Bitter kola is known in Yoruba land as Orobgo, in Hausa land as Miji-goro, and in Igboland as Akiilu. Who knew
It has been found to be highly nutritious. From the name, bitter kola is a bitter traditional fruit common in rural areas of Nigeria and West Africa. Traditionally, the fruit, seeds, nuts, and bark of the bitter kola plant have been used for centuries in herbal medicine to treat several ailments. The benefits of bitter kola are endless.
Benefits
- Treating Malaria
Traditional healers use bitter kola to treat malaria. Kolavorin is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Kilaviron is a major constituent of garcinia seed which helps in treating malaria.
- Respiratory Health
The considerate amount of consumption of bitter kola helps in strengthening and stabilizing lung tissue and maintain the respiratory tract. Healers use the kola to treat chest colds. It also has a favorably high antioxidant content for a healthy body.
- Remedy for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, which comes with the inhibited movement of the joints and inflammation. Researchers at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria tested the effects of Garcinia kola against arthritis symptoms and the results of the study showed that Garcinia kola reduced inflammation and pain and increased joint movement in a subject that had osteoarthritis symptoms.
The usage of bitter kola is not limited to traditional activities alone. The bitter plant, which is believed to contain a high source of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, fiber, calcium, potassium, and iron, also carries other antioxidants.
- It improves sexual impotence
Studies have shown that when it comes to the improvement of sexual performance, especially among men, bitter kola is royalty.
Bitter Kola does not only increase sex drive, but it also improves the sexual performance of men who eat it.
And in other to be effective, it is advisable to chew the kola for at least 2 minutes before intercourse.
- It combats STDs
Since the emergence of sexually transmitted diseases, noble scientists have been battling night and day to bring a lasting solution to the plague.
Although their battle may seem somewhat difficult as a result of the complicating nature of the diseases, results have shown that seed and leaf of bitter kola have antibacterial activity on clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Streptococcus pyrogens.
- It fights Glaucoma
This is also one of the benefits of bitter kola. Glaucoma is a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball, causing a gradual loss of sight.
Glaucoma could result in permanent blindness if left untreated.
However, bitter kola has been found to be an amazing remedy for the eye.