The pitahaya, also known as the dragon fruit or red pitaya in Guatemala and Colombia, belongs to the cactus family (Cactaceae).
It is important to note that dragon fruit it is not known exactly where the pitahaya originates. The French introduced it to Vietnam about 100 years ago and is now grown in large tropical areas of America.
The pitahaya grows on land or on top of other plants. As for its leaves, these are sub-cone and thin spines. The flowers are large in size and can reach up to 30 cm in length, with a white or somewhat greenish outside.
The fruit can weigh up to 600 grams, has a deep red color and have a size of 10 cm in length.
One characteristic of these is that they are covered with foliate scales, as a shell, (inedible) and have a red pulp with purple tones. There are a lot of small black seeds inside.
Also, there is the yellow pitahaya variety that grows on rocks, walls and fences of stone, or epifita, with stalks of light green color, with three to five ribs of corrugated edge and areolas that contain between one and three spines each one.
The flowers are infundibuliformes, of up to 30 cm in length and yellow color.
The fruit, tuberculate, up to 15 cm in length, a crown of thorns and a sweet and aromatic white pulp, contains shiny black seeds.
Healing properties
The pitahaya fruit contains vitamin C, thiamine , riboflavin and carbohydrates.
It is considered a refreshing fruit, moderately laxative, with tonic action of the heart and the nervous system. It has long been thought that eating it fasting helps to eliminate kidney stones .
For curative uses, flowers, fruits and stems are used. With the fruits you can prepare juices with a pleasant sweet and aromatic taste.
Popular remedies
-For anxiety and insomnia. Boil 2 tablespoons of pitahaya flowers in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Let cool and have a cup before bed.
-To tone the heart:
Pour 3 tablespoons of pitahaya flowers into half a liter of water and boil for 10 minutes. Allow to refrain, strain and drink throughout the day.
-For stomach spasms:
Boil a handful of pitahaya stems in a liter of water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day
-To combat edemas , cystitis and kidney stones :
Place the pulp of 2 pitahaya fruits in a blender along with a little water. Liquify for a few moments. Drink a glass daily until the discomfort is gone.
-For constipation:
Wash and split in half 1 pitahaya and then place your pulp in the blender along with a slice of chopped papaya . Liquify for a few moments. Drink a glass daily in the morning.
-To clean the colon:
Wash and split in half 1 pitahaya and then place your pulp in the blender along with 1 slice of pineapple, 2 tablespoons oats in flakes and a little water. Liquify for a few moments. Take 2 times a day (one in the morning and one at night) for 7 days.
-If you want to lose weight :
Place the pulp of 1 pitahaya in the blender along with the juice of 1 grapefruit and a slice of pineapple . Liquify for a few moments. Drink a glass daily in the morning.
Refreshing Remedy with pitahaya:
Put in a blender the pulp of 1 pitahaya, 1 glass of coconut water and 1 tablespoon of ginger root washed and chopped. Liquify for a few moments. Drink a glass when it feels very hot.
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