actualidad local - fuerteventura magazine hoy

40
ALMOND
ALMOND
PROPERTIES AND THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS
- From om traditional traditional use
use
In popular medicine the external shell of sweet
Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. A. Webb.
almonds and the hard hull and the edible seed are
= Amygdalus communis L. var. dulcis used; as a decoction to cure coughs; to reduce high
= Amygdalus communis L. var. amara blood pressure; to protect the liver; as hypoglycaemic
= Prunus amygdalus var. dulcis
or anti-diabetes and to help perspiration in order to
= Prunus amygdalus var. amara
reduce fever.
Sweet almond oil is used internally as laxative and
COMMON COMMON COMMON NAME: NAME: Almond.
Almond.
locally to treat inflammations of the skin such as der-
FAMIL AMIL AMILY: AMIL : R RROSA
R OSA OSACEAE OSA CEAE
matitis, psoriasis, dry skin, superficial burns; to soften
earwax blockages, etc…
HISTORY OF THE PLANT
Almond milk is quite appropriate as cow milk
«In the Canaries, Tejeda has the most appropriate
substitute and has other advantages especially in ca-
soil for the almond tree… There are sweet and sour
ses of allergies or intolerance to cow’s milk. It is also
almonds, out of the sweet ones, some are malleable
adequate in cases of feverishness, children’s diarrhea,
because of the softness of their shell, and others are
during pregnancy and breastfeeding, to prevent
harder and more difficult to open. The sour ones can
osteoporosis and arteriosclerosis, etc.
bring fatal convulsions to birds and other animals».
- From om its its activ active activ activ e principles principles principles or or pharmaceutical pharmaceutical t ttes
t es ests es ts
(Viera y Clavijo, José de. 2004).
Because of its high content in greasy nutrients,
vitamins, minerals, etc. of the almond, it is highly
It is a popular tree in the Canaries, with attractive
recommended as energy giving food and to prevent
looks, and with flowers that are an invitation for an
various diseases. Studies on animals have shown that
exciting new spring season; it is especially present in
sweet almonds can reduce the level of glucose in blood.
the history of villages situated on mountain summits
Sweet almond has laxative properties when ingested;
because its wood was used as raw material to obtain
when used externally on the skin it has softening and
very efficient coal and for its fruit that was an
anti-inflammatory properties.
indispensable ingredient of Canarian
traditional cuisine such as marzipan,
bienmesabes (meringue like desert), nougat
(turrones), etc…
Furthermore the almond and its oil were
used in popular medicine: some say that one
sour almond per day can cure diabetes; the
oil is used widely in cosmetics and
pharmaceutical industries. In the Canarian
municipality of Tejeda the main traditional
celebration is «the Flowering Almond Fair».
DESCRIPTION
This tree can measure up to 10 metres in
height, the trunk is brown to grey, rough and
cracked on mature specimens; leaves are
light green, long and thin, or wider, with small
dents on the edges; flowers are numerous
and sprout in front of lone leaves or in groups
of two to four, they have five petals that are
white to pink in colour: the sweet almond tree
has smaller pinkish flowers; the sour almond
tree’s flowers are bigger and white, and
flowers later. The fruit is the almond: it is
contained in a hull that falls at maturity, and
contains inside a hard shell and the edible
seed.
ORIGIN AND ECOLOGY
The Almond comes from mountainous Central
Asian areas, where it was cultivated since
5000 years BC. It was probably brought to
Spain by Phoenicians. It was introduced in the
Canaries and is not an endangered species.
LOCATION
It is mainly cultivated in mountainous
municipalities in the Canaries; some grow wild
in some areas of Tenerife and La Palma.
USED PARTS
Shell, fruit and the oil obtained from them.
FUNDAMENTAL ACTIVE PRINCIPLES
Am Amygdalus Am gdalus communis communis v vvar
v ar ar. ar . dulcis dulcis y y amara:
amara:
- Mucilage
- From om clinical clinical t ttes
t tes
es ests es ts
- Phytosterols: cholesterol, campestrol, sitgmasterol, Sweet almonds consumed whole, during studies on
beta sitosterol.
animals and on humans, have demonstrated that they
- Enzymes: emulsine.
can reduce the general level of cholesterol and of Low-
- Vitamins: A, B1, B2, PP, B5, B6, E
density Lipoprotein (LDL or «bad cholesterol») and
- Mineral Salts: calcium, phosforus, magnesium,
increase the High-density Lipoprotein (HDL or «good
potasium, iron, zinc.
cholesterol»). The same effect seems to be achievable
- Proteins
- Mono fatty acids and poli insaturates
with the consumption of sweet almond oil.
Am Amygdalus Am gdalus communis communis v vvar
v ar ar. ar . amara:
amara:
(Medlineplus.es 2006).
- Heterosides cyanogenics: amigdaline (*)
- Pr Pr Proper Pr Pr oper operties operties
ties bac bac backed bac bac ed up up b bby
b by
y ESCOP ESCOP
ESCOP
(*) When in presence of water or saliva during ADVERSE EFFECTS, INCOMPATIBILITIES
digestion, the amigdaline becomes glucose, benzoic
AND PRECAUTIONS
aldehyde and hydrogen cyanide or HCN. The latter, or Never ingest sour almonds during pregnancy or while
salts that come from it, are known as the toxic cyanide, breastfeeding and do not feed to any young children.
which is extracted when the essential oil is produced One or two sour almonds would not cause a problem to
from sour almond as flavouring. Deadly intoxications an adult; however ten sour almonds for a child or twenty
have been reported after consumption of sour almonds, for an adult could be fatal. The intoxication causes
a few almonds can cause death for young children. nausea and vomiting initially, then nervous sedation,
Año III - Nº 34 - Marzo | March | Marsch - 2009
hypothermia, respiratory paralysis and asphyxia.
Almonds can also trigger very serious allergy
reactions for people predisposed to allergies.
DOSAGE AND PRESCRIPTIONS
Sweet almond as food or nutrient has no limitations
and it is highly recommended especially if we remove
the fine exterior shell that can make it hard to digest.
Sweet almond oil for internal use as a soft laxative
or hypo-lipemiente agent is recommended in doses of
2 to 4 table spoons per day.
Because of the lack of specific bibliographical
references it is recommended to take the outer and
inner shell as a decoction of 20 to 30 gr in one litre of
water. This is equivalent to one desert spoon of 5ml =
2-3 gr for one 150 ml cup of water, ingesting 3 to 4
cups per days. Put the plant in the water, let it boil
slowly for 10 to 15 mns, stop the heat and let it settle
for 10 to 15 mns, then drain and drink.
EXAMPLES OF USE
Sweet almond milk:
Open the almonds and separate them from the hard
shell. Later take 250 gr of pealed almonds and pour
boiling water over them in order to remove the fine
exterior skin. Put one litre of water in the blender with
pealed almonds, add some cane sugar or palm tree
honey or any other syrup, blend and then drink.
Sour almond oil
This oil comes from a long tradition of
confection if the Canary Islands. For the
documentation of this book, the following
people were interviewed: Porfiria Ramos and
Corina Medina, in El Majuelo, Tejeda; and also
Mrs. Gertrudis Díaz and her husband Juan,
in El Chajunco, Artenara; all are master in
confection of the precious sour almond oil,
and we express our thanks for their
explanations so that we could share them in
this article.
Elaboration process
It is laborious work where many people can
take part, from the beginning of summer until
July. First we make the fruits fall from each tree,
stones indicate which ones are sour almond
trees; after picking up the almonds, they take
the outer shell off, which is then dried on roof
terraces; later it is time to open the almonds
and separate the seed from the inner shell.
Seeds are then grinded and toasted, the dough
obtained is wrapped up in a linen cloth which
is taken into the «tralla» or «burra», a traditional
wooden instrument for the pressing process;
finally, the liquid obtained is filtered and the
oil obtained is ready for use.
Dosage of sour almond oil
People who elaborate it are well aware of
the toxicity of sour almond oil and use it with
a lot of precaution. Porfiria and Corina confirm
that they have never come across someone
who had been ill from it.
Dosage for adults is limited to one table
spoon f 10 ml per day. Children should only
take one 3 ml tea spoon per day. For adults,
it is recommended to stop the treatment every
so often. For children the treatment should
only last a few days.
Traditional indications for internal use
To reduce cholesterol and high blood
pressure; as a cure for bronchitis with cough
and asthma; for loss of voice; to treat
gastrointestinal colic; for vesicle problems; for
stomach ulcers; as laxative or soft purge.
For respiratory catarrh it is recommended to mix one
cup of mint tea with the juice of one lemon, and one
tea spoon of sour almond oil and one table spoon of
honey. Take once per day during fasting.
Traditional indications for external use
To improve rheumatic pain by rubbing painful
muscles or joints with oil; to improve healing of first
degree burns; to improve healing of varicose ulcers; a
little bit on a gauze for new born babies’ navels; one
small drop of warm oil inside inflamed ears; for
psoriasis and eczema; for dry skin; for hair care.
The residue of sour almond dough after it has been
pressed and the oil extracted from it, is called «repiso»
and it has been used as a mask for the face and as
cataplasm for rheumatism pain.
This residue or «repiso» is very toxic according to
Gertrudis Días and her husband Juan, which makes a
perfect rat poison.