Avocado and It's Medicinal Uses

 

Active Ingredient and Substances: 

The leaves contain essential oil (with Estragole, caryophyllene and eugenol), flavonoids (afzelin, Cynaroside, luteolin, quercetin), tannins and procyanidins.

The avocado fruit is considered one the most nutritious of all fruits and very high in calories (220 kcal per 100 g). The fruit contains a fatty oil based on linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and other fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated.

Furthermore, it contains phenols (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid), alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, folic acid, pantothenic acid, fructose, glucose, sucrose, fibers, amino acids and small amounts of coenzyme Q10. The avocado pulp contains more protein than any other fruit.

The fruit is loaded with vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, C, D, and E (tocopherols, tocotrienols) and minerals such as calcium, sodium, potassium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, copper, manganese. In addition, it contains 5-8% glycerin, lecithin, beta-carotene, and vitamin D. If the content of saturated fatty acids exceeds 20%, the oil will harden when refrigerated.

The oil has a long shelf life, around 2-5 years, provided that it is kept in a fairly cool and dark place in an airtight container.

Benefits of the Leaves, Bark and Seeds of Avocado

The indigenous people of Central America have grown avocados since time immemorial.
There it has been regarded for centuries as an aphrodisiac, which might explain the name “avocado”, an Aztec word for testicle, but that could also be due to the shape of the fruit.

In areas where avocado is found growing in the wild, the fruits and other parts of the tree have been used as herbal medicine for a very long time.

Herbal teas of avocado leaves have been known to accelerate menstruation, which in turn can cause abortion and explains the traditional use of it in Mexico to treat menstrual disorders and as a contraceptive agent.

Laboratory experiments have shown that extracts of avocado leaves effectively inhibit herpes simplex virus type I and II, which causes genital herpes.

The avocado seed has antibacterial and antifungal properties and has been used against diarrhea and dysentery. The fruit peel is sometimes used as a treatment for intestinal worms, and the pulp is considered to have sex stimulating properties (aphrodisiac)e from the leaves has been used to treats diarrhea, bloating and flatulence. It is also thought to be beneficial as a remedy of coughs and grout by removing uric acid from the body. The tea is also used to cleanse the liver and reduce high blood pressure.