In Sanskrit, it’s known as panasa. In Ayurveda, it’s cherished as a balya – a strengthening, nourishing tonic. I’m talking about none other than the mighty jackfruit.
Don’t let its prickly exterior and cumbersome size fool you. Inside lies sweet, succulent flesh with medicinal properties our ancestors understood well. The jackfruit is a pharmacy masquerading as a fruit.
According to Ayurvedic thought, jackfruit pacifies vata and pitta doshas with its sweet taste (madhura rasa) and cooling energy (sheeta veerya). It kindles the digestive fire (deepana) and helps build bodily tissues (dhatu vardhana).
The list of ailments jackfruit can alleviate is impressive
- Relieves constipation by acting as a bulk laxative
- Calms irritable bowel and ulcerative colitis
- Lowers blood sugar in diabetes
- Reduces high blood pressure
- Boosts immune function
- Helps with weight loss
- Soothes ulcers and acidity
- Lubricates joints and reduces arthritic pain
- Improves thyroid function
- Prevents anemia by providing iron
How does this prickly wonder accomplish so much?
Let’s peek inside and find out.
The starchy flesh is rich in dietary fiber, slowing sugar absorption and promoting healthy bowels. Antioxidants like vitamin C combat cellular damage. Minerals like potassium regulate blood pressure and support strong bones. B vitamins nourish the nervous system and boost metabolism.
Even the seeds, leaves, and bark have a role to play. The seeds act as vermifuge to expel intestinal worms. A poultice of the leaves can dress wounds and treat skin ulcers. The gummy sap from the bark heals cracks on the soles of feet.
Our forefathers innately grasped the synergistic wisdom of plant medicines like jackfruit. Modern research is playing catch up, ‘discovering’ what Ayurveda has known for millennia.
Take the phytochemicals in jackfruit – saponins, flavonoids, triterpenes, and sterols. Scientists are now finding they have antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Ayurveda just nods knowingly.
If jackfruit is a pharmacy, then Ayurveda is the pharmacist that knows how to wield it. Classical Ayurvedic texts have been prescribing jackfruit as medicine for centuries:
- Charaka Samhita recommends it for gulma (abdominal lumps)
- Sushruta Samhita suggests it for arshas (hemorrhoids)
- Ashtanga Hridaya prescribes it for panduroga (anemia)
- Bhava Prakasha praises it as a rasayana (rejuvenative)
Ayurvedic physicians use jackfruit in various forms – fresh fruit, dried chips, powdered seeds, fermented leaves, and oil from the seeds or wood. The fruit may be eaten ripe and sweet, or unripe and savory. Each form and stage of ripeness has unique therapeutic effects.
Some traditional medicinal preparations featuring jackfruit are
Panasa lehyam – A tonic made with jackfruit pulp, used for anemia and emaciation
Panasa rasayanam – A rejuvenator made with jackfruit, used for general debility
Panasa ksheerapaka – Jackfruit cooked in milk, used for bleeding disorders
Panasa patra kashaya – A decoction of jackfruit leaves, used for diabetes
Panasa beeja churna – A powder of jackfruit seeds, used for diabetes
Of course, jackfruit is also a culinary gem, lending itself to both sweet and savory dishes. It’s a key part of the Ayurvedic diet, infusing deep nourishment into everyday meals.
Ripe jackfruit bulbs can be enjoyed fresh or incorporated into puddings, jams, and chutneys.
Unripe jackfruit makes a meaty addition to curries, stir-fries, and dosas.
Tender jackfruit is packed in brine and enjoyed as a crunchy summer pickle across India. Even the seeds are roasted, boiled, or ground into gluten-free flour.
Jackfruit is more than a food or a medicine. It’s a way of life – a cultural icon woven into the fabric of Ayurvedic thought and practice. From the Jackfruit Festival in Kerala to the jackfruit chips sold by street vendors in Mangalore, this humble fruit is a unifying force.
In a world obsessed with pills and procedures, the jackfruit stands tall – a spiky, smelly testament to the power of plants. It’s not just a fruit. It’s a symbol of the Ayurvedic worldview – that health is harmony, that balance is key, and that Mother Nature knows best.
So the next time you spy a jackfruit, pause and marvel. Slice one open and savor. It’s not just a tasty treat or a medicinal marvel. It’s a reminder to embrace the earthy, elegant wisdom of Ayurveda – the science of life.
Because if the prickly, pungent jackfruit can balance and heal, just imagine what Ayurveda can do for you. The pantry is a pharmacy, the kitchen is a clinic, and the jackfruit is just the beginning.
