Home Health & Life The Fruit That Grows Naturally in Your Backyard: An Unsung Superfood

Health & Life

The Fruit That Grows Naturally in Your Backyard: An Unsung Superfood

31 December, 2024

Dr. Huynh Tan Vu from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Campus 3) shared that for generations, various parts of the chili plant, including its fruits, roots, and leaves, have been used medicinally.

In traditional medicine, chilies are believed to possess a spicy flavor and a heating property. They are thought to warm the stomach, disperse cold, strengthen the spleen and stomach, aid digestion, reduce pain, and exhibit anti-cancer properties. It is common for people to use chilies to treat abdominal pain caused by cold, poor digestion, joint pain, and even apply them topically for snake and insect bites.

Chilies contain active compounds such as Capsaicin, an Alkaloid comprising approximately 0.05-2% of the chili’s composition. Chemically, it is known as isodexenic vanilylamide acid, characterized by its high volatility at high temperatures and its ability to induce powerful sneezing.

Chilies contain Capsaicin, an Alkaloid comprising approximately 0.05-2%

Capsaicin, found in ripe chilies, is responsible for the sensation of heat and redness. Although it comprises only 0.01-0.1%, Capsaicin stimulates the brain to produce endorphins, natural morphine-like substances in the body, which effectively reduce pain. This is especially beneficial for patients with chronic arthritis and cancer.

Apart from its pain-relieving properties, chilies also contribute to cardiovascular health. Certain compounds in chilies improve blood circulation, prevent platelet aggregation, and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular accidents and lower blood pressure.

Additionally, chilies offer other benefits such as controlling cardiovascular diseases, preventing cancer, averting cardiovascular accidents, boosting immunity, treating colds, alleviating headaches, reducing blood lipids, and aiding weight loss.

Compounds in chilies improve blood circulation and prevent platelet aggregation

Today, Capsaicin from chilies is commonly used in patches or creams applied to the skin, effectively relieving pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia.

Natural treatment methods using chilies include:

– Treating hair loss due to chemotherapy: Soak 100g of chilies in white alcohol for 10 to 20 days. This solution is then applied to the scalp to stimulate hair growth.

– Improving digestion in cancer patients: Combine 100g of chilies with 100g of black soybeans, grind into a powder, and consume daily to enhance digestion.

– Relieving slow digestion: Using fresh chilies as a spice in daily meals stimulates digestion.

– Alleviating stomach pain caused by cold: Grind 1-2 chilies with 20g of turmeric into a powder and consume 2-3 times a day to reduce pain.

– Treating chronic arthritis: Decoct 1-2 chilies, bone-pain-relieving vines, and smilax glabra rhizome (30g each) and drink daily to reduce inflammation and joint pain.

Treat chronic arthritis by decocting chilies, vines, and smilax glabra rhizome

– Managing eczema: Crush a handful of fresh chili leaves with a spoonful of sour mash. Wrap this mixture in clean cloth and apply it to the affected area after cleaning the skin with salted water.

– Addressing cerebral infarction: Use the leaves of small-fruited chilies, crush them, mix with water and a little salt. Have the patient drink the extracted water, and the residue can be applied to the teeth to help them regain consciousness.

– Treating snake and insect bites: Crush chili leaves and apply them to the wound, bandaging it tightly. Do this 1-2 times a day, and the pain will significantly reduce after 2-3 hours.

– Managing psoriasis: Take a large handful of chili leaves, char them without burning, add a pot of trepang, 7-9 leaves of sempervivum, and about 300g of dried ginger. Boil this mixture with 2 liters of water and drink it instead of tea for about three pots.

– Chronic abdominal pain: Fry and decoct a daily dose of a mixture of chili roots, lemon roots, and yellow roots, about 10g each.

– Relieving back and joint pain: Crush 15 ripe chilies, 3 papaya leaves, and 80g of small-fruited chili roots. Soak this mixture in alcohol at a ratio of 1:2 and use it for massage to quickly reduce pain.

– Treating boils: Crush chili leaves with a little salt and apply them to the ripening boils to reduce pain, facilitate pus drainage, and promote healing.