The Carambola (Balimbing) Fever

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The Carambola or Star fruit (Scientific Name: Averrhoa carambola Linn.) is commonly known as Balimbing in the Philippines. It belongs to the plant family, Oxalidaceae. This ornamental tree grows to a height of about eight meters. The leaves are ovate to elliptic. The flowers are bell-shaped, small with purple petals. The winged fruits are pulpy and juicy, with three to five ribs. The gold or yellow ripe fruit is edible but is sour in flavor.

This fruit has surprisingly use as medicine in different ailments:

• Prevents and cures scurvy and cools the system.
• Good for fevers of any kind.
• Bleeding piles and temporary mental disorder cased by high fever.
• Stings and bites of insects.

These are some of the ways on how to use this fruit as a medicine:

• The dried fruit prevents and cures survey and cools the system.
• The fresh juice of the ripe fruit is good for fever of any kind.
• The ripe fruit is used for bleeding piles and temporary mental disorder caused by high fever.
• The crushed leaves applied externally are recommended for stings and insect bites.

Common parts used in medication are the fruit and the leaves of this tree,

Reference: Amazing Healing Plants by Dr. JC Kurian

The Sweet Cure from Strawberries

The popular Strawberry (Fragaria vesca Linn.) plant belongs to the plant family Rosaceae. It is a low perennial herb with runners. The leaves are compound in three leaflets, bright green, and with toothed margin. The flowers are white, with five petals, developing into a sweet red false or aggregate fruit which is now called strawberry. The plant is vegetatively propagated by runners.

These are the medicinal use of this plant:

images.wisegeek.com/strawberries

• Binds tissues and promotes free flow of urine.
• Chronic diarrhea.
• Abnormal build up of minerals in the body, kidney diseases, intestinal worms, pulmonary inflammation of the mucous membranes or catarrh, arthritis, jaundice, liver and stomach problems.
• Bladder stones.
• Indigestion.
• Anaemia.

The following are the instructions on how to use the plant as a  medicine:

• The tea leaves has the property of binding tissues and promoting the free flow of urine.
• The tea is also used for chronic diarrhea. The root also has the same medicinal property.
• The fruit is valuable in cases of calculus or the abnormal build up of minerals in the body, kidney diseases, intestinal worms, pulmonary catarrh, gout, arthritis, jaundice, liver and stomach problems.
• In the treatment of bladder stones, the juice of the fresh strawberry is taken before breakfast. It relives pains and prevents development of new stones.
• The fruit is also recommended for indigestion or dyspepsia.
• It has good anti-anaemic properties.
• The whole plant is really useful in curing these different illnesses. 

Reference: The Amazing Healing Plants by Dr. JC Kurian

The Power of Guava Tree

The popular Guava Tree belongs to the plant family Myrtaceae. It is considered to be a tropical and semitropical plant. It grows to a height of 7.5 metres with a trunk girth of about 30-90 cm. When fully mature, the smooth, pinkish brown branches with grey patches take on a few peculiar crooked bends with heavy knots in them. The leaves are 10-15 cm. long, oblong and entire with lateral nerves. The white flowers found in the axils are 2.5-3.5 cm. in diameter. The tree, found in the backyards of many houses, produces the well-known and edible friuts that are pear-shaped or round. They turn yellow when ripe and are rich in vitamin C and fiber.

These are the medicinal use of the plant.

• Gastroenteritis or inflammation of the stomach and intestine, uterine hemorrhage or heavy bleeding, chronic diarrhea and or edema.
• Dysentery, inflammation of the kidney, and diarrhea.
• Ulcers, vaginal and uterine problems and cuts
• Spasms, fever, worms, kidney problems, epilepsy, diabetes and cerebral affection.

How to use Guava as medicinal plant.

• The leaves of the guava tree in decoction is recommended for gastroenteritis, uterine, hemorrhage , chronic diarrhea and edema.
• The young leaves and shoots are used in decoction for dysentery, inflammation of the kidney, and diarrhea.
• The same decoction is good as a wash for ulcers, vaginal and uterine problems, and cuts.
• It has also been used for spasms fever, worms, kidney problems, epilepsy, diabetes and cerebral affections.

Parts used

• The Leaves

Dose

• To prepare the decoction use 30 to 60 grams for 1 liter of water. Use 4 to 5 cups a day

Reference:" The Healing Plants" by: Dr. JC Kurian