Ficus Carica (Fig) : Synonyms, Properties and Medicinal Uses

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Medicinal Uses of Fig Fruits

Medicinal Uses of Fig Fruits

Morphology and Distribution of Ficus carica (Common Fig)

The Biological Name of Fig is Ficus carica that belongs to the family Moraceae.

This Ficus plant is native to Middle East and Western Asia. Ficus plant is grown commercially or as an ornamental plant in temperate regions of the world.

Fig is a bush or a small tree with a cylindrical stem. It grows to a height of about 13 feet. It has abundant latex producing ducts.

Ficus plant is cultivated throughout the India.

The useful parts of the plant are leaves, root and fruits.

Synonyms of Ficus carica (Fig) in various languages:

  • Hindi – Anjir
  • Sanskrit – Anjir
  • English -Fig
  • Telugu – Anjuru
  • Bengali – Anjir
  • Gujarati – Anjir
  • Marathi – Anjir
  • Tamil – Simaiyatti
  • Kannada – Anjura

Properties of Ficus carica:

  • Ficus has good effect in respiratory diseases
  • Ficus can be used as a laxative
  • Emollient
  • Gives energy
  • Nutritive
  • Anti-boil
  • Tonic

Phytochemicals present in Ficus carica:

The phytochemicals which are present in the fig fruits are vitamins A and B, sugars, proteins, salts, coumarins and furo-coumarins.

Forms of use of Ficus:

Ficus is used in the form of an edible fruit having nutritive value. It is also used as decoction and poultice.

Medicinal uses of Ficus carica:

  • Fig fruits are rich in calories and they are digested easily and assimilated.
  • The latex that oozes out of the freshly cut leaves contains an enzyme chymase, lipase, amylase and protease. Chymase is a milky fluid with a coagulant action.
  • Latex also contains a diastasic enzyme which increases the maturation process when it is applied over uncooked meat.
  • It has analgesic effect against insect sting and insect bites .
  • Leaves are used for conditioning of the hair in the decoction form.
  • Decoction of the young branches is an excellent pectoral (for respiratory problems).
  • Fig is a highly nutritious fruit.
  • Fig does not contain any fibres and so it is advised for the patients to take it to recover from the illness.
  • Fig is a wholesome food and is easily digested.
  • It is effective in removing the gravel (stones) from the bladder and the kidneys
  • It helps in removing obstruction in the liver and spleen in subacute cases.
  • It is given for the patient suffering from piles and gout.
  • Fig is found beneficial in infantile liver, piles and diarrhoea.
  • Ficus is used in the treatment of leucoderma (white spots on the dermis-skin). Patients are advised to take a good size of fig thrice a day for a month and to apply juice of fresh leaves on white spots 2 or 3 times in a day and at bed time. Moistened leaves of chenopodium (Bathu Ka Sag) can also be applied on white spots.

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