Bahamian Bush Medicine: Amazing Avocados

This is an avocado,Persea americana, not the fruit but the tree. Its an evergreen that sheds it leaves early in the spring which is why this one looks a little sad. Avocado flowers need to pollinated so it's best to have two. And one last thing before I get into Bahamian specifics, the tree comes from south american soils and is full of healthy fats, sort of making it the olive of the new world.

I'm sort of sorry I didn't try it while I there but I've recently read the leaves make a great substitute for coffee on a hot day. Boil the leaves until the water turns a dark green color and enjoy. It can be very cooling, especially when served 'on the rocks'.  Boiling the seed will allow you to create a mouthwash that can relieve toothaches and the pulp is an excellent ointment for itches and wounds.

I'm sure you all also know about all the health benefit that come from ingesting the fatty fruit and I must recommend adding key lime leaves to your guac if you're ever short on actual limes.

And lastly, this plant contains many beneficial compounds that have antioxidant, inflammatory, analgesic, antiviral and 'pro-heart' applications. Specifically, these compounds are peptones, b-galactosides, glycosylated abscisic acids, alkaloids, cellulose, polygalacto ureases, polyuronoids, and volatile oils. And if that's not enough random words for you, just know the avocado is in the laurel family, which includes yummy cinnamon. Although I wouldn't recommend them together...

Sources:

Yasir, Mohammad, Sattwik Das, and M. D. Kharya. “The Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Persea Americana Mill.” Pharmacognosy Reviews4.7 (2010): 77–84. PMC. Web. 29 Mar. 2015.

Rolle, Christine. Bahamian Bush Medicine. Quincentennial ed. 2000. 34. Print.

Wilmanowicz, Renate. Bush Medicine in the Bahamas: A Modern Approach. Createspace, 2012. 40. Print.