coconut tree(Cocos nucifera) - Ayurvedic remedies, Health benefits, Application, Chemical Constituents, Side Effects and Many More

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       coconut tree(Cocos nucifera).   


The coconut tree(Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae). It is one of the most useful trees in the world, and is often referred to as the "tree of life". Coconut is used in Ayurveda since thousands of years. The parts of its fruit like coconut kernel and tender coconut water have numerous medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidermatophytic, Antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, immunostimulant. 

Coconuts are distinct from other fruits because their endosperm contains a large quantity of clear liquid, called coconut water or coconut juice. Mature, ripe coconuts can be used as edible seeds, or processed for oil and plant milk from the flesh, charcoal from the hard shell, and coir from the fibrous husk. Dried coconut flesh is called copra, and the oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking and soap. Coconut is grown in 92 countries in the world. Global production of coconut is 51 billion nuts from an area of 12 million hectares. The four major players; India, Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka contribute 78% of the world production. 

Ihas different names in different languages such as Hindi name(Nariyal, Narial,  kanchli, narel, sriphal), English name(coconut, palm, copra, porcupine wood), Bengali name(Narikel), Gujarati name(Naliyar), Marathi name(Naral, narela, tenginmar ,varala, shriphal), Punjabi name(Narel/ Kopa), Malayalam name(Tenga, centennu, cocam, nalikeram), Tamil name(Tennamarm, Tengai, narikela maram), Telugu name(Narikelamu, Kobbari chettu, errabondaala), Urdu name(maghz narjil), 



Coconut oil : 

Coconut oil has been an important edible oil for the food industry for many years and is normally termed or classified as a lauric oil, a tropical oil, or a confectionery fat. The usual commercial product is either refined, bleached, and deodorized coconut oil or, more recently, virgin (unrefined) coconut oil. The production of coconut oil has been increasing worldwide. One of the advantages of coconut oil is its resistance to oxidation and polymerization, which makes it a stable oil for cooking. 

Different from cooking oils which contain long‐chain fatty acids, virgin coconut oil (VCO) has high medium‐chain fatty acids, making it a potential functional food which can provide some health benefits.

It is abundantly (65%) endowed with medium chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs), which allows them to be directly absorbed from the intestine and sent straight to the liver to be rapidly metabolized for energy production and thus MCFAs do not participate in the biosynthesis and transport of cholesterol.


There are two main types of coconut oil :

Coconut oil and virgin coconut oil  haves similar fatty acid profiles; however the latter contains higher amounts of some nutrients (e.g., vitamin E) and dietary bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols).


Vitamins and minerals content

Vitamins : B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C, E, K

Minerals : calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, zinc

phytohormones : auxin, 1, 3-diphenylurea, cytokinin

Enzymes : acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, peroxidase, RNA polymerases

• The oil of coconut contains myristic, caprylic, capric, oleic, linoleic, lauric, palmitic and stearic acid.

• It contains large amount of sugar, dietary fiber, sugar, protein, saturated fat and growth pramoting factor.


Properties of Coconut

• Taste – Madhur(sweet taste)

• Qualities – heavy and oily, unctuous

• Potency – cold potency

• Taste conversion after digestion – Madhur(sweet taste)

• Effects on Tridosha– Balances Vata and Pitta Dosha but increases kapha dosha

• Vasti Visodhana(detoxification) – cleanses and detoxifies urinary tract, specifically urinary bladder

• Vrushya – aphrodisiac, improves vigor

• Mamsakrut – improves muscle strength

• Hrudya – acts as a cardiac tonic, congenial for heart

• Balya – improves strength and immunity

• Bruhmana – nourishing, causes weight gain

• Coconut water is unctuous, sweet in taste, aphrodisiac(increase semen) in nature, has cooling effect on the body, light for digestion, acts as a diuretic and cleans the urinary bladder, helps to over come fatigue, provides strength and nourishment. Whereas mature coconut water improves taste perception, promotes the digestion by stimulating the digestive fire, mildly alleviates pitta dosha, heavy for digestion.

• Dried coconut(copra/khobra) is unctuous, heavy for digestion, leads to burning sensation, causes constipation, improves taste perception.

• Coconut oil is bitter, nourishing, nutritious, Improves hair strength, promotes hair growth improves immunity, strengthens teeth



Benefits, uses and application of coconut

1) coconut milk is useful in cough and cold.


2) Old ghee prepared from coconut is useful in treating disorders of Vata Dosha.


3) Heart health : Coconut water has cardioprotective effects in myocardial infarction due to rich content of mineral ions, especially potassium. Coconut oil lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholoipids, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels.


4) Mixture of grated coconut and coconut water is given to reduce hiccups.


5) Grated fresh coconut is consumed to relieve burning sensation in the chest and stomach due to hyper-acidity and in the condition of mouth ulcer.


6) Eat small piece of dried coconut for mouth ulcer.


7) It is used in many recipes to increase taste.


8) Decoction of the inflorescence of Coconut tree is given in a dose of 30 – 40 ml to treat diarrhea and blood mixed diarrhea.


9) Tender coconut water is also used in cosmetic industry as an ingredient in the preparation of facial creams, moisturizer and sun screen.


10) Coconut water is a good electrolyte and can be used in conditions of dehydration, thirst, fever, burning micturition and difficulty in passing urine.


11) Tender coconut water is used for washing the skin in conditions of herpes, measles and chickenpox and helps in reducing the burning sensation during the disease.


12) Oil extracted from dried coconut is applied on scalp for hair growth and hair strength. It is also used as base in many herbal oils for hair fall, dandruff, pain, etc.


13) The inflorescence of Coconut is used in the preparation of medicines which are used in gynecological disorders like dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea etc.


14) Coconut is applied on body in winter to prevent dryness and maintain moisture in skin. 

                

15) Coconut is beneficial for reducing heat from the body and reduces dryness of the nose.

                 • intake : Eat 25 grams of coconut pulp daily in the morning on empty stomach with some mishri(rock sugar), massage your feet with coconut oil twice a day and drink coconut water once a day.


16) For cracked toung eat one teaspoon of dried coconut powder with rock sugar. It generally occur due to Biotin Deficiency.


17) For headache and migraine take coconut powder, rock sugar, Almond with milk or water in morning.


18) Coconut can help removing intestinal worms from the gastrointestinal tract. It kills the worms and remove it through the excreta(stools).


19) Lauric acid makes up about 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil. When your body digests lauric acid, it forms a substance called monolaurin. Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses. It is also used for mouth wash by oil pulling method.

              - It contains lauric acid (MCFA) which can react with alkalis present in saliva such as sodium hydroxide and bicarbonates to form sodium laureth, a soap-like substance. This substance reduces plaque adhesion and accumulation and possesses a cleansing action.


20) Coconut water is a very refreshing drink to beat tropical summer thirst.


21) Coconut is traditionally considered a wound healer, and especially effective at preventing the formation of scars if applied topically.


22) For better sleep take coconut with poppy seed and ghee.


23)  Powder  of  kernel mixed with Sunthi(dried ginger powder) is used in oral infection. 


24) Coconut  oil  is  applied  along  with  Kapora,  Safeda and Kabila to cure skin diseases and wound.


25) Old  coconut  oil  having quick wound healing property.


26) Coconut  water along with sugar, honey  &  Pippali churna to pacify vomiting.   

 

27) The healthy fats present in coconut oil help to lower cortisol and naturally balance hormones which support the adrenal and thyroid glands. 


28) Applying virgin coconut oil can lower the severity of eczema and psoriasis.


29) Ash from the mature shell of the fruit is mixed with lime and applied on ringworm.


30) Coconut oil is mixed with pulses to control insect attack on pulses during storage. 



Note: 1) coconut oil is one of the richest natural source of MCT(medium chain triglycerides). With this it increases HDL(high density lipid) and decreases LDL(low density lipid).


           2) One study shows that it may work as a weak sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun's ultraviolet rays.


           3) Coconut oil has a smoke point that is similar to butter, so it may not be useful at higher temperatures.


           4) Coconut milk helps to thicken sauces and soups.


           5)  It is observed that Fruit, Root, Flower, Fruit milk, Fruit pulp of coconut are used as an ingredient in 53 formulations, which are effective in more than 25 disease conditions. 


           6) Different parts of coconut are used in about 15 dosage forms; such as kvatha (decoction), lepa (paste), avaleha (semi-solid preparations), taila (oil), rasa (mineral preparation), vati (pills), ghrita (fat soluble preparations), churna (powder), dhuma (fumigating preparation), asava (alcoholic preparation) etc.

     

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Reference : 

1) Coconut Development Board

2) Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

3) NCBI

4) sciencedirect.com

5) Charaka samhita

6) International Journal of Applied Ayurved Research ISSN: 2347- 6362

7) sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana, ch-40, verse-120

8) Bhojana Kutuhalam

9) PUBMED

10) Asian Agri-History Vol. 18

11) local tradition and knowledge about coconut

12) Indian Journal Of Pharmacology

13) Indo Global Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011; 1(4): 354-361   

14) Wikipedia



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