MANGO; DELICACY & MEDICINE

Its a  Mango season in India and one cannot wait to dig into this amazing fruit. Mango fruits are cultivated on a large scale  due to their popularity and high demand.Though known for its culinary value Mango is of high medicinal importance. So while gorging this amazing fruit let us also try and take some benefits from its uses for health care.

Scientific Name : Mangifera indica Linn., Sp. Pl. 200, 1753;
Family: Anacardiaceae
Ayurved Name: Aamra (Bhavprakash), 
ESTD by: Kirtikar & Basu.
English Name: Mango

Mango is eaten by all in ways suited to their own taste and perefernces. Traditional healers from western ghats where Mango is most prominent and used in day to day life during its season  give an insight towards consumption of this fruit for maximum gain. Mango fruit is considered fit to be consumed only during the Vaishak and Jyesht months of Hindu Calender i.e. between Apil - June. The Mango stalk must be removed and soaked in water overnight in an earthen/ceramic vessel. The next day the pulp if to be eaten raw must be cut and dipped in milk for 1-2 hrs and then consumed. People who suffer from extensive heat and boils must discard this milk and only consume the fruit as the milk saps up the toxins. To enhance flavor one can refrgerate the milk-mango mixture before consumption.  In Ayurved though fruits are not recomended to be consumed with milk, Mango makes an exception and the fruit is recommended with it. Hence a Mango milkshake is a good bet. Mango juice is locally known, as Aamras is a very popular delicacy. Aamras must be consumed with ghee and cardamom and preferable from a silver vessel to get its maximum benefit. The Aamras so consumed improves blood quality and is of immense importance to infertile couples as it promotes good Ova and Sperm production. It also helps people suffering from blood disorders like leukemeia and can be used as food for medicine. People suffering from this disorders must make maximum use of this fruit during the months of Vaishakh and Jyeshtha

Note

Month of Jyeshta and Vishakha differ as per Hindu calendar.Vedic calendar follows mostly the Purnimanta system (month ends on full moon) and the other is Amanta (ends on new moon). Here we refer to the Purnimanta system,

The Mango kernel or the seed is a very good home medicine. So do not throw away the inner hard seed once you are done with your mango. Wash the kernel, dry and powder it and store in a glass bottle. People suffering from Haemoptysis [who cough out blood] are benefitted immensely by consuming 2gms of this powder with honey two times a day. The medicine is so effective that it even helps people who are suffering from advanced stages of Tuberculosis where Tubercular cavity devops in the lungs leading to coughing up blood. For young childern who uffer from worms or are prone to Inflammatory bowel disorders like Crohn's/ Celiac disease benefit by consuming 1gm of this powder with honey 2times aday on empty stomach. Its a safe remedy and can be tried at home. The simple medicine reduces intestinal inflammation and promotes health.

Mango leaves are execellent in  treatment of dental disorders. Mango leaves must be powdered fine, filtered and stored in a glass jar. People suffering from disorders like Bleeding gums, Pyorrhoea must first gargle with water medicated by boiling Mango leaves in 100ml water and then apply the powder over the gums and gently massage. After application one must again follow with the gargle of the Mango leaf-water. This shows immense benfits in all dental disorders and people who have been advised dental procedures must give this a try and save money. The nodes present on the stalk of Mango leaf are  an excellent remedy in treatment of urine retention. In cases where urine is blocked due to calculi or any other reason 6-7 terminal nodes are broken and consumed. The consumption is followed by a cup of water. The medicine provides immediate relief.  Drinking water medicated with Mango leaves or a  Tea/Decoction prepared by boiling 20 mango leaves in 150ml water and reducing to 50 ml reduces blood sugar levels and improves synthesis. This is a great antidote for people who are diabetic but cannot resist mangoes. Eat mangoes and after 4 hrs drink this tea. Though its a good remedy, Diabetics must exercise caution as this needs to be evaluated from person to person. 

Unripe Mango fruits are often used to prepare Pickles. It serves as an excellent appetizer and reduces flatulence. Mango pickles are very popular and also manufactured on large scale. There are lost of varieties of mango with the Indian Alphonso,Kesar, Devgad varieties from the western Ghats most cherished . On personal note I prefer the indigenous wild variety known as Irsaal a fibrous fruot which is highly tasty and medicinal but rare to procure as most mangoes are cultivated so one needs to go to the wild and enjoy the Irsaal.

Origin & History

The genus Mangifera contains 41 species divided in 2 sections of 34 & 7. This bincludes all culticars from India to Srilanka to southeast asia. The difference in species is mainly on basis of floral structureof fertie stamens. The 41 henceforth get divided in 3 categories of 10 stamens, 5 stemens and one fertile stamen to whiich Mangifera Indiica belongs. This group has largest number of species. From earliest fossil records of primitive species like M.pentandra (Assam), M.duperrana & M.langifera (SE Asia) indicate the origins to be more  of SE asian countries. However the spread and maximum diversification happened in Burma and India where it got naturalised and popularised over the years. *

*Excerpts from research work by S.Mukherjee

DISCLAIMER 

This article is for educational purposes towards students of medicine, ethnobotany & others with academic interest. Please do not self -medicate ; always consult an qualified Ayurvedic physician. 

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