- Health Benefits Of BITTER KOLA
Bitter Kola, which is also known as Garcinia kola is a tropical flowering plant found in Western and Central Africa and it produces brown, nut-like seeds.
The nut which is about 3-5 cm in length has an ellipsoid shape. A brown to deep brown peel covers it. This peel is removed before it is eaten. It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when it is eaten. It is from this bitterness that its name is derived”, Says Dr. Kola Animashaun, a Lagos Herbal Practitional in Lagos.
Acccording to him, Bitter Kola has been used in African culture for centuries for both traditional and medicinal purposes. It contains dimeric flavonoid, lipase inhibitor which is believed to have many healing benefits. In Yoruba land it is called Orogbo. The Hausas call it Miji-goro, while it is called Akiilu by the Igbos.
He noted that Bitter Kola was eaten mostly by the elderly people because of their belief that it could prolong life. But the truth is that researches in modern science have revealed that bitter kola contains chemical compounds that will help the breakdown of glycogen in the liver and has other medicinal uses which account for its longevity property in man.
“Bitter Kola, Garcinia kola, used extensively in West Africa as a social beverage and offered to guests as ‘Kola’ in many of Nigeria’s cultural settings, is valued also for its medicinal properties. It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of Laryngitis, general inflammation, bronchitis, viral infections and diabetes as well as a rejuvenating agent, adaptogen and general antidote. Scientists at our laboratories have performed extensive research and written many books on this wonder plant called ‘Garcinia’. Researchers have identified bitter kola as a potential
“Bitter kola is anti-poison too, it has the ability to repel evil men and spirits, it could sound superstitious but it works”.
The naturalist even said that the seed and the bark of bitter kola should be eaten together in cases where food poisoning is suspected, “it helps to detoxify the system, indeed, it really works”. Below are excerpts of his presentation.
(1) BITTER KOLA HEALTH BENEFIT FOR MALARIA
Considerable experimental studies found that chemical constituents in bitter kola have anti-malaria properties. That aside, traditional healers have for many years prescribed bitter kola for the treatment of malaria infections.
Researchers who reported that bitter kola had anti-malaria effect in the 2010 issue of Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, from a survey of plants used by traditional healers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, attributed this to its quinones content.
Further more, kolaviron, the powerful chemical compound found in bitter kola, was reportedly tested on a malaria parasite and found to inhibit malarial activity.
(2) BITTER KOLA IMPROVES LUNG FUNCTIONS
Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) has been used for centuries to treat chest colds in traditional medicine, but research has taken a look and found out why it is effective. A study in the 2009 issue of The Internet Journal of Pulmonary Medicine, performed on mice, reports that Garcinia kola improved respiratory function after 28 days of use of a Garcinia extract.
study shows that Garcinia kola works by dilating the alveolar ducts and sacs in the lungs by improving the strength of the fibers in the lung tissue. Bitter kola’s beneficial lung properties are attributed to its high antioxidant content.
(3) REDUCES EYE PRESSURE (GLAUCOMA)
An increase in eye pressure can lead to glaucoma, according to a report from The New York Times Health Guide. Researchers at Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria tested the effectiveness of eye drops that contained 0.5 percent extract of Garcinia kola. The opthamolic solution that contained the Garcinia significantly reduced eye pressure when used twice a day.
(4) IT HELPS IN WEIGHT LOSS
Bitter Kola has been known to be a natural hunger suppressant and also increases the urge to drink more water.
(5) HEALTH BENEFIT FOR HIV
Bitter kola is a potent antibiotic which could be efficacious in the treatment of HIV and AIDS. A researcher with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Mrs. Chinyere Nwokeke said that bitter kola could be used in treating opportunistic infections associated with HIV.
She said: “Bitter kola is highly recommended in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of its antibacterial, detoxification, and cleansing properties”. She also said that the chemical, Saponin, in bitter kola is responsible for its cleansing effect. Saponin is mainly used as tonic for the liver, it enhances the functions of the liver and gall bladder.
(6) IT IMPROVES MALE FERTILITY
Garcinia kola, also called bitter kola is sometimes believed to cure impotence. Frequent taking of bitter kola boosts a man’s performance in bed with a woman.
(7) REMEDY FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, characterised by pain, inflammation and limited movement in the joints, according to the National Institutes of Health. Causes of osteoarthritis can include joint injury, obesity and aging.
Since many arthritis sufferers prefer natural herbal medicines to other pain relievers and medications, researchers at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria tested the effects of Garcinia kola against arthritis symptoms. The results of the study, written by Olayinka O. Adegbehingbe and published in the July 2008 issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and RGarcinia kola significantly reduced inflammation and pain and increased joint movement in subjects that had osteoarthritis symptoms.
(8). Another importance of bitter kola is that its repels snakes. It can be used to chase snakes away. For snake prevention, spread it around the building.
(9). It would be recalled that Nigeria’s world renowned Professor, Maurice Iwu during the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) said bitter kola could be used to prevent EVD.
(10). Chewing bitter kola relieves coughs, hoarseness, bronchial and throat troubles. Several studies discovered bitter kola to be a remedy for dysentery, osteoarthritis, antidote against poisoning and considered an aphrodisiac.
(11). Bjitter Kola, Garcinia kola, used extensively in West Africa as a social beverage and offered to guests as ‘Kola’ in many of Nigeria’s cultural settings, is valued also for its medicinal properties.
(12) It is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of Laryngitis, general inflammation, bronchitis, viral infections and diabetes as well as a rejuvenating agent, adaptogen and general antidote.
(13).MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Garcinia kola is used to fight infectious diseases. It has shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
(14). Blood glucose s a food supplement for diabetics.lowering: The folk use of bitter kola in the management of elevated blood sugar has been validated by several laboratory studies. Garcinia-IHP is beneficial a Major indicatio
(15). COLD REMEDY
Very effective in managing symptoms of cold and sore throat, pains, cough, nasal congestion and helps coagulate phlegm.
(16).ANTIMICROBIAL
It is used in many tropical countries to fight infectious diseases. It is effective for managing pains, bacteria and viruses.
(17).DETOXIFICATION
Garcinia has a cleansing effect on the liver, gall bladder and the entire body system. It reduces the absorption of poison.
(18). ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY
Kolaviron is a deflated ethanol extract from the seeds of garcinia kola, which studies have shown to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Other health benefits
(19). IMUNITY:
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant property makes the body resistant to infections. It is used to prevent infections especially in people with immune system.
(20) LIBIDO ENHANCEMENT:
Impotence is restored by increasing blood supply to the core area in men who have hardening of the arteries. Bitter kola is the number one sexual performance medicine for men. Few natural products can match the sexual benefits of bitter kola.
(21).HANGOVER:
It prevents the alcoholic induced hangover and improve lung function.
–TESSY MOORE
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