Pomegranate has been used as food and medicinally for thousands of years. It is a rich source of vitamin C, and one pomegranate provides about 40 percent of the adult daily requirement of this vitamin. It also contains chemicals called polyphenols that may slow the development of certain diseases, including hardening of the arteries, cancer and diabetes. However, there is not enough evidence from human studies to verify these effects. Consult with your doctor before using pomegranate medicinally.
Identification and Dosing
Common names for pomegranate include Anardana, Granada, Punica granatum, and Pomegranate Polyphenol Extract, among others. There are no official dosing recommendations for pomegranate. Doses of pomegranate juice used in research studies include 50 milliliters daily for high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries. The dose of pomegranate juice used for coronary heart disease and prostate cancer has been 8 ounces daily. For high cholesterol dosing, 40 grams of concentrated pomegranate juice has been used.
Uses
Pomegranate is used for high blood pressure, heart failure, high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and obesity. It is also used for digestive problems, including diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites. Other uses include flu, HIV disease, bleeding, and gum disease. Men use pomegranate for erectile dysfunction and to prevent prostate cancer. Some use pomegranate as a gargle to alleviate sore throat. Pomegranate is also used on the skin to treat hemorrhoids.
Effectiveness
According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or NMCD, pomegranate is possibly not effective for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Presently, there is not enough information from human studies to make definite conclusions about the effectiveness of pomegranate for any medicinal use, states the NMCD.
Considerations
Pomegranate juice is considered to be generally safe for most individuals, although allergic reactions are possible, says the NMCD. Pomegranate applied to the skin is rated as possibly safe because sensitivity reactions, such as itching, swelling and breathing problems, may occur, warns the NMCD. Pomegranate root and stems are possibly unsafe when taken orally because they contain a poisonous substance, reports the NMCD. Pomegranate should be avoided within two weeks of surgery and during pregnancy or lactation.
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