In many European countries, the pineapple plant is the source of the model American fruit – the pineapple. Hence, its popular names, to which the adjective “American” is usually added.
Pineapple Plant Scientific Facts
- Other names: Ananas.
- French: Ananas.
- Spanish: Ananas, pina tropical, pina Americana.
- Environment: Native to Central America, it is currently cultivated in tropical regions all over the world.
- Description: Herbaceous plant of the Bromeliaceae family, growing up to 50 cm high, with elongated, prickly leaves in whose center the flowers, blue in color, grow. All the flowers in a spike give a single fruit.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: The fruit.
Healing Properties and Indications
Its active component is bromelain, an enzyme, which, like stomach pepsin, can break down proteins, thus accelerating their digestion. Therefore, it acts as a substitute for gastric juice when there is a lack of the latter (hypochloridria, lack of gastric juice, chronic gastritis), accelerating food passing through the stomach and enhancing digestion. It can be administered even to children still on a milk diet when they suffer from digestive disorders.
Pineapple juice also has bechic and expectorant properties. This is most likely due to the sugars and organic acids it contains. Moreover, it has vermifuge and mildly diuretic properties. Pineapple juice is used in weight loss diets as an appetite suppressant substance.
How to use Pineapple
- One or two pineapple slices before each meal, or a glass of fresh juice fifteen minutes before meals.
- Canned pineapple loses many of its digestive properties, since the enzyme bromelin degrades relatively quickly.
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. 425. Print. [pineapple plant]
