Graviola Leaf Powder

Price:

$4.50

Brand:

Mountain Maus Remedies

Shipping:

Calculated at checkout

Product Description

Graviola Leaf, Powder

Also Known As - Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae)

Origin - Peru - Wild Crafted

Overview - Soursop trees are bushy and low, only about 7.5-9 m tall. Young branchlets are rusty-hairy. The smooth, glossy, dark green leaves are oblong to elliptical and pointed at both ends, 6.25-20 x 2.5-6.25 cm wide.

The underside of the leaves is somewhat lighter than the top. Solitary flowers emerge anywhere on the trunk, branches or twigs. They are 4-5 cm long, and cone shaped, the 3 fleshy outer petals are yellow-green, the 3 inner petals are pale-yellow. The fruit looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. It is more or less oval or heart-shaped, though it tends to be lopsided or curved. The fruit is fairly variable in size, ranging from 10-30 cm long and up to 15 cm in width. They can weigh as much as 6.8 kg. The fruit is covered with a leathery-appearing, inedible, bitter skin which is covered with many flexible spikes. The skin is dark-green in the immature fruit, becoming slightly yellowish-green before the mature fruit is soft to the touch. The inside of the skin is cream-colored and granular. The white flesh, which is the edible part of the flesh is fibrous and juicy, and separates easily from the rind. The pulp smells a little like a pineapple, but the sweet, acrid flavor is unique and somewhat indescribable. The fruit is segmented, with some segments containing a single oval, smooth, hard, black seed, 1.25-2 cm long. A large fruit may contain from a few dozen to 200 or more seeds.

Medicinal Uses - Ground seeds and leaf decoctions are used against head lice, and as pesticides. The juice of the ripe fruit is said to be diuretic.

Taken when fasting, it is believed to relieve liver ailments and leprosy. Pulverized immature fruits, which are very astringent, are decocted as a dysentery remedy. To draw out chiggers and speed healing, the flesh of an acid soursop is applied as a poultice unchanged for 3 days. In parts of Carribean the leave are believed to have a relaxing, even sobering effect. In Africa, it is given to children with fever and they are also bathed lightly with it. A decoction of the young shoots or leaves is regarded in the West Indies as a remedy for gall bladder trouble, as well as coughs, catarrh, diarrhea, dysentery and indigestion; is said to "cool the blood," and to be able to stop vomiting and aid delivery in childbirth. Mashed leaves are used as a poultice to alleviate eczema and other skin afflictions and rheumatism, and the sap of young leaves is put on skin eruptions. The roots of the tree are employed as a vermifuge and the root bark as an antidote for poisoning. A tincture of the powdered seeds and bay rum is a strong emetic.

Soursop (frequently referred to as graviola in this context) has numerous traditional medicinal uses in South American and the Caribbean, and it has become a popular nutritional medicinal supplement. Fruit, seeds, bark, leaves, and roots have all been used to treat intestinal parasites, coughs (including asthma and bronchitis), liver ailments, inflammation, diabetes, and hypertension, among many uses (Morton 1987, Taylor 2005); seeds are insecticidal and a preparation from the leaves has been used to kill headlice and bedbugs (Morton 1987, Flora of Pakistan 2011). Research on extracts of graviola have documented antiviral, antiparasitic, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperglycemic properties; it has also been used as an anti-depressant and at least one study has found it effective against multi-drug resistant cancer cells (Sloan-Kettering 2011, Oberlies et al. 1997). Acetogenins are the alkaloid compounds thought to be responsible for these effects, although other components, including quinolones, annopentocins, and annomuricins may also be involved.

In addition to the health benefits, soursop (along with other members of the Annonaceae family) also contains small amounts of neurotoxic alkaloids, such as annonacin, which appear to be linked to atypical Parkinsonism and other neurological effects if consumed frequently or in large quantities (Sloan-Kettering 2011, Champy et al. 2005, Caparros-Lefebvre and Elbaz 1999).

Parts Used - Leaf

Precautions - The juice from the seeds are poisonous and irritating and should be avoided. Research carried out in the Caribbean has established a connection between consumption of soursop and atypical forms of Parkinson's disease due to the very high concentration of Annonacin.

Disclaimer - These products are not intended to diagnose, treat cure or prevent any disease. Reviews are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care or the advice of a physician or another medical professional. Actual results may vary among users. Mountain Maus Remedies LLC makes no warranty or representation, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or validity of the information contributed by outside product review submissions, and assumes no responsibility or liability regarding the use of such information. The information and statements regarding the dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your health care provider. If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you should work with your health care provider before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen, including augmenting your regimen with any herb or dietary supplements. Do not attempt to self-diagnose any disease or ailment based on the reviews and do not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or suspect you have an undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician or health care practitioner.