Guava Medicinal Uses in Ayurveda

Guava is a tropical tree that is cultivated in many parts of the world. Its edible fruits are included in superfruits and are very rich in vitamins C. The fruits also contain vitamin A, pectin, flavonoids, and fibers. The presence of many phytochemicals, such as tannins, phenols, triterpenes, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, carotenoids, lectins, vitamins, fiber, and fatty acids, in various parts of the tree give guava its medicinal properties.

Guava is known as amrud in Hindi. In Ayurveda, it is considered as tridosh nashak. Its leaves, fruits, and roots are used in the treatment of cough, fever, diarrhea, constipation, bad breath, gum problems, and numerous other health problems.

Guava leaves have great medicinal properties and use in the treatment of various illnesses. Guava mouthwash is a herbal preparation from the leaves of the guava tree. Guava leaves contain bioactive compounds saponins, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The presence of these compounds makes guava mouthwash highly effective in curing oral problems. Drinking guava leaves teat is one of the best ways to Lowering Cholesterol, Lowering Blood-Sugar Levels, and Preventing Type2 Diabetes.

Scientific classification

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Subfamily: Myrtoideae Genus: Psidium Species: Guajava
• Botanical name: Psidium guajava
• Synonyms: P. cujavillus Burm. f., P. pomiferum L., P. pumilum Vahl, P. pyriferum L
• Family: Myrtaceae

Vernacular names

Bengali: Goaachhi, peyara Gujarati: Jamrud, Jamrukh, Peru Hindi: Amrood Kannada: Gova, Jamaphala, Perala, Sibi, Sebehabbu Malayalam: Pera, Koyya Marathi: Jamba, Tupkel Oriya: Bodojamo, Jamo, Julabojamo, Pijuli Tamil;Koyya, Segappugoyya, Sengoyya, Vellaikoyya, Uyyakkondan Telugu: Jama Trade name: Common Guava

Distribution

Guava is native to and widely distributed in Mexico and Central America.

Now it is cultivated in many parts of the world. In India, it is cultivated throughout the country.

Guava tree

Guava is a small tropical evergreen shrub or shade tree. It easily propagates by seeds and cuttings. It has flaky, thin, smooth, copper-colored bark. Branches are crooked with opposite leaves. Flowers are fragrant, white, incurved 4-6 petals, 2-3 in number growing on leaf axils. Fruits are edible; green when raw and yellow on ripening.

Constituents of Guava

Guava contains a broad spectrum of phytochemicals including polysaccharides, vitamins, essential oils, minerals, enzymes, proteins, sesquiterpenoid alcohols, triterpenoid acids, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins. It is very rich in antioxidants, vitamins and lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene.

Benefits of Guava eating

Guava fruits are very nutritious and low in calories. These contain more vitamin c compared to citrus fruits. Guava contains dietary fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, vitamin A, vitamin b1, vitamin C, vitamin b2, vitamin b3, and folic acid. It is rich in antioxidants and protects against cell damage. Guava fruits are very good for improving overall health.

Since guava fruit is rich in vitamin c, it protects the body against bacterial and viral infections by improving body immunity. There are countless health benefits of Guava eating, some of them are as follows:-

1. Gives relief to stress
2. Gives energy, vitamin c
3. Cures constipation, Indigestion
4. Beneficial in Gastric problem
5. Improves Appetite, the liver function
6. Tonic for the heart
7. Reduces cholesterol, lipid level
8. Full of lycopene and Antioxidant
9. Reduces recurrent infections

If you are eating 100 grams of guava, you will get about 228 mg of Vitamin C. This will also provide you 49? g folate. In lesser amount you will get calcium (18mg), iron (0.26mg), magnesium (22mg), manganese (0.15 mg), phosphorous (40 mg), potassium (417 mg) sodium (2 mg) and zinc (0.23 mg).

Medicinal uses of Guava

The guava tree is a medicinal plant and its various parts are useful in the treatment of a variety of ailments. It is good for the liver, digestive system, heart, and intestine. Guava fruits can also be eaten by diabetics and those suffering from kidney and liver-related problems. In fact, drinking guava juice helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

The leaves of the plant possess a blood sugar lowering effect. They are rich in tannins and oxalates. The tea prepared from its leaves has an anti-stress effect. The leaves are useful in malaria, inflammation, and fever. Chewing leaf is a common remedy for upset stomach, gum bleeding, bad breath, etc. In form of decoction or infusion leaves are useful in treating fever, spasm, and for rheumatism. Tree bark decoction and poultice are used as astringent in the treatment of ulcer wounds and diarrhea. Roots decoction is useful in diarrhea, coughs, stomach ache, dysentery, toothaches, indigestion, and constipation.

Here is given the ways to use the guava tree for the treatment of some common ailments.

Cough

1. Wash unripe guava. Cut it and apply sendha namak and roast. Eat roasted guava to treat cough.
2. Take few leaves of guava. Clean them properly and crush them in mortar and pestle. Add in a glass of water and cook till water reduces to 1/4 of the initial amount, filter, and drink lukewarm.

Gum problems, toothache, and Bad breath

To get relief from various oral problems, make a simple preparation. Take few guava leaves and wash them thoroughly under water to clean dirt. Crush them in mortar and pestle. Now boil a glass of water. Add a drop of laung ka tel, sendha namak, and crushed guava leaves in boiling water. Cook for a few minutes. Use this water to gargle few times a day.

Fever

Take giloy stem, few guava leaves, and 2-3 tulsi leaves. In a pan boil water. Put all ingredients in boiling water and cook till water reduces to 1/4th of the initial amount. Drink Lukewarm after filtering. This will also improve the liver function affected by fever and infection.

Mouth ulcer: Chew Leaf of guava.

Diarrhea, dysentery, colitis, and stomach pain

1. Take fresh leaves of Guava, crush them in mortar and pestle. Boil water, add leaves, and dry ginger powder. Cook till water reduces to 1/4^th of the initial volume. Filter and drink one cup of this decoction, every three to four hours.
2. Drink an infusion of bark or eat bark powder 5 grams with water, 2-4 times a day. This remedy is also useful in anal itching, spermatorrhoea, mild food poisoning, hyperacidity, and indigestion.

Wound disinfectant: Prepare a decoction of leaves and wash the affected area, 2-3 times a day.

Pimples, acne: Make a paste of leaves with water and apply externally.

Head lice: Apply paste guava leaves.

Scabies: Prepare a paste of guava leaves with water, mix turmeric and apply externally.

Please note: While eating guava do not chew its seeds instead swallow as chewing reduces its laxative properties. Also, it is better to eat fruit before the meal. The vitamin C content is highest in the skin, therefore do not peel guava before eating.

Some useful Home remedies

• Gastroenteritis, diarrhea, dysentery

  Prepare a decoction of Guava bark and leaves. Drink this decoction 20 ml few times a day.

• Oral problems, Pyorrhoea, gun swelling

  Chew fresh leaves (3-4) of guava. This has an antibacterial and antiseptic effect. Chewing is also a good jaw exercise.
  You can also prepare a decoction by boiling 3-4 leaves in water for gargling purposes.

• Mouth ulcers

  Chew guava leaves.

• Vomiting, nausea

  Drink guava leaf decoction to cure vomiting.

• Frequent indigestion

  Wash and clean the leaves of guava. Now crush and extract juice in mortar and pestle. Drink this leaves juice 10 ml with misri in the morning for a few days.

• Anal prolapse (Gudabhransh)

  For anal prolapse prepare guava leaves poultice and tie on the affected area.
  Crush and boil Bark, root, and leaves (250 gm) of guava in water (500 ml). Cook till volume reduces to 250 ml. Filter this and use it to wash the anal area and push the anus inside. This has an astringent action.

• Arthritis, inflammation

  Take fresh leaves, warm them and apply to inflamed joints.

• Fever

  Drink fresh leaves juice of guava for a few times a day.

Guava leaves decoction

Guava leaves decoction has an astringent (tends to constrict body tissues), antimicrobial, and antiseptic (controls growth of infection-causing microorganisms) activities. Due to this action, this decoction can be used externally to wash infections and kill bacteria.

Here are a few conditions in which guava leaf wash is beneficial

• Vaginal and uterine wash, especially in leucorrhoea
• Uterine bleeding
• Vaginal irritation, itching, infection, and discharges
• Cuts, wounds washing
• Skin infections, Acne, pimples, boils, ulcers, itchy rashes, Scabies

Guava is good for people with diabetes?

In diabetes, there are several myths and one most common is diabetic people should not eat sweet fruits, Guava is a sweet fruit so it can not be consumed by diabetic people. But the truth is different. If you ask your doctor then he will tell what fruits you can eat but in limited quantity.

Guava is low on the Glycemic Index (GI) and many disease prevention benefits, so it’s an extraordinarily healthy snack for diabetics. There are several other health benefits of Guava fruit.

The fact is that the total amount of carbohydrates in food affects blood sugar is more than other sources of carbohydrates like sugar. For diabetic people, one serving of fruit should contain 15 gm carbohydrate. The size of the serving depends on the carbohydrate content of the fruit. If some fruit contains less carbohydrate then that can be eaten in more quantity.

Guava is low in Saturated Fat and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin A, C, Folate, Potassium, Copper, and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber and Vitamin C. You can get 15 gm carbohydrate from 100 gm Guava. So it’s good news for people suffering from type 2 diabetes. At least they can eat 3/4 cup guava. There are other benefits of Guava especially for diabetic people as it improves digestion and reduces cholesterol.

If you are diabetic still you can eat 3/4 cup(100 gm) Guava. Peel guava skin as it can increase blood sugar levels, but you have to cut other carbohydrate intakes to balance your diet.