Many know the good flavor and the nutrients of jackfruit, but few know that many of its parts can be used to treat certain illnesses
The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is native to the tropical lowlands of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh. Jackfruit, called mít in Vietnamese, is widely grown in all the three regions of the country.
There are many kinds of jackfruit, but based on the characteristics of the fruits’ flesh, there are two varieties: the “hard” variety, which has firm flesh and the largest fruits, and the “soft” variety, which bears smaller fruits but softer and sweeter flesh. Mít t n, which belongs to the latter variety, is a specialty of the southern region.
Almost all parts of the jackfruit can be used as herbal medicine. Its leaves are used to boost the production of breast milk for nursing mothers, and to treat indigestion, diarrhea and high blood pressure. Jackfruit wood is used as a sedative, whereas its roots can be used to stop diarrhea.
Jackfruit flesh is starchy and fibrous and is a source of dietary fiber. Ripe jackfruit flesh is fragrant, tasty and nutritious. It has 0.6-1.5% of protein, 11-14% of fructose and glucose, vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, and essential minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorus. Dried jackfruit chips are now a tasty and favorite snack, which has been exported to many countries around the world.
Young, unripe fruits can be used as an ingredient for various soups and salads, especially for fish dishes. This young flesh fried with lean pork or shrimp with some aromatic herbs is a dish recommended by herbalists to boost the functioning of the spleen and liver, and the production of breast milk.
Jackfruit seeds can be boiled, steamed or baked, and eaten as a bean. The seed is nutritious, containing up to 70% of starch, 5.2% of protein, 0.62% of lipid and 1.4% of minerals. Jackfruit seeds are thus good for digestion and urination.
Remedies
To boost the production of breast milk for needy nursing mothers, boil fresh jackfruit leaves, or very young fruits, and drink the broth during the day.
Boil a solution of the same amounts of jackfruit leaves, sugarcane leaves and bamboo charcoal. Drink the solution three times a day to relieve asthma.
To cure boils or ulcers, squeeze fresh jackfruit leaves and apply the squeezed leaves onto the affected areas to relieve pain and speed up the healing process.
Simmer a few small pieces of jackfruit wood and drink the solution thrice a day for a few consecutive days as a sedative as well as to lower high blood pressure.
