Soursop (Graviola) – Natural and Alternative Therapy for Cancer

What is Graviola?

Soursop, also known as Graviola, is the fruit of Annona muricata, a flowering, broadleaf and evergreen tree. In recent times, it has been promoted as an alternative treatment for cancer. The fruits, roots, kernels, leaves, bark and especially the extract of the Graviola are said to be the ancient remedies in amazon for almost every health problems.

It is also known as Cherimoya, Guanabana, Custard apple, Brazilian paw paw, and soursop. It mainly comes from the tree in the rain forests of South America, South-east Asia, and Africa. This tropical fruit has a spiny, green texture and the tangy sweet part is used in beverages, ice cream, and candy.

How Graviola Prevents Cancer

In South America and Africa, people use the leaves, roots, bark, and fruits of the Graviola tree. These things treat infections with viruses or parasites, arthritis, rheumatism, sickness, and depression. Some research also shows that Graviola cures constipation and boost the immune system of the human body to fight against several diseases.

According to Lab studies, extracts from Graviola can kill some types of breast cancer and liver cancer cells. The stem cells, which are resistant to some chemotherapy drugs, are targeted by these extracts. Another recent study was done on mice that shows Graviola pulp extracts can have a positive effect on prostate cancer cells. As we said these studies were done on mice, but studies on a human body have not been done yet. So we cannot have any concrete evidence to support that.

In South Korean research, Graviola was proved to be up to 10,000 times more positive effects compared to chemotherapy and radiotherapy at stopping the spread of cancerous cells. As these fruits are very highly rich in antioxidants, calcium, B vitamins, and phosphorous and it's anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial are very valuable to the healing process of the human body. In another study, it was found that the leaves, seeds, and fruits of this plant are shown to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer stem cells.

Medical researchers were searching for natural foods or drug that can prevent cancer and taste good so more people with cancer can eat it without any side effect on the body. The ice cream produces from Graviola pulp also showed the same high concentration of acetogenins. These all facts are not new, a 1997 study published in a reputed medical magazine showed that extracts of Graviola or soursop proved to be 200 times as effective as chemo drugs when tested on the breast cancer cells.

Graviola Side Effects

The ancient Indian Ayurveda says that excess of anything is poison. So there are also side effects of soursop when taken in large amounts. It may cause nerve changes and movement disorder when an excess amount is taken; it crosses over to the bloodstream into the brain. It can lower blood sugar level and blood pressure so; patients with high blood pressure and diabetes take Graviola as per the instructions by your doctor.