The
Power of Mangosteen
By
Karen Perry
In
areas where the tree grows naturally, the mangosteen rind,
leaves and bark have long been used in folk medicine.
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“It
sounds like snake oil to me,” my younger brother told me as I
exuberantly shared my experiences with the healing qualities of
mangosteen juice. My
brother, who had just dropped 1000 pounds of lead on his foot and was
laid up for a while, decided to try the juice, since I told him it was
an excellent anti-inflammatory. Four
days later, he called and asked for another bottle.
I sent him one. A
week later he wanted two more bottles.
Mangosteen
juice came to market about two years ago through a company called
Xango. I learned about it from an acquaintance who told me that a
healing juice tasting something like raspberries had helped her move
her arthritic thumbs. It had also cleared her life-long eczema in just
three weeks. Further, this
woman told me that her husband, who was undergoing chemotherapy, had
been feeling much better and recovering faster since drinking the
juice.
It
sounded too much like a miracle product. Having discovered the
benefits of eating a live-food diet and knowing the power of
oxygenating my blood, I am usually not very interested in hearing
about health products. I firmly believe diet is the best way to great
health. Yet, something
caught my attention.
I
learned that the juice was made from the mangosteen fruit of
Southeast Asia
. Research revealed that
the Garcinia mangostana was
named after French explorer Laurent Garcin (1683-1751).
In areas where the tree grows naturally, the mangosteen rind,
leaves and bark have long been used in folk medicine.
According to a 1993 handbook of alternative cash crops, “the
rind is used for treating inflammation of the nose and throat, and
bladder. [It’s also used
for] dysentery, eczema, fever, intestinal conditions, and skin
ailments.” A food
science journal further noted that teas made of mangosteen bark are
known for treating genital and urinary infections, and inflammation of
the mouth.
Mangosteen
Juice has two important components: 1) The beneficial super charged
antioxidants, and 2) the medicinal properties of Xanthones.
Xanthones are found in the rind of the mangosteen fruit. While
there are over 200 xanthones occurring in nature, they are mostly
found in wood and lichen. Yet,
over 40 xanthones have been found in the rind of the mangosteen fruit.
When
David Morton researched the mangosteen fruit, he found a great deal of
research had been done prior to 1900. In fact, Jean F. Caius studied
the medicinal plants of
India
in 1896 and discovered that the whole rind of the mangosteen was used
in Ayurvedic Medicine and in hospitals for inflammation.
Further research showed that xanthone compounds have been found
to be anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-fungal,
and anti-viral. Further still, these compounds seem to help in the
resolution of allergies, cancer, tumors, ulcers, pain and fever.
Since
I have been drinking mangosteen juice, I feel noticeably lighter and
happier, almost as though I had been eating a 100% living foods diet
all the time. (I usually eat about 90 to 95% raw/living foods, so I
was surprised to feel such a boost of energy after drinking the
juice.)
And
it isn’t just me. I shared the juice with a friend whose husband has
fibromyalgia. He was often
lethargic and mildly depressed. After
taking mangosteen juice for about two weeks, he called to tell me how
much energy he had, how great he felt, and how he was now able to
sleep through the night. He sounded like a different person!
I
am honored to share this healthful and delicious juice with everyone I
know. It is a great
preventative for those of us who are already feeling healthy and is an
amazing healer on all systems of the body. For more information: www.mangosteenmd.com.
Karen
Perry coaches and writes to inspire and support youth and adults
to feel clearer, happier and more energetic.
Information and free introduction coaching sessions:
530-926-YYUM (9986), 530-391-2472 (cell), SayYesToMangosteen@yahoo.com
