Pomegranate is a sweet-tart fruit with a bright red colour that is cultivated in many parts of India. This is consumed not just as a delicious and refreshing fruit but also for its incredible medicinal qualities. Pomegranate is a rich source of protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, potassium and minerals. The skin on the root contains alkaloids. Moreover, pomegranate is a sweet, tart and bitter fruit with amazing refreshing qualities. It boosts energy and the water content in pomegranate quenches thirst. Pomegranate can thus prevent dehydration as well as safeguard the heart from many diseases. It is effective in treating vomiting, dysentery and indigestion.
Pomegranate is a main ingredient in ayurvedic concoctions like dadimadighritam, dadimashtakachoornam, kapithadaka choornam and higuvachadi choornam. Dadimashtaka choornam could be consumed by mixing it with spiced buttermilk or honey. You could also have buttermilk boiled with some crushed pomegranate skin to ensure gut health.
Increases appetite
Consuming buttermilk mixed with crushed pomegranate peel and dried ginger is excellent for preventing vomiting. It is also best for boosting digestion and improving the sense of taste. You could eat fluffed rice porridge mixed with pomegranate peel to improve the sense of taste while you are down with a fever. Moreover, it could boost digestion too.
Porridge made with pomegranate peel, orila root, kurunthotti (sida cordifolia) root, koovalam root, dried ginger and coriander leaves can nourish your body if you have dysentery and fever. Those who suffer from prolonged cough or severe bouts of cough could consume the ayurvedic concoction made by mixing dried ginger, pepper and tipali in pomegranate juice. It would reduce the inflammation in the throat, making it easier for you to talk. Moreover, this medicinal concoction is excellent for coughs and colds too.
Dadimadighritham is a type of ghee that has pomegranate peel as a main ingredient. This medicine is prescribed to pregnant women as it would prevent abortion, heartburn, gas trouble and indigestion. Besides, it could fight anaemia in pregnant women. They are often advised to consume this medicine when they are past their first trimester. Moreover, this medicine is sometimes prescribed while treating infertility in women.
Flowers and seeds
The pomegranate shrub can grow as tall as 5 – 10 metres. The leaves are pointed and the bright red flowers do not have any fragrance. Interestingly, the flowers mostly bloom as singular ones; bunches with four or five flowers are rarely found. Meanwhile, the fruits are round with a greyish-red colour on the skin. Petals are found on the head of the fruit which consists of seeds covered in juicy flesh. These seeds are delicious and are edible. Interestingly, all the parts including the root, peel, fruit and seeds of the pomegranate plant have medicinal qualities.
Refreshing drink
1) A drink made with pomegranate juice, dates, grapes and some sugar could refresh and nourish your body when you are down with fever, cough and dysentery.
2) Those who suffer from alcoholism could sip on water boiled with pomegranate peel, muthanga and puffed rice when they are thirsty. Drinking pomegranate juice or gargling with it too could be helpful.
3) If you find blood or mucus in stool, then you could consume pomegranate juice mixed with some rock candies.
Information courtesy: Dr. CV Achunni Warrier, retd. Deputy Chief Physician, Kottakkal Aryavaidyasala, Kottakkal, Malappuram