Graviola (Annona muricata)
I would like to start the New Year with an article that may open your eyes to natural cures as a real alternative to conventional medicine.
About six months ago my Spanish neighbor Miranda told me that she was diagnosed with cancer. Her kidneys were infested with tumors and she had six to nine months to live if she underwent the classical anti-cancer therapy that included chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Her younger brother had the same disease and did not make it.
Miranda is a diminutive, good-natured lady in her mid-fifties. The diagnosis did not change much of her outlook on life. A Spanish Catholic she decided to put her life into God's hands and was playing with the idea of dying without allowing the horrible chemotherapy to destroy her.
Miranda is a lucky lady. She has at least three natural health "obsessed" neighbors: a therapeutic masseur, and at least two herbal medicine aficionados, one of those using graviola on regular bases as an "insurance" against cancer.
Miranda is a lucky lady. She has at least three natural health "obsessed" neighbors: a therapeutic masseur, and at least two herbal medicine aficionados, one of those using graviola on regular bases as an "insurance" against cancer.
I see Miranda from time to time, but do not have the courage to ask about her disease. She still has her wonderfully thick hair and does not look incredibly sick. In fact, it seems to me that she is somewhat improving. And always smiling!
Another neighbor told me that Miranda decided to change her lifestyle. She decided to detoxify her body and change her nutrition just a bit to begin with. She also works with the masseur next door. She undergoes a massage therapy to calm her nerves and reduce the stress. And, after the herbs-loving neighbor made a suggestion, she is now on graviola for almost five months. The best thing is, her tumors disappeared completely and she is in no need of any conventional anti-cancer treatment!
Each cancer case is individual, each immune system reacts differently to stimulation, but Miranda is the first person I have ever met who recovered from cancer with natural means.
Graviola fruit also known as soursop or guanabana
For years I kept graviola and few other nature wonders in the back of my mind for the horrible eventuality. If I were ever to be diagnosed with cancer this would be what I would opt for. Knowledge may save your life, I told myself years ago. It can save the lives of others if you share it with them. This is what the other neighbor did and saved Miranda a lot of pain.
I checked the Internet and found that graviola is surrounded by controversy and I advise caution when you decide to use it a s a cure. But one thing must be said, graviola was used by native people of South America to cure many ailments and can be still used to improve one's immune response. Like with any product on the market you must consider the purity of the product and the real content of the herb before you buy a supplement.
~ Health Benefits of Graviola ~
Graviola (Annona muricata), also known as soursop, is an evergreen plant native to Central and South America. It grows in Mexico, Cuba, the Caribbean, Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela, among others. Graviola is also cultivated in parts of Africa and in Southeast Asia.
Graviola plant produces fruits with edible white pulp and indigestible black seeds. The fruit pulp is used to make smoothies, juices and desserts.
The fruit is rich in Vitamin C; B vitamins including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and folate; minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc; and choline.
A cup of freshly made graviola (soursop) juice in Singapore
Indigenous natural medicine uses all parts of the graviola plant: fruit, bark, leaves, roots, and seeds, and attributes different healing properties to each.
The fruit, for instance, is used to rid the body of the intestinal parasites and worms. It is also used to bring dawn the fever, increase mother's milk after childbirth, cure diarrhea and dysentery. The bark, leaves and roots are used as infusion that is considered to be anti-spasmodic, hypotensive and sedative. Crushed seeds of the fruit are used against internal and external parasites, including worms and head lice. A tea made of leaves is used to control diabetes, strengthen the liver, and calm the inflammation of the mucosa.
Graviola contains many active compounds that have been studied by scientists since the 1940s. Of great interest to scientists is the group of chemicals called Annonaceous acetogenins. Graviola produces these compounds in its leaves, stem, barks and seeds. Three independently conducted studies demonstrated that these compounds have significant anti-tumor properties and selective toxicity against various cancer cells without harming the healthy cells in the body. Many of these acetogenins were selectively toxic to cancer cells at a very law doses. Studies published in 1998 describe active compounds in graviola as having strong anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-parasitic properties.
While ongoing studies produce even more promising results, there are some who dismiss graviola claiming that there is no successful research proving graviola's efficacy against cancer. Moreover, inferior graviola products are being sold all over the Internet and spectacular claims are being made without much justification by people who take advantage of those who suffer from cancer.
Like any herb, graviola does not come without side effects and contra-indications. Graviola should not be taken by pregnant women, people with law blood pressure. Since graviola is a potent anti-microbial agent, it can kill off the friendly bacteria in the gut. Supplementation with probiotics may be necessary with prolonged use of graviola products.
No interaction with pharmaceutical drugs has been reported so far, but since graviola is a cardio-depressant and vasodilator, it may potentiate anti-hypertensive and cardiac depressant drugs.
Supplementation with CoQ10 during the graviola therapy may render graviola supplements less effective. CoQ10 increases levels of ATP. Graviola, on the other hand, blocks transfer of ATP to cancer cells. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a primary source of intracellular energy. In order to survive, reproduce and grow, a cancer cell needs large amounts of energy. When acetogenins in graviola block the energy flow to a cancer cell, it can no longer grow and is destined to die.
Some alkaloids extracted from the seeds and roots of graviola are neurotoxic and may cause neuronal dysfunction and degeneration leading to symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Their use is not recommended.
Many cancer patients and health practitioners using extracts from leaves and stem of graviola as a complimentary therapy in their cancer protocols. The suggested therapeutic use is 2000-3000 mg to be taken three times a day.
Contact certified health care provider, certified herbalist or certified
nutritionist before you choose self medication with graviola supplements.
By Dominique Allmon
*This information is for educational purpose only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.
Selected graviola studies:
Selected graviola studies:
- Schultes, R. E. And Raffauf "The Healing Forest: Medicinal and Toxic plants of the Northwest Amazonia." Portand: R. F. Dioscorides Press.1990.
- Branch, L.C. and DaSilva I.M.F. “Folk Medicine of Alter Do Chao, Para, Brazil.” Acta Amazonica 1983; 13 (5/6): 737-797
- Mors, W. B., et. al. "Medicinal plants of Brazil." Algonac, Michigan, Reference Publications, Inc., 2000.
- Morton, J.F. “Caribbean and Latin American Folk Medicine and its Influence in the United States.” Q. J. Crude Drug Res. 1980; 18(2): 57-75.
Health Benefits of Graviola by Dominique Allmon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
