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Guanabana benefits come primarily from this tree’s fruit, leaves, and flowers. The fruit can reach a weight of 2 kg and contains a whitish flesh with a pleasant flavor, similar to that of the custard apple, though more acidic. It is highly valued because of its medicinal properties and also as a food.
Guanabana Tree Scientific Facts
- Scientific synonym: Annona muricata L.
- Other names: Corossol, soursop bush.
- French: Anone, cachiman epineux.
- Spanish: Guanabano.
- Environment: Native to Mexico and the West Indies, it has spread to tropical areas of America, Africa, and Asia.
- Description: This tree of the Annonaceae family grows from 6 to 8 m high and has a straight trunk and smooth bark. The leaves are large and lanceolate, deep green on the upper side and whitish on the underside. The fruit is large and covered with soft thorns.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: The fruit, the leaves, and the flowers.
Guanabana Benefits and Healing Properties
The flesh of the guanabana contains easily assimilated sugars, a small number of proteins and fats, vitamins B and C, and mineral salts, especially potassium and phosphorus salts. It has astringent, cholagogue (eases the emptying of the gall bladder), digestive, and vermifuge properties. It is recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure, obesity, heart disorders, and diabetes.
The LEAVES of the guanabana tree are used in infusion as antidiarrheic and digestive. When locally applied in poultice, they have anti-inflammatory properties in the case of mumps.
The FLOWERS have pectoral and febrifuge properties, thus being used as herbal teas in influenza and bronchial catarrh.
How to use Guanabana
- The fruit is taken fresh or as a juice sweetened with honey.
- Infusion of leaves. Prepared with two or three leaves per cup of water. Drink three or four cups daily.
- Infusion of flowers. With one or two flowers per cup of water. Drink three or four cups a day.
- Poultices with mashed leaves are applied below the ear.
REFERENCES
- George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 489. Print. [guanabana benefits]
- Tua Saude: https://www.tuasaude.com/en/soursop/
- Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319720