The fruit has two varieties-the wild one, called jharberi is small and circular, while the cultivated fruit is oval, plump and bigger in size. It is more sugared compared to the smaller kind.
A study of zizyphus illustrates it to consist 81.6% moisture, 0.8% protein, 0.3% fat, 0.3% minerals and 17.0% carbohydrates per 100 grams. Its mineral and vitamin contents include calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C. Its vital energy value is 74. Both varieties of the fruit contain zizyphic acid and tannins.
Methods of usage
Zizyphus is an efficient curative, healing mental abnormality, influenza, stomach troubles, piles, mouth ulcers, conjunctivitis, skin and hair troubles.
Healing Power and Medicinal Properties of zizyphus
The bark is useful in checking secretion or blood loss. The fruit cleanses the blood and aids in digestion.
Mental Retardation cured by zizyphus
Zizyphus is advantageous in the treatment of mental retardation. A fistful of the dry fruit is boiled in half a litre of water till it is diminished to half. Sugar or honey can be added to taste and given everyday at night before going to bed. It boosts the functioning of the brain by issuing more glutamic acid into the bloodstream.
Colds and Influenza healed by zizyphus
Zizyphus is beneficial in forestalling regular bouts of colds and influenza. A teaspoon of the fresh juice of the fruit can be had with a hint of pepper once everyday, for thwarting colds.
Stomach Disorders cured by zizyphus
The bark can be used for treating diarrhoea, dysentery and colic. The extract of the inner covering of the bark is used as a laxative in constipation.
Piles healed by zizyphus
Fresh baked leaves are beneficial in piles. The leaves are baked by laying them over the hatched mouth of a vessel with water boiling. The leaves are covered with another plate to stop steam from getting away. Those baked leaves are thumped with some castor oil. This warm poultice can be administered over the piles. The procedure should be repeated twice everyday for a week.
Mouth Disorders cured by zizyphus
Infusion of the fresh and young leaves, coalesced with salt is a useful mouthwash for stinging throat, relaxed uvula, swelling of the mouth, bleeding from gums and chapped tongue due to too much consumption of sour fruits.
Skin Disorders healed by zizyphus
A paste of the leaves and twigs can be applied with brilliant results over boils, carbuncles and abscesses to encourage suppuration. It can also be applied successfully over painful boils and styes. This paste, blended with a teaspoon of lime juice can be applied as a poultice in the treatment of scorpion sting. An infusion of its leaves can be applied as a liniment to cleanse the wounds and other ulcers.
Conjunctivitis remedied by zizyphus
The leaves are significant in curing conjunctivitis. An infusion of the leaves should be used as an eye rub.
Hair Disorders healed by zizyphus
The paste of its leaves massaged over the scalp and hair can keep them dirt-free and puts off scalp irritations. It also renders volume to hair, in addition to making them darker.
