Oil Palm

Elaeis guineensis 

MEDICINAL BENEFITS

Multiple parts 

• Palm's heart is used to treat gonorrhea, menorrhagia, and abdominal pain considered a laxative, antiemetic, and diuretic

Root

• Roots are analgesic

• Roots used to treat piles

• Root decoction or burnt root powder orally for treating epilepsy

Leaves

• Leaf sap is used in preparations used to treat skin affection 

• Leaves are used in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular, kidney diseases, and wound healing 

• Yellow leaves are used for treating fever and anemia 

• Can be used to remove thorns and poison from the body

Sap

• Sap has been found to be rich in phytonutrients and treat various diseases

Pulp

• Oil from the pulp is emollient and used for herbal ointments, treating swellings of the leg

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

• The juice from fermenting fruit is collected by bees 

• Good for rehabilitating degraded areas

• Shade is lighter than that of other plantain crops such as rubber or cocoa, suitable for substantial quantities of undergrowth

• Potash-rich residue from boilers and recycled onto plantations to help enrich the soils 

• Used for intercropping, coffee and cocoa trees are planted among them, cocoa benefits from the shade when its young although the shade the palm provides becomes increasingly undesirable as the cocoa matures 

OTHER USES

• Used in most cooking 

• Can be pressed cake and used as cattle feed

• Oil is used in hard water soaps, shampoos, and candles 

• Can produce palm wine by tapping immature plants 

• Two oils were obtained palm oil and palm kernel oil