Malabar plum / Java plum / Black plum / Indian Blackberry / Jamblang / Jamun is an evergreen tropical, slow growing tree and it can reach heights of up to 30 m and can live more than 100 years. The name of the fruit of this tree is sometimes mistranslated as blackberry, which is a different fruit in an unrelated order.
The wood is water resistant. Because of this it is used in railway sleepers and to install motors in wells. It is sometimes used to make cheap furniture and village dwellings though it is relatively hard to work on. The leaves which have an aroma similar to turpentine. The leaves are used as food for livestock, as they have good nutritional value. Dried leaves are also used to make (native) cigarettes by wrapping them around a small piece of tobacco leave.
Bark, leaves, fruits, seeds are used in Ayurvedic medicine. Jamun is an important medicinal plant used in various traditional systems of medicine. It is effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, inflammation, ulcers and diarrhea and preclinical studies have also shown it to possess chemopreventive, radioprotective and antineoplastic properties. The plant is rich in compounds containing anthocyanins, glucoside, ellagic acid, isoquercetin, kaemferol and myrecetin. The seeds are claimed to contain alkaloid, jambosine, and glycoside jambolin or antimellin, which halts the diastatic conversion of starch into sugar.
Uses:
- Relieves stomach pain, carminative, anti-scorbutic and diuretic (black plum)
- Reduces enlargement of spleen, diarrhea, and who has urine retention problems (Jamun vinegar)
- Effective against: cancer, heart diseases, diabetes, asthma and arthritis due to it’s ployphenolic compounds.
- Digestive disorders: flatulence, bowel spasm, stomach disorders, dysentery.
- Diabetes treatment (Jamun helps to convert starch into energy and keep your blood sugar levels in check)ю
- The fruit of jamun is extremely beneficial for the heart, as it is saturated with potassium. 100 g of jamun contains about 55 mg of potassium. This amount is enough to prevent and help in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
- Jamul is good for increasing hemoglobin in the blood due to its high iron content.
- Jamun leaves are antibacterial properties and are used for strengthening teeth and gum.
- Skin care: is an effective agent to treat acne, the problems of oily skin, to control dark spots on the face, and it also cures leucoderma after stimulating the melanin.
- The Jamun fruit has many vital nutrients: is loaded with sugars like glucose and fructose along with lesser calories.
- Jambul has astringent properties that help prevent acne, spots, wrinkles and acne.
- Jambul has astringent properties that help prevent acne, spots, wrinkles and acne.
- It is also eaten as tonic to increase sexual activity.
Dosage: Ayurvedic texts suggest that 1-3 g of seed powder per day is an average dose. Additionally, juice of ripe fruits in the amount of 0.5-2 tsp (2.5-10 ml) at least three times daily has been recommended for the treatment of diabetes.
Cautions:
- Jamun should not be taken from roadsides, as it can be contaminated with lead and heavy metals.
- Pregnant and lactating mothers should avoid Jamun.
- Milk shouldn’t be taken after eating Jamun.
- Eating of excess jamun can leads to body ache and fever.
- Jamun enhances vatta dosha, so people with high vatta should avoid it.
- Since Jamun lowers blood sugar, diabetics need to consult a doctor and adjust the dose of medication.
- Try not to eat Jamun on an empty stomach.
- A large dose of Jamun can cause coughing and the accumulation of sputum in the lungs.