
- normalize the pressure.
But the reviews of doctors are of increased interest. Experts write: “It is not necessary to use graviola as the main remedy for cancer, but it is also impossible to refuse it. This plant has pronounced antitumor properties. It should be used in parallel with medications prescribed by a doctor.
Juice, pulp and infusions from the bark of graviola also help with thrombosis, liver and kidney diseases, sudden pressure drops and parasitic invasion. Active substances from these drugs increase immunity, reduce temperature, normalize the work of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels.
The listed properties of graviola have been repeatedly confirmed in practice. But the patient should remember that the abuse of drugs from this plant can lead to side effects.”
Based on the opinion of experts, it can be concluded that graviola is not a panacea for all pathologies, but it is very good as an auxiliary tool. Use it with caution and you will achieve a positive result.
