There is a fruit grown in Southeast Asia commonly known as Mangosteen (Garcina Mangostana). I use the word, "common," only as a descriptive term because, according to a growing number of people around the world, the fruit is anything but common in what it can do medically. Besides its most widespread curative powers in apparently reducing inflammmation, it has legions of believers who claim it can cure everything from heart disease to cancer. But does it?
What about the Mangosteen fruit? Well it grows in the dense rainforests of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and other areas of Southeast Asia. And it has a remarkable history. For centuries the natives apparently used the fruit for its medicinal and health values as they had no other choice. Medical care as we know it wasn’t available. Because of its supposed healing powers, it became “Queen of Fruits.” And, it tasted good. The fruit from the Mangosteen plant looks a little like a purple apple. Inside you find a white center that resembles a flower cradled in the midst of the fruit. That is the edible sweet spot. However good it tastes the real healing power seems to come from the fruit’s skin.
The Rainforest Pharmacy
Before we cover more details about Mangosteen, let’s discuss the plausibility that a plant or fruit could provide what some call “miraculous” powers. Well, it isn’t as far fetched as you would think when you consider that virtually all of the drugs we have today are derived from a plant or fruit. Quinine, steroids, cancer drugs, and muscle relaxants are but a few of the medicines derived from the “Rainforest Pharmacy.” In fact, it is estimated that more than 7000 medicinal compounds came about because of what the world’s rainforests offer.