Fig

Scientific name: Ficus carica

Common names: A-tsang, Common fig, Ying-jeh-kuo 

Ayurvedic names: Anjira

Chinese names: Wu hua guo 

Bangladesh names: Dumoor

Arabic names:    التين (at-teen)

Rain Forest names:

Family: Fabaceae

Approximate number of species known:

Common parts used: fruit, leaf

Collection:

Annual/Perennial: Perennial

Height: 18 to 20 feet

Actions:  demulcent, emollient, nutritive, laxative

Known Constituents: The chief constituent of Figs is dextrose, of which they contain about 50 per cent. 

Constituents Explained:

Description: 

Traditional Use:

A well known tree for its mild laxative properties.1  The fruit can be eaten, or opened and put onto boils.1   When a fruit is taken from the tree before being fully ripe, a milk excudes which can be put on sores, boils or worts.

The psoralens?  In fig leaf mean that people shouldn’t go into sunlight after its applied.

Clinical Studies:

The effect of a decoction of fig leaves (Ficus carica), as a supplement to breakfast, on diabetes control was studied in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients (six men, four women), age 22-38 years. 

The patients were managed with their usual diabetes diet and their twice-daily insulin injection. During the first month, patients were given a decoction of fig leaves (FC) and during the next month a non-sweet commercial tea (TC).

The patients were divided into two groups with random allocation and cross-over design. A standard breakfast was given at the beginning and end of each month-run. C-peptide, 2 h pre- and post-prandial glycemia, HbA1c, cholesterol, lipid fractions and hematology data, were analyzed during each visit. 

Glycemic profiles (7/day per week) were recorded by patients. Only two patients had intolerance dropout. Post-prandial glycemia was significantly lower during supplementation with FC. Medium average capillary profiles were also lower in the two sub-groups of patients.

Average insulin dose was 12% lower during FC in the total group. The addition of FC to diet in IDDM could be of help to control postprandial glycemia.

References:

Serraclara A, Hawkins F, Perez C, Dominguez E, Campillo JE, Torres MD. “hypoglycemic Action Of An Oral Fig-Leaf Decoction In Type 1 Diabetic Patients.” 1998 January http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9597370