I grew up with bananas all around me. Bananas surrounded me as far as the eyes could see; just village after village of banana plants and fruit.  And while I didn't know the "Day-O" song by heart, I did know how and when to “de-flower” a banana plant.  I also knew the wicked stain the sap from the trunk and green fruit could leave on your person and clothing. More importantly, I knew not to mention foreign banana companies such as Chiquita to Caribbean banana growers.  In the Caribbean, the green fruit is commonly referred to as “fig” or “green fig” and the ripe fruit is simply “banana”.  And, in both states, the banana is used as a natural remedy for quite a few conditions.

I have early memories of villagers championing the cause of the green fig as the food for those living with hypertension. Time and time again, some high blood pressure patient would be lectured by a random group that green fig soup should be worshipped as the fig was very ‘low in salt’ and very good for stress and preventing a stroke. I also have later memories of Chiquita's bananas earning the FDA’s stamp of approval on account of the banana being a good source of potassium and having a low sodium content.

As for the ripe banana, it was the first thing villagers instructed you to eat (in  reasonable quantity) if you wanted relief from constipation. In fact, I remember one harvest when some of us children ate so much of the fruit, we got relief- whether or not we wanted/needed it. (Super Quick Disclaimer: I, very obviously, was not among that batch of children.)  Indeed, back in those days, I’m quite sure ripe bananas enjoyed top use in comparison to over-the-counter laxatives.

Back then, the ripe banana also trumped over-the-counter antacids since many people turned to the fruit as a natural way of battling heartburn. Indeed, ulcer sufferers were often found worshipping at some ripe banana shrine as it was about the only fruit they could eat without having to think the sky was falling or their world nearing its end.  And besides that, ulcer suffers did take to declaring that a regular diet of ripe banana bettered their condition. See why they might have been right to do so here.

Apart from the ripe fruit, the skin of the ripe banana was also used as a natural remedy for warts as well as stings and bites.  I remember seeing people heading determinedly for a banana, consuming the fruit, and then immediately rubbing the interior of the skin on some wart, sting or bite. For a wart, they would do this repeatedly for a week or so. For bites and stings, maybe a couple of days, though some just did it once! The sap from the plant’s trunk and green fruit as well as young leaves grounded to a paste was also used for the same- particularly stings and bites.

In addition, though I’ve never seen nor was ever aware of any of my villagers experimenting with banana flowers, I have heard tales of the flowers being cooked and given to diabetics.  I’ve also heard of those same flowers being just the thing to battle menstrual pain. Maybe…I just need to delve back into my banana world….

 Disclaimer:

The contents of this page are meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements published here ought not to be taken as expert medical advice designed to treat/cure any diseases or health related conditions. Please talk to your doctor or any qualified healthcare professional if you need medical advice (Believe me, WE at RE:BELLE WOULD!)