Peoples Daily

Garcinia Cola, popularly called bitter kola, has been identified as a potent antibiotic which could be efficacious in the treatment of many diseases. Bitter kola is found in the tropical rain region and given different names in Nigeria. It is known as Orogbo in Yorubland, Namijin-goro among Hausa, Akuilu in Igboland.
Researchers believe that the kola could be used in treating opportunistic infections associated with HIV. According to them, bitter kola is highly recommended in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of its anti-bacterial, detoxification and cleansing properties.
For treatment of cough and diarrhea
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. It is also very effective in the treatment of cough, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and other bacterial infections.
For bacterial infections
When food is suspected to be contaminated by bacteria, chew bitter kola immediately after, it will forestall the development of any infection or poisoning.
For long life
In the past, the kola was eaten mostly by the elderly because of their belief that it could prolong life. It was proven in modern researches. Researches in modern science have revealed that bitter kola contains chemical compounds that will help the breakdown of glycogen in the liver and has other medicinal uses which account for its longevity property in man.
For treatment of glaucoma
Bitter kola nut water extract holds promise for the treatment of glaucoma. It is able to correct abnormal constriction of the pupil of the eye. It is a safe and effective substance in the control of open angle glaucoma, the commonest type of glaucoma that affects Africans and African Americans.
Most findings conclude that its consumption also showed the same effects on the intraocular pressure in the eye, after 45 minutes of its ingestion, in a dose dependent manner. Ingestion of bitter kola nuts produced a decrease in the pupil size and a drop in the intraocular pressure, thus improving vision and intraocular eye pressure.
As anti-poison
Bitter kola has been found to be anti-poison. The seed and the bark of bitter kola should be eaten together in cases where food poisoning is suspected. It helps to detoxify the system.
It can also be used to repel snakes for those who live in areas that are prone to snakes.
Bitter kola could be used in the treatment of breast cancer as it has anti-cancerous effect.
For treatment of measles
For children, when ground and mixed with honey, bitter kola could be used in the treatment of measles and mumps; it should be taken orally and also applied externally in the case of mumps.
The efficacy of the bitter kola in vomiting for both children and adults. It can be used to clear coarse voice; it clears the voice by stimulating the production of mucus along the lining of the vocal tube which softens the dry throat.
The body craves for bitter foods from time to time. Nature advocates a balance in everything, when sweet foods are eaten in excess, the body tends to be more acidic, in order to balance this, it is recommended that bitter foods should be eaten occasionally.
The body is at its optimum health when it is slightly alkaline.
Source: Healthwise

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