GRANADA

punica granatum

GRANADA
punica granatum

Other Names:

Balaustia, Magraner, Pomogranado.

In the Egyptian tombs of more than four millennia ago, have found remains of grenades. They were also appreciated by the people of Israel. The Greeks regarded as the symbol of love and fertility. Not for nothing the pomegranate tree was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite by the alleged aphrodisiac virtues of fruit. Dioscorides, in the first century of our era, and recommended the root of the pomegranate "to expel the worms widths of the belly", referring no doubt to tapeworms. However, until 1800 years later, was no longer used against intestinal parasites. The Phoenicians brought it to West Asia to the Mediterranean, and Romans, and later the Arabs, it spread to all the countries of southern Europe. The Spanish introduced it in America, where it spread throughout the continent.

In most parts of the country's main application is for stomach problems like diarrhea and dysentery, through the use of the fruits and nuts or leaves, bark, buds and flowers, the most recommended treatment is eating the cooking of one or more parts of the plant, or mix with cooking guava, mint, lime, tamarind and others to be taken three times a day. Other ailments are treated intestinal parasites like worms and solitary, which makes the base of concentrated baking bark, roots, leaves or the zest of the fruit, mixed with a little epazote, and the liquid is drunk obtained fasting for three days. It is said also that the Granada treated empacho, vomiting, bile, intestinal infection and oral fires in these cases takes the cook or applied locally and as a gargle.

Shrub that reaches between 2 and 6 m in height. It has branched stems and leaves very elongated, full of flowers with stamens; they originate fruit globose. It originated in Europe and Asia, in Mexico live in warm climates, semi, dry and mild. It is grown in the houses and is linked to the tropical deciduous forest, evergreen and subcaducifolia; Xeric scrublands and thorny forests, cloud mountain, oak and pine.

Habitat: originating in Persia and grown in Mediterranean countries and on the American continent, from California to Argentina and Chile. You can find asilvestrados trees, which grow where the birds deposit their seeds with excrement, after eating the fruit.

Description: tree of the family of Punicáceas, which reaches 4 meters in height. Notable for its beautiful flowers and unmistakable bright red, with the cup open. Its fruit is the singular grenade.

Used Part.

The root bark of the trunk and occasionally, fruits.

Active Principles.

Bark of the root and trunk: minerals, abundant tannins (20%) alkaloids (0. 5 - 0. 9%) derived from piperidine (peletierinas) and the tropinona (pseudopeletierina)

Bark of fruits: abundant tannins.

Drug Action.

Bark of the root and trunk: anthelmintic, especially tenífugo (depending on the dose produces paralysis or death of tapeworm)

Bark of fruit: astringent (antidiarrheal, hemostatic local)

Fruits: refreshing, antipyretic, organoleptic corrector.

Properties and indications: the bark of the root, and a lesser proportion of the trunk and branches, contain several alkaloids, the most important of which is the pelletierina, as well as tannin; glycosides action astringent, and bromides. Its ownership is the key worming ago expel worms that feed the human gut, with special effectiveness in the event of a tapeworm or lonely.

The bark of the pomegranate, particularly that of its roots, its action should the alkaloids it contains. But if administered in isolation these active ingredients, are produced toxic effects on the body, similar to those produced by nicotine or curare: tremors and muscle paralysis, the same effects that should produce about worms, thus allowing their expulsion through the anus.

Instead, it is interesting to note that those same alkaloids, mixed with tannin and other substances that form the crust of the pomegranate, are well tolerated, and its toxic effects are negligible. The same phenomenon occurs with many other plants, so it is preferred, whenever possible, managing the plant and not only extracts of substances believed to be more active. The action of healing plants, is due to the wise combination of its components, and not an isolated principle.

The rind of the fruit and its internal walls also provide some action worming, although lower than that of the root or bark of the tree. Has been the case of a person the next day having eaten a few grenades with their walls, a worm expels intestinal unintentionally or wait for him.

The flowers and the bark of the fruit (pomegranate) are slightly astringent and diuretic. They are listed in the following cases:

Diarrhea, gastroenteritis and colitis, taken in infusion.

Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and connective tissue that holds the teeth in the jaw (parodontosis or periodontitis) Its infusion is applied in mouthwash, and you can get it strengthen the teeth loose.

Pharyngitis and tonsillitis in gargarismos.

Leucorrhea (vaginal discharge white) is applied in vaginal irrigations.

Use: maceration half liter of water for 24 hours, from 60 to 90 grams of dried root bark; the next day it does boil over a low heat until the liquid is reduced by half; takes divided into 2 or 3 days, morning fasting; can be sweetened with honey or flavored with essence of mint; for school - age children, simply put 20 - 30 grams of bark; should take a laxative tea a couple of hours after each takes. In infusion of flowers, 20 to 30 grams. per liter of water, you can add the rind of a pomegranate per liter, ate at a rate of one tablespoon each hour, the duration of the diarrhea.

Externally, in mouthwashes and gargarismos with the same infusion of flowers with pomegranate rind that for internal use. Also in vaginal washings or irrigations with this infusion either filtered.

Contraindications.

Pregnancy, infancy, children under 5 years (alkaloids)

Gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer: tannins can irritate the gastric mucosa, this side effect can be offset by associating with drug mucilages, as the marshmallow.

Caution / Poisoning.

The bark of the root and trunk, due to the presence of alkaloids present an important degree of toxicity and can produce nausea, dizziness and visual problems.

The bark of the roots of the pomegranate should not be given to the subjects weak or nervous, to infants and pregnant women not to exceed the dose indicated.

Its use as tenífugo should be done only under medical specialist.

Galenica forms / Dosage.

Internal use: read the section on precautions beforehand.

Decoction (root or bark of the trunk) macerate for 24 hours at 60 g half liter of water. Boil until reduced by half. Take the liquid remaining in fasting, at intervals of 15 minutes. An hour and half later, administering an infusion purgative.

Decoction (rind of the fruit) 30 g / l, boil 10 minutes. Take three or four cups a day.

Juice of the fruits.

Grenadine syrup.

External use:

Decoction (rind of the fruit) implemented in the form of washes, packs, mouthwash, eye baths (isotonizar) gargarismos or vaginal irrigations.

Bibliography.

Benigni, R; Capra, C; Cattorini, P. Piante Medicinali. Chimica, Pharmacology and Therapy. Milano: Inverni & Della Beffa, 1962, pp. 931 - 6.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Dans la Plantes Les Thérapeutiques Moderne. 2. Paris: Maloine, 1986, pp. 353 - 4.

Bézanger - Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Medicinal plants of temperate Regions. Paris: Maloine, 1980, pp. 222.

Le Floc'h, E. Etude Ethnobotanique une contribution to the Flore Tunisienne. Imprimerie officielle de la République Tunisienne, 1983, pp. 170 - 1.

Mulet, L. Ethnobotanical survey of the province of Castellon. Castellon: Provincial, 1991, pp. 361 - 3.

Paris, RR; Moyse, M. Summary of Matter Médicale. Take II. Paris: Masson, 1967, p. 448.

Peris, JB; Stübing, G; Figuerola, R. Guide to Medicinal Plants of Valencia. Valencia: Las Provincias, 1996, p. 257.

Trease, GE, Evans, WCh. Pharmacognosy. Mexico City: Inter - MacGraw - Hill, 1991, p. 625.

Van Hellemont, J. Compendium of Phytothérapie. Bruxelles: Association Pharmaceutique Belge, 1986, pp. 325 - 6.

Villar, L; Palacín, JM; Calvo, C. Gomez, D; Montserrat, G. Medicinal Plants of the Aragonese Pyrenees and other tierrras Huesca. 2. Huesca: Provincial, 1992, p. 191.

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