Bitter Kola also known as Garcinia kola is a tropical flowering plant found in western and central Africa and it produces brown, nut-like seeds. It has been used in African culture for centuries for both traditional and medicinal purposes. It contains dimeric flavonoid, lipase inhibitor which is believed to have many healing benefits.
Cultural and Traditional Uses
Bitter Kola is a masticatory used in traditional hospitality, cultural and social Ceremonies such as naming ceremonies and weddings.
Medicinal Significance
Garcinia kola is used in many tropical countries to fight infectious diseases such as Aids and the Ebola virus. It has shown to posses anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
Cold Remedy
Garcinia kola is often used to treat the symptoms of colds. It is particularly very effective for coughs, nasal congestions and help coagulate phlegm. It is also effective in alleviating sore throat.
Impotence
Garcinia kola, is sometimes believed to cure impotence. It increases blood flow to the genital area in men who have hardening of the arteries.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Garcinia kola has been successfully used to treat patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. It reduced pain and swelling and improved movement.
Immunity
Garcinia kola is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is used to prevent infections and viruses, especially of the immune system.
Weight Loss
Bitter Kola has been known to be a natural hunger suppressant and also increases the urge to drink more water.
Hop Substitute
Garcinia kola is used as a substitute for hops in brewing lager beer. It is especially useful in preventing beer spoilage.
Health benefits of bitter kola
Garcinia Cola, popularly called bitter kola, has been identified as a potent antibiotic which could be efficacious in the treatment of many diseases. Bitter kola is found in the tropical rain region and given different names in Nigeria. It is known as Orogbo in Yorubland, Namijin-goro among Hausa, Akuilu in Igboland.
Researchers believe that the kola could be used in treating opportunistic infections associated with HIV. According to them, bitter kola is highly recommended in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of its anti-bacterial, detoxification and cleansing properties.
For treatment of cough and diarrhea
The chemical Saponin in bitter kola is responsible for its cleansing effect. Saponin is mainly used as tonic for the liver; it enhances the functions of the liver and gall bladder. It is also very effective in the treatment of cough, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and other bacterial infections.
For bacterial infections
When food is suspected to be contaminated by bacteria, chew bitter kola immediately after, it will forestall the development of any infection or poisoning.
For long life
In the past, the kola was eaten mostly by the elderly because of their belief that it could prolong life. It was proven in modern researches. Researches in modern science have revealed that bitter kola contains chemical compounds that will help the breakdown of glycogen in the liver and has other medicinal uses which account for its longevity property in man.
For treatment of glaucoma
Bitter kola nut water extract holds promise for the treatment of glaucoma. It is able to correct abnormal constriction of the pupil of the eye. It is a safe and effective substance in the control of open angle glaucoma, the commonest type of glaucoma that affects Africans and African Americans.
Most findings conclude that its consumption also showed the same effects on the intraocular pressure in the eye, after 45 minutes of its ingestion, in a dose dependent manner. Ingestion of bitter kola nuts produced a decrease in the pupil size and a drop in the intraocular pressure, thus improving vision and intraocular eye pressure.
As anti-poison
Bitter kola has been found to be anti-poison. The seed and the bark of bitter kola should be eaten together in cases where food poisoning is suspected. It helps to detoxify the system.
It can also be used to repel snakes for those who live in areas that are prone to snakes.
Bitter kola could be used in the treatment of breast cancer as it has anti-cancerous effect.
For treatment of measles
For children, when ground and mixed with honey, bitter kola could be used in the treatment of measles and mumps; it should be taken orally and also applied externally in the case of mumps.
The efficacy of the bitter kola in vomiting for both children and adults. It can be used to clear coarse voice; it clears the voice by stimulating the production of mucus along the lining of the vocal tube which softens the dry throat.
The body craves for bitter foods from time to time. Nature advocates a balance in everything, when sweet foods are eaten in excess, the body tends to be more acidic, in order to balance this, it is recommended that bitter foods should be eaten occasionally.
The body is at its optimum health when it is slightly alkaline.
Source:
Researchers believe that the kola could be used in treating opportunistic infections associated with HIV. According to them, bitter kola is highly recommended in the treatment of HIV and AIDS because of its anti-bacterial, detoxification and cleansing properties.
For treatment of cough and diarrhea
The chemical Saponin in bitter kola is responsible for its cleansing effect. Saponin is mainly used as tonic for the liver; it enhances the functions of the liver and gall bladder. It is also very effective in the treatment of cough, diarrhoea, tuberculosis and other bacterial infections.
For bacterial infections
When food is suspected to be contaminated by bacteria, chew bitter kola immediately after, it will forestall the development of any infection or poisoning.
For long life
In the past, the kola was eaten mostly by the elderly because of their belief that it could prolong life. It was proven in modern researches. Researches in modern science have revealed that bitter kola contains chemical compounds that will help the breakdown of glycogen in the liver and has other medicinal uses which account for its longevity property in man.
For treatment of glaucoma
Bitter kola nut water extract holds promise for the treatment of glaucoma. It is able to correct abnormal constriction of the pupil of the eye. It is a safe and effective substance in the control of open angle glaucoma, the commonest type of glaucoma that affects Africans and African Americans.
Most findings conclude that its consumption also showed the same effects on the intraocular pressure in the eye, after 45 minutes of its ingestion, in a dose dependent manner. Ingestion of bitter kola nuts produced a decrease in the pupil size and a drop in the intraocular pressure, thus improving vision and intraocular eye pressure.
As anti-poison
Bitter kola has been found to be anti-poison. The seed and the bark of bitter kola should be eaten together in cases where food poisoning is suspected. It helps to detoxify the system.
It can also be used to repel snakes for those who live in areas that are prone to snakes.
Bitter kola could be used in the treatment of breast cancer as it has anti-cancerous effect.
For treatment of measles
For children, when ground and mixed with honey, bitter kola could be used in the treatment of measles and mumps; it should be taken orally and also applied externally in the case of mumps.
The efficacy of the bitter kola in vomiting for both children and adults. It can be used to clear coarse voice; it clears the voice by stimulating the production of mucus along the lining of the vocal tube which softens the dry throat.
The body craves for bitter foods from time to time. Nature advocates a balance in everything, when sweet foods are eaten in excess, the body tends to be more acidic, in order to balance this, it is recommended that bitter foods should be eaten occasionally.
The body is at its optimum health when it is slightly alkaline.
Source:
The Wonders of Bitter Kola
Bitter kola is another type of kola found in Igbo land of Nigeria. Its biological name is Garcinia kola. Like the kola nut it is produced from a big tree. Unlike the kola nut it is monocotyledon. Although it is eaten widely for different purposes it has nothing to do with the tradition of any known ethnic group. It is medicinal as well as has some aspect of spiritual healing factors attached to it. Although modern sciences could try to disapprove of the belief but the issue is that "It works" whether you belief or not. I am glad to proclaim that my friends from different geographical areas who had in the past argued the possibilities of what I claimed bitter kola could do are now addicts in bitter kola usage. One general remark is that bitter kola is an Anti-Biotic. It can be eaten at anytime and again no side effects under normal condition. It is one of those medicines that have no over dose.
To spiritualists and knowledge seekers if you want to know what bitter kola could do find out we offer subscription which gives you the opportunity to buy and have instruction on what it does and how to use it.
Medicinally any body can eat as many as bitter kola as he or she prefers to consume by pilling off the outer coating of bitter kola but be mindful that as the name sounds it is really bitter. However if you can have fun eating bitter kola
you have the chances of not contacting or suffer from common cough syndromes, sour or mouth odor, stomach upset and tooth ache. If you are interested in healthy lifestyle and wellness please go to If you need specific instruction on how to derive the best benefit from Bitter Kola write .bitterkola70@gmail.com
You can identify Bitter kola as nut with brownish outer cover while the inner part is yellow in color. Bitter kola contains a juicy substance which is assumed to be the active ingredient. It does not require any preservative and survives under any atmospheric condition. However if it is kept in the refrigerator, it remains fresh while if it is left in the open space it dries. In dry condition it can be revived by soaking it in water for hours or days depending upon the intensity of its dryness.
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