Its name\u2014Punica granatum\u2014derives 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.<\/p>\n
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MEDICINAL USES<\/span><\/p>\n Almost all the parts of the tree\u2014the 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).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 Charaka Samhita recommends the internal usage of decoction prepared from the bark in bleeding piles.<\/p>\n \u2022 Chakradutta advocates the intake of pomegranate bark decoction and Holarrhena antidysenterica (Karchi) along with honey in blood motions.<\/p>\n \u2022 Haareeta samhita recommends the usage of pomegranate leaves, sandalwood, curd, and honey in threatened abortions.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 To dissolve urinary calculus, grind a teaspoonful of the seeds and take with a cupful of horse gram soup.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 Sagging breasts can be reshaped with the application of paste of the rind.<\/p>\n \u2022 Cough can be remedied by sucking dried rind with salt and a clove.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n \u2022 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.<\/p>\n