Fwd: Artocarpus communis - Special Report - Medicine at your Feet [H]

[Guest guest]

 

 

> David Bruce Leonard <herbnerd

> Mon Feb 2, 2004 12:37:08 AM US/Pacific

> David Bruce Leonard <herbnerd

> Artocarpus communis - Special Report - Medicine at your Feet

> [H]

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> This information is through the grace and kindness of my

> Hawaiian and Chinese teachers and my gratitude goes out to

> them. Any errors are mine alone.

>

> If you wish to be taken off this list please let me know.

> If you wish to be included on this list please let me know.

> Please forward this information to any other Herb Nerds.

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>

> Aloha Herb Nerds,

>

> This special edition concerns one of my favorite foods: Breadfruit.

>

> But first, some shameless self-promotion...

>

> For those of you on the Big Island we will be opening our Hilo clinic

> next

> week. I will be teaching introductory plant medicine classes Saturday

> February 7th and Sunday February 8th in Hilo and Kona.

>

> This class is a general introduction to the medicinal plants of

> Hawai’i and

> blends 3 great herbal traditions: Chinese, Western and Hawaiian. We

> will

> re-introduce the sacred into modern healthcare practices

>

> Topics covered will include:

> An introduction to plant identification

> An overview of Hawaiian natural history

> An introduction to traditional Hawaiian medicine

> The medicinal uses of specific plant families (fabaceae and asteraceae)

> Uses of local plants for colds and flu

> Introduction to the plant preparation methods

>

> The same class will be taught on both Hilo and Kona sides, 9am - 4pm

>

> HILO - Saturday February 7

> CAPTAIN COOK - Sunday February 8

>

> The cost is $69 and includes lots of handouts. Bring a pot-luck lunch

> and

> any plants from your area that you are curious about.

>

> Any class with insufficient preregistration will be canceled and monies

> refunded.

>

> Pre-registration can be done by telephone with credit card by calling

> (808)

> 640-3004,

>

> Preregistration by mail should be received by February 5 and can be

> sent to

>

> David Bruce Leonard, L.Ac.

> 'Awapuhi Health Sanctuary

> 680 Manono Street

> Hilo HI 96720

>

> For questions and more information call (808) 640-3004

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> While I haven't used Breadfruit much as medicine it is a fabulous food

> and

> worthy of considered attention. The moraceae family is fascinating and

> includes such medicinal standbys as Mulberry, Wauke, and Banyan.

> And now, on with the show

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> PLANT NAME: Artocarpus communis

>

> OTHER NAMES: A. altilis, A. incisa

>

> SIMILARLY USED SPECIES: A. odoratissinus, A. elasticus, A. elastica, A.

> mariannensis , A. integer, A. cumingiana, A. lakoocha, A. elastica, A.

> vrieseanus

>

> COMMON NAMES: 'ULU [Hawai'i]; Breadfruit [English]; Fruit a Pain

> [French];

> Fruta Pao, Pao de Massa [Portuguese]; Broodvrucht, Broodboom

> [Holland]; Pan

> de Ano, Pan de Palo, Topan [Venezuela]; Mazapan (seedless), Castana

> (with

> seeds) [Guatemala, Honduras]; Marure [Peru]; Castano de Malabar (with

> seeds)[Yucatan]; Panapen (seedless), Pana de Pepitas (with seeds).

> [Puerto

> Rico]; Timadang, Kadazan, Dusun (A. odoratissinus) [borneo]; Suku

> (seedless), Kulur (with seeds) [Malaya & Java]; Sa-ke, [Thailand];

> Rimas

> (seedless) [Philippines]

>

> FAMILY: Moraceae (Mulberry family)

>

> CATEGORY: Expel Wind Dampness ~

>

> STATUS IN HAWAI'I: Polynesian introduction

>

> WESTERN FUNCTIONS REPORTED: Anodyne (A. altilis) [Trinidad]; aperient

> (A.

> elastica) [Malaya]; astringent (root) [Pacific Islands]; contraceptive

> (A.

> elastica) [Java]; laxative (A. altilis) [Dominican Republic];

> masticatory

> (A. cumingiana) [Elsewhere]; purgative (root) [Pacific Islands];

> styptic (A.

> cumingiana) [Elsewhere]; vermifuge (A. communis) [samoa]

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> MEDICINAL USES

> CARDIOVASCULAR

> · Hypertension (yellow leaf decocted) (A. altilis) [bahamas, Haiti,

> Trinidad, West Indies]

>

>

> DERMATOLOGICAL

> · Boils and sores (Artocarpus. spp) [Dominican Republic, Haiti,

> Hawaii,

> Malaya, Java, Samoa, Tonga]; skin problems or infections (leaf ash,

> macerated root, or latex topical) [Pacific Islands]; cracked-skin &

> dermatosis (A. communis) [Hawai'i, Java]; burns (A. altilis) [Haiti]

>

> DIGESTIVE

>

> · Stomach pain (diluted latex internal) (A. spp.) [samoa, Solomon

> Islands, Pacific Islands]; diarrhea or dysentery (diluted latex or

> roots

> boiled internal) [borneo, Java, Pacific Islands, Samoa]

>

>

> ENDOCRINE

> · Diabetes (yellow leaf as tea) [Trinidad, West Indies]

>

>

> HEAD AND THROAT

> · Headache (bark) (A. communis) [samoa, Pacific Islands]

>

> · Toothache (toasted flowers topical on gums) (A. communis, A.

> integra)

> [Java, Malaya]; thrush (crushed leaf buds & latex topical on tongue)

> [bahamas, Trinidad, Pacific Islands]

>

> · Eye problems (A. communis) [samoa]

>

> · Ear Infections (leaves juiced or diluted latex topical) [Pacific

> Islands]

>

>

> INFECTION

> · Herpes (A. communis) [Amboina]; fever (Artocarpus. spp.)

> [bahamas,

> Malaya, Samoa, Sumatra]; ashes of leaves topical for infection

> [Hawai'i]

>

>

> MUSCULOSKELETAL / TRAUMA

> · Wounds (Artocarpus. spp.) [Hawaii, Java, Samoa, Tampang dadak];

> fracture (A. altilis) [Fiji]; back pain & sciatica (latex topical) (A.

> communis) [Pacific Islands, Samoa]; swelling (A. communis) [samoa];

> rheumatism (A. altilis) [Haiti]; poultice (A. communis) [samoa];

> lumbago (A.

> elastica) [Java]; gout (A. altilis) [Haiti]; broken bones (latex

> topical)

> [Pacific Islands]

>

>

> ONCOLOGY

> · Tumor (fruit crushed topical) (A. altilis) [brazil]

>

>

> RESPIRATORY

> · Asthma (yellow leaf decocted) [West Indies, Trinidad, Bahamas];

> tuberculosis (A. elastica) [Java]

>

>

> PEDIATRICS

> · Crushed leaves for thrush [Hawai'I]

>

>

> URINARY

> · Oliguria (A. altilis) [Trinidad]

>

> VETERINARY

> · The leaves and uncooked fruit are fed to livestock and fruit

> peelings

> are used to fatten pigs. [Hawai'i]. Fractured bones in animals (A.

> lakoocha)

> [india]

>

>

> OTHER MEDICINAL USES

> · Splenomegaly (A. communis) [Java]; splenitis (A. lakoocha)

> [india];

> enlarged spleen (roasted leaves powdered)

>

> · Liver disease [Taiwan]

>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>

> USE AS FOOD: The uses of Breadfruit as food are unlimited.

>

> · 'Ulu may be eaten ripe as a fruit or unripe as a vegetable.

>

> · It can be baked in an 'imu (underground " oven " or pounded into

> poi.

>

> · Ripe pulp is mixed with coconut milk, salt and sugar to make a

> pudding.

>

> · In Melanesia and New Guinea 'Ulu seeds are called " Breadnut " and

> are

> roasted or boiled like a chestnut.

>

> · Possible use as baby food. The fallen male flower spikes are

> sometimes

> candied.

>

> · In old Hawai'i 'Ulu was a staple food. It is said that when a

> Hawaiian

> child was born the parents would plant one breadfruit tree and one

> coconut

> palm and that would be enough food for that person for life.

>

> · 'Ulu was specially prepared by a young male and stored in pits

> lined

> with Cordyline spp.(La'i) leaves as a hedge against famine. The

> Breadfruit

> would ferment and could last years. The young man who would mash the

> Breadfruit with his feet had to be specially circumcised and abstain

> from

> sex.

>

> · A delicious use of Breadfruit is to steam it, marinate it in

> coconut

> water or coconut milk and then lightly sautee it.

>

> · In Barbados and Brazil highly nutritious Breadfruit flour is

> mixed

> with wheat flour and made into bread. In Jamaica the flour is made into

> breakfast porridge.

>

> OTHER USES:

>

> · Mosquito repellent (dried flowers burned) [Vanuatu]

>

> · Arrow poison (A. bracteata) [Malacca]

>

> · Breadfruit leaf designs are often used in Hawaiian quilt

> patterns.

>

> · Chewing gum (sap) [Caribbean]

>

> · Starch: In Central and South America, the starch has been

> explored for

> use in textile. manufacturing.

>

> · Wood: The wood of Artocarpus communis has uses as timber for

> houses,

> canoes, drums, surfboards, furniture, statues (ki'i), firewood, & poi

> boards

> (papa kui'ai). It is resistant to termites and marine worms.

>

> · Sap: The sticky sap is used as an adhesive and caulk for catching

> birds and sealing canoes. In Kosrae the sap is mixed with coconut oil

> to

> make a kind of " flypaper " and used as " chewing gum " in the Caribbean.

>

> · Bark: The bark is used for cordage and the inner bark was made

> into

> kapa cloth. The cordage has been used for shark nets and a Water

> Buffalo

> harness.

>

> · L e a v e s: Used to wrap food and as livestock feed. The dried

> leaves

> have been used as fishing kites and sandpaper.

>

> · Male flowers: Used as mosquito repellent. The male flower was

> mixed

> with Wauke (Broussonetia papyrifera) fiber to make elegant malo

> (loincloths). The flowers were used as a yellow to brown dye.[Hawai'i]

>

> PLANT PART USED: All of it.

>

> CONSTITUENTS: artocarpine, papayotin (enzymes) vitamin C.

>

> CAUTIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS: Some varieties of 'Ulu are purgative if

> eaten raw.

>

> RANGE: Global distribution near the equator

>

> HABITAT: Hot humid places: temperature of 60° to 100°F, rainfall

> around 80

> to 100 in per year with humidity of 60 - 80% Likes fertile, deep, and

> well

> drained soil, but some seedless varieties do well in sandy areas.

>

> GATHERING: Sticky. Breadfruit sap can stain, and will usually spew

> forth

> its' sticky milky sap on your brand new seat covers. Cooking oil

> rubbed on

> the hands before handling may prevent staining of the skin.

>

>

> RESEARCH:

>

> · Bark extracts cytotoxic against leukemia in tissue culture

> [Fujimoto

> et al.1990]

>

> · Root extract antimicrobial against Gram-positive bacteria

> [sundarrao

> et al.1993]

>

> · An organic acid from the leaf (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is

> currently

> being evaluated for use in diabetes but it is unclear whether the

> substance

> actually helps control blood sugar levels or just skews blood glucose

> test

> results.

>

> · Flower inhibits arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in rats

> [Koshihara

> Y, et al. 1988]

>

> NOTES 'N QUOTES:

>

> · Coming across a Breadfruit tree while hiking is always a gift.

> Some of

> my most memorable meals have included 'Ulu as the main entrée. It is

> said

> that when a Hawaiian child was born, the family would plant one

> Coconut palm

> and one Breadfruit tree, and that would supply enough food for that

> person

> for life.

>

> · 'Ulu trees are thought be native to the East Indies, although

> speculation ranges from Western Micronesia to New Guinea. They can

> grow to

> 30 - 80 (?) feet tall, with up to three foot leaves and ten pound

> fruits.

> Trees can produce 25 - 200 fruits per year.

>

> · A close relative of the Breadfruit is called Jackfruit

> (Artocarpus

> heterophyllus) and it is native to India.

>

> · In old Hawai'i there were a special class of Kahunas (experts)

> called

> the " bird catchers " . They would catch specific birds whose feathers

> were

> then sewn into the cloaks of the Ali'i (royalty). They would use

> either the

> sap from the 'Ulu tree or the Papala Kepau (Pisonia spp.) to catch the

> birds

> on a long stick. After a few feathers were plucked from the birds, it

> is

> said that these Kahuna would then use Kukui oil to release the birds'

> feet

> from the sticky sap.

>

> · Legend has it that the first breadfruit trees were brought from

> Tahiti

> or Samoa and planted at Kualoa on O'ahu for a Moi (chief).

>

> · Both Cocos nucifera (Niu / Coconut) and Artocarpus communis

> ('Ulu /

> Breadfruit) are kinolau (physical manifestation) of Kuka'ilimoku (Ku),

> the

> war god. It is said that Ku was married to a Hawaiian woman and had a

> family

> by her. One year there was a drought and they were without food. Ku

> placed

> his head in the earth and his body became an 'Ulu tree (or a Niu palm,

> depending on who you ask). The tears of his wife watered the plant and

> gave

> it life. Thus he sacrificed himself and bore food for his family to eat

>

> · The first 'Ulu was seen by Europeans in the Marquesas in 1595

>

> · Captain Cook's botanist, Solander, was introduced to Breadfruit

> in

> Tahiti in 1769 and raved about it back in England. As a result, King

> George

> III sent Captain Bligh to the Pacific to propagate and collect

> Breadfruit.

> H.M.S. Bounty was filled with Breadfruit during the ill-fated voyage

> when

> officer Fletcher Christian and the crew mutinied.

>

> · Kahanu Gardens in Hana, Maui, grows nearly 100 varieties of

> breadfruit.

>

> · In old Hawai'i, 'Ulu was considered a symbol of creation and the

> generosity of the Creator.

> The volcano goddess Pele, said to be angry at King Kamehameha for not

> making

> offerings to her, destroyed his 'Ulu orchard in a volcanic eruption.

>

> *************************

> David Bruce Leonard, L.Ac.

> Medicine at your Feet

> 'Awapuhi Health Sanctuary

>

> http://www.medicineatyourfeet.com

> http://www.awapuhihealth.com

>

> Do it now or kiss it good-bye:

> http://www.savebiogems.org/takeaction.asp?src=RR0401

>

>

>

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

FAX: