by Namini Wijedasa
Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a popular fruit in Sri Lanka. The ripe fruit is used on your plate while the raw fruit, its juice, juice of leaves and root powder are used as medicine. According to Lakshmi Senaratne, chief scientist (Ayurveda) of the Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurveda Research Institute, pineapple reduced vatha and is good for the heart. It is a tasty and nutritious juice but better taken with another fruit juice, such a papaw. This reduces the sour effect.

If taken in excessive amounts, however, it causes urticaria, itching, soreness in mouth and tongue as well as redness of eyes and eye discharge. It is unsuitable during pregnancy. The raw fruit of two pineapple varieties — wal annasi and gal annasi — causes abortion.

Senaratne says that pineapple is known to increase appetite and is also a laxative. "For those experiencing loss of appetite, we advise them to eat a slice of pineapple before meals," she elaborated. Pineapple treats constipation.

Although the raw or ripe fruit is recommended in the treatment of menstrual pains, some doctors feel that it increases blood flow.

The raw fruit treats burning sensation in urine caused due to increased acidity. The ripe fruit is useful for stones in the bladder or kidney. It also treats pain during urination.

Pineapple is good for fever and thirst as well as tiredness. It gives strength.

The juice of core of the pineapple fruit — identified in Sinhala as goba — is applied to burns to stop the smarting sensation. Meanwhile, crush and extract juice of the proximal part of the leave and take for worms. The leaf juice is purgative, said Senaratne. For abdominal distension, eat raw fruit with a little vinegar. For burns caused by boiling water, apply leaf juice. For worms, a time-tested remedy is fruit eaten with pol pani.

Meanwhile, the website <http://www.allsands.com/Health/Alternative/> notes that the pineapple is an exceptional tropical fruit because of its enzyme, "bromelain" which helps in the breakdown and digestion of essential proteins for easy assimilation by the body, much like the stomach’s own gastric juices. It also relieves gastrointestinal discomforts, diarrhoea, and lack of appetite, the website says. "Aside from the digestive enzyme, pineapple contains essential vitamins and minerals:

vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and citric acid," it described. "Together they become a potent natural remedy for cramps, arthritis, tendinitis, and other joint and muscle pains."

Pineapple is known to lower fevers and flush toxins from the body because of its diuretic and perspiration-inducing properties. It contains alpha-hydroxy acids that help in reducing facial wrinkles and exfoliating dead skin cells, the site explains. It’s often added to mixtures used as facial masks. But because of the natural acids in pineapple, too much exposure can also be harmful. The corrosive effects of eating too much pineapple will be evident in cases of tooth cavities and gingivitis. Therefore, it is wise to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after eating the fruit.

It also describes some natural remedies: to reduce fever, relieve digestive discomfort and joint pains, and for overall health, drink three ounces of pineapple juice three times a day, or eat a slice of pineapple with every meal.

To exfoliate dry skin, calluses, and corns, mash a slice of pineapple and apply it to the rough skin. Leave it on for about an hour then rinse and gently scrub the dead skin off. Repeat daily as necessary.