Sri Lankan fruits, vegetables and herbs – for Auyrvedic food and treatment

 

We continue telling you about various Sri Lankan fruits, vegetables and herbs which are used in Peacock Ayurveda Garden for ayurvedic food and treatment.Todays fruit – Wood Apple

 

 

 

Wood Apple (Limonia acidissima) is common in Sri Lanka, India but uncommon enough around the world so there is not much information about it’s medicinal values on the internet. According to our Ayurvedic doctors’ wood apple fruits, leaves, bark of stem, flowers and gums are used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat many of illnesses and deceases.

 

 

 

 

In appearance, the wood apple is unassuming with its brownish shell that has to be broken with a large knife or a hammer in order to remove the dark brown pulp. The pulp carries a few soft white seeds and has a sour taste that has to be teamed with some sweetness (e.g. honey).

Wood apple – is one of Peacock Villa garden’s plants, so you can often enjoy the fresh fruit directly from our garden.

 

 

 

Culinary use of Wood Apple

The delicious taste of the jam and the unique flavour of wood apple pickle are also a firm favourite for most Lankans. The chutney made out of the wood apple is a welcome addition to a mundane rice and curry meal. In some Sri Lankan homes, the raw pulp of the wood apple is thoroughly dried and used as a substitute for lime. Culinary experts have devised innovative ways of using wood apple such as sauces and salad dressings.

Wood Apple Health Benefits

Good for Digestion

Wood apple ensures regular smooth bowel habits.  Raw fruit and also   the gum with bee’s honey is used for diarrhoea treatment. It is also recommended as a remedy for chronic dysentery. The fruit contains citric acid but though it is sour, it is good for gastric patients. The ripe fruit heals ulcers.

Fights with cancer

Regular intake of wood apple by women drastically reduces breast and uterine cancer.

Infertility problems

Wood Apple cures the infertility problems in women as it is proved to increase the progesterone hormone levels.

Skin problems

It helps in the treatment of Urticaria.

Fights with body aging

The ripe fruit taken over a prolonged period of time reduces the effects on the body of ageing.

Diabetes treatment

The seeds and the gum are used in treatment of diabetes.

Uterine disorders

A decoction of the bark is effective for uterine disorders.

Anorexia treatment

Wood apple is good for anorexic patients. For anorexia and loss of appetite it is recommended to take wood apple, ginger, pepper and tippili (Piper longum) with bee’s honey.

Blood Cleanser:

Wood apple fruit juice mixed with warm water and sugar is recommended for blood purification and removal of toxins that can cause extensive damage to the body. This reduces the strain on the liver and kidneys, which are the normal lines of defence against toxins.

Sourse of vitamins and minerals

A hundred grams of fruit pulp contains 31 grams of carbohydrate and two grams of protein, equivalent to nearly 140 calories. The ripe fruit is rich in beta-carotene, Vitamin A; it also contains significant quantities of the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and small amounts of vitamin C.

Good for Kidney Conditions

Regular consumption of wood apple is recommended for people with kidney complaints. Considering thedetoxifying powers of wood apples, the kidney and liver can be protected if the correct organic compounds from wood apples are kept at healthy levels.

Liver Health

As a good source of beta-carotene, wood apples also cure liver problems. They contain thiamine and riboflavin, both of which are known as liver health boosters.

Cure Snakebites: In Ayurvedic treatments, all parts of the wood apple plant are used to cure snakebites.