Pomegranate:Ancient Fruit of Life Yields Modern Promise.

Contents

• Basic Botanical Info of Pomegranate.
• Pomegranate Origin and History.
• Pomegranate Constituents and Phytochemicals.
• Pomegranate Food Value and Uses.
• Other Uses of Pomegranate.
• Pomegranate Medicinal Action and Uses.
• Suggestions and Administration of Pomegranate.
• Safety and Toxicity Study.
• Pomegranate and Its Modern Research Update.
• Photo Gallery of Punica granatum.

Suggestions and Administration of Pomegranate.:

Dosages:Of rind and flowers in powder, 20 to 30 grains. Of pelletierine tannate, 3 to 5 grains. Of rind, 1 to 2 drachms. Fluid extract, root-bark, 1/4 to 2 drachms. Decoction, B.P., 1/2 to 2 OZ. Of decoction of 4 OZ. of bark to 20 of water, 1/2 a fluid ounce.

 The flowers and rind of the fruit are astringent and have been used for arresting chronic mucous discharges, passive hemorrhages, aphthous disorders of the mouth, night sweats, colliquative diarrhoea, etc., but are now seldom employed. The rind has also been found serviceable in intermittent fever and tapeworm. The bark of the root possesses anthelmintic properties, and is chiefly serviceable in tapeworm. The bark of the wild pomegranate is considered by the French to be more active than the cultivated plant, and the fresh bark is more active than an old bark. It may be given in powder but the decoction is more frequently used. Pomegranate is one of the oldest of drugs, having been used from time immemorial. The bark and its alkaloid pelletierine, are now by common consent, acknowledged as specifics for the removal of tapeworm. Dizziness, imperfect vision, sleepiness, or faintness, benumbing of the extremities, and occasionally convulsions have been produced by it. Foy, as well as Brenton, recommend to prepare the decoction by placing 2 ounces of the root in 1 1/2 or 2 pints of water, and boiling down to 1 pint; this is to be strained, and from 2 to 4 fluid ounces given for a dose every half hour or hour, until the pint of the decoction has been taken. It commonly occasions several stools, an increased flow of urine, or nausea and vomiting, owing, it is supposed, to the agitation into which the worm is thrown from its presence. Sometimes joints of the worm begin to come away in less than an hour after the last dose. But often the doses must be repeated several successive mornings before they take effect, and it is right to repeat them occasionally for 4 or 5 days after the joints have ceased to come away. Laxatives should be administered from time to time. It is said to act with the greatest certainty when the joints of the worm come away naturally. The dose of the rind or flowers in powder, is from 20 to 40 grains, and in decoction from 1 to 3 fluid ounces. Eclectic physicians, as a rule, follow Prof. Locke's method of administering granatum. According to Dr. Locke, it is the best remedy for the removal of the worm, but as ordinarily recommended, the dose is too small. Its great drawback is its tendency to make the patient vomit, which may, in a measure, be prevented by administering a little lemon juice and keeping the patient quiet. When vomiting can be prevented, it seldom or never fails to bring the worm whole. Prof. Locke's method is as follows: Press 8 ounces (av.) of the coarse bark (not powdered), into a vessel, and pour upon it 3 pints of boiling water. Boil, strain, and then boil this down until the finished product will measure 1 pint. First prepare the patient by giving him at night a brisk cathartic, such as the antibilious physic, and in the morning allow a light breakfast. At about 10 o'clock in the forenoon administer 4 fluid ounces of the decoction. For the purpose of causing it to pass quickly into the intestines and thereby prevent its absorption as much as possible, a fluid drachm of fluid extract of jalap with a drop of oil of anise or cinnamon may be added to the dose. In 2 or 3 hours repeat this dose in the same manner. When its action begins give an enema to hasten its operation (see Locke's Syllabus of Mat. Med.). Should this treatment fail the first time, it may be repeated another day. As to treatment with the alkaloid the sulphate of pelletierine was first employed, but was superseded by the tannate which, on account of being tasteless and having less of a tendency to provoke nausea or vomiting, seems the preferable form to employ. The patient should have a light diet, preferably milk, the night previous to taking the medicine. Single doses of about 7 grains are now administered upon an empty stomach, the patient being kept quiet in a reclining posture. The dose is usually preceded by a drink of water, and followed at regular intervals by more water. A purgative, like fluid extract or compound tincture of jalap, is administered about 2 hours after taking the pelletierine tannate. Some prefer castor oil as an evacuant. To insure the passage of the worm entire it should be received into a vessel of warm water, which will prevent its separation into segments.

 There seems to be a diversity of opinion regarding the effects of pelletierine upon the system. Undoubtedly it acts pronouncedly upon the nervous system, causing motor paralysis, while the contractility of the muscular fibers and sensation remain unaffected. Its action has been compared to that of curare (Dujardin-Beaumetz). Temporary general paralysis is said to have occurred in a woman after a dose of 5 grains. Marked congestion of the retina and diplopia are asserted to have followed the subcutaneous injection of 6 grains of the alkaloid. On account of its action upon the ocular nerves, it has been successfully used in paralytic states of the sixth and third cranial nerves. While many contend that it has a powerful control over certain of the nervous functions, others declare it innocuous. As great diversity exists in regard to dosage as to its effects. The dose of pelletierine has been given as ranging from 1/2 to 8 grains; the sulphate in about 5-grain doses; the tannate in doses of from 5 to 23 grains, about 7 grains being the average dose. Pelletierine preparations are usually sold in solution containing enough for one dose. Dose of pomegranate flowers or rind, 20 to 40 grains.

 Adulterations:The bitter but non-astringent barks of Barberry and Box (Boxux sempervirens). Their infusion does not produce the deep blue precipitate with a persalt of iron.

 Toxicity:A tannin content of no more than 0.25% in the edible portion is the desideratum. Many studies have shown that tannin is carcinogenic and excessive ingestion of tannin from one or more sources, over a prolonged period, is detrimental to health. (See also "Medicinal Uses" regarding overdoses of bark.)

Reference:

• Pomegranate:Ancient Fruit of Life Yields Modern Promise.

This article written and edited via herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional. They run a range of online descriptions about this herb,including general information related and summarized updating discoveries from findings of professional scientisits this field related.Describe style aimed to form a useful detecting literature space where the intertwined threshold and related questions raise out and visualize themselves.

♣ last edit date:08th,Oct.2010.