Medicinal Benefits of Soursop

The Soursop (Annona muricata) is a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen  tree native to Central America, the Caribbean  and northern South America, Colombia  and Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Soursop is also native to sub-Saharan African countries that lie within the tropics. Today, it is also grown in some areas of Southeast Asia. It was most likely brought from Mexico to the Philippines by way of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade. It is in the same genus as the chirimoya and the same family as the pawpaw.
Soursop fruit

The soursop is adapted to areas of high humidity and relatively warm winters; temperatures below 5 °C/41 °F will cause damage to leaves and small branches, and temperatures below 3 °C/37.4 °F can be fatal. The fruit becomes dry and is no longer good for concentrate.
Annona muricata var.subonica

Other common names include: guanábana (Spanish), graviola (Portuguese), Brazilian pawpaw, guyabano, corossolier, guanavana, toge-banreisi, durian benggala, nangka blanda, and nangka londa. In Malayalam, it is called mullaatha , literally thorny custard apple. The other lesser known Indian names are shul-ram-fal and hanuman fal. Lord Ram and his disciple Hanuman are believed to have consumed this fruit on their way to Sri Lanka.

Its flavor has been described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple with sour citrus flavor notes contrasting with an underlying creamy flavor reminiscent of coconut or banana.

Medicinal Benefits: Soursop is not only a delicious and healthy fruit but it is use medicinally to treat illness ranging from stomach ailments to worms.

• The seeds, which have emetic properties, can be used in the treatment of vomiting.
• The leaf decoction is effective for head lice and bedbugs.
• The crushed fresh leaves can be applied on skin eruptions to promote healing.
• The juice of the fruit can be taken orally as a remedy for urethritis, haematuria and liver ailments.
• The juice when taken when fasting, it is believed to relieve liver ailments and leprosy.
• To speed the healing of wounds, the flesh of the soursop is applied as a poultice unchanged for 3 days.
• A decoction of the young shoots or leaves is regarded as a remedy for gall bladder trouble, as well as coughs, catarrh, diarrhea, dysentery, fever and indigestion.
• Mashed leaves are used as a poultice to alleviate eczema and other skin problems and rheumatism.
• The root bark is use as an antidote for poisoning.
• Soursop flowers are believed to alleviate catarrh.
• Decoction of leaves used as compresses for inflammation and swollen feet.

Source : 
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop
>>http://len7288.hubpages.com/hub/Medicinal-Benefits-of-Soursop