Its name—Punica granatum—derives from the Latin word “granatum” meaning “precious.” This is a valuable plant, both medicinally and economically. The ‘Pomegranate’ has traditionally been regarded as a symbol of fertility. In India, the pomegranate is upheld for its sacred value. The leaves or flowers are offered to Lord Ganapati, Lord Satyanarayana and Lord Samba on Shree sankastha vrata and Nitya somavara vrata respectively. Some suggest that this “many-seeded apple” was the serpent’s gift to Eve in the Garden of Eden. It is often mentioned in the Bible, the most references occurring in the Song of Solomon, and it is still used in certain Jewish ceremonies. Mohammed refers to it in the Koran, suggesting that it suppresses envious thoughts. It is a Turkish custom for a newly wed bride to cast a pomegranate on the ground; the number of seeds falling out indicating the number of children she will bear.
MEDICINAL USES
Almost all the parts of the tree—the roots, the reddish brown bark, leaves, flowers, rind and the seeds have medicinal importance. According to Ayurveda, the fruit is agni deepaka (appetiser), ruchi janaka (taste promoter), pitta kaaraka (enhances pitta), hridya (strengthens heart), graahi (anti-diarrheal), sheetala (cooling), rakta shodaka (blood purifier). Bark is graahi, and krimghna (wormicidal especially for tapeworm). Fruit peel is graahi (anti-diarrhoeal).
The juice of the sweet fruit contains glucose, fructose, tannins, and oxalic acid. It acts on the liver, heart, kidneys, and tones up their functions. It acts as a diuretic in fevers. It supplies the required minerals and helps the liver to preserve vitamin A from the food that we take. It increases the body resistance against infections, particularly tuberculosis. It binds the stools and tones up the intestines, hence can be used in digestive disorders. The main value of the pomegranate is its astringent property, which causes cells to shrink-and it is a valuable food medicine for diarrhea and dysentery. The alkaloid iso-pellatrine acts on the mucous surface of the inflamed internal organs of the abdominal viscera and reduces the excessive secretions, which cause diarrhea. The sour fruit has more medicinal properties than sweet variety. The bark of both the root and stem is famous for its anthelmintic property. The alkaloid, pelliterine that is present in these parts is highly toxic to tapeworms.
• Charaka Samhita recommends the internal usage of decoction prepared from the bark in bleeding piles.
• Chakradutta advocates the intake of pomegranate bark decoction and Holarrhena antidysenterica (Karchi) along with honey in blood motions.
• Haareeta samhita recommends the usage of pomegranate leaves, sandalwood, curd, and honey in threatened abortions.
• According to Vangasena, the powder of the dry fruit rind mixed with pepper and common salt can be used as a good tooth powder. Its regular application strengthens the gums, stops bleeding, prevents pyorrhea, cleans the teeth, and preserves them for a long time.
• To eradicate intestinal worms, especially tapeworms, boil fresh pomegranate bark in a glass of water until half of the decoction remains. Take half cup of the infusion thrice a day. At bed time take some purgative such as castor oil.
• To dissolve urinary calculus, grind a teaspoonful of the seeds and take with a cupful of horse gram soup.
• Make the powder from dried rind of the fruit. Prepare decoction with it and drink in case of diarrhea, dysentery, and bleeding from rectum, lungs or from the nose. The same decoction mixed with a cupful of fenugreek infusion, sweetened with honey is taken as a medicine in bacillary dysentery, prolapsed rectum, burning in the anus, leucorrhoea etc.
• In case of excessive white discharge from vagina, one can take a douche with the decoction of the fresh rind mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder.
• Sagging breasts can be reshaped with the application of paste of the rind.
• Cough can be remedied by sucking dried rind with salt and a clove.
• Decoction or dried powder of flower buds can be used as a snuff in case of excessive bleeds from the nose. It a is good medicine for senile vaginitis.
• The leaves of the pomegranate are made into paste and applied on the red eyes (conjunctivitis). It can be applied on the body to stop the bad smell due to excessive perspiration, itching of the skin, scabies, eczema, ringworm etc.
PLEASE NOTE
Eat the fruit immediately after you cut open as the seeds lose their color quickly. Do not swallow the pips while eating the fruit. This is said to have bad effect on the intestines and may cause appendicitis.