Soursop/Guyabano for Cancer Therapy?

Im back.  I travel from Mid-east to South-East so im out of the circulation for how many days.

When I got home, my mother hand me 3 pages photo copied article from Health and Home March-April 2010 magazine issue.  What struck me most was the title of it, and in my mind  was owh! i can share this to others... By using my blog...actually my mother didn’t know that im blogging about cancer. Hope she will be happy.

Ill share with you the cancer related issue in the article...

Sop up With Soursop

soursop/guyabano

Research Studies on Soursop for Cancer Therapy

•   Studies are being done by leading medical institutes, universities and pharmaceutical companies of the healing properties of soursop against cancers. Initial findings show that certain compounds and chemicals extracted from soursop leaves, seeds, fruit and bark appear to kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells remain unaffected.
• A Purdue University study showed that soursop leaves killed cancer cells among six human cells lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers.
• A study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea, and published in the Journal of Natural Products,stated  that soursop has one chemical found selectively kill colon cancer cells at "10,000 times potency of Adriamycin (The commonly used chemotherapy drug).", but left healthy cells untouched. Chemotherapy ,on the other hand, targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells) causing nausea and hair loss.

Getting the best from medicinal plants

• If possible, use organically grown ones
• Harvest the needed parts on sunny mornings not during or after heavy rainfalls.
• Use mature parts. The young ones have less medicinal substances
• If drying, is required , dry the plants parts either in the oven or air -dry on screens above ground but never on floors.
• Store dried plants parts in sealed plastic or brown bottles in a cool dry place without sunlight and preferably with a moisture-absorbent material like charcoal. When properly prepared, well-dried and stored, the plant parts can be used up to six months.

Preparation

• Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh parts like leaves when using dried parts
• Do not use stainless steel utensils when boiling decoctions. Instead use earthen, enamelled, glass or alike utensils.
• As a rule of thumb, do not cover the pot and boil in low flame when boiling plant parts.
• Decoctions lose potency after some time, so dispose of decoctions after a day. Keep decoction lukewarm in a flask or thermos to keep it fresh during the day.
• Always consult a doctor if symptoms persist or if any sign of allergic reaction develops.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration

                  Soursop is not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease.

From Health and Home March-April 2010 issue

by: Arlene May G. Corpus, RND, MBA is a

therapeutic dietitian at Manila Adventist

Medical Center in Pasay City

Facts about Soursop/ Guyabano http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/guyabano.htm

Guyabano/Soursop Fruit Nutrition

Guyabano belongs to the family of Annonaceae, (A. muricata L.). The flesh of the fruit consist of a white edible pulp that is high in carbohydrates and considerable amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Potassium and dietary fiber. Guyabano is low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. No only is guyabano a good health food, it also taste delicious. The tree and fruit is known in various names: Guyabano in Filipino, Soursop in English, Graviola in Brazil, and Guanabana in Spanish.

About the Guyabano

The heart shaped / oblong guyabano fruit has a dark green, leathery and spike-like skin that measures from 8 to 12 inches long and can weigh up to 2.5 kilos. The creamy and delectable flesh contains from 60 to 100 black-brown seeds that are indigestible and non-edible.

The guyabano tree is relatively small. It usually grows from 8 to less than 20 feet high and is sensitive to very cold temperatures. The guyabano tree requires a lot of water, warmth and humidity and is usually grown in the tropics. It is cultivated commercially in Central & South America, West Africa, Asia and South Florida in limited numbers.

Products made from Guyabano fruit:

Aside from being eaten raw, the guyabano fruit is processed into candies, tarts, shakes, ice-cream, sherbets and other beverages.

Medicinal Uses of Guyabano

Guyabano has been used as folkloric herbal medicine in many regions thought the world. It is considered to be antispasmodic, sudorific and emetic. A decoction (boiling in water) of guyabano leaves is used to kill bedbugs and head lice.

To reduce fever, a decoction of leaves can be taken internally or the leaves added to bathing water also has the same effect. The crushed fresh leaves are also applied on skin eruptions for faster healing. A poultice of young guyabano leaves is applied on the skin to alleviate rheumatism and other skin infections like eczema. Applied during the healing of wounds, this can result in less or no skin scars. The decoction can also be used as a wet compress on swollen feet and other inflammations.

The juice of the fruit is taken orally as a herbal remedy for urethritis, haematuria and liver ailments.

Studies are underway by leading medical institutes, universities and pharmaceutical companies of the healing properties of guyabano against cancers. Initial findings show that certain compounds and chemicals extracted from guyabano leaves, seeds, fruit and bark appear to kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells remain unaffected.

Other uses of Guyabano

Pulverizing the guyabano seeds and mixing it with soap & water is used as effective spray against caterpillars, armyworms and leafhoppers on plants.

The guyabano leaves are believed to have a tranquilizing and sedative properties. In the Netherlands Antilles, the leaves are placed inside pillows or placed on top of the mattress to induce a good night's sleep.

Still Miracles can do happen to those who believe...

Lets stand up to cancer