AZUFAIFOAZULEJO (azufaifo zizyphus jujuba)

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	AZUFAIFOAZULEJO
	*azufaifo zizyphus jujuba*

Name
AZUFAIFOAZULEJO

Scientific Name
azufaifo zizyphus jujuba

AZUFAIFOAZULEJO

Azufaifo is a thorny tree of little height, with many branches in zigzag form. Besides to have long branches - that give form to the tree throws other small small branches that are given off in winter. The flowers are small, of yellowish green color and are born conglomerates in the armpit of the leaves.

They have star form. Azufaifo grows up in orchards and earth cultivated from Aragón and Catalonia to the Algarve in Portugal. It comes from East, but it was engaged in to the Mediterranean countries to be cultivated from very remote times.

It blooms in summer and their fruits mature with the arrival of the autumn. Of the harvesting with therapeutic aims they interest the fruit, the leaves and the crust of the branches.

In the fruits we can find until a 10% of tannins, glucósidos, abundant vitamin C and mucílago. In the crust we also have tannins (although in smaller amount) and in the leaves we found glucósidos, rare tannins and some acids, like zizífico acid. These compositions confer different properties from each part of the plant: the fruit is mainly demulcente and vitaminic; the crust has properties astringents and it is used widely like antidiarreico; and the leaves - in addition to being astringents they have properties that reduce the sugar level in blood. Therefore, fruits, crust and leaves are mainly used in the treatment of the diarrea, being used specifically the fruit in convalecencia states and the leaves in moderate diabetes. In external use, the crust and the leaves are used in faringitis, vaginitis, eccemas and escoceduras the fruits - called azufaifas- they are possible to be eaten in fresh state and they have a smooth laxative effect due to his great amount of mucílago. Also they are possible to be dried.

Decocción: One prepares from the leaves and the crust. With the dose of a spoonful of dessert by cup, it is boiled during 5 minutes and they are taken from 4 to 6 cups to the day.

External use: The same previous decocción can be used in form of compresas, colutorios, washings, etc. So single it agrees to prepare concentrated it more.

Fruits: The fruits are taken directly, once washed, and exert a smooth laxative effect. They are not nothing flavorful and they digest with difficulty, reason why they are not very recommendable.

Astringent. Antidiarreico. Vitaminic.

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