Graviola is a fruit from a tree found in South America and tropical islands. It has a long history of use in herbal remedies and contains chemicals that attack cancerous cells. However, it has potential side effects, including vomiting, cardiovascular depression, and stimulation of uterine contractions, and should be used under the supervision of a doctor.
Graviola, also called Brazilian papaya, soursop, and guanaba, among a number of other names, refers to a particular tree or its fruit. The fruit is green and heart-shaped and has a diameter of 15.24-20.32 cm. The tree is found in South America and on numerous tropical islands and grows best in rainforest climates.
The pulp of the fruit is popular in juices, sherbets and smoothies and displays spicy and sweet notes. It can also be peeled and eaten, although some find the taste too tart. As a fruit, graviola may not prove exceptional, but it certainly has a long history of use in ancient and now modern herbal remedies.
In early times, the leaves of this tree were used for tea to reduce swelling of the mucous membranes (phlegm) or to treat liver disease. The black seeds were often crushed and used as a vermifuge. All parts of the tree can be ground up and used as a sedative or as an anticonvulsant. The fruit was used to reduce joint pain, to treat heart disease, as a sedative, to induce labor, or to reduce cough or flu symptoms.
In modern times, graviola has turned out to be of interest to medical researchers because it contains chemicals called annonaceous acetogenins. These chemicals have been shown to have cytotoxic properties; in other words, they tend to attack cancerous cells. These compounds can also be a useful insecticide, and several major universities such as Purdue have patented their studies and work with graviola components, as they may later prove so useful.
Although the Food and Drug Administration may eventually patent graviola or approve it as a prescribed drug for cancer treatment, studies are still early and reveal some alarming possible side effects. Many websites on the subject, especially those selling the product as a dietary supplement, claim that it has no side effects, compared to anticancer drugs. It certainly may not cause hair loss, but there are known side effects and they should be carefully evaluated.
First, graviola can be an emetic. A high dose can make some people vomit, making it not all that different from standard chemotherapy. Second, it has a known depressant effect on the cardiovascular system and should be avoided by people with heart problems or people taking blood pressure medications or heart problems. Third, it can stimulate uterine contractions and should never be taken by pregnant women.
Another side effect is the potential interaction with antidepressants. Graviola may also have antimicrobial properties, which kill beneficial bacteria on the skin, vagina and intestines. Long-term use can lead to yeast and fungal infections. Chemicals found in the fruit have also been found in people with atypical Parkinson’s disease, although a cause and effect relationship has not been established.
Although graviola retailers may claim that the fruit and plant parts are completely safe in therapeutic dosing, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet evaluated these claims, as this product is considered a nutritional supplement. While the plant’s components have all been used in native medicines, it remains questionable whether it is actually useful. At the very least, it should always be used under the supervision of a doctor.
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