Because they say “health is wealth”, we will be looking at a very interesting topic today, which many may not know about. Yes, it is all about the tree and flowering plant HOG PLUM.
Hog plum is a species of tree and flowering plant. It is a deciduous tree which measures up to 60 ft. high with a dense, spreading crown.
The bole can be 60cm or more in diameter with a thick bark. The leaves are compound, comprising five to nine pairs of leaflets and The flowers occur on terminal stalks. The fruits are ovoid (more like an oval shape), small and yellow. They have leathery skin and thin layer of pulp; and are single-seeded.
It goes by different names in different parts of the world; Hog plum, Jamaica-plum, Yellow mombin, Ambarella, Ashanti plum, Golden apple, Spanish plum, True yellow mombin, gully plum and java plum. These are some of the popular common names of the plant. The parts that serve a beneficial function are- the seeds, flowers and barks.
Its benefits include;
The ability to help;
1. Chronic skin afflictions- Ashes from the leaves and barks are added to black soap, Shea Butter or palm kernel oil for their anti-microbial properties. The dry powdered bark is applied as a wound-dressing in circumcision and may be sprinkled directly on sores. Leaves extracts can also be applied to new sores to prevent infection. Your skin will smile after a short while of consistent applications.
2. Lower back pain and rheumatism – Both the bark and flowers are used. The flowers may not be readily available and so you can make do with the bark alone. An infused oil of the leaves is also beneficial and used as a local massage to reduce muscular and rheumatic pains of the joints.
3. Enhances bone health – It is a fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free fruit and a good source of vitamin K that helps in proper bone health. The vitamin K does not only helps in blood clotting, but it also helps to improve the bones by making them strong, thereby helping in the prevention of bones health conditions like bone fractures, etc., its effects on osteoporosis has not been proven medically, though most people take it for this cause.
4. Infertility in women- Young tender leaves are pounded and extracted for all cases of infertility. Infusions of the leaves are also taken internally and applied topically as a lotion by women in confinement and those with a history of miscarriage.
Something off the benefits, I heard the fruit tastes really good and if left in the refrigerator to chill for a while, it even tastes better and gives a cool feeling to the body. Would you be trying it out?
