Figs are a popular restorative food that was grown in Egypt as early as 4000 BC. Fresh figs are high in moisture and carbohydrates, while dry figs are higher in protein, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates. Figs help boost immunity, relieve constipation due to their fiber and laxative properties, and can help treat piles, thinness, asthma, and mouth disorders.

1. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Abdul Qudoos M.Sc.B.Biotech.

2. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Figs are a popular restorative
food.
Botanical name – Ficus
carica.
Grown in Egypt before 4,000
BC.
The dry fig has a high
nutritive value.
Its most important food
element is sugar which is
formed of dextrose and fruit
sugar.

3. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Nutritive Values of Fresh & Dry Fig:
Analysis Fresh Fig (%/100gms) Dry Fig (%/100gms)
Moisture 88.1 23
Protien 1.3 4.3
Fat 0.2 1.3
Minerals 0.6 2.4
Fibre 2.2 5.6
Carbohydrate 7.7 63.4
Analysis Fresh Fig (mg%/100gms) Dry Fig (mg%/100gms)
Calcium 35 126
Phosporous - 77
Magnesium - 71
Iron 0.6 3
Sodium 2 34
Potasium 194 640
Vitamin A 80 iu 80 IU
Thiamine 0.06 0.01
Riboflavin 0.05 0.1
Niacin 0.4 0.7
Vitamin C 2 -
Calorific Value 80 274

4. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Immunity
It helps in the quick recovery after
prolonged illness. It removes physical
and mental exertion and endows the
body with renewed vigour and
strength. It is an excellent tonic for
people who are rather weak in
strength.

5. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Constipation
Taken either fresh or dried, the fig is regarded
as dependable laxative on account of its
large cellulose content and its tough skin.
The tiny seeds in the fruit possess the
property of stimulating peristaltic
movements of intestines which facilities
easy evacution of faeces and keeps the
alimentary canal clean.

6. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Piles
Owing to its laxative property, the fig is an
excellent remedy for piles. Two or three
dried figs should be soaked in cold water in
a glass of enamel ware overnight after
cleaning them thoroughly with hot water.
They should be taken next morning. Figs
should be taken similarly in the evening.
This will remove straining to pass stools and
thus prevent the protrusion of anus. The
piles will be cured with regular use of figs in
this manner for three or four weeks.

7. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Thinness
The high percentage of the rapidly
assimilable sugar makes the fig a
strengthening and fattening food. It is
therefore, a good food remedy for
increasing weight in case of thinness.
In ancient Greece, the athletes used
to take suffiecient figs everyday for
increasing their weight and strength.

8. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Asthma
Figs are consider beneficial in the
treatment of asthma phlegmatic cases
of cough and asthma are treated with
success by there use. It gives comfort
to the patient by draining off the
phalgm.

9. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
Mouth disorders
The stem bark of fig tree is valuable in
bleeding gums, pus in the gums,
swelling in the mouth and tongue. Its
warm decoction should be used as a
mouth wash ,two three times a day in
treating this condition.

10. FIG – The Blessed Fruit
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Coming soon: Medicinal uses of - Bitter Gourd, Honey, Black Caraway, Rice Bran Oil, etc.