Uses
Bignay is a kind of fruit grown in trees native to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
The bignay fruit is round, and ranges from color red to brown. In Australia, it is known as the “Queensland cherry.’ Its tree can reach up to 30 meters, and its leaves are oval and leathery in texture.
It is also known as “Chinese laurel,’ or more popularly as the “black currant tree.’
What is bignay used for?
Bignay is effective in managing symptoms of diabetes
Bignay leaves, in particular, help those with diabetes. It is best to consult your doctor on how to maximize the benefits of bignay leaves for diabetes.
Bignay is used to counter the venom of snake bites
Aside from using bignay leaves for diabetes, in Asia, Bignay leaves are used as alternative medicine in treating snake bites.
Bignay is effective in managing blood pressure
The bignay fruit can also help lower blood pressure.
Bignay as an anthelmintic
Bignay seeds are traditionally used as an anthelmintic to prevent roundworms and threadworms.
Its seeds can help treat a range of common ailments
The seeds are also useful in treating cough, flatulence, and indigestion. The fruit is said to be helpful in treating urinary tract infections.
Bignay is useful in repelling pests
Bignay seeds are also recommended for use as a pesticide agent.
It can help boost immunity
Bignay tea is good for boosting the immune system.
The fruit is full of antioxidants that help fight free radicals found in the body.
Bignay as a laxative
It is said that bignay occasionally renders a laxative effect, making it useful for treating constipation.
Bignay teas are well-known for cleansing the colon, which helps overall metabolism.
It can help improve liver health
Bignay tea is beneficial in reducing the SGPT and SGOP values, which help guard and reinvigorate the liver.
It can help in weight loss
Bignay tea helps the body release unwanted toxins, and helps suppress the appetite, making weight loss a little easier.
Bignay as a power antioxidant
The bignay fruit is full of antitoxins, which are traditionally used in managing diabetes, hypertension, gastric intestinal problems, dysentery, indigestion, constipation, and is sometimes used for veterinary medicine.
Bignay, unconventionally, can also be used in treating skin disorders and syphilis.
How does it work?
A 2018 study on the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of bignay showed multiple uses for the “superfood.”
Bignay fruits were found to have positive antioxidant and anti-radical properties. Free radicals are unstable molecules in the body obtained from exercising, or from when the body converts food into energy.
It is also obtained from the environment, and can often be present in cigarette smoke, air pollution, and sunlight. Free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which leads to cell damage.
Anti-radicals, from the name itself, counteract the harmful effects of free radicals in the body, while antioxidants are known to fight oxidative stress.
This makes bignay a useful fruit for the proper functioning of our cells, and consequently our bodily processes.
Bignay was also found to help improve thrombolytic activity, helping break down clots formed in the blood vessels.
Other pharmacological responses of the said fruit are:
- Cytotoxic
- Antidiabetic
- Antiplatelet
- Anticoagulant
- Antidysenteric
- Antimicrobial
- Antihypertensive
- Anticancer
- Improves blood circulation
Bignay is also a good source of nutrients, making it even more beneficial for your overall health.
It contains protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.
Precautions & warnings
Be sure to consult a doctor before taking bignay especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor for proper diagnosis and prescription before adding bignay to your medications. Bignay is also found to be harmful for pregnant women.
How safe is bignay?
The fruits and the leaves of bignay are generally safe. But make sure not to eat its bark and roots, as it contains toxic alkaloids that may be poisonous to humans.
Special precautions and warnings
Although considered generally healthful because of its many medical benefits, be sure to consult your doctor or healthcare provider before consuming bignay.
It has been known to cause early abortion in pregnant women, so avoid consuming it if you are pregnant or are planning to conceive.
Side Effects
Some side effects from eating bignay include the following:
- Diarrhea
- Acid reflux
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Heartburn
Make sure to seek emergency care if you experience any sign of allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, and/or swelling of the tongue, throat, or face.
Seek professional care from a health professional if you experience any side effects after taking bignay.
Interactions
Although the fruit is considered safe for consumption, it is best to consult your doctor or herbalist as bignay in any form may interact with your medications and may aggravate any current medical condition.
Dosage
The dosage for bignay may vary from patient to patient. This is because of different factors such as age and health conditions.
Eating or consuming herbs, even if proven medically beneficial, may not always be safe.
Discuss the use of bignay with a healthcare professional before consuming it.
What form does bignay come in?
Ask a healthcare professional for advice on treatment options and how to properly use bignay as alternative medicine.
The ripe fruits of bignay can be eaten raw. They are also sometimes cooked and made into fruit preserves and jams.
Bignay fruits may also be processed into soft drinks, syrup, brandy, liquor, or wine.
The pulp is used for desserts such as cakes and ice cream.
In some countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, bignay leaves are eaten with rice. Others use the leaves for salads. In China, the leafy shoots of bignay are used to make tea.
Bignay is also sometimes used for making cardboard and for construction for producing beams and trusses. Others also plant bignay for ornamental purposes.
Learn more about medicinal plants and herbs here.
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