Garcinia Kola - Over view benefits of the Bitter Kola fruit

GARCINIA KOLA

Garcina kola or bitter kola is a fruit that grows in the rain forest of West Africa mostly in sub-tropical or tropical moist lowland forest. Bitter kola is a masticatory used in traditional hospitals, cultural and social ceremonies

Medicinal significance

All part of the bitter kola plants such as the fruits, seeds, nuts and bark of the plant have been use for the treatment of different ailments for centuries. Studies have shown that the chemical constituents in Bitter Kola have anti-malaria properties. This is because of it’s quinones and kolaviron contents are found to have anti-malaria effects.

 Bitter kola has many health benefits and it also contains dimeric falconoid, lipase inhibitor which is believed to have many healing benefit. It is used in many tropical countries to fight infections diseases as It has shown to posses anti-inflammatory, anti microbalo and antiviral properties.

Cultural and Traditional uses

 In Nigeria society, the importance of bitter kola cannot be over emphasized. From its significant use in social gathering such as naming ceremonies and weddings and other traditional festivities in almost every member of the society.

Health Benefit
Cold Remedy
Garcinia kola is often used to treat the symptoms of colds. It is particularly very effective for cough nasal congestion and helps coagulate phlegm. It is also very effective in alleviating throat.

Impotence
Kola is sometimes believed to cure impotence. It increases blood flow to the genital area in men who have hardening of the arteries.

Knee Osteoarthritis
Gacinia kola has been successfully used to treat patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. It reduced pain and swelling and improved movements.

Immunity
Garcinia kola is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is used to prevent infections and viruses especially of the immune system.

Weight loss
Bitter kola has been known to be a natural hunger suppressant and also increase the urge to drink more water.

Improve Lung Function 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 by nerves.
It was discovered that bitter kola improved function. The study showed that garcinia kola works by dilating the alveolar duets and sacs in the longs by improving the strength of the fibers in the lung tissue

Reduce Eye Pressure
An increase in eye pressure can lead to glaucoma. According to a report from New York Times health guide. Researchers of Lagos University Teaching Hospital tested the effectiveness of eye drugs that contains garcinia Kola extract. The result showed that the solution that contained the garcinia extract significantly reduced eye pressure when used twice a day.

Reduces Acidic Level
The human body works better when it is alkaline research has shown that bitter kola reduces the acidic level in the body thereby making the system work better.

HIV / AIDS treatment

Bitter Kola 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 told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that bitter kola could be used in treating opportunistic infections associated with HIV.

 “Bitter kola is highly recommended in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of its antibacterial, detoxification, and cleansing properties”, she said. Mrs Chinyere Nwokeke 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.

Industrial use

Hop substitute
Garcinia kola is used as a substitute for hops in brewing lager beer. It is especially useful in preventing beer spoilage.