1. Description

1.1 What is a pomelo?

The pomelo (botanical name: Citrus maxima, also known as pomello, pummelo, pommelo, pamplemousse, jabong (Hawaii), batabi or jambura (Bengali), zambura (Sylheti) or shaddock, Chinese Pinyin: You Zi, Simplified Chinese: 柚子), is a species of flowering tree in genus Citrus in the rue family, Rutaceae. The flowers are small corymbs, with 5 petals. The edible fruit is large in size between 15–25 cm in diameter with light green to yellow skin. Native to South and Southeast Asia and extensively cultivated elsewhere, habitats of pomelos include hillside, village margins, stream banks, roadsides, orchards and mountainous regions. Characteristics of pomelos include tolerance for shade and favorable micronutrient contents.

Other simplified Chinese names for pomelos include: 柚, 文旦, 香栾, 朱栾, 内紫, 雷柚, 碌柚, 胡柑, 大柑, 五爪红.

1.2 How does pomelo taste?

Pomelo has a succulent, meaty, firmed texture with a flavor that is sweet, bitter, mildly sour and vibrant.

1.3 How is pomelo used in traditional Chinese medicine?

The fruit of the pomelo is considered to have sour, cold and nontoxic properties and to be associated with the lung and stomach meridians. It is used as spleen tonic, antitussive (cough suppressants), dealcoholic medicine, digestion aid and expectorant in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) and widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as high cholesterol.

1.4 How do I tell if my pomelos are ripe?

Ripe pomelos are pale green to yellow fruits that feel firm and heavy for their size, also the the fruit should have a subtle, sweet fragrance.

2. Uses, Health Benefits of Pomelos & Medical Formulas

2.1 Vitamin C for Chronic Inflammation

Suffering from chronic inflammation can lead to all kinds of problems in your body. Pomelos are rich in Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant for chronic inflammation. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in protecting joints, enhancing your immune system and relieving inflammation. Studies also suggest great promise for the use of high-dose intravenous vitamin C treatments to help reduce inflammation in cancer patients, which is one of the major factors of cancer and its progression (naturalhealth365.com 2016). Therefore, It can be concluded that high dietary intakes of Vitamin C may help to treat chronic inflammation.

2.2 Prevent Stroke And Heart Attack

High content of potassium found in pomelos is a key mineral that our body depends on heavily to function normally. It assists to lower blood pressure by balancing out the negative effects of salt (high sodium consumption raises blood pressure). Our kidneys contribute to better control of blood pressure by controlling the amount of fluid stored in the body. Studies confirmed that a high level of potassium in our body is linked with better kidney health. Diets rich in this nutrients may help hold off heart diseases, such as stroke.

2.3 Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Besides Vitamin C, pomelos also contain bioflavonoids. Vitamin C and bioflavonoids work together as important water-soluble antioxidants in our body. Researches revealed that bioflavonoids have specific capabilities in strengthening health in many different ways, they support strong cell formations and suppress poor cellular growth in order to deliver an anti-carcinogenic effect. Bioflavonoids also combat atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

2.4 Bone Health

Fracture risk may significantly increase as bone mineral density declines. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2001 concluded that a 50-year-old white woman with a T-score of -1 has a 16% chance of fracturing a hip, a 27% chance with a -2 score, and a 33% chance with a -2.5 score (harvard.edu 2009). Studies also proved that potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with greater bone mineral density in elderly men and women. Therefore, eating pomelos which are rich in potassium is beneficial to enhanced bone mineral density and better bone health.

2.5 Metabolic Disorders

A study demonstrated that pomelo peel extracts could prevent high-fat diet-induced metabolic disorders in C57BL/6 mice by activating the PPARα and GLUT4 signaling (plos.org 2013). As a result, pomelo peels could be used as a dietary therapy and the potential source of drug for metabolic disorders.

2.6 Chronic Cough

[CTM Formula] Pomelo peel tea is taken regularly to treat chronic cough and asthma in the elderly.

[CTM Formula] A decoction of pomelo, pear and honey is taken orally to treat coughing related to lung heat.

2.7 Relieve Headache

[CTM Formula] Leave of pomelo and white onion are smashed and applied externally to treat headache.

2.8 Joint Pain

[CTM Formula] Leave of pomelo, fresh ginger and tung oil are smashed and applied externally to relieve joint pain.

3. Contraindication, Side-effects & Cautions

Administration with caution for the infirm.

The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.

The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.

Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.

List of reference

harvard.edu 2009 Osteopenia: When you have weak bones, but not osteoporosis [online] link: https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/osteopenia-when-you-have-weak-bones-but-not-osteoporosis

naturalhealth365.com 2016 High-dose vitamin C reduces inflammation in cancer patients, study shows [online] link: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/vitamin-c-inflammation-2045.html

plos.org 2013 Extracts of Pomelo Peels Prevent High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders in C57BL/6 Mice through Activating the PPARα and GLUT4 Pathway [online] link: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077915