Tuesday 12 January 2010

Pandan (Pandanus tectorius)




The pandan grows as high as 5 meters, with small branches. origin name is also known as FRAGRANT SCREW PINE. The trunk of pandan tree bears plenty of prop roots. Its leaves spirals, the branches, and crowds at the end. The male inflorescence emits a fragrant smell, and grows up to up to 0.5 meters in lenght. The fruit of the pandan tree, which is usually about 20 centimeters long, are angular in shape, narrow in the end and the apex is truncate. This plant grows in thickets lining the seashores of m places in the Philippines.

In Philippines, pandan leaves are being cooked along with rice to incorporate the flavor and smell to it.
Pandan Health Benefits:
•.Treats leprosy, smallpox and wounds.
• Helps reduce fever
• Solves several skin problems
• Relives headache and arthritis
• Treatment for ear pains
• Functions as a laxative for children
• Eases chest pains
• Helps in speeding up the recuperation of women who have just given birth and are still weak
• Pandan reduces stomach spasms
Pandan flowers have also been traced with characteristics that function as aphrodisiac.
Pandan also manifests anti-cancer activities,
It can also be used as antiseptic and anti-bacterial, which makes it ideal for healing wounds.

Preparation & Use of Pandan:
• Decoction of the bark may be taken as tea, or mixed with water that is to be used in bathing, in order to remedy skin problems, cough, and urine-related concerns.
• Apply pulverized roots of pandan to affected wound areas to facilitate healing.
• The anthers of the male flowers are used for earaches, headaches and stomach spasms.
• Chew the roots to strengthen the gum.
• Extract oils and juices from the roots and flowers are used in preparing the decoction to relieve pains brought about by headache and arthritis.

Medical benifits use:The leaves and roots are found to have medicinal benefits. Such parts of the plant have been found to have essential oils, tannin, alkaloids and glycosides, which are the reasons for the effective treatment of various health concerns.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Love this plant and plenty are growing on our place.

Unknown said...

When added in cooking rice the smell makes a sweet soothing aromatherapy as the rice boils.