The cashew tree is well known in this part of the world. The cashew tree grows in abundance everywhere, it is more prominent in the bushes than any other tree especially in area with its cool climate which is on for months from December till April (my own observation). Cashew tree, Anacardien accidental, does not seem to a native name, it does not even have a distorted name everywhere it called cashew. The medicinal properties are many, it can be used as tonic, stimulant, diuretic, and anti-diuretic (depending on how it is prepared), astringent and sedative. For now the part of the tree that have been documented as medicinal are the leaves, the fruits and the bark.
Fruits: The juice from the fruits has a permanent stain on clothes, so care should be taken when eating it or extracting it. The fruit juice acts as tonic and stimulant. A drink from it can be very refreshing and had been said to promote general well being. The fruit is very rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), it is also a good source of fruit sugar, which is the type of sugar that does not put an extra burden on the pancreas. That cashew fruits we need so much when we sweat during the dry season as well as the harmatan period when we need vitamin c most to combat the cold, catarrh, and flu that accompany that season. Diabetics patient should be grateful for a tree such as cashew, since they can eat the fruit without any fear of damage to the pancreas, if the fruit is eaten at night it helps to reduce urination at night, but if it is taken in the form of "distilled spirit" it is said to increase urination, that is, it serves as a diuretic. One only needs to understand the uses of a plant or a part thereof and also to what use one wants to put it.
Leaves: Both the young leaves and the matured leaves are medicinally useful, the young leaves are used for pile, shred and dry the young leaves under shade, preferably under room temperature. It will take about four to five days to dry in humid weather in the south, leaves dry faster in the north of the country. On one to two teaspoonfuls, pour boiling water to make a cup of tea, three cups of the tea can be taken daily. This same tea, made from shredded dried young leaves can be used for the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery, this is possible because of the astringent properties contained in the young leaves. Scientific analysis of the leaves and the bark, as documented, revealed that the leaves and bark have high content of tannin. Any plant with tannic acid has astringent properties. The infusion of the young leaves can also be used as gargle for dental problems. Boil the matured leaves for diabetes, the matured leaves, cut and extracted in alcohol, is used for the treatment of rheumatism. One shot twice daily is used till the condition clears.
Bark: A tincture of the bark, that is, the bark extracted in alcohol is used in treatment of diabetes, it is good in the treatment of diabetes because when patients who are using insulin take it, they easily reduce their intake of insulin. The dosage is one shot thrice daily. To prepare a tincture from the bark(or root of a tree) the fresh bark is reduced to fine cuts and put in a coloured big bottle, to extract well, place the bottle in the sun daily for 14days. Open the bottle to let out air daily. Shake well before leaving it in the sun, do not use plain glass bottle as this allows direct contact with the sun's rays which we are told is not desirable. The longer it remains in the alcohol the more mature it will be but it can be strained for use after 14days.
Cashew fruits drink: A very refreshing drink can be made from cashew fruits, wash the fruits and slice them into a blender. Blend to a fine liquid, do not add water, strain with a fine cloth but a tea sieve can also do. Cashew is a commercial crop but what had been known and sold in shops had been the nuts which have the shape of the kidney. Cashew fruits drink when prepared and ready to serve, the left over that is the chaff is quite edible but too thick to be served as a drink however, the chaff could be taken with honey and will be palatable food/meal. The chilled drink made one to imagine how blessed we are in this part of the world, just from a cashew fruit plucked in a tree four people can conveniently drink to their satisfaction. As more knowledge of the plants and trees growing is permitted us, one becomes more aware that it is because we stand in great need now that is why such knowledge is being brought our way. We therefore, should be humble and grateful to the source of all whoever grants us such beneficial healing plants. We stand in need! If we don't help ourselves by developing, using and preserving what we are given we will always be in need. Nature gave us enough to be able to remain self-reliant in the care of the sick among us. God gave us enough to be able as well to keep the healthy bodies in our community healthy. If we can be more receptive to what is around us the joy will be ours forever and nature will favourably and abundantly continue to serve us.
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