What are the uses of jackfruit leaves?

Jackfruit is a valuable fruit tree of the tropics. Many parts of the jackfruit tree are used in traditional medicine. So, what are the uses of jackfruit leaves?

Overview of the jackfruit tree

According to an article by Doctor Nguyen Thuy in the Health & Life newspaper, jackfruit trees are widely grown throughout Vietnam, with many varieties such as honey jackfruit, firm jackfruit, and in the South, there is also the "to nu" jackfruit. Besides its nutritional value, many parts of the jackfruit tree are also used as medicine.

In terms of nutritional value, ripe jackfruit pulp contains 0,6-1,5% protein (depending on the variety), 11-14% carbohydrates (including many simple sugars such as fructose and glucose, which are easily absorbed by the body), carotenoids, vitamin C, B2, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and phosphorus. Jackfruit seeds can be dried and stored as food, containing up to 70% starch, 5,2% protein, 0,62% lipids, and 1,4% minerals. Jackfruit leaves are thick, oval-shaped, and 7-15 cm long.

According to traditional medicine, the entire jackfruit tree is used for medicinal purposes. The unripe, astringent fruit tightens the skin. The ripe fruit, with its sweet, warm segments, quenches thirst, aids lung function, and eliminates yin-heat. The jackfruit seeds are sweet, neutral in nature, fragrant, and nourish the body, promote lactation. The sap is mild in taste, neutral in nature, and disperses lumps, reduces swelling, detoxifies, and relieves pain. Jackfruit leaves also have beneficial effects on health.

What are the uses of jackfruit leaves?

An article by pharmacist Duc Huy in Nhan Dan Newspaper points out that many parts of the jackfruit tree are used as medicine according to folk experience.

- Jackfruit leaves: Take 20-30g of mature leaves (honey jackfruit leaves are better), chop them finely, roast them until golden brown, and boil them in water to drink, treating white sediment in urine in children. Young leaves, washed clean, chewed and swallowed gradually, discarding the pulp, can treat bone lodged in the throat. Jackfruit leaves combined with sugarcane leaves and bamboo charcoal in equal amounts, boiled in water, treat asthma; combined with the roots of the hairy fig tree, plantain, cogon grass roots, cat's whiskers, or corn silk (in equal amounts), boiled in water, treat kidney stones.

For external use, fresh jackfruit leaves are crushed and applied to boils to reduce swelling and pain, or dried leaves are boiled into a soft paste and applied to treat ulcers.

Several other remedies using jackfruit leaves, as reported by Doctor Nguyen Thuy in the Health & Life newspaper, are also published in the Health & Life newspaper:

Recipe 1: Take about 40g of fresh jackfruit leaves, wash them thoroughly, crush them, and apply the paste to the swollen boil; this will reduce swelling and pain.

Lesson 2: For postpartum women with low milk supply: Use fresh jackfruit leaves (30-40g/day) to make a decoction to drink, which helps stimulate or increase milk production. Alternatively, peel and slice young jackfruit, stir-fry it with lean pork, season it, and eat it with rice. This remedy nourishes the spleen, harmonizes the liver, increases and promotes milk flow, and is suitable for postpartum women who are weak, have poor appetite, and have low milk supply. Each course of treatment lasts 3-5 days.

Lesson 3: Treating indigestion and digestive disorders caused by eating raw or cold food. Roast 20g of jackfruit leaves until golden brown, then simmer in 550ml of water until boiling, reducing the heat to 200ml. Divide into two doses and drink daily. Use for 5 consecutive days. This can be combined with 12g of *Nam mộc hương* (a type of herb), taken twice daily, 30-50ml each time.

Lesson 4: Supporting treatment for hypertension: Take 20g each of jackfruit leaves and peel, boil with 550ml of water until simmering, then reduce heat to 100ml. Divide into two doses and drink daily. Use for 5 consecutive days.

With the information above, you probably already have the answer to the question "What are the uses of jackfruit leaves?" right?