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Loquat overview


the loquat a wonderful fruit

Loquat aka Japanese Plum
Eriobotrya japonica

aka nespola giapponese, bibassier, wollmispel, nispero, ameixa amarelle, Japanese medlar, pi pa ye

Family: ROSACEAE

Rich source of Amygdalin ( the anti-cancer vitamin, B17 or Laetrile)


This small to medium-sized tree is native to China and Japan. It can be grown in containers. Beautiful downy foliage, fragrant flowers, and delicious fruit. The golden-yellow fruit has a distinct flavor like pear, with a hint of apricot and pineapple.

Over the years we have noticed many Loquat [1] [2] trees growing on our property, without our planting any; they are obviously germinating from seeds dropped by birds.



Japanese plum, Loquat - Eriobotrya japonica

Like so many of the medicinal plants that have arrived here by themselves, we were intrigued by this beautiful tree and naturally wondered what the medicinal properties were. To my amazement when I researched the Loquat tree I came across an article from Dr Michael Tierra [3] who states that Loquat had the hydrocyanic glycosides in common with apricot and peach seeds as well as wild cherry tree bark.

These hydrocyanic glycosides are also known as amygdalin[4] or vitamin B17[5] or Laetrile better known from the work of Dr. Krebs[6]. With there being such a controversy on obtaining Apricot kernels as a source of natural Laetriole[7] we thought this may be a solution as laetrile is highly respected by many people as both a cancer preventive and as a cure for many cancers[8].

Herbalists in Cyprus in the Mediterranean use Loquat leaf tea with some success for various types of cancer. Loquat leaf is a very popular folk treatment not only for cancer but many other diseases in Japan. In fact, there is a small book in Japanese called "Natural Remedy" by Yuriko Tojo (1988) that describes various ways to use the Loquat both internally and externally for moxa. I think it is highly significant that with Dr. Krebs and the laetrile controversy, the use of loquat leaf on the island of Cyprus for cancer and then its use in Japan not only internally but externally with moxabustion, demonstrates that the Loquat tree offer us a valuable medicine and remedy.

Drinking Loquat leaf tea regularly and eating 2 seeds per day has been successfully used for blood vessel and bone marrow, liver and pancreatic cancer. It is essential to eat the seeds as it is some 1300 times higher in amygdalin B17 Laetrile than the leaves.







 
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middlepath.com.au> Middle Path> Plants> Healing Plants: the Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)

References

 [#]SourceTitle and link to resource if available
[1]  WikipediaLoquat
[2]  PlantNETEriobotrya japonica
[3]  Dr Michael TierraLoquat Leaf, Fruit and Seed
[4]  WikipediaAmygdalin
[5]  vitaminb17.coWhat is Vitamin B17?
[6]  WikipediaThe Nature of Cancer
[7]  The Cancer Cure FoundationWhy are Laetrile and many other substances used in alternative-cancer therapy not readily available in the U.S.?
[8]  Natural NewsHow laetrile or B17 from apricot seeds kills only cancer cells
[9]  Global Healing CenterBenefits of Loquat Leaf
[10]  Hamada et al, Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 27 (2004): 1961-1964The Effect of Eriobotrya japonica Seed Extract on Oxidative Stress in Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy in Rats. (ISBN ISSN 0918-6158)
[11]  Nishioka et al, Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 25 (2002): 1053-1057Effect of Extract Derived from Eriobotrya japonica on Liver Function Improvement in Rats (ISBN 0918-6158)
[12]  Ito et al, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 50 (2002): 2400-2403Antitumor Activity of Compounds Isolated from Leaves of Eriobotrya japonica (ISBN ISSN 0021-8561)
[13]  Jim DukePhytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
[14]  Paul A. StittWhy George Should Eat Broccoli (ISBN 1878150006, 9781878150004)
[15]  PhytochemicalsWhat is Beta-Carotene?
[16]  PhytochemicalsWhat is Cyanidin?
[17]  PhytochemicalsWhat is Kaempferol?
[18]  AJCNα-Linolenic acid in health and disease
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