Pomegranate (Dalim)

It is a fruit of Punica granatum, a bush or small tree. The plant may attain 5 or 7 metres (16 or 23 ft.) in height, has elliptic to lance shaped bright green leaves and handsome axillary orange-red flowers borne toward the ends of the bracelets. The fruit is the size of a large orange obscurely six-sided with a smooth, leathery skin that ranges from brownish yellow to red; within it is divided into several chambers containing many thin, transparent vesicles or reddish juicy pulp each surrounding an angular and elongated seed. It is said, 'Eat pomegranate for it purges the system of envy and hatred. 'Though the pomegranate grows in a wide range of climates, good fruit is produced only where cool temperature and dry atmosphere accompany the ripening period.

The fruit contains vitamins B and C along with citric acid. The acid saccharine juice from the fresh fruit is of great value in dyspepsia and also forms an excellent cooling beverage in cases of fevers and sickness, quenching thirst. The syrup prepared from the fruit is also a cooling drink and very useful in all sorts of bilious complaints. The fruit juice mixed with clove or cinnamon is prescribed in acute bronchitis, sore throat and typhoid. It is also used in uterine ulcers and uterine disorders. A fluid extract of the fresh bark is also useful in expelling worms. The flower juice is sometimes used as snuff in nose­bleeding. The fruit juice with honey is sometimes given in loss of memory. The fruit juice increases memory and for this reason, it is very useful for students.

Benefit and uses of pomegranate juice.

• The juice of the fresh leaves and young fruit is given in dysentery.
• A paste of the leaves is locally used in conjunctivas.
• The root-bark is given as a febrifuge in fevers. The fruit juice quenches thirst and acts as cooling agent.
• Dried pomegranate root juice with milk is prescribed in spleen enlargement, and general debility.
• The flower buds are given in acute cases of leucorrhoea, diarrhoea and dysentery.
• A sherbet of the ripe fruit is given in typhoid fever, gastric and asthmatic fevers.
• The fruit juice is highly effective in urinary disorders.
• The fruit juice is highly effective in reducing high blood pressure.
• The fruit juice with honey is an age-old remedy for loss of memory.
• Dried powdered root mixed with lime water is prescribed for expelling worms.
• The rind of the fruit is known as dalim chhal and this is very useful in intermittent fever, diarrhoea and dysentery.
• The flower juice is often prescribed in nose-bleeding to be taken as snuff.