Indian gooseberry
Indian gooseberry
Crystallotus
Indian gooseberry is a small or middle sized deciduous tree. It has small, very closely set, 10 to 13 mm long, leaves. The branches of the tree appear feathery. The tree has pale green flowers usually in small dense dusters below the leaves. The fruits are fleshy, round with its contour indistinctly marked into 6 lobes. The fruit has a seed inside with three angles and three sides. The seeds of the Indian gooseberry contain a fixed oil, phosphatides and an essential oil. The fruits, bark and the leaves of the tree are rich in tannin.
A wonder herb. It contributes greatly towards health and longevity. The fruit is acrid, cooling, refreshing and laxative. It increases the volume of urine. The raw fruit is a mild purgative. The flowers of the tree are cooling refreshing and mild purgative. The root and bark of the tree are useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. A tablespoon each of fresh gooseberry juice and honey mixed together is a very valuable medicine for the treatment of several ailments. Its regular use every morning promotes vigour in the body within a few days. When fresh fruit is not available, dry powder can be mixed with honey.
Diabetes This herb, due to its high vitamin C content, is effective in controling diabetes. A tablespoon of its juice, mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months will stimulate the pancreas and enable it to secrete insulin, thus reducing the blood sugar in diabetes. Diet restrictions should be strictly observed while taking this medicine. It will also prevent eye complications in diabetes.
