Weird shaped fruit with great medicinal uses - THE BUDDHA'S HAND

The Citrus medica var.sarcodactylis is a rare and wonderful yellow colored finger like fruit mainly  found in Lower Himalayas and China. It belongs to the Rutaceae family. This fruit is also known as five fingered citron, five fingered mandarin and Buddha's hand.

This fruit grows on shrub or small tree, that grows about 6 feet in height with long, irregular branches which has pale green color leaves and white colored flowers. The yellow colored fruit is spilt into a number of sections somewhat resembles like a human hand. It has a thick skin, seedless and juice less little flesh.

This fruit is very fragrant and is mainly used for perfumes in clothing in China and Japan. This fruit is given as religious offering in buddha temple. It is cultivated as a fruit crop or as an ornamental tree in home gardens. It grows well in temperate conditions. These fruits are available in the month of November to January. 

Chinese superstition holds that this Buddha's hand brings peace, luck and prosperity to its owner. Many research studies have revealed that this fruit has lots of medicinal property, essential nutrients and phytochemicals.

Nutrients and Phyto chemicals

This fruit is rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, antioxidants and phytochemicals like limolin, nomilin,stigmasterol, glucosides, limettin, scopoletin and umbelliferone. It has anti inflammatory, anti cytotoxic, anti carcinogenic, anti oxidant,laxative properties.

This fruit helps to cure many diseases. Some of its uses are as follows:

• It is very effective against swelling and pain caused by injuries, surgeries because of its anti inflammatory property, coumarin, limonin and dismin.
• It speeds up the wound healing.
• It acts as an expectorant ie., it releases the nasal congestion caused during common cold.
• It is a very good remedy for gastrointestinal problems like stomach upset, bloating, stomach pain, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, inflammation in stomach lining, etc.
• It promotes normal digestion and excretion.
• It boosts the immunity as it is rich in vitamin C and in turn increase the iron absorption.
• The alcohol extracted from this fruit act as a vasodilator which relaxes and dilates the coronary blood vessel and prevents coronary artery diseases.
• It helps to lower the high blood pressure and improve the blood circulation.
• It is good for treating breast cancer.
• It can alleviate the symptoms of  asthma.
• Other than its medicinal uses, it is also for preparing jams, jellies, salads,marmalade, tea, juice, soda water and garnishing.