Side effects & 6 Amazing Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves

Side effects & 6 Amazing Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves.

Soursop is a a very wonderful fruit.. The other names are graviola or Brazilian pawpaw. The fruit, leaves and roots of soursop are very useful in medicine, nutrition, pregnancy and in the prevention of cancer.

What Soursop is called in different Nigerian languages

English: Graviola Fruit, Soursop, Brazilian pawpaw

Yoruba: Ebo or Apekan

Hausa: Fasadarur or Tuwon biri

Igbo: Sawansop, chokwu chokwu fruit, showan chop.

What are the health benefits of Soursop Leaves?

Health Benefits of Soursop Leaves

1) Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a condition that is characterized by the bacterial infection of the urethra, urinary bladder, ureters, and kidneys. So, the medical experts claim that consuming tea made of soursop has powerful healing effects against urinary tract infections. If you are prone to this condition, you may take the said tea on a regular basis as a preventive measure.

2) Soursop Tea Great for Gout Treatment

Gout is a condition characterized by inflamed and painful joints, in particular, the joints in the feet and hands. Consumption of tea made from boiling soursop leaves can help relieve this condition. This natural remedy for gout works like a miracle because it helps in flushing out uric acid from the blood, the main reason behind this painful condition.

3) Effective Against Rheumatism

Rheumatism is a condition, which is similar to gout, wherein the person who suffers from it experiences painful and swollen joints. And, you should also know that the muscles can often be affected as well. An excellent way to treat rheumatism without the intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is with the help of soursop, a natural remedy that possesses amazing anti-inflammatory properties. It’s very simple – you just have to boil several pieces of soursop leaves and mash them in order to make a poultice that you may apply to the affected joints and muscles. Apply up to twice a day.

4) Perfect for Eczema

The experts also say that you can use these powerful leaves to treat other conditions, such as eczema. And, you should know that the best thing about using these leaves is that they don’t come with any unfavorable side effects like most topical steroids do, especially when they are used for extended periods of time. To fight eczema, simply follow the procedure above on making a poultice out of soursop leaves. And now, you just have to apply the poultice liberally on areas of the body affected by eczema to benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties.

5) Boost the Immune System

If you’re having a cold, cough, flu, and a variety of other diseases and infections, maybe the reason is a weak immune system. Then you should definitely try this soursop leaf tea. Yes, because an excellent way to protect your body more effectively against invading microbes is by regularly consuming tea derived from soursop leaves. This beverage may also be taken if you are already suffering from an illness in order to help your body bounce back from it at a much faster rate.

6) Effective Against Cancer

You may already know that the soursop is widely promoted as an alternative cancer treatment. However, there is no medical evidence yet. The researchers of this study also claim that the effects of soursop leaves in fighting cancer cells are better than chemotherapy. What’s even better, they’re much cheaper than the popular treatment for cancer, and the best thing about it is that it does not come with any side effects and complications. It is said that soursop leaves are highly effective against lung, breast, and prostate cancer.

Side effects of Soursop

The seeds of the soursop should be avoided, as they have been shown to contain annonacin, a neurotoxin that may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease

Conclusion

Test-tube studies have shown that soursop has antibacterial properties and may be effective against some strains of bacteria responsible for disease. Soursop was able to effectively kill off multiple types of bacteria, including strains that cause gingivitis, tooth decay and yeast infections. Another test-tube study showed that soursop extract worked against the bacteria responsible for cholera and Staphylococcus infections.

Animal studies show that soursop extract could reduce inflammation and may be useful in the treatment of certain inflammatory disorders. This may be especially beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory disorders like arthritis.

Some studies on animals have found that soursop extract could significantly reduce blood sugar levels. In one study, diabetic rats were injected with soursop extract for two weeks. Those who received the extract had blood sugar levels that were five times lower than the untreated group. Another study showed that administering soursop extract to diabetic rats reduced blood sugar levels by up to 75%.

Soursop can be used in juices, smoothies, teas or desserts. It can also be enjoyed raw, but the seeds should be removed before eating.

Culled from Roots and herbs – the beauty of nature